Taking a taxi is usually the quickest and most convenient way to get around Rome. But finding a taxi can be a challenge. With more than 35 million people visiting Rome each year, your chances of hailing a vacant passing cab are vanishingly thin. Yet if you try your luck at a taxi rank, you’ll probably have to wait in line.
So which taxi apps in Rome give you the best chance of getting a ride? And why is finding a taxi so tough?
Why taxis in Rome are a tricky business
Rome suffers from a chronic shortage of taxi drivers to accommodate the ever-increasing influx of visitors. Towards the beginning of 2024, around 1.3 million calls were going unanswered each month, a damning statistic and a poor advert for a smooth arrival in the Italian capital.
You might think that the State would intervene to rectify the situation, especially given the embarrassingly frequent publication of posts on Instagram and X showing the shocking length of the line at Termini Station’s taxi rank. But Rome’s taxi lobby holds significant political sway, ruthlessly resisting change and ensuring any compromises are slow to be implemented.
Just to illustrate how slow the process of modernising Rome’s taxi service has been, in September 2024, the Roman authorities approved the issuing of new taxi licences for the first time in 20 years. And how many new licences did they approve? Just 1,000.
The Best Taxi Apps in Rome
FreeNow
For our money, FreeNow is the best taxi app in Rome and by far the most popular. It works a lot like Uber but with a taxi driver. As with Uber, you will be charged after booking and before your driver arrives. You’ll probably pay less than you would with Uber, but the interface is not quite as intuitive, and you’ll have to register for their service and download their app.
Once you’ve downloaded the app though, you can use FreeNow to rent scooters and e-bikes, giving you more freedom to get around Rome. FreeNow also works across Europe, so it’s especially worth downloading the app if you’ll be travelling further afield.
Uber
You might have heard that Uber doesn’t operate in Italy, but this is not strictly true. Uber is available in Rome or Milan, but because Uber’s operations are restricted by government legislation — a restriction that can be attributed to the taxi lobby — the only services you can find are Uber Black, Uber Lux or Uber Van.
The plus side of this is that you’re guaranteed nicer vehicles and a more professional service. On the flip side, this premium service comes with a premium price tag. Having said that, we strongly suggest checking the price difference by comparing FreeNow and Uber.
ITtaxi
ITtaxi is probably the easiest taxi app in Rome in terms of use. All you have to do is download the app, create your profile, insert your payment information, and you’re good to go! Like FreeNow and Uber, ITTaxi uses GPS tracking to send out notifications to nearby drivers. Once your driver has confirmed they’ll show up on the map and you can track their progress as they make their way towards you.
You can decide whether to pay for the ride via the app or pay the driver directly. There’s also the option of leaving a tip (though tipping is not mandatory in Italy, so you might want to just round up to the nearest Euro).
The Best Taxi App in Rome for Late at Night
Either ITtaxi or FreeNow are your best options after a night out, as they give you the option of paying your driver in cash and making use of the 10% discount when returning home after a night out in Rome.
Solo female travellers should also be aware that they are entitled to a 15% discount for taxis when travelling late at night.
Uber or Taxi? Which works best in Rome
Here are some pros and cons for choosing between an Uber and a regular taxi.
Why take a taxi:
- Taxis are usually cheaper than Uber.
- Taxi drivers always accept cash while Uber drivers don’t once the ride has started.
- You’re probably more likely to find a taxi sooner.
- Taxi fares to/from Rome’s airports are fixed by law.
- Solo women taking taxis at night are entitled to a 15% discount.
- People taking taxis from nightclubs are entitled to a 10% discount.
Why take Uber:
- You’ll get a price quote.
- You’re better shielded from surge pricing.
- You’re guaranteed a clean vehicle and a courteous driver.
Some taxi drivers might tell you that Uber is illegal and that ordering one could result in you facing a fine. This is not true. The reality is that Italy’s taxi drivers are simply jealous of new incursions in their market and for far too long they have been indulged by the State.
But, to paraphrase Bob Dylan, the times are a-changing. Uber has just signed a deal with Italy’s leading train company Italo, which paves the way for passengers to book their taxi from Rome’s Termini train station together with their train ticket. While this move is bound to infuriate Rome’s taxi drivers, it seems to hail the wind of change and the end of Italy’s taxi monopoly.
What to know when taking taxis in Rome
Many (if not most) of Rome’s taxi drivers are decent, hardworking folk just out to make a living. However, taxi drivers in the capital do have a reputation for ripping off tourists through various scams. Here’s some insider advice for how to avoid getting ripped off by Rome’s taxi drivers.
- Rome’s white metred taxis have a set fare for transfers from Fiumicino and Ciampino airports. The fare from Fiumicino airport is €50 (for up to four passengers, including luggage) and the fare from Ciampino is €40 (also for up to four passengers with luggage included). But make sure you take a white taxi that’s registered in Rome rather than the local area of Fiumicino, as Fiumicino taxis can legally just run the metre.
- Taxi drivers are required by law to accept card payments. But too many unscrupulous taxi drivers rely on tourists not knowing this (or not wanting to challenge them) and will insist on cash payments — sometimes even driving them to ATMs to withdraw. By law, if your taxi driver cannot process your card payment, they should not have accepted the service. Usually making a point of noting down their licence number with an eye to reporting them to the relevant authorities will magically make the card reader work.
- If you have not agreed a fare beforehand for one of Rome’s official white-metred taxi drivers, make sure they turn on the metre right away. That way, you’ll steer clear of a scam in which they pretend to have forgotten and then pull a figure out of thin air (usually €20) to make up the difference.
- If you are paying your taxi driver in cash, ask them to get you the change while you hold onto the euro bill(s). Unfortunately, some taxi drivers try to scam tourists who have not yet acclimatised to Euros by insisting they have been given a €5 rather than a €50 and demanding the rest. In any event, you should refuse to pay the difference, but to avoid this unpleasant situation in the first place, it’s better to follow this advice.
You can find the most up-to-date information regarding taxi fares and regulations in Rome, by visiting the Tourism Board website.
