Destinations > Italy > Rome > Coming & Going

Rome (Roma)

Coming & Going

TRAIN

Rome's main train station is Stazione Termini (metro Termini), chances are that you will arrive here, although some trains arrive at Stazione Ostiense (metro Piramide) and Tiburtina (metro Tiburtina). Stazione Termini has trains to most Italian and international destinations and virtually everyone passes through this station. This main station is a huge place with loads of facilities in a central location, although some Romans claim that the neighbourhood is a little seedy.

Generally Ostiense and Tiburtina have mostly local and suburban trains including some airport services, however long-distance trains sometimes use Stazione Tibertina, particularly those arriving or departing late at night or in the early morning when Stazione Termini is closed. Both stations are also on the line from Genoa, Pisa and Naples. Although both stations are connected to Termini by metro, late at night you'll need to take a night bus 20N, 21N or 40N to get between these stations.

BUS

Domestic bus services to many Italian destinations depart from the bus terminal at Piazzale Tiburtina in front of Stazione Tiburtina, however this is far from a central bus station and some bus companies depart from other places including Stazione Termini or just random streets in the city centre. Some travel agents and information centres, including Enjoy Rome (website www.enjoyrome.com), can book tickets so you don't need to go roaming all over town to the various bus stations.

AIR

Rome is served by two airports with most long-haul flights arriving at Fiumicino (Leonardo Da Vinci) Airport. The smaller Ciampino Airport has mainly charter flights and regional European flights including some budget airlines.

Fiumicino (Leonardo Da Vinci) Airport (website www.adr.it/default.asp?L=3) is in Fiumicino, about 30 kilometres from the city centre. Because it is Rome's major airport, it has better facilities and transport connections, even though Ciampino is located much closer to the city centre. There is an express rail service (€9.50) to Termini station and also a slower train (€5) that goes to Ostiense and Tiburtina stations. The slower trains stop at several stations in the suburbs and are cheaper and a good alternative to the express if you're not staying near Stazione Termini. Terravision (website www.lowcostcoach.com) run an express coach between Fiumicino Airport and Termini station, which costs €7 one-way or €12 return.

A lot of European charter flights as well as some scheduled flights arrive at Ciampino Airport (website www.adr.it/default.asp?L=3) to the south east of the city centre. Although there is a train station near Ciampino Airport, it is generally easier to take the metro to Anagnina station and transfer to the Schiaffini bus (website www.schiaffini.com) to the airport (€1). Leave plenty of time as the bus runs at half-hourly intervals, hourly during summer. The express Terravision bus (website www.lowcostcoach.com) between Ciampino Airport and Termini station is an easier option; fares are €8 one-way or €14 return.

HITCHHIKING

Rome is surrounded by a orbital motorway called the Grande Raccordo Anulare (GRA), there are several motorways which join up with the GRA although only two of these actually penetrate the GRA to come anywhere near central Rome. These two are the autostrada to Fiumicino Airport which also joins the A12 to Civitavecchia and the A24 autostrada to Abruzzo and the Adriatic Coast. Unfortunately these two roads aren't going anywhere where most backpackers want to go to.

Generally if you can get to the point where a motorway begins then you're at a fairly good hitch-hiking spot, however when the major motorways join up with a ring road then you have to first get onto the ring road and hope the traffic is going where you want. The good news is that there are a few major roads which head out to the GRA with most traffic bound for a specific autostrada.

If you're heading north to Florence, you'll want to get to the spot where Via Salaria meets the GRA, this will have a lot of traffic bound for the A1 autostrada. To get here, take bus 319 from Stazione Termini to Piazza Vescovio and transfer to bus 135. Once you get to Via Salaria, find a good spot to pick up a north-bound lift.

Heading south to Naples, you'll want to get on the A2 autostrada. Take the metro to Anagnina and wait on Via Tuscolana.

It's a good idea to use a sign indicating which autostrada you want to travel on. Also remember that like most other countries, it is illegal to hitchhike on motorways although it is OK at service areas and before the on-ramp.

If you don't mind paying to have someone arrange a lift for you, you could try contacting the International Lift Centre (tel (06) 055 28 06 26).

BUG Ride (website http://europe.bugride.com) is our own web-based ride sharing service, it allows travellers to both offer lifts and search for rides throughout Europe. This is a free service which links travellers to drivers - you contact the driver by email when you have found the ride you want.