If you are planning on using the transport system in Rome you should definitely learn as much as you can about it beforehand! Here are the answers to all your questions you may have about the Metro, bus, tram and train lines in Rome.

HOW DO I USE THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN ROME?​

The ATAC is the Rome official transportation system, providing subway, bus , streetcar, and commuter train lines that connect the whole city and the outskirts of Rome. Unfortunately, Rome’s subway is one of Europe’s smallest and it doesn’t cover several areas of the city’s central core. Especially in the centre buses are a better alternative to the metro, whereas the latter is more commonly used by locals who commute into the centre. Because neither network covers a substantial amount of the city, it is very likely that you will use a combination of subway, bus, tram and your own feet, unless you prefer a taxi. Furthermore, the transport system is not well connected to the two main airports of the city – Fiumicino and Ciampino – so to learn how to reach those click here.

What kind of ticket types you can purchase?

As of 2019, there are 5 types of Rome Metro passes to pick from according to your needs and the time spent in the city. The price of tickets spans from 1.50 to 24 euros, depending on how often and for how long they are valid.

One-way ticket (BIT) — lasts 100 minutes since its first validation; allows for unlimited transfers between the buses, metro, trams and urban trains; the only transfer that is not allowed with this ticket is one that involves leaving the metro in the 100 minutes and reentering; the ticket costs 1,50 €.

Day pass (24H) — unlimited transport from the moment the ticket is validated until midnight of the same day; the day travel card costs 7€.

2 Day Tourist Pass (48H) — unlimited transport from the moment the ticket is first validated and for the following day; it has a price of 12,50 €.

3 Day Tourist Pass (72H) — unlimited transport from the moment the ticket is first validated and for the following two days; it has a price of 18 €.  

Week pass (CIS) — unlimited transport from the moment the ticket is first validated and for the following 6 days; it has a price of 24 €

Where do I buy ATAC tickets?

ATAC tickets can be purchased at automated vending machines and at ticket booths inside metro stations. Newspaper stands and tobacco shops ,usually marked with a blue sign with a large “T” also sell them. The machines feature a variety of languages, so it should be rather easy to get a hold of the number of tickets that you want. However, you can usually ask for a metro or bus ticket in English, but it could be possible that the level of English of the person behind the counter is quite poor. In that case, and – let’s be honest – if you want to spice it up a little bit and feel like a local simply say “Potrei avere in biglietto della metro, per favore?”.

Do Rome metro tickets work on buses?

The ATAC tickets are valid interchangeably for all three services: Metro, Bus, & Tram. This makes is particularly easy to transfer from one mode of transport to another.

How do I validate a transport ticket?

The validation process differs for metro, train, tram and bus. For a bus or tram you must validate your ticket by using machines located near the doors of the bus or tram you wish to ride on. On the other hand, people using the metro will have to stamp their ticket at the turnstile before entering. Please note that you can be charged up to a €50 fine for riding without a stamped ticket. Inspectors are often really sneaky and dress up as tourists to prevent people from cheating the system — so beware! Showing a ticket inspector an unvalidated ticket is no different to having no ticket at all. It is extremely easy to forget to validate your ticket when hopping on a packed bus! Also, when you are using a 1, 2, 3, or 7-day ticket, you only need to stamp it once.

How late does the Metro run in Rome and often do Rome metro trains run?

The metro opens every day from 5:30 am to 11:30 pm. The opening hours differ on Friday and Saturday. On these days, the metro runs until 1:30 am. When the metro and trams are shut down, you will have to resort to taxis or night buses. Taxis will charge a significant night fee. Taking the bus, however, will give you a chance to see Rome sights at night by public transport!

During the day metro trains come every 5 minutes on average. At night, trains are a little more unreliable. On the other hand, buses are – as the Romans often angrily verbalize – irregular. That is why many apps like Moovit have been developed to track the movements of buses and give people a head start on which mode of transportation to use and how to get from A to B! More information about the app can be found at the end of this blog post.

What is Roma Pass and is it worth getting one?

There are several discounted packages that you can opt for. Whether the Roma pass or any other discounted pass will save you money depends on how much you intend to use it. It is certain, however, that it will save you time and will make your worries of buying a metro ticket vanish! The Roma pass is a card that you can purchase offering a variety of discounts, direct access to museums and other attractions and free entries, including unlimited transport for the amount of time that one chooses. If you will be staying in Rome for a longer period of time than there are also a variety of annual and monthly travel cards that you could look into. These would definitely save you money over time! NOTE: The Roma pass is only a great choice for adults. No children’s passes are available.

Other things you should be aware of:

• Children younger than 10 years of age do not pay for public transport, assuming they are accompanied by an adult.
• Delays and strikes happen rather often. We are Italy, after all…the land of “la Bella vita” where rules are times are flexible and don’t always apply.
• The best apps to download on your phone that track buses are: “Rome Bus”, “Orari Bus ATAC Roma” and “Bus Roma” and Moovit .
• The metro is made of three main lines (lines A, B and C), but only the two main ones (A and B) should be of interest for tourists, as line C is mainly thought to connect the suburbs to the city centre. Also, line C is still being constructed, which explains the dott d green line on the map. Lines A and B intersect at the main station of the city, called Termini. This stop houses the main train station in Rome and, therefore, acts as a central transport centre not only for the city of Rome, but for Italy as a whole.