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The historic centre of Rome is compact and
manageable on foot and most of it is closed to normal traffic.
Driving in Rome is an experience to be avoided so if arriving by
car it's best to park it and use public transport to get around.
The network of buses, trams, metro and trains covers the whole
city from 5.30am to midnight (metro to 11.30pm) and night buses
take over until about 5am covering the main routes. The metro
only has two lines, but is the easiest and fastest way to get
around and is convenient for several attractions. The bus
service is cheap and reliable, albeit slow due to traffic
congestion. Tickets cover all forms of transport and must be
pre-purchased and validated at the start of every journey; there
are daily tickets valid for unlimited rides, or standard tickets
valid for one metro ride or 75 minutes on buses. Taxis are
notoriously expensive and display a list of surcharges; they are
difficult to find on the streets or even at taxi stands and are
best ordered by the hotel concierge or at restaurants. Note that
the meter gets switched on immediately so the time it takes to
arrive is added to the bill. If hailing one on the street use
only the official yellow and white taxis, make sure the meter is
on and have small change handy. The 110 Open is a bus service
that stops at all the city's main sights, departing from Termini
Station square every 20 minutes.
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