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Rome Transportation - How to Get Around the City
I am a big fan of the Rome transportation system.
Yes, I love to walk, but sometimes it's too far to walk or too tiring, so I take the bus or metro instead.
Of course, there are other means of getting around, such as taxis, e-bikes, and driving.
After nearly 25 years of living in Rome and using just about every kind of transportation option there is, I'm here to break it all down for you.
Find out how to get tickets, which tickets to get, the best ways to get around Rome, whether kids ride free, how to avoid hefty fines, how to stay safe on the bus, and much more.
Rome Transportation Options
One of the most important things that can affect your visit to Rome is how you will get around.
No time to read the whole page?
The best way to get around Rome is on foot, but walking may not be for everyone and sometimes the sites you want to visit can be too far apart to walk.
Rome's public transportation system (ATAC) consists of the metro (underground) with 3 lines, 6 tram lines, and extensive bus routes that can get you pretty much anywhere you need to go in the city and even a bit outside it.
On this page I share which tickets to purchase, how they work, whether you can use contactless ticketing (tap & go), how to know which bus, tram, or metro to take, and how to avoid getting fined on the bus.
I'll also cover other ways to get around Rome and their pros and cons.
Walking
Walking is usually my first choice, because there is so much to see on foot and because I love the exercise.
Rome's historic center is pretty compact and I can walk easily from monument to monument, piazza to piazza.
Plus, I get to peek into doorways and hidden courtyards along the way.
I love walking so I can see beautiful doorways on quiet streets like this one on Via dei Coronari.Why walking may not be right for you
But it's not always feasible to walk in Rome, even as a means of sight-seeing.
It might be raining or super hot or freezing cold.
You might overdo it and find your energy level flagging.
You could have mobility issues.
Or maybe you've got blisters, knee or hip problems, or small children or elderly people with you.
Also, more and more people are opting to stay a little bit outside the city center, which means they need to figure out how to get into the center and how to get to the sites they want to see in Rome.
You may choose accommodation far from the city center if you want to stay in a more local neighbourhood.
Or you may want some green space or a pool.
Either way, you're going to want to know how to get where you want to go.
And, you're going to want to know the NUMBER ONE thing you can do to make getting around Rome a stress-free experience.
Other than walking, here all the options for getting around Rome:
- ATAC & Cotral city transport (bus, metro, tram)
- Hop on / Hop off bus
- Taxi
- Private car hire
- Driving
- Vespa / motorcycle
- Bicycle
- Electric scooter sharing
- Segway
- Golf cart
- Horse-driven carriage
Finally, here's how to know how to get where you want to go in Rome:
Public Transportation - ATAC & Cotral
Rome's public transportation is run by ATAC (Azienda Tramvie ed Autobus del Comune di Roma).
When you open the website, you can choose English from the language menu at the top. Just know that not everything on the main ATAC site is translated into English. For example, news updates such as closed stations, strikes, or other outages are only in Italian.
The ATAC system includes the metro (underground/subway), bus, and tram systems.
ATAC is complimented in certain areas of the city by Cotral (Compagnia Trasporti Laziali), a private company that offers bus and overground train services.
One example is the train that takes you to Ostia from either the Piramide Metro or the San Paolo Metro stops.
You can take the Cotral train to either Ostia Antica (excavation site) or Ostia Lido (beach).
ATAC & Cotral Tickets
How long tickets are good for
The most commonly-used tickets are good for:
- single-use
- 24 hours
- 48 hours
- 72 hours
- 1 week
Ticket costs
Ticket costs are as follows:
So, for example, if you plan on staying in Rome for 3 days, figure out if you will use public transportation at least 12 times in that period to make getting a 72-hour ticket worthwhile.
If you purchase any of the above tickets you can use them on the Cotral Rome network (even if they are labelled as ATAC most of the time).
This means that for a mere 1.50€, you can go from Rome's city center all the way to Ostia beach or Ostia Antica.
Children under 10 ride free on all ATAC transportation and must be accompanied by an adult.
Where to purchase tickets for the bus, metro, tram
The above tickets are good for riding Rome's buses, metro, and trams.
You can purchase tickets from the following places:
- Paper tickets from machines inside metro stations and inside the train stations
- Paper tickets from most (but not all) newspaper kiosks and at tobacco (Tabacchi) shops
- E-tickets with an app like MooneyGo
- E-tickets with your credit card by using the card itself, or a smart device such as a phone or watch that has electronic payment activated
Paper tickets vs. Tap & go
Tap & Go machines have been added to pretty much all buses and trams and in every metro and train station.
Since this is such an easy way to get your public transportation tickets, I'm going to recommend you use that and not worry about getting tickets in advance unless you want more than a single-use ticket.
