Rome Tourist Information
Below you will find useful information that will help you plan your upcoming trip to Rome, Italy.
Weather in Rome, Italy
Rome's mild climate makes it popular to visit year-round; however, spring
and autumn are without doubt the best times to visit, with generally
sunny skies and mild temperatures (although late autumn, November, can
be rainy). Unfortunately, these times are also the peak tourist season,
when the tour buses pour in and tourists are herded around like cattle.
July and August are unpleasantly hot, and Romans traditionally desert
the stiflingly hot city in August, with many businesses closing; try
to avoid visiting at this time. From December to February there is briskly
cold weather, although it's rarely grey and gloomy.
See the five-day weather
forecast for Rome.
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Currency in Italy
Italy is one of the twelve members of the EU, and in January, 2002
the country converted to the Euro. Euro (€) = 100 cents. Notes
are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins
are in denominations of €2, 1 and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.
Please use the following Currency
Converter to learn more about the value of the Euro against other
currencies
Currency exchange: Travellers cheques, cheques and foreign money can
be changed at banks, railway stations and airports, and very often at
major hotels (generally at a less convenient rate).
Credit & debit cards: MasterCard, Diners Club and Visa are widely
accepted, but many small establishments - shops and restaurants only
accept cash. It is advisable to ask merchants if they accept credit
cards before trying to purchase items
Travellers cheques: Travellers cheques are accepted almost everywhere.
To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to
take travellers cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.
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How to get to Rome
The main airport is Leonardo da Vinci, also known as Fiumicino. The
other airport is Ciampino, where most domestic, and some international,
flights arrive. You can get a flight from just about anywhere in the
world to Rome. Departure tax is always prepaid with your air ticket
into or out of Italy.
Leonardo da Vinci (Fiumicino) airport is 26km (16mi) southwest of the
city. One of the most convenient ways to get into town is by the Leonardo
Express, the 30-minute Fiumicino-Stazione Termini direct train, which
runs half-hourly from the airport. You can also get a train from the
airport to Trastevere, Ostiense and Tiburtina. A night bus runs to Stazione
Tiburtina. If you're driving, an autostrada runs from the airport to
the city via EUR - it's a 45-minute drive and will cost you a small
fortune by taxi. Rome's other airport is Ciampino, about 20km (12mi)
southeast of the city. From there you can catch a LiLa/Cotral bus that
connects with a subway to Stazione Termini, or you can drive down the
Via Appia Nuova.
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Transportation in Rome
Buses run from various city bus stop to the Lazio region and from Stazione
Tiburtina to other destinations throughout Italy. Eurolines is the main
carrier for other European destinations, leaving from opposite Tiburtina.
There are regular train connections to all the major cities in Italy
and Europe from Termini station. Trains are comfortable and fast. The
main road connecting Rome to the north and south of Italy is the Autostrada
del Sole, which connects with the ring road circling the city.
Rome's buses, trams, subway and suburban railways are part of an integrated
system run by ATAC and Metrebus tickets cover all forms of transport.
Buy before you board though; there are hefty fines if you don't, even
for tourists. There's also a private network of J buses. Most of the
main buses terminate at the bus station outside Stazione Termini (where
you can get a map of the bus routes). The city's Metro service (which
is convenient for many of Rome's sights) has two lines, both of which
go through Termini. The above-ground rail network isn't much use to
most visitors.
Driving in Rome is the next best thing to suicide - especially on a
motorbike or moped. Most of the historic centre of Rome is closed to
normal traffic, although you will be allowed to drive to your hotel,
and parking is a nightmare. If you'd rather leave the driving to someone
else, you can pick up a cab from one of the city's many taxi ranks or
phone one any time of day. Be warned though, taxis are notoriously expensive,
and if you call a cab, the meter is turned on as soon as you call, rather
than when you are picked up. Cycling is hazardous, but possible - hills,
crazy drivers and cobblestones notwithstanding. The historic centre
of Rome is relatively small and quite manageable on foot. Wear your
comfortable shoes.
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