Walking is good, but riding is better

Travel tip: Rome is a walking city. However, after averaging six hours of walking the first few days, I find public transportation (buses, trams and the metro) in Rome to be very good and am relying on it more and more. The metrebus ticket costs 1 Euro. This ticket is valid for 75 minutes of travel almost anywhere in and around Rome, and you can change buses as many times as you want during that time. You are also allowed one subway journey during that period, using the same ticket. You can change trains as often as you need to during your one subway journey but you cannot leave a station and re-enter or enter another station on the same ticket. You MUST remember to punch your tickets in the little yellow punching machines at the entry barriers in stations, on the station platforms, or inside the buses (usually near the rear of the bus, on the left). Remember, you must KEEP THE TICKET WITH YOU for the duration of the journey as proof of payment. Also, after punching the ticket, LOOK then on the back of it to confirm that it has been correctly stamped with the time and date of travel. If it hasn't, you can still be spot-fined for fare-dodging. The fine is 51 Euros, cash, on the spot.

Since we will be in Roma for most of the month, we bought a Monthly Pass for 30 Euros. Keep in mind that even if your ticket is a season ticket for All-Day, Three-Day, Weekly, Monthly, or Yearly, you still MUST punch it in the turnstile machine, the FIRST time you use it. This validates it for the duration stated on the ticket, but there is no need to punch it again.

You can buy the tickets at any subway station or bar tabacchi, but you CANNOT buy them on the bus! You can't pay the driver - You have to have a ticket before you can get on a Rome bus, train, or tram. My advice, don’t bother with the ticket-selling machines (see my previous post). I find that you see all kinds of interesting people using public transportation. It's like going to the theater without having to dress up. I'm sure that I'm equally amusing to the other riders. Happy travels.