Maps You Need for Rome

Maps You Need for Rome

Rome is not by any means what one would call a “small city”, getting around by foot, however, is a lot more efficient than you might think. Considering the city scape is a lot flatter that most others in Europe, walking of hours doesn’t feel like as much of a mission.

A good map will always come in handy, and in Rome there are a few that travelers should have access to at all times, regardless of if you’re using transport of moving by foot .

Essentially, these are all the maps I wish I’d had with me during my first visit to Rome.

Transport Maps for Rome

The most popular mode of transport in Rome is definitely the metro and tram system, however the ancient center of the city is a no go for metro trains and needs to be accessed with alternate modes of transport.

Uber in Rome is popular amongst tourists in Rome, but there are some things to note about this service in this part of the world.

Rome – by Mauricio Artieda – Unsplash

In order to keep things fair on the streets of the Italian capital, only Uber Black services are on offer. This is an attempt to keep the original street taxis of the city in business so that they don’t lose their income due to app convenience.

So if you choose to Uber over a taxi ride in Rome, be prepared to pay quite a bit more for the journey than you usually would. Alternatively, just support the taxis as they try to make an honest living.

Metro

Italians in Rome will refer to the metro as the Metropolitana. The metro is available to the public seven days a week between 5:30am and 11.30pm; on Saturdays it runs until after midnight.

The Roman metro connects most of the city through three simple lines; a green, a red and a blue. The green line is the one you’ll use to get between the city and the airport.

Single ride tickets will cost you €1.50 and can be bought at any of the metro stations prior to the trains arrival. Alternatively one can purchase a 24 hour unlimited ride ticket for €7; these are ideal if you intend to do a day of sightseeing all over the city center.

If you’re going to be in Rome for a while, then the 7 day metro pass is highly recommended. This gives you access to the metro, trams and busses of Rome for just €24.

Sourced from the City of Rome

Tram

A far more comprehensive city coverage of Rome comes in the form of the city trams. There are six lines that span over 192 tram stations scattered around the city of Rome. The system covers around 40km of surface area.

A ride on a tram costs the same as a ride on the metro. The 24 hour and 7 day passes are also valid for use over the tram system.

Sourced from the City of Rome

Busses

The bus system in Rome covers far more surface area than the metro and trams are able to, but there are still certain streets in the ancient center that full sized busses aren’t able to travel on.

In these parts, there are smaller busses that commuters can take if walking is absolutely not an option.

The bus rides in Rome cost the same as the tram and metro, and tickets are purchased at metro stations, tobacconists and certain bars around the city. Again, if you’ll be in Rome for a while the definitely opt for the 24 hour or 7 day passes; you’ll save a lot of money.

Sourced from the City of Rome

Trains

In addition to the metro, busses and trams in the city center, Rome also has a complex system of railway trains that run from Termini Station out into greater Italy.

You’ll have to make use of these trains if you plan to do any day trips out of Rome; for example, visiting Tivoli in the east or the beaches in the west require railroad transport (assuming you don’t have a car).

This is also how one would get from Rome to other major cities around the country. Catching the speed train to Milan, Venice or Florence, for example, can prove to be much cheaper than buying a flight.

Day trip tickets from Rome can be bought on the spot; train tickets to get to other Italian cities should be booked well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Sourced from the City of Rome

Neighborhood Map for Rome

A good idea during your first day or two in Rome is to take a guided walking tour through the city. This will give you a clearer undertaking of how the center is laid out and how each district works.

Rome is broken up into a bunch of distinct zones or neighborhoods. Each one has its own character, with specific attractions and interests to offer. You may venture one evening looking for great nightlife but find nothing of the sort where you are; this simply means you’re in the wrong zone and need to get to a different neighborhood.

The following is a basic map of where one area stops and the next starts.

Sourced from the City of Rome

Best neighborhoods for nightlife in Rome: Trastevere, Testaccio, San Lorenzo, Campo de’ Fiori

Best neighborhoods for ancient attractions in Rome: Tridente, Monti, San Giovanni

Best neighborhoods for eating out in Rome: Centro Storico, Monti, Pigneto

Best neighborhoods for shopping in Rome: Tridente, Centro Storico, Prati,

Best neighborhoods for nature in Rome: Aventino, San Giovanni