Tripyo

They say All the roads lead to Rome. This is definitely true, since Rome has excellent connections to the rest of Italy and Europe. You can get here by plane, car, train, bus and even boat.

Rome has two airports. The main one is Fiumicino. It is modern and has very good connections to the city center during the day. The best way to get in the city is to use the train. Leonardo Express trains will take you directly to the city center, to the main station called Termini. The trip takes half an hour. Tickets cost about €14 and must be validated before boarding. The Metropolitan train will take you to Tiburtina, Ostiense or Trastevere stations. You can further connect from these stations by tram or underground to other areas in the city. This train costs only about €6. Some bus services also connect Fiumicino to the city. Buses are the only means of transport during the night. You may also choose a taxi, a ride is about €40.

Colosseum is one of the most famous landmarks in Rome. This amphiteatre was used in ancient Rome for gladiator contests, animal fights and other public events. It could accomodate about 50,000 spectators. The construction was started under the rule of Emperor Vespasian in about 70-72 AD. The construction was finished under his son, Titus, in 80 AD. The Colosseum is very impressive when you look at it both from the outside and the inside. Even if it got pretty damaged in fires and earthquakes, millions of tourists come to admire it every year. Queues can be very long, so it is better to buy tickets from Palatine Hill and then go inside on a separate queue, not waiting in the tickets line anymore.

Driving in Rome is far from being a pleasure, as the city is crowded and people drive very fast. Romans are very skilled, but this doesn't mean accidents don't happen. They don't have patience with others, so will let you know by using their horn when you do something wrong. When the traffic light goes amber, they accelerate in order to get out of the intersection faster. Be careful when breaking, as you might get hit. The golden rule in Rome: don't assume other drivers will obey rules in traffic. They look like they don't care.

Rome has a very good public transport network, since it has developed as a very popular tourist city. The underground has not so many lines like other capital cities do, but buses take you virtually anywhere.

The bus is the main means of transport in Rome. The network is made up of a large number of lines. Unlike other cities, buses are reliable, but tend to be crowded. If not absolutely necessary, you should avoid traveling by bus at rush hours. Buses don't use lanes separated from other traffic, so you will spend a lot of time in them. It may take up to 15 minutes to get over the traffic jam at Termini station! Night buses are also reliable and useful to get home after a late party.

Rome is a great place for shopping, with department stores all over the city. There are some famous shopping areas in Rome that you should not miss.

Piazza di Spagna – Via dei Condotti is an ancient street, where you can find now the shops of all famous Italian designers like Armani, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Prada, Valentino and others.

Via del Corso lies between Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Venezia. It is very popular among tourists due to the Ferrari store and Swarowski Crystal shop.