HOW TO TAKE A TAXI

Taking a Taxi in Rome can be a nightmare. Everybody knows somebody who heard from somebody about the experience of somebody.

But don’t be afraid of those horror-stories. Follow the steps below and everything will go smooth.

Taxi drivers in Rome, taken as a whole, are no better and no worse than taxi drivers in any major city. Most of them will take you to your destination by the fastest route (which may not be the shortest) and will charge the price shown on the meter plus permitted extra charges of €1 for each bag after the first in the luggage area and €1 for each passenger after the fourth.

Take care to always use an official taxi, licensed by the City of Rome. They are white, with a "TAXI" sign on the roof and the Rome crest (with "SPQR") on the doors. They have a meter, which should always be used unless you are traveling between central Rome (Aurelian walls), main train stations and one of the two airports (Fiumicino and Ciampino). Look to be certain it is being used. Point out to the meter and ask with a smile if that is indeed the meter. In that way, without offending nobody, you let the driver know that you know the system !!!!

From 11 June 2012, the meter starts running when you get in, with a minimum charge of €3.50 on the meter. These are not rip-offs: they are they way things were done in Rome. Because of the time required to alter thousands of taxi meters, some taxis will be using the old system until at least 20 July 2012. Paper receipt with license number is required.

Fixed price to airports. There is a fixed price from central Rome (within the old walls, called Aurelian walls) to the airports and vice versa: €48 for Fiumicino and €30 for Ciampino, including luggage. Don't use "City of Fiumicino" official taxi at Fiumicino airport to go to central Rome: you'll pay a fixed price of €60 (instead of €48).  If you are travelling between an airport and somewhere outside the old walls (excepted other specific destinations like train stations) normal metered charges apply.

Many complaints about rip-offs arise from someone using a vehicle that is not an official taxi. Ignore touts who may approach you at an airport or train station, offering a "taxi" service. Follow the signs to the taxi rank, and use an official taxi.

THE VATICAN

Dress-code, no big bags or sharp items (knifes, umbrellas a.s.o)

Try to go in the afternoon between 1:30 - 2:00 pm.

High season is spring and autumn. Entrance closes at 4:00 pm, exit at 6:00 pm.

In low season, there is no need to book in advance (ticket 16,00 €, credit cards allowed), if you are going in the afternoon, with exception the days of the Christian feastdays and Italian civil holidays. You can book in advance for fast track entry in the Vatican on the following Official Website of the Vatican Museum. Ticket is 16,00 € + 4,00 € reservation

(Closed on Sunday and religious feasts: see website)

Need of an official guided tour of the Vatican, the Museum, it’s gardens and the archeological site of Via Triumphalis ? Contact me .....

f.vandenbroeke@me.com 

or Visit my Web-log: Religion

ANCIENT ROME

Where to buy a ticket to skip the line?  Try always to visit it in the morning. Be there at 8:30 am. If you are going to visit at least two museums in Rome maybe buy the RomaPass (see below)

There are 3 entrances where you can buy your ticket. No matter where you buy your ticket: If you are buying your ticket at The Foro Romano or the Palatine Hill, you can use the same ticket for skipping the line for the Colosseum. Ticket valid for 2 days

                                  

Entrance Foro Romano + Toilets outside entrance: Best place to buy your ticket without lines !!!

Entrance Colosseo: Everybody wants to enter at the same time: worst place to buy ticket: always queuing !!!!

Entrance Palatine Hill: Second choice entrance. Early mornings: no lines. Toilets inside

During the day, the best entrance remains “Foro Romano”. But you can always book in advance (12,00 € + 2,00 € reservation fee) to skip the line following this link: Reservation Colosseum - Roman Forum/Palatine

6 Steps to Visit on your own Ancient Rome:

Visit my Web-log: Ancient Rome  !!!

The GALLERIA BORGHESE: 12,00 €

I call it the icing on the cake. So beautiful. Unfortunately, only limited access. Therefore (also with RomaPass or OmniaPass) you have to book in advance calling (0039)06 328 101 and following the instructions. Keep a pencil by the hand for writing down the reference-code. Call a few weeks in advance. Best combination is with ancient Rome and Colosseum in the morning, lunch at Bar Capitolina and booking at 5:00 pm the Gallery Borghese. (be there 1/2 hour in advance !!!)

