Last updated on September 29th, 2024.
Knowing about taking taxis in Italy is a helpful subject when visiting the country.
Italian taxis are a mode of transportation that many visitors rely on for short and long-term trips.
In this guide, I’ll be outlining 11 important things to know about taking taxis in Italy. A helpful guide for first-time visitors coming to the country, use this post to help plan your Italy trip.
The basics
How do you say taxi in Italian?
Taxi in Italian is ‘taxi’.
What color are taxis in Italy?
Metered taxis in Italy are white with the TAXI sign perched on top of the vehicle.
11 things to know about taking taxis in Italy
Taxis in Italy are booked in advance
Unlike hailing yellow taxis in New York City or black cabs in London, getting an Italian taxi works slightly differently.
Rather than waving one down on the street, you must book your metered taxi in Italy in advance.
Places like hotels and restaurants will do this for clients on request.
The number to call a white-metered taxi in Rome is 060609. Follow the instructions and request a taxi to your pickup destination. Alternatively, download the CHIAMA TAXI (CALL TAXI) app to book one online.
Another helpful app for booking taxis in Italy is FREENOW. There’s no need to learn Italian and passengers can see the prices beforehand and pay through the app.
At present, FREENOW offers services in Milan, Rome and Turin.*
Get a cab from a taxi stand
Another way to get a white-metered taxi in Rome is by going to one of the taxi stands.
At Rome Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and Rome Ciampino, follow the directions to the metered Italian cabs. They should be available at any time of the day up until the last arrivals.
For pre-booked taxis at FCO airport, go to the car park on the departures level in Terminal 2.
As arrivals are on the ground floor, go up one floor to reach departures. Exit Terminal 1 or 3 and walk a short distance along the outside sidewalk. The taxi rank is between terminals 1 and 3 under the control tower.
Upon entering the arrivals lounge, you may come across some people asking whether you need a Rome airport taxi. Speaking from personal experience, it’s best to ignore their advances and take a white-metered or pre-booked taxi.
Getting a taxi in Rome’s center
Aside from pre-booking a taxi through an app, you can also get one from a taxi stand in Rome’s center.
Make a note of some of the main taxi stands in Rome:
- Piazza dei Cinquecento (Termini Station)
- Piazza Fiume
- Piazzale Ostiense
- Piazza Risorgimento in Vatican City
- Piazzale Tiburtina Station
- Piazza Venezia
Airport prices are fixed
Like traveling from JFK Airport in New York City to Manhattan, Rome airport taxi prices to the center are also fixed. A taxi from FCO to Rome takes around 30 minutes, not including traffic, to reach the city center. The distance is approximately 19mi (31km).
The fixed price is €50* ($54/£43) to get to and from Rome Fiumicino airport. Taxi drivers shouldn’t charge more than this, but make sure to confirm the price before getting inside.
This fixed Rome airport price, however, does come with certain conditions.
They are:
- Destinations in the center must be within the Aurelian Walls (Mura Aurealiane)
- Rides must go directly to/from FCO airport without stops or detours. Any additional stops will be calculated with the taxi meter. A ‘detour’ could even be from the taxi stand to the passenger’s house if it’s a distance away
- The fixed price is valid for up to 4 passengers in the taxi. Again, the regular meter will be used if the number of passengers exceeds this
- Luggage is included in the price. (In metered taxis, passengers must pay €1 ($1.10/£0.85) for additional luggage that measures 35X25X50)
- Additional costs for public holidays in Italy or nights are also included in the fixed price
Milan airport taxi prices
Likewise, Milan airport taxi prices are also fixed. Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) is around a 55-minute drive to the center, not factoring in traffic. In distance, this translates to approximately 32mi (51km).
The fixed fares are as follows:*
- Malpensa Airport to the center of Milan or vice versa €104.00 ($113/£89)
- Malpensa Airport to Fiera Milano (Rho) or vice versa €86.00 ($94/£73)
- Malpensa Airport to Linate Airport or vice versa €116.00 ($126/£99)
- Malpensa Airport to Varese or vice versa €74 ($81/£63)
Uber Italy works differently
Unlike in many other countries around the world, Uber Italy offers a limited service and is only available in Rome and Milan.
Service comes in 3 different options called Uber Black, Uber Lux and Uber Van. Unlike other countries where Uber is accessible to everyone, Uber in Italy resembles more of an exclusive car service.
Because of this, taking an Uber in Rome Italy or in Milan will be costlier than taking a standard taxi.
It’s also worth noting that other ride-sharing apps like Lyft in Italy don’t operate in the country. Saying that, don’t try getting a Lyft in Rome as the app will likely come up blank.
Map of Italy
Pay attention to dishonest taxi drivers
It won’t come as a big surprise that some Italian cabs may try to take advantage of foreign visitors.
It’s an issue that exists worldwide and is one to be aware of when taking taxis in Italy.
While some Italian taxi drivers may understand and speak a little English, others may pretend to not understand. This way, any dishonest drivers can easily ‘forget’ about things like fixed taxi fares from the airport.
