My fiance, my cousin and I are travelling to Rome in June, and will be arriving in Rome on Sunday, June 6, about 11:30am.

Question 1: We have arranged for the Roma Shuttle to pick us up at the airport and deliver us to our apartment, but I'm wondering what to do about transportation from the apartment back into the center, once we've freshened up and are ready to do a little exploring. We are staying north of the Tiber, on Corso Francia in the Vigna Clara district, so walking in isn't really an option. And though there are plenty of buses that run past the apartment, everyone says it's impossible to buy bus tickets on a Sunday! Are there exceptions to this rule in more "residential" neighborhoods?

Question 2: I've just read that June 6 is a national holiday (Festa della Repubblica) -- will this further impact public transport on that day, or is are things likely to be running on a regular Sunday schedule?

Thanks!

I "think" Festa della Repubblica is Wednesday, June 2nd. There is another thread here somewhere on that holiday - couldn't get search to work this morning. It is a newer holiday, and as to what is open, closed, buses, etc is still kind of uncertain.

Here's the linkto the previous thread aout the Festa della Repubblica - but I believe Bill's correct, it's June 2.

If your apartment is situated in a residential neighbourhood, you should be able to find a giornalaio (newsagent) open. Tickets can also be bought at tobacconists, but these are more likely to be closed on Sunday.

Would newsstands at the airport sell bus tickets, if you remember to stop there while jet-lagged? A day pass (biglietto BIG or biglietto giornaliero) would be the cost of four rides; consider if you want to take more than one round trip. Considering another thread, a pass would make it easier to take a bus rather than cross the busy streets around Piazza Venezia.

I know I shouldn't say this -- but, a lot of people in Rome ride bus without tickets. I know I am a terrible advisor, but I won't lose sleep over getting a bus ticket.

Bubba, that was my first thought too until I remembered Mary from AOL's experience w/ being "taken downtown" b/c she rode the bus with a ticket but forgot to stamp it.

Thanks for all the great advice! I assumed June 6 was the Festa della Repubblica because it is listed as such in the book "Culture Shock! Rome at Your Door" -- but clearly I should have searched the SlowTrav message boards first!

In my student days I would probably have gambled on travelling without a ticket, but since we'll be acting in loco parentis for my much younger cousin, I figure I ought to at least try to set a good example!

(Besides, it would be just my luck that our first day in Rome would start off with a "trip downtown" accompanied by a 100-euro fine...!)

I'm making a note to myself right now to check the giornalaio at FCO, to see if we can score some tickets before we head into town. Anyone ever done this?

It occurs to me since you're renting an apartment - I wonder if it would be too outlandish a request to ask the agent to pick up 3 daily tickets for ahead of time.

If we were renting the apartment, asking the agent to lend us a hand would be a great idea! However, this will be a home exchange. (Hence the residential location -- and the GREAT price!! )

The apartment owner actually lives in Prague, and only visits Rome a couple of times a year -- so we can't ask him to pick up bus tickets for us, either, since he won't be in town prior to our arrival. Thus the dilemma. (For the record, I did ask him this question -- about bus tickets -- and he just laughed and apologized and said he hadn't bought a bus ticket in years, since he always uses his car when he's in town, or risks the ticket-less ride... )

I have to believe that there is a tabacchi or some other shop that will be selling bus tickets at Fiumicino....or there may well be a machine that dispenses bus tickets.

I was just looking at the ATAC site and they have a list of all the "punti vendita" where you can buy bus tickets as well as an 800 number to call to find out locations of the 300 ticket machines.

http://www.atac.roma.it/biglietti/index.asp?A=2&S=22&LNG=1&PR=1


There appears to be one place that sells bus tickets on or near the airport...the name of the establishmnent is Simone Firetti and the phone number is 066529001. According to the web site, the establishment is a tabaccaio and it is located 550 meters from the terminal--maybe in the train station?

Perhaps one of our Rome members could call the number and check it out.

If all else fails, ask the Roma Shuttle folks to buy some tickets for you or at least to drive past a large bus stop that would have machines enroute to your home share.

Ain't the internet amazing?

A home exchange, cool - someday I'd like to learn more about that.

Jim -- Yes, the internet IS amazing -- and so are you! Thanks for sharing your impressive research skills and providing all that great information.

And Kim -- we're very enthusiastic about the home exchange thing -- this will be our 6th exchange, and we've had nothing but positive experiences. Of course the financial savings are wonderful, but we also love the opportunity to sort of "try on" another culture for awhile by living in a (usually) non-touristy location in a foreign country. I won't go on further here, but e-mail me directly some time if you'd like more information.