However:
If you don't carry credit cards or have a contactless payment system on your smart phone or watch, you'll need to purchase paper tickets or use an app.
Also keep in mind that the tap and go machines could be out of order.
I always carry some paper single-use tickets with me for just such an occasion.
I almost never have to use them but it's handy to have them as a backup.
Validating tickets
If you have any kind of paper ticket, you must validate it before or as soon as you board whatever means of public transportation you are using.
If you use the ticket to ride the metro, you will have no choice but to validate the ticket, as you can't get through the electronic turnstiles without entering a valid ticket.
Once you pass the ticket through the reader, it will pop back out and you need to grab it and keep it until you have stopped riding the metro (or bus if you use this same ticket to switch to a bus from the metro).
If you use a paper ticket to ride a bus or tram, it's the honour system so it's up to you to validate it.
Do this, or risk getting fined...
You must validate your ticket on any public transport journey or risk being fined by ATAC/Cotral inspectors.
On buses or trams, you'll need to board and then put the ticket into the small machines often mounted on the handlebars at the front, middle and rear of the vehicle.
The machine will stamp the time on your ticket, validating it.
If you do not do this and an inspector asks to see your ticket, you will likely be fined at least 60€.
And if you can't pay on the spot, you can pay later, but it will cost 2-3 times more.
That's the cost of a good lunch or dinner, so it's not worth the risk considering the cheapest ticket is only 1,50€.
-----
Local tip:
Some times its impossible to validate your ticket - all the machines on a given bus could be out of order.
In this case, write on the ticket the time you boarded your train/bus/tram - show this to an inspector if requested, who will accept this as a makeshift validation 👍
If you are using an app like MooneyGo, you still have to electronically validate the ticket.
I purchase about 10 tickets in advance with my MooneyGo app, and then each time I ride the bus, I tap a ticket and tell the app to validate it which it does.
I'm then all set if an inspector asks to see my ticket. I just show them the QR code on my phone.
If you use Tap & Go, you will just tap the machine with your credit card or smartphone or watch. (The Tap n Go machines do not have a slot for inserting your card. You need a card that is contactless.)
When you get the green light that your payment has been accepted, you are good to do.
You will not receive any kind of receipt or physical ticket when you use Tap & Go.
So if an inspector asks to see your ticket, just show them the phone or credit card you used to pay, and they can verify that you have a valid ticket.
Tap & Go - BE CAREFUL!!
When you use Tap & Go to purchase a metro, bus, or tram ticket on the spot, you MUST have a different credit card for each person's ticket.
You cannot pay for multiple tickets with the same credit card.
Inspectors do not care if you don't know about this, and have tried purchasing more than one ticket with your card, only to have just one valid ticket.
They will fine whoever in your party does not have a valid ticket, so make sure you are ready with a separate card for each person in your party who will ride public transportation.
If you purchase a pass that's good for more than a single ride, you must validate it the first time you use any form of public transportation.
That sets the start date and time of the ticket and it will end according to whatever ticket type you purchased.
You don't need to validate it after the first time, but you do need to have it with you in case you are asked to show proof of a valid ticket.
When you use the metro with this type of ticket, you just pass the ticket through the machine and it will read that it's valid and pop it back out and open the turnstiles for you.
Rome Transportation - Metro
The Rome Metro or underground is an easy, quick way to get around parts of Rome.
At least, the parts not full of underground Roman ruins.
Our metro is made up of 3 lines and is one of the smallest metro systems in Europe. It's not easy to create metro lines in Rome since every time they dig, they find sites to excavate.
The two main lines currently are the Red line A and the Blue line B. Some people refer to the red line as the orange line, although to me, it's always been the red line.
While the Metro is limited due to all the underground ruins, it does have a lot of convenient stops such as:
- Colosseum - Blue line B, Colosseo stop
- Vatican - Red line A, Ottaviano and Cipro stops
- Spanish Steps - Red line A, Spagna stop
- Trevi Fountain - Red line A, Barberini stop
- Circus Maximus - Blue line B, Circo Massimo
- Termini station - Both lines, Termini stop
There is a new Green line in the works with many stops already functioning.
Some of the stops that will be useful for visitors is the brand new Colosseo metro stop due to open sometime in 2025. Yes, we already have a Colosseo stop, but this will be a huge, much improved stop and much easier to navigate.
Another stop in the works is in Piazza Venezia. Unfortunately, this stop is not due to be completed until sometime around 2035.
The metro runs daily from 5:30 AM to 11:30 PM and on Fridays and Saturdays, until 1:30 AM.
The metro's timetable may vary, depending on works and special events in the city.
Find out everything you need to know about riding the Rome Metro on my dedicated page.
