Frequently Asked Questions About Local Public Transportation

How do I get a train from Albano to Rome and from Rome back to Albano Laziale?

During your first few days in Ariccia, Jessica will show you where the train station in Albano is located.  The trains typically leave on the following schedule and take about 50 minutes to arrive at the main train station in Rome (Termini):

TRAIN SCHEDULE ALBANO LAZIALE –ROMA TERMINI
*from Monday to Saturday only
all others run throughout the week including Sundays
On-line train schedule.

How do I get from Termini Station to Albano Laziale?

Trains typically leave Rome Termini at :06 after the hour.  The last train is at 21:06.  There are exceptions to this rule, so you must check the schedule at Termini station.  Jessica will show you how to do this.
-Please note that if you see the word FESTIVI on a bus or train schedule this means Sundays and holidays.
 

TRAIN SCHEDULE - From ROMA TERMINI to ALBANO LAZIALE
*from Monday to Saturday only
all others run throughout the week including Sundays
On-line train schedule.

Where do I get train tickets?

You can purchase train tickets in a number of ways.

1.  You can get them at most tabacchi shops (for short journeys such as to Rome).

2.     For longer journeys such as Rome to Florence, for example, you can get them online at http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html.  To do this, you must first log in and get a password.  Trenitalia.com will no longer accept American credit cards; therefore, you can reserve your seat online by clicking “PostoClick” on the trenitalia website when you have chosen a train, and then you will have to pick up and pay for your tickets at the train station or at a travel agency within 24 hours.
- Please note you will need to choose the fare-  “Standard, ” and the class- 2nd class is cheapest.

3.     When you are in Rome, you can purchase them at machines in the train station or at the Trenitalia office/booth.

I suggest purchasing several tickets at a time so you will always have them on hand.

Should the train ticket be validated?

Yes. Before you board the train, have the ticket validated /stamped in the yellow machine at the station. If the machine is not working, write the date and time on your ticket. If you do not have a ticket OR if the ticket is not validated, you could face a hefty fine.

What kind of train ticket do I get?

It depends on where you are going and what you plan to do. For example, if you will be in Rome for the entire day and will be using the Metro, it is less expensive to purchase a BIRG ticket for 6 Euros. This ticket entitles you to use the train back and forth to Albano, the metro, and Cotral buses for the entire day. If you are simply going in to Rome, it might be less expensive to purchase a one-way ticket for €1.90. Or, if you are simply going to Castel Gandolfo for the day, you can get a less expensive ticket at a tabacchi shop. (The train and Cotral tickets are priced according to how many kilometers you will be using them for, in increments, so for example: on Cotral buses if you're just going to Genzano it would be a 1 Euro ticket, whereas to Rome you would have to get a €1.20 ticket. Train tickets work in a similar way--there are 10, 20, and 30 km. tickets-just tell the tobacconist where you are going and they will give you the correct ticket.)

How do I take a bus to Rome from Ariccia/Albano (and return)?

You can get a blue Cotral bus across the street from the hotel, to the left in front of the bar, or alternatively, you can go to the stop across the street, to the right toward the Palace (look for the Cotral sign). The bus comes approximately every 20 minutes, but the schedule is dependent on traffic–you might wait longer at some times during the day. Take the bus with the sign that reads Roma – do not take the Frascati bus (unless you want to go to Frascati!).

Stay on the bus until the last stop–Anagnina (Metro Line A). Here you can follow the signs to the Metro (downstairs and to the right, then to the left to Metro entrance. Have coins ready for ticket machines. If you have no change, go to the ticket window, straight ahead and to the left). A one-way Metro ticket is 1 Euro and is valid for 75 minutes on the Metro and orange city buses once you are in Rome. (See more information on how to use the Metro below.)

You can return to Ariccia/Albano the same way, though please note that the Metro stops running at 9:30 pm due to construction. Take Metro line A to Anagnina station. Once you go through the turnstiles, go left (and left again, toward the ticket office). Across from the ticket office, a bit further down, you will see a series of staircases with signs next to them. The buses are upstairs. Your bus will be on platform #2. Pay attention to where you are because you will have to ring the buzzer to get off the bus in front of the hotel (watch what other people are doing). The last bus leaves Anagnina station at 11:15 pm.

Where do I get Cotral bus tickets?

Most tabacchi shops sell bus tickets for €1.20. I suggest getting several so you will have them on hand.

Should Cotral bus tickets be validated?

Yes. There is a machine to validate tickets when you enter the bus.

How do I get to the Post Office and the supermarket in Ariccia (without walking all the way up the hill)?

There is a free shuttle bus (“Navetta”) that stops in front of the Banca di Roma across the street from the Palace. This bus goes directly to the post office. The supermarket is just a few feet away on the opposite side of the street and up the hill from the post office.

How do I get to Castel Gandolfo?

