Travel tip: Rome and public transit

Max Baskin · 08-01-2026 2:44 PM

Here's a hard learned (and expensive) lesson that I hope people can benefit from:

On the last day of our trip to Italy, my wife and I had gotten pretty annoyed at some issues with public transit. My wife suggested we just ride the busses without picking up a ticket. We hadn't seen anyone checked in the week we'd been there, so I agreed and we went about our business.

Sure enough, on the last stop of the day, we were stopped. Our passports were confiscated until we ponied up 200 Euro (100 each) for the fine.

Public transportation is fairly inexpensive. Much less expensive than a fine. Different cultures handle things different ways. So don't let your own preconceptions of how things should be get in the way of good sense.

Jackie · 08-01-2026 5:15 PM

That is good to know.

I always wondered about getting your ticket stamped in the yellow meters in the train stations. When you take a train in Italy you have to stick your ticket in one of the yellow meters in the train station and have it stamped. I think the stamp is good for 2 hours so you do not want to get it stamped until just before you get on the train in case the train is late. However, I have forgotten a couple of times and no one said anything. I have always wondered if I was just lucky enough to get a nice ticket collector on the train or if they really don't pay attention to the time stamp.

boystyles · 01-30-2013 11:41 PM

Thank you about On the last day of our trip to Italy, my wife and I had gotten pretty annoyed at some issues with public transit. My wife suggested we just ride the busses without picking up a ticket. We hadn't seen anyone checked in the week we'd been there, so I agreed and we went about our business.
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Last edited by boystyles (01-30-2013 11:41 PM)

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Last edited by erskinereynold (02-07-2026 2:29 AM)

#1 08-01-2026 2:44 PM

Travel tip: Rome and public transit

#2 08-01-2026 5:15 PM

Re: Travel tip: Rome and public transit

#3 01-30-2013 11:41 PM

Re: Travel tip: Rome and public transit

#4 02-07-2026 2:28 AM

Re: Travel tip: Rome and public transit

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Travel tip: Rome and public transit