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ROME TRANSPORTATION - bus
Rome has an extensive bus system, allowing you to get almost anywhere in Rome, even to many areas outside Rome.
The Rome bus system is inexpensive and easy to use to get around Rome, especially if you use an app to tell you which one(s) to take.It's the slowest way to go, but it can be an adventure and/or scenic if the bus isn't too crowded.
Regular bus service runs daily from 5:30 AM - midnight. Bus frequency can depend on the bus line and the time of day.
I use the Moovit app to check bus schedules and see bus arrival times in real time.
IMPORTANT BUS TIP!
If you can't find a seat on the bus and find yourself standing, make sure to hold on to something.
The buses in Rome can sometimes lurch or even brake abruptly due to traffic and road conditions, and you'll be better of holding onto a strap or railing rather than just standing without any support.
Take it from me - I was recently standing on a bus when the driver slammed on the brakes and I got smashed up pretty badly.
All ok - no broken bones, but it was not a pleasant experience!
ROME TRANSPORTATION - Tram
There are 6 tram lines in Rome, all part of the ATAC Rome public transportation system.
The trams in Rome are limited but they go far and can be useful if you have a specific destination outside the center.The trams are all in strategic spots, connecting to either a metro or bus stop, making it easy to get quickly to locations the metro cannot always go, such as the auditorium or MAXXI museum.
The Rome ATAC tickets are not valid for the following means of Rome transportation:
- The Leonardo Express going between Rome Termini and Fiumicino airport.
- The trains that go between Rome and the port city of Civitavecchia.
- Any bus or trains going to either of Rome's airports.
- Hop-on /hop-off double decker buses, which are run by private companies - see below for more information on this
Hop on / Hop off bus
Many open-bus companies offer hop-on / hop-off service in Rome, and they all offer pretty much the same route.
You will see the main tourist attractions of Rome, such as the Colosseum, Vatican, Pantheon, Palatine Hill, etc.
In front of the Palatine Hill, you can see many different brands of Hop-on / Hop-off buses waiting to take off.Because they are hop-on/hop-off, you could use this double decker bus as a means of getting around Rome as well as for sight-seeing.
The hop-on/hop-off bus is a great option if you want to take in the sights in a day and/or if you are short on time and just want to get an overview.
Click here to read my page about the the Hop-on Hop-off bus tours in Rome.
Taxi
I know that many visitors to Rome are wary of taking a taxi in Rome.
Unfortunately, there have been too many tales of people being ripped off by unscrupulous taxi drivers.
Taxis are a common form of Rome transportation. Just know the rules so you have peace of mind.But I am here to tell you that most Rome taxi drivers are honest.
And there are ways to take a taxi and make sure you do not get hustled.
And taking a taxi in Rome can be a good thing when you are tired and hot and just want to get quickly back to your hotel or apartment.
For details on how and where to get a taxi, costs, and how not to get ripped off, visit my dedicated page about taking a taxi in Rome here.
Private car hire
You may want to hire a private car while in Rome.
Typically, people book these to get between Rome and the airport or between Rome and the cruise port city, Civitavecchia.
Many people also opt for a private car hire to take a private tour in Rome, or to get them to other nearby spots such as Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, Florence, etc.
The best way to hire a private car in Rome is to book in advance.
This way you know exactly what kind of car you are getting and you know the price in advance.
The worst way to take a private car anywhere in Rome is by picking up one as you would a taxi.
Unfortunately, here, again, you may get taken advantage of.
Click here to book your private car for airport transfer.
Click here to book your private car for Civitavecchia port transfer.
Click here to book a private tour of Rome with limo and driver.
Driving
Sorry but I must strongly urge you not to use a car as a way to get around Rome.
Driving is probably the worst choice as a means of Rome transportation. Try to avoid this if you can!If you are renting a car and driving in or out of Rome, fine.
But there is no need for a car in Rome, it's not easy or cheap to park it, and you risk getting slapped with hefty fines for driving in restricted areas that you may not be able to recognize.
Vespa / motorcycle
You can rent your own Vespa (scooter) or motorcycle if you feel comfortable navigating Rome streets and traffic.
You can also take a tour of Rome on a Vespa/scooter.
This is one of the most fun ways to tour the city.
It's easy, safe and allows you to cover a lot of ground.
You will be a passenger and get to look and film as you go.
You'll wear a helmet and the drivers go very slowly, but you also get that feeling of zipping around Rome as the Romans do.
Click here to rent a Vespa while in Rome.
Click here to book a Vespa tour of Rome!
Bicycle - from e-bike sharing to rentals to tours
Ever since the electric bike-sharing programs began and these bikes started popping up everywhere in Rome, I must say I find them quite useful.
