Page 384 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Rome

382  SUR VIV AL GUIDE
GETTING AROUND ROME

Rome’s center is compact and, even on a rented Vespa. Traveling by bus
though walking absolutely everywhere and streetcar can be very slow, so use
would be over-ambitious, it is a city in over land public transportation only when
which you can spend much of your time you have a long way to go. The Metro,
on foot. As the main streets in the center designed to connect the suburbs with
are usually clogged with traffic, driving the center, has no stops in the historic
and cycling cannot be recommended, city center near the Pantheon or Piazza
but courageous motorbike or scooter Navona, though it is certainly the swiftest
riders can have great fun buzzing around way of crossing the city.
Green Travel Walking around the center Aside from some small
As the largest and most is pleasant, so if you want to electric minibuses (like the
advanced city of the ancient enjoy the warm sunshine and 116 and 119), no buses can run
world, Rome was the first to avoid public transportation, through the narrow streets of
face (and combat) air pollution make sure you wear sturdy, the historic center. But there are
from burning wood. comfortable shoes. It plenty of bus routes to take you
The fight against smog is a good idea to find within a short walk of the main
continues today, as accommodations sights (see inside back cover).
many Romans rely in a pedestrian- Bus stops list the details of
exclusively on their friendly area if you routes taken by all buses using
cars. Car-sharing want to cover the that stop. Night buses are
schemes, city- center on foot. Areas indicated by an “N”.
owned bicycles such as Trastevere, There are several streetcars
and some (but Celio, or around the in the city but the only main
not enough) bike Piazza Navona and line of tourist interest is the 8,
lanes, electric-car Via del Corso are which runs from Piazza Venezia
charging stations, packed with sights, to Casaletto, going through
and car-free Sundays restaurants, and Trastevere and Monteverde.
(in the springtime) Bus stop listing details boutiques. The Muoversi a Roma website
are among the of routes served and app is useful for calculating
initiatives. Video waiting times.
cameras prevent unauthorized Buses and Streetcars
cars from entering the centro Rome’s public transportation
storico, where many bus lines company is ATAC (Azienda Using Buses and
Streetcars
(three of which are electric) Tramvie e Autobus del Comune
cover almost everything there di Roma). Scores of buses The main terminus is on Piazza
is to see. Though often busy and and a few streetcars cover most dei Cinquecento outside Termini
chaotic, public transportation is parts of the city. Most run from station, but there are other
always a better option than early morning until midnight, major route hubs throughout
driving, and some used bus meaning the last bus leaves the city, most usefully those at
tickets will buy you dis counted from the end of the line at Piazza del Risorgimento and
entry to selected exhibitions midnight. There are also a few Piazza Venezia. Information can
(see instructions on the ticket). night buses. be obtained from ATAC kiosks,
the customer service office, or
the ATAC website. You should
board the bus at the front or the
back; the central door is reserved
for people getting off. You must
stamp your ticket in the yellow
machine on the bus. Timed
tickets, biglietto integrato a
tempo (BIT), can be used on all
means of transportation. Buses
and streetcars are often
overcrowded, and you may
have to stand for all of your
journey. Beware of pickpockets,
especially on the more central
lines, and when standing in
A modern streetcar taking passengers through the city front of the exit door.

US_382-383_EW_Rome_US.indd 382 15/03/17 4:23 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Directory Listing template (Source v1) “UK” LAYER
Date 9th August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm