Italy's train that flys - 362 km/hr and other Rome, Italy Transportation Tips

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Eurostar AV Fast, together with all other Eurostar services, are the cream of the Italian train services, a network of high-speed premier trains connecting Italy’s main cities and towns. Enjoy first rate customer service and beautiful scenery during your superfast, comfortable journey across Italy. All coaches are air conditioned and pressurized; please remember that smoking is forbidden on all Italian trains.

Sample travel times:

Milan - Venice: 2 hours 20 minutes
Rome - Milan: 3 hours 30 minutes
Rome - Venice: 3 hours 59 minutes
Bologna - Milan: 1 hour 5 minutes
Rome - Naples: 1 hour 21 minutes
Reservations are always compulsory on all ES* Italia services and your fare includes the cost of the ticket, the supplement fee and the reservation fee for your allocated seat.

If you are buying a pass rather than a city-to-city ticket please be aware that your pass does not include any reservation and you have to make one either via our website or once you arrive in Italy in order to board these trains.

Services Onboard the ES* Italia
Passengers travelling in 1st Class will receive a ‘welcome onboard’ service, which includes a small snack and a hot or cold drink served at your seat; on morning trains a daily newspaper will be offered to you. Assistance is provided to all passengers with disabilities.

Eurostar Italia trains are operated by different train types, the top of the range being the ES* AV Fast and ES* AV; and the others being the ES* Fast, ES* Italia and ES* City

The version ETR 500 Y1 achieved 362 km/h on the Bologna-Florence line on 4 February 2009, a new world speed record in a tunnel.[
Until 30th September 2009 the Super Offer-60% lets you travel with a discount of about 60% in 2nd class only (with the exception of the Milan-Rome section, for which a differentiated discount applies). You can buy it at least 30 days in advance and only: on their website, through our Call Center (fee-paying numbers) and with the ticketless procedure also from the approved travel agencies.
The offer is valid on the following trains and connections:

AV/AV Fast: from Milan to Rome and to Naples and return.
ES* Fast: from Rome to Venice Mestre/S.Lucia, Padova, Verona, Genoa , Rimini, Bari, Brindisi, Lecce, Lamezia T., Reggio C., Villa S. Giovanni and return.

Leave a Comment

Website: http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=052a89d7de740210VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD
Other Contact: Trenitalia promotions

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: You will see this big red double decker tour bus right outside Termini at Piazza dei Cinquecento. Although this is officially a tour bus, it could serve you very well with a 2 day pass for transportation in Rome. You board and are free to exit and re-board at any of the major stops along the way. Great photo ops from the top deck also. Do check their website where you have English language and all the detail you could want.
110 open + archeobus
€ 20,00
bus ticket valid 2 days
110 open + polo museale*
€ 20,00
bus ticket valid 1 day museum ticket valid 5 days
110 open + polo museale* + archeobus
€ 25,00
bus ticket valid 2 days museum ticket valid

Leave a Comment

Website: http://www.trambusopen.com/index.cfm?area=home

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: These are the spiffiest new buses in Rome!! You can conveniently buy your ticket right there on the bus so you won't see those transportation ticket-enforcers here. Plus, I've never seen it too crowded and it arrives/departs often. The #116 is my daily ticket to ride as the it starts/ends at Via Veneto/Villa Borghese and it goes all through the best stops in the historic center - Barbarini, Spagna, Tritone (for Trevi), Via del Corso, Campo di Fiori, Via Guilia (at the Tiber where you will pass underneath the specatacular ivy covered bridge of Michaelangelo), then crosses over the bridge just below Castel Sant Angelo and ends by the Vatican/Gianicolo - its a lovely ride to then hop on the nearby bus going up to the top of Gianocolo.
My fabvorite electric bus winds all through Villa Borghese and circles near the Borghese Museum - exits Villa Borthese at San Paolo del Brasile (Via Veneto) before arriving at the last stop around the corner. A bus ride in Rome doesn't get any better than this. I don't like the Metro - use it only in NY where I have to - but here is a good deal in Rome for 16 Euro you get a week's pass on public transportation.

Leave a Comment

Website: http://www.cotralspa.it/eng/biglietti_abbonamenti_3.asp

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Not only does this novel little gadget get you there - you meet so many curious people along the way. These three young people were having a ton of fun with everyone on Via del Corso as they weaved in and out of crowds and cars. No problem negotiating the traffic and people - only thing that slowed them down was being stopped along the way by all the friendly on-lookers (including me). This is called the Segway and you can rent one in Piazza del Popolo close to Bar Rosati - with an organized tour or on your own. If you took this for the day I'm not sure how you would lock it up if you wanted to go inside somewhere?? I'll update here when I find out...........

Price 1/2 hour 8 € - 1 hour 15 € - Day 60 €

Leave a Comment

Phone: 380 301 2913
Other Contact: e-Mail: info@segwayroma.net

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bicycle
Getting TO/AROUND: Oops - OK, guys - we're talking about bicycle models here!
Villa Borghese is huge and you can give those weary feet a break - or at least a peddle instead of a pounding - on one of the bikes available for rent in the park.
I've seen people buzzing all around Villa Borghese in various bikes available from 2 different bike rental locations. The preferred shop is the one on Viale di Villa Medici - just for the neat looking office they have there. People have a great time on these vehicles and, of course, you can (and really should) spend an entire afternoon in the park to enjoy the stunning array of art, nature and archetecture. These people also have the best little maps of the entire park.
Two bike rental locations - Viale di Villa Medici or Viale Goethe
Viale di V Medici has the neatest little office building.

Leave a Comment

Phone: 06 6784374

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: I have noticed that they have passenger boat transportation along the Tevere and I'm told that there are 8 (9 if you count Ostia) station stops - 1 Euro. Looks like fun!
The cruise to Ostia is only 11 Euro - There are a selection of dinner and wine cruises available also. Some are bookable on-line.
For the special tourist ride - you can sail from Sant'Angelo dock towards Tiberina Island continuing then up to Risorgimento Bridge. This is your opportunity to re-study 2750 years of history.
The service provides 4 daily departures: at 09:30, 11.00 a.m; 12.30 a.m; 04.00 p.m; 5.30 p.m
The duration of the tour is 1 hour and 10 minutes and the cost is 10 Euro.
The service operates all year round, holidays included, except for circumstances beyond control.

Leave a Comment

Phone: 066789361
Website: http://www.battellidiroma.it

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Motorcycle
Getting TO/AROUND: Scooter city - OK, no more jokes about how Italian drive - I have to say that they drive quite well - I have been "missed" by more motorcyclists than I could ever count!
Note that this is classified as "Other Adventure/Outdoor"

Leave a Comment

Other Contact: Streets of Roma

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: When purchasing train tickets to cities in Italy, it is most helpful to know the Italian name of your destination city - Florence is "Firenze", Milan is "Milano", Rome is "Roma", etc. If you do not speak Italian, you can bring your map with you when purchasing tickets and point to your destination. You do need the correct Italian name if purchasing your tickets from the automatic purchasing machines at major train stations.

Leave a Comment

Website: http://www.trenitalia.com/

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: In Rome, the historic centre has restricted access to private and rental cars, but vehicles with foreign registration plates are allowed in for visitors to reach their hotels. Traffic police will require the name of the hotel and possibly a pass previously provided by the hotel before allowing a vehicle through.

Throughout the country (but particularly in Rome and the other larger cities) Italians drive very close to the rear of the car in front (tailgating). They will also fill any available space in traffic, giving the impression to visiting drivers that they are being deliberately 'cut off'. This, and the way they dodge around pedestrians crossing the street, can prove disturbing to some visitors. Surprisingly, there are very few accidents for the concentration of traffic because everyone seems to obey the same unwritten rules and traffic moves steadily. Taking literally the maxim 'When in Rome', it is probably better to 'do as the Romans do', keep calm and watch the car in front.

To drive in Italy, visitors require a valid EU driving licence or International Driving Permit. It is possible for non-EU drivers to use a valid licence from their home country, but without an authorised Italian translation there can be problems.

Leave a Comment

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: If at all possible, take the little mini bus that you will see in Piazza San Francisco in Trastevere - this bus is at least half the size of the other buses you will see in Rome. When you ride this route, you will understand why - it will take you through the narrow streets of Trastevere and along the Tevere - just a charming ride - especially for those of us who are walk-weary in Rome! It is best seen in early evening when people are out in the little cafes. Below is the Fermata (bus stop) and a good description of the route - partly along the Tevere.

Leave a Comment