Rome City Guide

Public transport

Operator. Rome's surface network comprises 363 daytime lines over around 2,300 kilometres of streets. ATAC operates 264 of these lines, plus metro lines A, B, B1 and C and the light-rail lines Roma-Lido (Metromare), Roma-Viterbo and Termini-Centocelle. The remaining 99 lines in the outer districts are run by two private consortiums, BIS srl and Autoservizi Troiani srl. This makes no difference to passengers, since the Metrebus Roma network covers all operators in the city with the same tickets. Trenitalia operates the FL regional train lines, including the FL1 from Fiumicino Airport. The network also includes 6 tram lines totalling 37 kilometres, 3 trolleybus lines totalling 32 kilometres, and 3 dedicated electric bus lines totalling 18 kilometres.

Network. Three metro lines A, B and C plus buses and trams. A ticket is time-based for bus and tram but covers only one metro journey.

Modes of transport. Metro (lines A, B, B1, C) · Tram (6 lines) · Bus · Trolleybus / Filobus (3 lines) · Electric bus (3 lines) · Roma-Lido / Metromare light rail · Roma-Viterbo light rail · Termini-Centocelle light rail · FL regional rail (Trenitalia)

Operating hours. The metro follows a consistent basic pattern. From Sunday to Thursday, the first train leaves at 5.30am and the last one departs at 11.30pm. On Fridays and Saturdays, service extends until 1.30am. Line B1 differs slightly, with the first departure at 5.33am and the last around 11.27pm to 11.30pm, extending to around 1.27am to 1.30am on Fridays and Saturdays. The surface network of buses, trams and trolleybuses runs from 5.00am until the last departures at 11.30pm. After that, the night network takes over. Anyone with evening plans should keep the day of the week in mind, since there's a full two-hour difference on the metro between a Thursday and a Friday.

Night service. Rome has a full night network. Between 11.30pm and dawn, 47 lines are in service, 32 of them dedicated night lines marked with the letter N, plus 15 daytime lines with extended service. The most useful for visitors are the four metro replacement lines, which follow the exact routes of the underground. nMA runs from Anagnina to Battistini, nMB from Rebibbia to Laurentina, nMB1 from Termini via Viale Ionio back to Termini, and nMC from Piazza Venezia to Pantano or Montecompatri. They start running as soon as the last metro train has passed. Under the Piano Roma Notte programme, services were doubled, with 72 additional runs added. From Thursday to Saturday, this means a frequency of 8 to 10 minutes throughout the night. At ten major metro stations, including Termini, Battistini and Anagnina, ATAC staff are on duty at night to assist passengers.

Buying tickets. There are four ways to get a ticket. First, the ATAC counters in the larger metro stations, second, the MEB machines found in metro stations and at many stops, third, authorised sales points on the street, in Rome mainly tobacco shops with the white T on a black background and newsstands, and fourth, your smartphone. Through the B+ service and a range of approved apps, BIT, ROMA24H, ROMA48H, ROMA72H and the personal monthly pass can be bought and validated directly on your phone. Anyone who doesn't want to get a ticket in advance at all can use Tap & Go and simply hold their credit card up to the turnstile or the on-board validator.

App and payment. Rome has rolled out contactless payment widely. Tap & Go works at the turnstiles of every station on lines A, B/B1 and C, on the Roma-Lido, Roma-Viterbo and Termini-Centocelle light-rail lines, and at the validators on all surface lines, including those run by private operators. Accepted are contactless credit cards from Mastercard, Visa, American Express, JCB and UnionPay, debit cards from Mastercard, Maestro and Vpay, and rechargeable prepaid cards from Mastercard and Visa. Digitised cards on a smartphone or smartwatch with NFC also work. A tap is charged as a BIT, costs €1.50 am and is valid for 100 minutes, as well as for one continuous metro trip, even across several lines, as long as you don't pass back through the turnstiles. Alternatively, you can buy through one of the approved apps, which include MooneyGo, TicketAppy, Dropticket, Telepass Pay, Urbi, Tabnet, Wetaxi and the Trenitalia app.

