Taxi from airport to Rome near train station
 

First time visiting Rome and I don't speak Italian, how easy /difficult is it to get a taxi to Rome near the train station for forty euro? Also, going to be there for one week, should I buy a Roma pass?

Taxi from where? If you are going into Rome from the airport, I'd take the train, which will take you directly to the train station. It's faster, cheaper, and easier.

FYI: I don't speak Italian, but I've never had problems in Italy navigating trains, buying tickets (even from machines), or getting taxis. You do have to validate your ticket before you get on the train.

Just back from such a trip. Cab to Rome from FCO is easy. Was careful to use only the official taxi stand, ignore all touts, reject non-Rome city cab that sneaked into the cab stand line (use only a cab with official SPQR shield on door), and learned how to say "40 Euro" and location of hotel in (bad) Italian, plus nearest landmark (a piazza in our case). A map printout could help, I guess, but this worked for us. It also helped that I looked at the route from the landmark to the hotel on Google Earth.

Did not use Roma card. We did guided tours for some sites, which included entry fee, and were there for a week, which meant the 3-day Roma would also not be cost-effective. In fact, we bought 1 week transport passes, but did not quite break even vs individual tickets, due to a lot of walking, a subway system thet doesn't really cover the historic center, and a nearly unfathomable network of buses. Your milage may vary, as they say.

I think the fee has increased to 45€ (or is going to be). Make sure you get a taxi that has Comune Roma on the door.

Other options from FCO to Termini:
Bus shuttles
Terravision 4€
Sitbus 8€
Train 14€

Roma Pass is only for 3 days so it would depend on what you plan to see whether you would get the value of the pass. Cost is 30€. The Colosseum/Forum/Palantine is 12€ as is the Borghese (most expensive entrance tickets). Transport (bus/tram/metro) around the city is 1.50€ each ride.

Which hotel and how many in your party might help in narrowing down your options (train vs taxi/limo). Regards, Walter

The taxi guild managed to get "some" rates adjusted but the Airport Fares to the fixed-rate zones from CIA and FCO have not *yet* changed... The guild is asking for an increase to 48€ (from FCO) and odds are - in light of the recent ATAC 50% price increases - that this group will eventually get what they want.

As kybourbon has pointed out, there are multiple options to get to the Roma Termini area. Just make sure if you go with a taxi that your accommodations are INSIDE the fixed-rate taxi zone. Here are a few helpful "travel" options and a post with a fixed-rate map!

http://tinyurl.com/FCO-depart ** http://tinyurl.com/FCO-trains ** http://tinyurl.com/FCO-LE ** http://tinyurl.com/Rome-fixed-rate

Agree with first response - why not just get the train? It's the obvious thing to do, faster, cheaper & you don't need to speak to anyone if you don't want to - the ticket machines have an English language option. I can't imagine why you'd even think of getting a cab.

Many people - esp if there are several - prefer the convenience of a cab to ahuling luggage all over hell and gone (and yes, I'm one). Have taken cab from airport to hotel at least a dozen times and never had trouble. Be sure you take an official Rome cab (with the city logo) and have the name and the address of the hotel typed (handwriting can be misunderstood) in case your pronumciation doesn't mesh with the drivers ears.

(It's a matter of how much you value a few $ over greater convenience, esp after a long flight.)

last month we decided to taxi instead of train because our hotel was too far from the metro with luggage. our hotel arranged for a taxi to meet us at the airport for 40E. to our surprise, there he was at arrivals with a little sign with our name on us. is there a better feeling for tired travellers??? contact your hotel and ask if they will arrange that for you -- if you are sure you want to take a taxi.

Thank you for all of the information. Very much appreciated. I have another question, I've just learned that it is a national holiday this coming Saturday, June 2nd. Any suggestions on what to do if most of the sites are closed this Saturday in Rome? Will all of the sites be closed?