Unfortunately, Rome is one place where this happens frequently. Many taxi drivers often try to cheat tourists out of their money.
Because of this, always make sure that the taxi meter is switched on when the ride begins.
Taxis charge for wait time
When pre-booking a white-metered taxi in Italy, be sure to be ready and out the door to meet your driver.
Taxi drivers will turn on the meter the second they respond to the pickup request. The longer they wait for the passenger, the more they will charge.
To give you an idea, an hour’s waiting time will cost €27 ($29/£23).
Taxis may not be available
There may be instances where taking taxis in Italy may not be an option.
Events like Italian public holidays, taxi strikes, or even bad weather may affect the number of available services.
Reductions for special circumstances
It’s not all bad news when it comes to taking taxis in Italy. In Rome, passengers that meet the following conditions receive 10% off the amount displayed on the meter.
- direct journeys to public hospitals in Rome
- women traveling alone at night (from 10pm to 6am)
- young people leaving clubs on Friday and Saturday nights
Pay with a credit card
All official taxis in Italy should have point of sale (POS) machines installed in the car. This makes it easier to pay a fare with a credit card.
Always ask for a receipt
Licensed taxi drivers in Italy are obliged to provide passengers with a receipt.
Cross check details of the journey, the license number, the fare and the driver’s signature. It may be useful should you need to make a complaint.
Check whether you need a taxi
If taking taxis in Italy doesn’t appeal to you, there are plenty of other viable options.
Trains in Italy run frequently and will get you to your destination with little hassle.
Cities like Rome and Milan have long-established public transport systems making it easy to get around the city.
Both cities also have bus and shuttle bus options to get passengers to and from the airport. They include:
- shuttle bus service to and from Fiumicino Airport
- bus transfer between Rome FCO airport and Rome Termini station
- shuttle bus service to and from Rome Ciampino Airport
- direct transfer between Milan Malpensa Airport and the center
- bus transfer from Malpensa Airport and Milan Central Station
From Florence Amerigo Vespucci Airport, there’s the option to take a tram directly to the city center.
The total ride time takes around 20 minutes, plus a short 4-minute walk to reach Santa Maria Novella in Florence.
Cost of taxi fares in Rome
There are several tariffs to note when taking a taxi in Rome.
Fixed fares*
- weekdays from 6am to 10pm: €3
- Sundays and public holidays from 6am to 10pm: €5
- nighttime tariff from 10pm to 6am: €7
- waiting or traveling at a speed less than 20km(12mi)/h is €28 ($30/£24)
- price per km/mi is €1.14 ($1.24/£0.97) for the first €11 ($12/£9) (Tariff 1). This increases to €1.35 ($1.47/£1.15) for a further €13 ($14.2/£11.01) (Tariff 2) and again to €1.66 ($1.81/£1.42) (Tariff 3).
Cost of taxi fares in Milan
Like Rome, Milan also has different tariffs to note when taking taxis in the city.*
- weekdays: 6am to 9pm: €3.40 ($3.7/£2.9)
- public holidays: 6am to 9pm: €6.20 ($6.75/£5.29)
- nighttime tariff: €6.20 ($6.75/£5.29)
- price per km/mi: €1.12 ($1.22/£0.95)
- price per hour waiting: €29.19 ($31.78/£25)
Taxi price increases in Milan — taking taxis in Italy
When the meter reaches €13.25 ($14.42/£11.30), the price per km/mi increases to €1.50 ($1.63/£1.28) instead of €1.09 ($1.19/£0.93).
The waiting time price per hour also increases to €39.27 ($43/£33).
If the speed exceeds 31mi(50km)/h for over 60 seconds, the price per km/mi increases to €1.70 ($1.85/£1.45).
Because of the taxi fares in Milan, a taxi ride won’t cost less than €6 ($6.5/£5.12). Personally, I don’t think it’s worth taking a taxi in Milan given the amount of heavy traffic. The metro, trams and buses work well, cost less and will get you to your destination quicker.
I outline this in more detail in my Milan travel tips guide.
What are your thoughts on taking taxis in Italy? Did you find this post helpful and informative? Let me know in the comments below.
*information correct at the time of publishing
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ABOUT me
Welcome to my site. I'm Lisa, an Italy-based travel and lifestyle blogger behind Following the Rivera. Find out more about me and my story.
I am so loving this post and have bookmarked it as we are going to take a trip to Italy and these taxi tips are super helpful!
I’m happy to hear that, it’s a helpful guide 😀
That’s really so helpful and informative post. Will come back when I am visiting Italy.
Thank you, I’m glad you find it helpful
This is important to be aware of. Great tip about making sure the meter is on when you get in. You don’t always think people are out to take advantage when you go on holiday.
Exactly and it happens quite frequently sadly
This is a super helpful post that I am going to bookmark. It’d be helpful when I visit the country with my girlfriend. So informative and learned a lot about taking taxies in Italy. Thanks for putting this together!
I am very happy that you enjoyed it!