Take the train in Albano (like you are going to Rome). Get off at the Castel Gandolfo Station and walk down to the lake (15 minutes walk) or up to the town.

OR

Take the blue Cotral bus labeled Frascati which stops across the street from the hotel at the same stop as the Rome bus. Castel Gandolfo is the next town after Albano, so look for the Castel Gandolfo sign and get off at the next stop after that, and/or ask the driver.

How do I get to Nemi?

Take the blue Cotral bus going IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION from Rome, on the same side of the street as the hotel. Get off at Genzano central square and wait there for Nemi bus (it will be clearly marked in the front and is the last stop on that bus).

How do I get to Frascati?

Catch the blue Cotral bus on the same side of the street and at the same stops as the Rome (Metro) bus, but take the bus marked FRASCATI in the front. Get off at the last stop. It takes about 30 minutes.

How do I get to the beach?

Catch a blue Cotral bus in Albano, Piazza Mazzini. Look for the sign on the bus that says, Tor Vaianica. (The direction is indicated on the tag shown on the front of the bus.) The trip takes about 30 minutes. You can also catch buses there for Anzio and Nettuno, these are other beach towns. There is a small bar in Piazza Mazzini that sells bus tickets, you should get them there as the fare varies depending on which beach you go to (e.g.- The fare to Anzio is €2.50) They also have the bus schedules posted.

How do I get to Genzano?

Take a blue Cotral bus at the stop closest to the hotel (on the same side of the street as the hotel) in the opposite direction of Rome. You will go through Ariccia, past my (Dr. B’s) house, and on to the central square in Genzano. Push the buzzer to get off the bus.

How do I get to Ciampino Airport?

1. You can take the same blue Cotral bus as you would take to Rome (described above). Just get off at Ciampino Airport (you can ask the driver to let you off when you board the bus). You will have to walk a bit to get to the terminal.

2. You can take a taxi for 30Euros. This is worth doing if you have a lot of luggage and several people are going to the airport at the same time. To book a taxi, you must contact both Roberta and Jessica in writing ahead of time (jw27@aol.com and roberta@interlineagroup.com).

How do I get to Fiumicino/Leonardo da Vinci Airport?

1. You can take the train from Albano to Termini. At Termini, go to track 24 to pick up the Leonardo Express. The train to the airport leaves Termini at :22 and :52 minutes after the hour. It takes 32 minutes to get to the airport, and the cost is approximately 10 Euro one way. There is a ticket desk, well as ticket machines, at Termini (and at the airport when you return).

2. You can take a cab to Fiumicino for 50 Euros. This is a special price for our program so, again, please make arrangements in writing with both Jessica and Roberta.

Can you give me examples of trips I can take from Ariccia/Rome in one day?

The following web site is an excellent resource: http://wrt.cit.cornell.edu/Rome_day_trips.html

You will find information on how to get to a variety of interesting sites that do no require an overnight stay, such as Ostia Antica, the Appia Antica, Tivoli, Florence, and Orvieto.

How do I use the Metro system in Rome?

The map that you purchased before you left home should have a Metro map on it. If it doesn’t, go to: http://www.metroroma.it and click, download the line maps.

There are two Metro lines in Rome, the red (A) line that goes from Battistini to Anagnina and the blue (B) that goes from Rebibbia to Laurentina. When you arrive in Rome at Termini station, use your map to determine which line and stop to use. For example, to get from Termini to the Spanish Steps you would take the red line toward Battistini and get off at Spagna. To get to the Coliseum from Termini you would get on the blue line toward Laurentina and get off at Colosseo.

When I am in Rome how do I use the ATAC bus system?

There are ATAC (orange) buses that run throughout Rome.  The ticket is the same as the METRO ticket (good for Metro and orange bus for 75 minutes) or you can purchase either an all day Metro ticket (4 Euros at the train station or at a tabacchi) or buy a BIRG pass for 6 Euros to use all day on the train to and from Albano-Rome, the Metro and the buses.  Be sure to stamp your ticket when you enter the bus unless you are transferring.

ATAC (orange) buses stops have yellow (sometimes white) signs with each bus line in a column on the sign. Each column will show all the stops for that line, with the current stop in a red rectangle. The type of bus will also be noted at the top: Express (stops infrequently), Urbano (normal), Notturno (night). Metro stops and train stations will also be noted.

At the bottom of each column, you'll find the hours for that bus line.

Sometimes bus stops need to be moved temporarily for various reasons. In that case, you'll find a round sign stating " la fermata è stata spostata " (the stop has been moved). It will usually be ahead on the route and sometimes the sign will say how far. At the temporary stop, there will be a sign that usually just says fermata and sometimes the bus lines are written in by hand.

Go to the following WEB site for a full review of how to use the city buses, photos of the bus stop signs, etc.:  http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/rome_transportation/bus.htm