Which ticket. The single ticket is called the BIT, costs €1.50 am and is valid for 100 minutes for unlimited trips on bus, tram and trolleybus, plus exactly one metro trip. The time-based passes are called ROMA24H for €8.50 am, ROMA48H for €3 pm and ROMA72H for €10 pm, each counted from first validation, not by calendar days. The weekly CIS pass costs €29.00. The verifiable thresholds work out as follows. Five single trips cost €7.50 am, less than ROMA24H, while six single trips cost €9 am, more than ROMA24H. ROMA48H equals exactly ten single trips. ROMA72H falls between fourteen single trips at €9 pm and fifteen at €10.50 pm. Validation matters here. The ticket has to be validated at the start of the first trip and when changing onto the metro. The current tourist ticket prices have applied since 1 July 2025, and the price of the BIT didn't change in that increase.

Fare zones. Within the city there's only one zone for visitors, Metrebus Roma. All city tickets are valid there with every operator. Trains to and from Fiumicino Airport, however, run under a separate fare, the Tariffa 1/TER.

Tip. Validate before boarding. Checks are rare but expensive.

Links

• ATAC, tickets and passes
• ATAC, paying contactless with Tap & Go
• ATAC, all network maps
• Roma Servizi per la Mobilità, bus, tram and trolleybus
• Roma Servizi per la Mobilità, metro and rail lines and times
• Network map

Getting there

Main station

Location. The country's largest station and interchange of both older metro lines. The second long-distance station is Roma Tiburtina.

Long-distance trains. According to network operator RFI, Roma Termini has 32 platform tracks for passenger trains, making it the country's largest passenger station. Platforms 1 to 24 are fitted with tactile guidance systems, and tracks 1 to 29 are raised. The Sala Blu, the point of contact for travellers with reduced mobility, is staffed daily from 7.45am to 10.30pm. The station is directly connected to the metro, buses and trams, as well as to bike-share, car-share, scooter-share and car rental. The direct Leonardo Express airport service to Fiumicino departs from the station, running first at 4.50am and last at 11.05pm. Which long-distance lines run in which directions can be checked via the operators' real-time displays and timetable information.

Opening hours. The station opens and closes around the day's first and last train, the operator states no fixed overnight closing times. The first Leonardo Express to the airport departs at 4.50am, the last at 11.05pm.

Airports

Local quirks

• The Nasoni. Drinking water runs continuously from more than two thousand cast-iron fountains. Press a finger against the bottom of the spout and a stream comes out the top to drink from.
• Dress code in the churches. Shoulders and knees covered, otherwise you won't get into St Peter's Basilica. A scarf in your backpack solves it.
• Metro C now reaches the Colosseum. The newest metro line now runs from Pantano to Colosseo. This creates a transfer to Line B there, and the city centre is now also directly reachable from the southeast. Older maps and signage still end at San Giovanni.
• Fixed taxi fares from both airports. For trips into the city centre within the Aurelian Walls, flat rates set by the city apply. From Fiumicino it's €55.00, from Ciampino €40.00, including all surcharges. Licensed taxis are white and carry the city's coat of arms with a licence number on the front doors.

Good to know

Currency

EUR €

Emergency number

112

Plug type

C · F · L

Time zone

Europe/Rome

Driving

right

Speed limits. built-up areas 50 km/h, outside towns 90 km/h, 110 km/h on expressways, motorway 130 km/h

In rain, the motorway limit is 110 km/h instead of 130, and 90 instead of 110 on expressways. Drivers who have held their license for less than three years may drive at most 100 km/h on the motorway and 90 km/h on expressways. Within built-up areas, 50 km/h is the rule, though signposted city roads allow up to 70 km/h.

Tipping. Not expected. Bills often carry a coperto or servizio. If you were happy, round up.

Tolls. Most motorways are tolled. Take a ticket on entry, pay on exit. No vignette.

Access restrictions. Many historic centres are closed to non-residents. Cameras read the plate and the fine arrives home months later. Hours and boundaries differ from city to city.