Destinations > Italy > Rome > Local Transport

Rome (Roma)

Local Transport

Rome has quite an extensive public transport network. Although there are only two metro lines, they are complemented by buses, trams and an comprehensive urban and suburban train network.

BUS & TRAM

Rome's bus network is operated by ATAC (website www.atac.roma.it) and COTRAL. ATAC buses generally serve the city centre and most suburbs while COTRAL buses service the outer suburbs and outlying regional areas.

Buses and trams are a good way to get around Rome, especially to places not served by the metro lines. They run every 10-45 minutes depending on the route and can get very crowded. You will need to buy a ticket in advance and validate it on board the bus or tram.

Useful bus routes include 64 between Stazione Termini and the Vatican City and route 116 from Villa Borghese to Piazza Navona the Pantheon and Campo dei Fiori.

METRO

Rome has two metro lines that run from 5.30am to 11.30pm. A third line is being constructed. The two lines cover many of the main sights and are a good way of getting between the different train stations. Line A runs from Battistini in the west to Anagnina to the south-west of the centre and is a handy way of getting to the Vatican (metro Ottaviano) as well as the Spanish Steps (metro Spagna). Line B runs from Rebibbia in the northwest to Laurentina near EUR in the south; this line connects the three main train stations: Stazione Tiburtina, Stazione Termini and Stazione Ostiense (metro Pyramide). Line B is also a good way to get to the Colosseum. Both lines intersect at Stazione Termini.

TRAIN

The metro is complemented by an extensive train network which covers the metropolitan area and includes the airports and some good day-trips. Although there are trains operated by both COTRAL and Ferrovie dello Stato, they both use the same ticket system and both companies work together to provide a fairly seamless service.

The services are reasonably frequent between Ostiense (metro Pyramide), Tuscolana and Tiburtina or Termini stations.

FARES

There is a single fare structure and ticketing system in place, meaning that a you can travel on buses, trams, trains and the metro with the one ticket. The ticketing system is divided into Metrebus Roma which refers to the range of tickets for travel within the city and Metrebus Lazio which covers travel into the outer suburbs and surrounding countryside and is divided into seven concentric zones.

BIT - Integrated Single Ticket

This is the basic ticket for one journey and allows up to 75 minutes travel on all ATAC buses and trams or the urban routes of COTRAL buses as well as the metro and COTRAL trains and FS trains within the city limits. The ticket must be validated at the station or when you get on the bus or tram and must be kept for the duration of the journey. €1.

BIG - Integrated Daily Ticket

This is a better deal if you're planning a lot of sightseeing. The day pass can be used for unlimited rides until midnight on the day on which the ticket is validated. It is valid on ATAC buses and trams, COTRAL buses in the city limits, plus the metro and COTRAL and FS trains within the city. The ticket must be validated when you first use it and it must be kept for the duration of any journey. This ticket doesn't cover travel to Fiumicino Airport. €4.

BTI - Integrated Tourist Ticket

This ticket is valid for three days travel on buses, trams, suburban trains and the metro. €11.

CIS - Integrated Weekly Pass

The CIS - Intergrated Weekly Pass is a weekly version of the above ticket. €16.

Monthly Passes

These can be a good deal if you're planning on working or studying in Rome. They basically work the same way as the daily or weekly pass and are valid for one calendar month. These passes come in two types - the personal or non-personal pass. The personal pass is the cheapest option at €30 but has your personal details on it and can only be used by the holder, whereas the non-personal monthly pass costs more €46 but can be used by anyone for the duration of the pass. Monthly passes can be bought at metro and train stations until the 5th of the month. If you want a travel pass later in the month it is usually better value to buy weekly passes. It's likely that some hostels would be able to rent out monthly passes by the day.

Lazio Regional Tickets

These tickets are basically the same as above except they cover travel over a wider region. There are weekly and monthly passes available, but most travellers would find themselves only needing a daily ticket if they want to take day-trips from Rome although the weekly tickets are sometimes handy if you're staying in a camping site on the outskirts of town.

Zones	day ticket (BIRG)	3-day ticket (BTR)	week ticket (CIRS)
one	€2.50	€6.50	€9
two	€4.50	€12	€16
three	€6	€16	€23
four	€7	€19	€28
five	€9	€24.50	€35
six	€10.50	€28.50	€41
seven	€10.50	€28.50	€41