Rome - public transport advice
 

Hi everyone,

We are going to be in Rome next month for 4 days, with both kids ( 5 and 8 ) and are staying at the Hilton Garden Inn on Viale Liegi on the north east part of the city. Our flight arrives in Rome at 11am. I am wondering what is the best way of transportation from the Rome International Airport to the hotel ? I have been looking into bus routes( alitalia, sit, atral..) and most stop in city center area? Any recommendations are greatly appreciated !! Would you suggest taking bus, train(metro) or a cab?

Also, since our hotel is not within walking distance of the Vatican, Forum and many other things, should we get a daily/weekly pass for transportation?

Thank you so much !!

hi mandarinbuk,

i had a look at your hotel's website and they do give you some help with getting there:

http://hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com/e...CGI/index.html

using public transport, to get to the Termini station, you get the Leonardo Express from the airport, [Fiumicino] then the no 360 bus [10 stops]. Alternatively you could pick up a taxi at Termini - make sure you get into an official one with the meter running.

another option is to use a car service from the airport - search this forum for recommended ones - or just to get a cab - it'll probably be about €50.

bearing in mind where your hotel is, I do think that a travel pass would be a good idea, you could pick them up from Termini as you come through and that would cover you for the bus to your hotel.

here's a link - http://www.rometoolkit.com/transport...ravel_pass.htm

you can get 3 day passes which would be ideal for you.

hope you have a great trip!

I am staying at the same hotel. I am using romashuttle.com for transportation between the airport and hotel. As for transportation into the tourist center I purchased a pass for 3 days.

From the airport you can use the train Leonardo express or the airport shuttle (4e) direct to the termini then catch the bus as stated above or take a taxi. Since there are several of you it might make more sense to do the Rome Shuttle direct door to door. You can then buy bus pass's by the day or longer depending on how long you will be there vrs the time you plan on spending on bus.

I would just take a City of Rome taxi directly to your hotel.

Since there are three or four of you, it doesn't make sense to take the Leonardo Express to Termini and then take a taxi to your hotel. (I am very fit and I have walked from Termini to the Etruscan Art Museum in the Borghese Gardens.)

You aren't going to save any money by doing so.

Keith and I took a taxi from the St. Regis Grande Hotel in Piazza Rebubblica in front of Termini (3 years ago) to Fiumicino and it was 45 euros.

I love the area around the Borghese Gardens. It is my favourite place in Rome.

You should definitely visit the Etruscan Museum whilst you are in Rome.

Have fun!

Thin

Wonderful, Thanks a million for those tips ! I have been debating even finding a more centrally located hotel and ditching the Hilton, but I am glad there are options. THANK YOU !!

The Vatican and St. Peter's Plaza are the first thing on our list of sights and we plan on heading there first thing the following morning. Any suggestions where to start ? :-)

Thank you !!

Thin,

Thank you so much for the recommendation to visit the Etruscan Museum and the Borghese Gardens. I have to admit it wasn't on my list of things to do, but after hearing from you and looking it up, I will make effort to visit both. I appreciate all of you all's advice and suggestions, it really makes the planning so much more exciting ! Thank you!!

If you walk through the Borghese Gardens to the top of the Via Veneto (near Harry's Bar), you can take the Spagna Line A Metro to Ottoviano to get to St. Peter's.

You can walk from the Vatican over to Castel Sant'Angelo to get gorgeous views of Rome from the rooftop terrace.

I like the Square in front of the Pantheon. I am drawn to the fountain there.

By the way, you will see nasoni all over Rome. The spigot will be turned down. It is safe to drink from these water spigots.

There is at least one in St. Peter's Square.

Have fun!

Thin

do consider booking your entry to the Vatican museums online before you go.

that way you could turn up early to see st. Peter's, then stroll around the Vatican walls to see the museums and the Sistine chapel without have to worry about queuing.

afterwards, by all means stroll towards the castel San angelo; afterwards cross the river by the bridge opposite the entrance and explore the little streets of the centro storico you'll find there. lots of nice restaurants and shops in this area too.

>>>Hilton Garden Inn on Viale Liegi<<<

Your hotel is between two tram stops (trams 3 and 19), Liegi/Ungheria and Liegi/Bellini. I would buy a Roma Pass (if you plan to visit the Colosseum/Forum/Palantine and the Borghese or other museums). Use the free entrances for those sites and use the transport pass (included with Roma Pass) for the trams. You can take tram 19 to the Vatican (stop is Risorgimento S. Pietro). You can switch from tram 19 at Flaminia Bell Arti to tram 2 Piazza Popolo and be within an easy walk of the Spanish Steps.

In the opposite direction, you can hop on tram 3 and go to the Colosseum or all the way to Trastevere. YOu can also take 3 or 19 a few stops to Policlinico which connects to the metro line B. Metro line B will connect you to Termini and the Colosseum. Here's the tram map.

http://www.atac.roma.it/files/doc.asp?r=5

Metro map

http://www.atac.roma.it/files/doc.asp?r=4

Roma Pass (two free admissions, three days transport)

http://www.romapass.it/p.aspx?l=en&tid=2

From the airport, I would take an official Rome taxi (the official rate is 48€ for four people including luggage) or book a limo service. Rome Shuttle Limousine might be a few bucks cheaper than the taxi, but not much. My understanding is City of Fiumicino taxis are allowed to charge more than City of Rome taxis.

You can also take

It is nice that you can use the tram. It is pleasant and speedy way to get around.

I am not a fan of Rome' s subways. I found them dark, deep, crowded, and made chaotic by construction, compared to other systems I know well: Boston, San Francisco, London, Paris, Washington, DC

Is the public bus system okay with baggage from train station? We will be staying near Borghese Gardens and Spanish steps, 2 people. Public transport recommended?

>>>but the metro subway is much simpler for the short-term visitors to master.<<<

Rome's metro system is very limited.

>>>Is the public bus system okay with baggage from train station? We will be staying near Borghese Gardens and Spanish steps,<<<

What hotel? There might be better options. The subway runs from Rome Termini to the Spanish Steps, but it can be very crowded between those stops and you might encounter stairs in Termini.

You best option with two kids and luggage after a long flight is a taxi - fixed at 48E. The Leonard Express and then bus or taxi is just too much of a pain in the butt. And probably about the same price. But this may be too late as it is already next month.

Don't know if you left yet but we just got back and stayed at the HGI. We took the trams every day. When you arrive at the hotel go out the front door turn right and then cross the street going left. There is a tabachi store where you can buy the 3 day pass. The trams were convenient but be prepared,they were packed all of the time. We rarely got a seat. The 19 will leave you off at the Vatican and the 3 will leave you off at the Colosseum. We did use Roma Shuttle to the airport and it was 40euro.