Transport & Accommodation in Rome

Amore Roma. Rome is one of the cities that everyone must visit at least once in their lifetime. And luckily enough I got the tickets to Rome as my birthday present. Our first visit to Rome was in January 2019, the low season month. Everyone warned me that Rome is super crowded, however I didn’t notice it in January, so I would recommend it as the perfect time to visit Rome. The weather was 14 degrees and sunny, so it was great for walking and enjoying the beauty of Rome. 

We fell in love with Rome so much that in July 2021 we booked a flat near the Vatican and stayed in Rome for a whole month. Therefore, we were able to see and try nearly everything in Rome, so I feel very confident to write this blog.

There is always so much to tell about a city (especially a city like Rome), that is why I separate my articles into 3 very useful parts:

Part 1: Transport and Accomodation in Rome

Part 2: Top Places to See in Rome

Part 3: Best Places to Eat in Rome

Extra: Best Coffee & Desserts in Rome

Staying in Rome

If you want to get an affordable room in central Rome you need to make sure you book it in advance. I really recommend staying in the central area as you can reach many sights by foot and cut out the travel costs. Plus, central Rome is just so beautiful to stay in and enjoy the little Italian streets.

Where we stayed for our weekend trip: Domus domas

Domus Domas are bed&breakfast apartments in central Rome, only minutes away from the Termini Station. We totally loved the location, as we could reach everything from here. The Colosseum was only a 15 minute walk from us and for further locations there was a metro right next to the entrance. The room had everything you need for a short stay, and breakfast is included in the price of the room. Worth mentioning, that breakfast is brought to your room and consists of juice, coffee and croissants.

We never spend too much time in the room so for us the apartment was good as it had a great location. However as for negatives, the sound isolation is quite poor and it might get quite loud at night, as there is always something going on outside in central Rome.

Price: 60 €/night in January

For longer stays: 

Airbnb now has a great price offer for people booking monthly stays, so we were able to get an apartment next to the Vatican for as low as 30 €/night. We stayed at XX. The location was a bit further away from the centre, but still reachable by foot in 20 minutes or by metro and bus next to our door. The apartment itself was big and had everything we needed, including cooking utensils, spices, shampoos and cleaning supplies. The host was really amazing and I would really recommend a stay. However as it is a bit further away from the city centre I would only recommend it for longer stays, as you don’t want to spend your limited time in Rome waiting for the bus to come (yes, Roman buses are very inconsistent). 

Area recommendations: When choosing a Hotel I would recommend booking it next to the main Trevi station or in the Rione VI Parione area, which is very central. I also love the Monti area, which is very central, but more quiet and with its own charming streets. I always find really affordable hotels on booking.com, and you can easily check the available options for your dates below in the map: 

map

Getting around Rome

Rome Public transport: Rome has a great public transport, so you can use buses, metro and trams to get around town. You can purchase a Rome transport pass which is an unlimited public ticket for 24 hours (7€), 48 hours (12.50€), 72hours (18€) or 7 days (24€). As we love walking we didn’t buy an unlimited ticket, but instead we bought Standard tickets when we needed them. A standard ticket costs 1.50€ and you can use it several times on buses and trams for 100 minutes after activating. However, you can only use it once for the metro.

If you are staying a longer time in Rome, you can also purchase a monthly card (35€). The card can be purchased at many ‘Tabacchi’ stores in town. You will also have to pay 3€ extra for the plastic card itself.

Tip: Make sure to activate your ticket in one of the yellow machines on the bus when starting your journey, otherwise you can be fined.

Getting from the Ciampino airport: There are two budget ways to get to town from CIA airport: by bus or by train. As soon as you exit the departure gate (still inside the airport), you will see multiple bus agency decks selling tickets to town. 

1. Terravision bus: A private bus company that has direct connection to the Termini station. Buses depart to Termini station every 30 minutes and the journey will take you around 40 minutes. One-way journey will cost you 6€ and two ways only 10€. You can even get the tickets cheaper if you purchase them online before at Terravision website.
2. ATAC: There is an ATAC ticket stand, which is the regional transport provider. Here you can buy a ticket for 1.50 € to reach the city centre. First you will need to take the 520 bus to the Tuscolana/Cinecitta station and there switch directly to the metro. The metro is line A and runs directly to the Termini station, Vatican, and Spanish steps. 

Getting from the Fiumicino airport: If you arrive at Fiumicino airport you also have quite a few options on how to get to the city. There is Leonardo da Vinci Express train that you can take directly from the airport to Termini station for 14€ one way. However, there is also a Regional train from the same station at only 8€, but it doesn’t stop at Termini. If you are living central you can stop at Stazione Ostiense and then walk or use the metro. There are also many buses, such as Terravision for 6€ one way and 10€ return. If you book it online in advance you can get it even cheaper.

Taxis: Taxis are usually my least favourite method of transportation as they are quite pricey, especially in Rome. The trip from Ciampino to central Rome starts at 44€, and 50€ from Fiumicino. Rome also has Uber, however there is only the Black or limos, which come with a hefty price tag. 

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For the best places to see in Rome and to try out local food in, see the next parts of my article:

Part 2: Top Places to See in Rome

Part 3: Best Places to Eat in Rome

Extra: Best Coffee & Desserts in Rome