Initial information
Taxis in Rome are white (though some guides to Rome write that there are also yellow taxis I haven’t seen any of those for years) and should have a taxi sign. Individual taxis can be identified by a code on the side doors. Usually this code consists of the name of a city, plus a number… Roma70, Firenze18, etc.
What to watch out for
Fiumicino Airport: After having picked up your luggage, after having gone through immigration and customs, you will enter the arrival hall and be welcomed by a men’s choir singing the word “taxi” at you, with the musical accompaniment of the jingle jangle of a bunch of key rings. These are not licensed taxi drivers and ought to be ignored. Just follow the signs to the regular taxi stand, but before you get in, make sure that you will not be paying more than the fixed price of 40 Euros to the center of Rome.
Roma Termini station: At each exit a number of men will be waiting for you, with a similar set of keys and singing the same word. These are not licensed taxi drivers and must be ignored.
Ciampino Airport: You will not be approached by anyone. At the far end of the square in front of the exit you will find the taxi stand. Although this stand is regular, the way things work is not: You will be asked where you want to go, and the first guy will quote you a price way more than the 30 Euro fixed price to the center of town. If you wait long enough sometimes one of the cab drivers will actually accept you for the regular fare.
Hailing a taxi: This is actually, strangely enough, often very difficult. You will often see several drivers ignore you before one of them will stop.
An overview of the rates
The rates below have not changed since January 2nd, 2008. At the moment, however, there is talk of an imminent price hike, though nothing exact has been announced yet.
| Weekdays: Meter will start at (7AM – 10PM) | Euro 2,80 |
| Sun- and Holidays: Meter will start at (7AM – 10PM) | Euro 4,00 |
| Nighttime: Meter will start at (10PM – 7AM) | Euro 5,80 |
| Hourly tariff (below 20 Km/h) | Euro 23,70/h |
| Rate per kilometer (speed over 20 Km/h, within G.R.A.*) | Euro 0,92 |
| Rate per kilometer (speed over 20 Km/h, outside G.R.A.*) | Euro 1,52 |
| Amount extra per click | Euro 0,10 |
* G.R.A. stands for Grande Raccordo Anulare, the ringroad around Rome.
Luggage
The first item of luggage is free. (This will probably change soon and you will have to pay 1 Euro for the first piece as well, if bigger than cm. 0,35 x 0,25 x 0,50.) For every extra item you will pay 1 Euro. This luggage surcharge is not applicable when going to or arriving from Ciampino and Fiumicino.
Ciampino Airport
Arriving from, or traveling to Ciampino Airport there is a fixed rate of 30 Euros, on the condition that the departure point or destination is within the ancient Aurelian Walls. This rate is the same whatever time of day it is, whatever day of the year, however many passengers (no more than 4 for a normal sized taxi, though) and however many items of luggage. (This fixed price will soon be raised to 35 Euros, though no exact date is known yet.)
Fiumicino Airport
Arriving from, or traveling to Fiumicino Airport there is a fixed rate of 40 Euros, on the condition that the departure point or destination is within the ancient Aurelian Walls. This rate is the same whatever time of day it is, whatever day of the year, however many passengers (no more than 4 for a normal sized taxi, though) and however many items of luggage. (This fixed price will soon be raised to 45 Euros, though no exact date is known yet.)
Calling a taxi company
For calls through Radio Taxi inside the G.R.A.: When you call a company you will first be put on hold. The operator will then tell you how long you will have to wait. In theory they would also have to inform you of the maximum initial amount allowed on the meter at your departure point (see below), but they never do. Also in theory, if the amount on the meter exceeds the price you were told by the operator, the difference would have to be subtracted from the final bill when you arrive at your destination.
Some numbers you can call: 06 3570; 06 6645; 06 5551. (If you are calling with a non-Italian cell phone you will have to dial +39 first, and then leave off the initial 0, so for the first number you would call +3963570.)
- If the taxi is expected to arrive in less than 5 minutes from the moment you call – 2 Euro.
- If the taxi is expected to arrive less than 10 minutes from the moment you call – 4 Euro.
- If the taxi is expected to arrive more than 10 minutes from the moment you call – 6 Euro.
The conclusion to be drawn here is that the worse the service, the more you will have to pay!
For rides that have their starting point outside the G.R.A. the operator is obliged to inform you of both your expected waiting time and the expected rate the meter will indicate when the taxi arrives at your departure point.
Discounts
- There is a 10% discount for rides that have a hospital in Rome as their destination.
- There is a 10% discount for women traveling alone between 9PM and 1AM.
Surcharges
- Stazione Termini: There is a 2 Euro surcharge (to be added at the end of the ride) when your departure point is the main railway station Termini. This surcharge is not to be applied when your destination is one of the two airports Fiumicino and Ciampino.
- Passengers: A normal sized taxi is not supposed to carry more than 4 passengers For bigger card there is a surcharge of 1 Euro per passengers from the 5th one onwards.
