Travel Guides: All Countries / Europe / Italy / Rome
 |  | Fact File : Rome |
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| | | Rome | | Did you know?
You can apply for an audience with the Pope himself on Wednesdays at 11am in the Vatican.
Language
Italian
Visas
None required from the UK.
Getting there
Fly from most UK airports to one of Rome's two airports. Leonardo da Vinci (Fiumicino) has a train line connecting the airport to the air terminal; Ciampino airport is connected to the city Termini Station by train and buses that go outside the city limits.
Flying time from London
Two hours
Getting around
ATAC, the Roman urban transport society, manages the subways, trams and buses. There are two subway lines: A crosses the city from the west to the Vatican; B connects the east with the EUR, crossing A near Termini Station. ATAC offices have travel maps and a Romapass, for three days of travel throughout the network. Many sights are within walking distance.
Currency
Euro
Costs
As a rough guide: small beer £2.50, roll of camera film £2.50-£3.20, average meal £15, taxi journey of four miles £10, litre of petrol 65p.
Weather
April to June and September to October are the best times, when the weather is good, prices are low and there are fewer tourists. Late July and August is very hot, prices rise and Italy teems with holidaymakers. Average temperatures in summer are 22-30C/70-85F and in winter 10-17C/50-65F.
Time difference
One hour ahead of GMT
International dialling code from the UK
00 39 06
Voltage
220V 50Hz, but some places still use 125V - check with your hotel or landlord.
Opening hours
Shops open at 8am, shut at 1pm for a long lunch and reopen at 3/4pm till 7/8pm evening. Banks open 8.30am-1.30pm and 2.45-4.30pm Mon-Fri.
Health - Before you go
No jabs needed. The UK has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Italy, but you'll need an EHIC form (from a UK post office).
Health - When you are there
A new law states that all foreigners have the same right as Italians to emergency healthcare, and taking your E111 form means you'll have good access. Take the form to a Unita Sanitaria Locale office, which will give you the information. But as many Italian public hospitals are underfunded you may prefer to have travel insurance, so that you can get into a private clinic.
Warnings
Pickpockets and bag-snatchers are the main problems for travellers in Rome. Keep all your belongings in a money belt. Lone women can be hassled severely - including being followed by men on scooters or in cars.
Emergency
Police, Tel 113. British Embassy, Via XX Settembre 80a, Tel. 06 482 5441.
Customs
Siestas are the norm so expect shops to shut between 1-4pm. There are strict dress codes for places of worship all over Italy, so cover up. Italians take a lot of trouble to look good, they expect it from others and like to admire the results of all that hard grooming - by staring. Always greet the shopkeeper/bar/cafe owner when you enter, in Italian.
Pets
Italy is part of the Pet Travel Scheme, however there are strict requirements to fulfil before taking a pet on holiday. Check with your vet for details.
Tipping
You are not expected to tip on top of restaurant charges or taxi fares.
Tourist office
Italian State Tourist Board: 1 Princes St, London W1R 8AY, Tel. 020 7408 1254. Brochure line: 09001 600 280 (calls cost 60p per minute).
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