It was a half-truth at best, and all the confirmation I needed to know that I was now one of the statistical statistics, one of the thousands of tourists who are deceived by taxi drivers in Italy every year.
according to rome tourist authorityTaxi meters should start at 3 euros for all journeys between 6am and 10pm on weekdays, with an additional 1 euro for a second piece of luggage in the boot.
Some travel sites suggest that all taxi rides from Rome Termini will incur a 2 euro surcharge, but that information is not listed on the official website.
The 5km ride from Roma Termini to our guesthouse in Trastevere cost 24 euros. That was about double the amount I was offered on Google search and on the local taxi hailing app I frantically downloaded during the ride.
Overcharging is always a concern. But what to do, especially when you are a helpless tourist trapped in the back seat of a car in a foreign city?
Here are three things to help you on your next trip to Italy.
of The strength of Italian taxi unions and lobbies It has significantly curtailed the growth of ride-hailing apps such as Uber. This means that Uber is only available in major cities such as Rome and Milan, but even in those cities, he said, Uber Black vehicles are limited and generally more expensive.
Before you arrive in Italy, download a taxi hailing app associated with the main Italian taxi companies, such as ItTaxi, FreeNow or Free Taxi. However, not all apps work in all cities, especially smaller ones.
Taxi drivers demonstrate in Piazza del Campidoglio in response to the decision of Rome’s mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, and transport councilor Eugenio Patane to issue new taxi licenses in exchange for payment. This event was held in Rome, Italy on November 9, 2023.
Null Photo | Null Photo | Getty Images
The app allows cashless payments, but does not guarantee a certain rate. When booking a taxi over the phone or through an app, fares are metered and may be charged from the moment the driver accepts the job. Some fares reflect a range, with the highest amount assuming the worst-case scenario.
It is wise to download these apps because it is not easy to hail a taxi on the street, even though there is no fixed price.
Additionally, you can only take a taxi at designated stops in cities or if you order by phone or app.
Learn how to tell the difference between official white taxis, different city emblems, and where taxi drivers post their taxi license and vehicle registration number.
“Especially for transfers between airports and city centres, be sure to familiarize yourself with the charges before you pay for the service. These transfers usually have a fixed price,” says Riskline’s Travel Intelligence said data lead Claudia Guardi.
A taxi parked in front of the Duomo Cathedral in Milan, Italy.
Francesca Volpi | Francesca Volpi Bloomberg | Getty Images
In Rome, take a taxi from some parts of the city to Fiumicino Airport Inside the Aurelian Walls — Covering the city’s historic center and parts of Trastevere and Vatican City — The fare is a flat 50 euros each way.
Basic fares also vary by city. In Rome, meter fares start from 3 euros on weekdays from 6am to 10pm, while in Florence they are slightly higher (3.30 euros).
The structure of surcharges and progressive charges also varies from city to city, and that information is not always available in the taxi itself.
That taxi from Roma Termini to my guesthouse was the first and last taxi I took during my week in Rome.
I was exhausted so I ended up paying the suspicious amount that was displayed on the meter. I was relieved that the price was not high.
The taxi driver got angry when I asked for a receipt and tried to take a photo of the taxi license and vehicle registration number.
He stopped the car on a busy road, got out of the car, opened the back door, and demanded that I get out of the car.
High-speed train at Milan Central Station in July 2023.
Gabriel Buiz | AFP | Getty Images
I thought he was going to kick me out of the taxi so I grabbed all my belongings and went outside. However, he prevented me from opening the trunk to retrieve my luggage and told me through a translation app to “remain calm” and not to act rashly.
Eventually he pushed me back into the taxi and took me to my destination across the Tiber.
After that, we pretty much walked everywhere in Rome, including the 45 minute walk to the Vatican. When I was tired, I was able to pay for the trams and buses in the city with a credit card, which made it easier. There is also a subway in the city.
The Leonardo Express train from Rome Termini Station to Fiumicino Airport is a convenient and affordable way to get to the airport.
I thought it would be a pain to handle two pieces of luggage on the bus and tram, so I decided to take a taxi. Turns out it was probably worse to take a taxi.
