Currency, banks & foreign exchange
Banks are open weekdays from 8:30 to 16:00, except for lunch time which may range within 12:30 and 15:15. On Saturdays and Sundays currency can be exchanged at the Termini railway station, at the airport and at foreign exchanged points throughout the city center. Please note: Exchanged rate may vary from institution to institution and that 1€ (euro) is approximately equivalent to 1$ (US Dollar).

Phone calls Tips
The most important companies operating public telephones are: "Infostrada" (green stall) and "Telecom" (red stall).
Generally, you need a prepaid phone card to make a call: you can buy them in several locations as newspapers stands and "Tabaccai" (born to sell tobaccos and cigarettes -   useful to test your good luck with official biweekly lotteries as "Superenalotto" or "Lotto").
Mobile phones: You can use mobile phone anywhere in Europe thanks to the single GSM (only 900MHz and 1800MHz) technical standard in the EU.
Before travelling, however, contact your network provider to make sure that your phone is enabled for international roaming.

The "Azienda di Promozione Turistica di Roma" (Rome Tourist Board) welcomes tourists by assisting them in case of inconveniences and inefficiencies and providing them with various brochures.
Their offices:
Main Office
Via Parigi, 11 - 00185 Roma
Tel. +39 06 48 89 91 - Fax +39 06 48 19 316 - E-mail: info@aptroma.com
Information Offices
Visitor Center
Via Parigi, 5
Open: Mon - Sat, 9 - 19
Fiumicino Airport
International arrivals - terminal B
Open: Mon. - Sun 8 - 19

Driving
Remember to drive on the right side of the road.
Using a mobile phone while driving increases the risk of an accident by five times. It is explicitly forbidden in Italy (the use of hands-free devices is tolerated).
The maximum permitted blood alcohol level is 0.5 grams per litre of blood.
Speed limits (maximum speed limits for cars in km/h, general rule):
In built-up areas 50, Outside built-up areas (incl. dual carriageways) 90 or 110, Motorways 130 or 150. Limits are reduced in bad weather conditions.
Use dipped headlamps on motorways and suburban main roads.
There are toll roads in Italy.
Since few months a new road regulations is in force. See details (new browser window)
In all EU countries, it is compulsory to wear seatbelts in both the front and back of the car. A web-site from the European Commission provides more information about driving licenses (new browser window)

Transport
Numerous bus line connect all areas of the city. The underground has two lines, Linea A and Linea B. The two lines intersect at Termini Railway station. Ticket can be purchased at the tobacco shops and newspapers stands. See Transport section for more details.

Shopping
Rome historical’s centre is home to a wide array of elegant fashion boutiques, antique stores and delicatessens. Rome’s most popular shopping spots are the areas surrounding the Spanish Steps, "Via Condotti", "Via Borgognona", "Via Frattina", "Via della Croce" and "Via del Corso".

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