Electric bike-sharing services like these Jump bikes by Uber can be a fun and way of getting around Rome.First of all, the bikes are electric which makes riding them a breeze even up small hills.
Second of all, you don't have to worry about where to park them (except of course you do have to make sure you do not park in a prohibited area. The app you use to rent the bike will let you know.)
All you need is the app for the product you want to rent.
You can download an app, sign up, and rent one of these electric bikes in a matter of minutes.
You could also choose to rent an electric bike for longer than just a one-time use, and enjoy it as a means of getting around Rome for a day or longer.
Beware, though, that they do not come with helmets so you are taking a risk.
Drive slowly, obey traffic laws, and stay safe!
Click here to book an e-bike tour along the Appia Antica.
You can also rent bicycles on the via Appia which is a very pleasant way to spend a Sunday (because on Sundays the Appia Antica is closed to car traffic).
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Electric scooter
Lately it's all the rage in Rome, and it seems in many cities around the globe as well, to rent an electric scooter or bicycle as a means of getting around Rome.
By rent I mean for one-time use.
There are many brands in Rome that rent these electric vehicles.
A big one is Uber, so if you already have an Uber account, you are set.
Many tour companies are now offering electric bike tours.
This is really fantastic because you can see a lot while exercising but without it being too strenuous.
All you need is the appropriate app.
Enter your details and payment method and you're good to go.
Segway
Segway can be a fun way to get around Rome but given that we barely have bike lanes in Rome, going around on a Segway may not be a very good option as a means of transportation in Rome.
Segway tours are popular in Rome, allowing you to cover a lot of ground.More than anything it could be a fun thing to rent one in the Villa Borghese park, or take a Rome Segway tour.
Golf cart
A golf cart is another comfortable, albeit limited, form of Rome transportation.
You can rent a golf cart in the Villa Borghese at two locations - one at the Pincian hill and the other inside the park.
Inside the Villa Borghese there are a couple of spots where you can rent wheels like Segways or golf carts. Your best bet is to ride them around inside the park as opposed to using them as your means of Rome transportation.Rates range from around 25 Euros per hour.
You must be over 18 and possess a valid drivers' license.
The golf carts may be taken out of the park but if you are not comfortable driving around Rome, you will probably not want to use this as your means of Rome transportation.
At best, it could be a fun way to spend some time in the park.
Your best bet if you want to sight-see by golf cart is to take a tour and let someone else take you around.
Horse and carriage
Hiring a horse and driver to get around Rome is probably one of the least useful in terms of getting around.
It's more of a touristic experience that will allow you to enjoy a little bit of the sites from the comfort of a slow-moving, open-air carriage.
Getting around Rome by horse and carriage can be romantic but the options are very limited and it's also an expensive way to get around Rome.While it may seem romantic, it's also been fraught with controversy over the years.
Some horses have collapsed and even died and the city keeps banning the buggies, and is not currently issuing new licenses.
As of December 2020, the carriages are banned from city streets and may only operate in historic villas (like the Villa Borghese or Villa Celimontana) or public parks.
One final note - this is a very expensive form of Rome transportation so if you do it, negotiate the price in advance so you know what to expect.
How to know how to go - apps for transport in Rome
Wondering how to know how to get from point A to point B in Rome?
There's an app for that!
Well, there are a few apps and also a few websites that can help with easy directions, whether you're walking, taking public transport in Rome, transport in Italy, or driving.
Public transportation apps for Rome
- Google maps - they are connected to Rome's ATAC transport system in Rome and also to other transport systems across Italy. Note however that the Metromare metro line from Rome to Ostia Antica and Lido di Ostia is not on Google Maps.
- Apple maps - if you are using an iPhone or other Apple device, you may want to use the built in Apple maps which is also connected to Rome's ATAC system as well as other Italy transport systems in other cities.
Taxi apps for Rome
Both of these apps are free and easy to use and allow you to pay with credit card.
You can track where your taxi is while you wait for it:
- Free Now (previously mytaxi)
- ITTaxi
Directions in Rome and in Italy
Here are some of the best and easiest to use apps and websites for getting directions in Rome and in Italy:
- Rome2Rio - Also sometimes mis-named "rome to rio", this app is not about going from Rome to Rio per se. It's a great app that gives you complete directions literally from start to end, as in, "walk 20 feet to the end of the street. Wait for the bus, once off the bus, walk 2 blocks, then get the tram", etc. It will give you all the steps so you know truly how to get from point A to point B. It will give you options including public transportation, driving (with options for Uber/Lyft/similar or taxi, if applicable), local, regional, and international trains, flights, and more. It's a really complete direction system and easiest to use on a website where you can see the full map.
- Waze - Waze is similar to Google Maps and especially helpful when driving.
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