This post explains the Rome metro system and how to use it, including tips on how to use the buses, streetcars, and commuter trains.
- System Overview
- How to Get Tickets
- Subway Info and Tips
- Bus + Streetcar
- Hop-on-Hop-off Bus
- Things to Do in Rome
SYSTEM OVERVIEW
Roma ATAC is the official metro system for the city of Rome.
They provide public transportation around the city by subway, bus, streetcar, and commuter train.
One ticket is good for all 4 services, making it easy to transfer from a train to a bus without any issues, and you can buy tickets for multiple days.
The system offers extensive routes that will allow you to explore the city without much trouble.
We have provided route information targeted to visitors in our subway and bus sections below.
Rome's subway is one of Europe's smallest and it doesn't cover several areas of the city's central core.
So, it's very likely that you will use a combination of subway, bus, tram, and your own feet.
We recommend using an app like Google Maps to test out some trips from your hotel and accommodation to sights that you want to see.
You might find that your hotel or accommodation is within walking distance of many of your to-do-sights and you might only seldom use public transportation.
The system isn't directly connected to Rome's two main airports, so you might benefit from reading the following posts:
Actually, as a walking tour company, we really recommend that you walk as often as you can and are able to.
Rome's beauty lies all around, but mostly you will find it roaming her small ancient streets on foot.
We provide self-guided walks in the city centre as well as ancient Rome so that you will know where to go and how to get there.
Nevertheless, Rome's public transportation will take you to all of the top spots, including Vatican City, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Baths of Caracalla, and the Appian Way.
And whenever you find yourself in a crowded subway station, train, or bus (or any crowded plaza for that matter), always be aware of pickpockets.
ROME METRO TICKETS
There are several different ticket options for the Roma ATAC system.
All ATAC tickets are good for travel on the train, bus, and streetcars.They are also valid for commuter trains, but only when within Rome itself.
Tickets can be purchased at automated vending machines or at the ticket booth in subway stations as well as at tobacco shops and newspaper stands throughout the city.
Tobacco shops (or tabachi) are usually marked with a blue sign with a big T.
For those who aren't aware, this tourist pass includes unlimited access to all Roma ATAC services.
Travelers can purchase either a 2 or 3-day pass which will give them admission to all buses, trains, and trams in the city of Rome.
- 2-Day Ticket Price: €28 per person
- 3-Day Ticket Price: €38.50 per person
- Includes unlimited access to Roma ATAC transportation
- 1 free attraction included with a 2-day ticket
- 2 free attractions included with a 3-day ticket
- Click here for additional information.
NOTE: Even if you're not interested in visiting any of the attractions included with the Roma Pass, you can still save money on public transportation using the Rome Metro Card.
This discount card includes either a 1 or 3-day public transport pass as well as a hop on hop off bus tour.
Ticket prices are similar to the Roma Pass, so this is an excellent option for anyone who just wants to get around the city with ease.
Here are all the different ticket types you can purchase:
- BIT: One metro/commuter train ride or 100 minutes on a bus (€1.50)
- Roma 24H: A 1-day ticket valid for bus, metro and commuter train (€7)
- Roma 48H: A 2-day ticket valid for bus, metro and commuter train (€12.50)
- Roma 72H: A 3-day ticket valid for bus, metro and commuter train (€18)
- CIS: A 7-day ticket valid for bus, metro and commuter train (€24)
Needless to say, their CIS pass is definitely going to offer the best overall value.
Visitors who choose the CIS will pay less than €3.50 per day for unlimited access to the entire Roma ATAC metro system.
You will need to figure out how many rides on the subways, buses, and trams you, or anyone 10 and older in your party, will make.
We recommend using an app like Google maps to test out some trips from your hotel and accommodation to sights that you want to see.
It's possible that many of your target sights are within walking distance.
If that's the case, then you might be better off purchasing a handful of single tickets, which again, are good for all transport options within the city.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
If you choose to purchase a ticket, you must validate it. You can validate your ticket by using machines located near the doors of the bus or tram you wish to ride.
Travelers using the metro will need to stamp their ticket at the turnstile before entering.
You can be charged up to a €50 fine for riding without a stamped ticket.
When using a 1, 3, or 7-day ticket, you only need to stamp it once.
The vending machines do not give more than €6 in change, and they don't always accept credit cards, so have small bills on you when buying tickets.
ROME'S SUBWAY
Rome has an efficient, if not very extensive subway system.
As we mentioned above, it's very inexpensive, €1.50 per ride on a single ticket (read more on tickets).
And these tickets can also be used on buses, trams, and commuter trains within the city.
Rome subway stations are marked with red M signs like the one shown in the image below.
Trains operate between 5:30 am until 23:30 (11:30 pm) from Sunday till Friday. On Saturdays, the system closes at 00:30 (12:30 am).
Trains visit a station every 5 - 10 minutes, depending on a weekday vs. weekend.
Rome's subway system does not directly extend out to either Fiumicino Airport or Ciampino Airport.
However, you can make connections to the commuter trains that do (read our post on airport transfers to and from Fiumicino).
The system comprises for the most part of 2 main subway lines, A + B.
There is a C line that is partially finished, but it is not yet connected to either A or B and is of little use for most visitors to Rome.
Part of the reason why the C line is still unfinished is the same reason why Rome's subways are missing from most of the city center - anywhere you dig is almost assured to be a future archeology site.