You can visit the Gallery Borghese (closed on Monday) at

9:00 am - 11:00 am - 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm.

You have exactly two hours to visit the museum.

The audio-guides are excellent and have to be rented on the spot itself. When during your visit, they suggest to press yellow for more info: Do it! That bottom gives you the gossip-stories.

Obligatory deposit of all kinds of bags (see below) and NO cameras are allowed. Be there 1/2 hour in advance to pick up your ticket. You can pay in cash or creditcards or using your RomaPass or OmniaPass (see below).

If at the last moment you decide not to visit, it will be considered as a no-show, and they will sell your reservation to a last arrival.

How to visit the gallery avoiding the crowds?

After purchasing ticket, follow arrow and wait in basement until they open the gate; take the steps to 2nd floor and go straight to room with picture:Amore Sacro e Profano (Tiziano). Start there and return slowly to steps, After 1 h. descent and visit 1st floor, entering by main-entrance. Have a nice visit. (in this way you are doing it in the reverse order!, avoiding tourists, Ahimé, who likes them?)

The SCAVI OF THE VATICAN, the buriel place of St. Peter: 13,00 €

Ticket Office hours: Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.; Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Closed Sundays and Vatican holidays

The last tour begins at 3:30 p.m. (4:15 p.m. from April - Sep.).   The tour lasts about 1 1/2 hours.

Being myself an official authorized guide of the Vatican, You can always request having me for conducting you in this Holy cemetery. (I conduct tours in English, Dutch, German, French and Italian)

The ROMA PASS : 34,00 €

    A visitor who intends to stay for more than a few days in Rome, however, should learn how to use the admirable system of public transport, which will carry you into every corner of the city at a fraction of the cost of a taxi. The “bus service” is, in fact, the cheapest thing in Rome. It is worth mastering, not only for obvious reasons, but also for the sense of triumph such an achievement brings with it. Some little ribbon, or medal, should be given by the Municipality to those strangers who acquire the technique of “bus travelling”: some first step towards the coveted privilege of honorary citizenship. (H.V.Morton, A traveller in Rome)

1. For those who are at least 3 days in Rome, and want to visit at least two museum (a.e. Ancient Rome and the Villa Borghese), it can be interesting to buy the Roma Pass. Buy them in the Metro (Subway A or B) or in the Tourist info stands in the city. You'll find them all over the city of Rome. Quite often, in the form of little green kiosks that litter the historical centre of Rome, that are staffed by friendly and very helpful people.
   

1. Valid for 3 days
   

1. The Coliseum (14,00 €) - skip the lines/also good for Roman Forum
   

2. Roman Forum & Palatine Hill (skip the lines) included Colosseum
   

3. Borghese Gallery (12,00 €)
   

4. All Public Transport for three days (16,50 €)
   

5. Free admission to the following museums: Museo della Repubblica Romana e della memoria garibaldina, Museo Bilotti a Villa Borghese, Museo Canonica, Museo delle Mura, Museo Napoleonico and Villa di Massenzio (during Roma Pass validity period and in addition to the 2 free admissions).
   

Doing this combination, in total you would spent 42,50 €, while the Roma Pass  is only 34,00 €. A bargain !

The OMNIA PASS : 90,00 €

More expensive, but includes also the Vatican Museum and the Hop-on-Hop-off open bus tour + guide book. For more info, click on

TOP ROME ATTRACTIONS

1. •Sistine Chapel & Vatican Museums
   

2. •St. Peter's Basilica
   

3. •Rome Bus Tour
   

4. •The Coliseum
   

5. •Roman Forum & Palatine Hill
   

6. •Capitoline Museums
   

7. •National Museum
   of Castel St. Angelo
   

8. •St. John in the Lateran
   and the Cloister
   

9. •St. Peter's Prison
   

10. •Borghese Gallery
    

I have to warn you: on TripAdviser a lots of people has complaints about the Omnia Pass. Of course, you can buy the above historical places on your own as explained.