Currently, Line C meets up with Line A outside of the city centre at San Giovanni, just south of Roma Termini. In the future, Line C will connect San Giovanni to Piazza Venezia and Colosseo.
In the Rome Metro map above, we have placed in orange boxes the main subway stops that are of interest to tourists.
Important Line A Rome Metro Stops
Line A runs from Battistini in the northwest to Anagnina in the southeast. The most important stops are the following:
Termini is the stop for Roma Termini Rail Station.
Spagna is the stop for the Spanish Stairs and Villa Borghese and the Villa Medici, though Flaminio is the closer station for the last two.
Barberini is the closest stop to Trevi Fountain and Via Vittorio Veneto.
And it's not unreasonalbe to say that Spagna and Barberini could be considered stops for the Pantheon, and Piazza Navona, which are all about a 15 min walk away from both.
In fact, many walking tour companies start their city centre tours from this stop.
For Vatican City, there are 2 relevant subway stops on the A line, Ottaviano-St. Pietro and Cipro.
Cipro is closer to the Vatican Museums, but if you don't get there really early in the morning or later in the day (and you don't have a skip-the-line ticket) then you will likely be better off getting out at Ottaviano-St. Pietro.
The lines for the Vatican Museum tickets are legendary for their sheer lengths.
If you are only coming to St. Peter's Square and St. Peter's Basilica, then Ottaviano is the subway stop that you need.
Before you arrive, test out some paths on Google maps the paths between your hotel or accommodation to sights in the city that you want to see and determine if riding the subway makes sense for your trip.
If you take the FL1 local train from Fiumicino Airport, there is 1 stop where you could connect to the B line on the Rome Metro, Roma Tuscolana Station.
Anagnina, which is the southern end of Line A, is where you can take a local bus to Ciampino airport.
Important Line B Rome Metro Stops
Line B runs from the Rebibbia in the northeast of Rome to Laurentina in the south.
Termini is the stop for Roma Termini Station.
Colosseo is the stop on the B line is where you can access the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and several other ancient Rome sights, such as Circo Massimo.
If you take the FL1 local train from Fiumicino Airport, there are 2 stops where you could connect to the B line on the Rome Metro, Piramide and Roma Ostiense.
As we explain below, for some hotel and accommodation locations, a bus makes more sense.
Whether subway, bus, and/or tram, all tickets are good for each.
ROME BUSES
Depending on where you are staying and what you want to see, you might find that taking the bus is more practical than taking the subway.
The subway doesn't run through much of Rome's historic center and buses, including smaller electric buses, are the only mass transit options available.
As the author of this post found out, his hotel next to the Pantheon was too far from the nearest subway station, so he walked and used buses to visit the Vatican, Colosseum and the Spanish Steps rather than the subway.
Below, we provide text and images to help familiarize yourself with Rome's bus system.
And as you can see in the map below, there are several bus lines that stretch across the city.
Before you get yourself frustrated trying to understand this map, we recommend using Google Maps to plan out some of your trips.
Rome buses are GPS enabled, so Google and other travel apps know where your bus is and if it will be late.
For a larger version of this map, click here.
What you are likely to find is that you will be routed along the major arteries and the system will start to make more sense as you explore.
As a tourist or newcomer to the city, you will want to keep the following 2 types of bus lines in mind.
- Urban Line - The U-line runs through the urban center of Rome. This line will be very useful for reaching most of the major sites and landmarks in the area. U-line runs from about 5 am - 12 am daily.
- Night Line - The N-line runs at night while the U-lines rest. You can expect to use this bus line from 12 am - 5 am daily.
Above is an image of a bus stop sign. This stop is for the Fori Imperiali (the Roman Forum) and there are two Urban Line buses that stop here, the 85 and 87.
There is a good chance that you will take one of these buses.
Underneath the bus line names and numbers are arrows denoting the direction that the buses are heading in.
It also lists all the stops as well as the connecting metro, bus, and other rail lines at those stops.
Some of the most relevant bus lines for tourists are the 60, 62, 64, and 81.
There are two more types of bus lines to note, but unless you are outside of the city, so most visitors will want to avoid the following.
- Express Line - The X-line is used to connect Rome with its outskirt communities. Most tourists will have no reason to use this particular service.
- Exact Line - The E-line is used primarily by people in surrounding neighborhoods to travel into Rome. Unless you have a reason to travel to the neighborhoods surrounding this city, we recommend avoiding this bus line.
Tips for Riding the Bus
- You can't purchase tickets onboard the bus. Tickets can be purchased at Metro stations, tobacco shops as well as endicola (newspaper stands) throughout Rome.
- You must validate your ticket once you board. There are yellow validation machines on each bus. Failure to do so will result in a fine of at least €50.
- Children under 10 ride for free.
STREETCARS
The trams that run throughout Rome aren't as easy to find in the city center area, but they do make stops at several famous locations.
Although we don't recommend relying solely on the tram service, they can be handy for traveling short distances quickly.
Almost every tram line runs along the same route as the bus lines, making it easy to transfer from one service to another.
TIP: The main tram line that tourists will want to consider is #3. The #3 line runs from East-to-West on the southern end of the city center and makes stops at locations such as The Colosseum and Circus Maximus.
You may also want to consider the #19 tram, as it will take you very close to the Vatican.
For more information, check the Roma ATAC website.
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