Overview
The Rome Metro (Metropolitana di Roma) is a rapid transit system that operates in Rome, Italy. It started operation in 1955, making it the oldest metro system in the country. As a visitor, you can use the metro along with buses, trams, and regional trains to move around the city using the integrated Metrebus tariff system. All tickets and passes work across metro, buses, trams, and designated urban trains within the Rome municipality. You'll need to validate your ticket at a machine before boarding (unless using contactless tap-and-go payment), and controllers check tickets daily, including Sundays.
The network
Metro lines
The Rome Metro comprises three lines operating on 62 km of route with 74 stations and serves approximately 820,000 passengers daily.
- Line A (orange): Runs from the southeastern suburbs through the northeast section of downtown to the northern section of the city, near Vatican City. It has 27 stations with terminals at Battistini and Anagnina. Line A connects with Line B and many national and regional rail services at Termini station, and with Line C at San Giovanni.
- Line B (blue): The first Metro line in Rome, connects the northeast of the city with the southwest. It has 26 stations with terminals at Rebibbia, Jonio, and Laurentina (just east of EUR). Line B also features a branch (B1) connecting Piazza Bologna with Conca d'Oro, with the terminus at Jonio.
- Line C (green): Opened on 9 November 2014, the line currently runs from Colosseo, which serves as an interchange station for Line B, to the eastern terminus of Pantano. It is the first Metro line to extend beyond the city boundaries in Rome. Line C features fully automated, driverless trains. Future extensions are planned to the northwest towards Grottarossa and through the city centre, where it will intersect with Line A at Ottaviano and with a planned Line D at Piazza Venezia.
Suburban and regional rail
Beyond the Metro, Rome's urban area is served by eight FL lines (672 km with 131 stations) that surround Rome and the Lazio region, three commuter urban lines (135 km with 57 stations), and two dedicated rail services. The Leonardo Express connects Roma Termini, the central station, to Leonardo da Vinci Airport at Fiumicino (a 30-minute non-stop journey). The Civitavecchia Express connects Rome to the Port of Civitavecchia, the main port of Rome.
Trams and buses
Six tram lines operate 36 km of route with 192 stations. Extensive bus services (operated by ATAC) serve the city and connect to surrounding areas. All these services are covered by the Metrebus integrated tariff system.
Tickets & fares
Ticket types and current fares
All fares listed are approximate and subject to change. The integrated ticketing system covers the Metro, buses, trams, Cotral buses (within Rome), urban trains (Rome–Lido, Rome–Viterbo, Rome–Pantano), and Trenitalia regional trains (second class) within the Rome municipality.
- BIT (Biglietto Integrato a Tempo) – single journey: €1.50, valid for 100 minutes from first validation on metro, buses, trams, and urban trains combined. You can make unlimited transfers between these services, but cannot exit the metro and re-enter via turnstiles within the same ticket validity period.
- 24-hour pass (Roma 24h / MetroBus 24 Hours): €7.00, unlimited transport until midnight of the same day.
- 48-hour pass (Roma 48h / MetroBus 48 Hours): €12.50, unlimited transport for 48 hours from first use.
- 72-hour pass (Roma 72h / MetroBus 72 Hours): €18.00, unlimited transport for 72 hours from first use.
- Weekly pass (CIS): €24.00, unlimited transport for 7 days.
- Monthly and annual passes: Available for longer stays; check the official ATAC website for current pricing.
Where and how to buy tickets
You can purchase paper tickets and passes at vending machines, convenience stores, and newsstands. You can also pay directly using contactless methods: debit or credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or smartwatches at metro gates and some buses and trams. Several mobile apps allow you to purchase and validate tickets via smartphone, including MooneyGo, Wetaxi, Trenitalia, Tabnet, TicketAppy, Dropticket, Telepass Pay, and Urbi.
Validation and penalties
Tickets must be validated at machines before boarding (except when using contactless tap-and-go payment). Fines for unvalidated tickets range from €50 to €100 if paid later. Controllers operate daily, including Sundays, so validation is important.
From the airport
Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
Rome's main airport is modern, spacious, and well-connected to the city centre.
- Leonardo Express train: A dedicated express train connects the airport directly to Roma Termini, the main railway station. The journey is 30 minutes non-stop. Fares are approximately €14 each way. Note that some travellers have reported confusion about boarding rules and payment, so read instructions carefully when purchasing your ticket.
- Regional trains: Slower regional trains also depart from the airport station to various stations in Rome. These cost significantly less than the Leonardo Express (approximately €8 to stations in Rome), but do not stop at Roma Termini.
- Coaches: Several coach companies operate services, costing approximately €7 if booked in advance (up to €9 on the day). Journey time is typically up to one hour.
- Taxis: Operate on a fixed fare to the centre of Rome (any point within the city's ancient Aurelian Walls).
Ciampino International Airport (CIA)
This smaller low-cost airport is closer to the city centre than Fiumicino but has no direct train connection.
- Train and bus combination: Take a train to Ciampino station, then hop on a bus (Ciampino AirLink) that goes directly to the airport. The service is offered by Trenitalia through a single ticket. Total journey time is around 40 minutes from Termini.
- Direct coach services to Roma Termini: SITBusShuttle (€4 one-way to centre, or €8 return; approximately 40 minutes), Terravision (€6 one-way or €11 return when booked online; approximately 40 minutes with 30-minute frequency), RomeAirportBus (€5.90 single or €9.90 return from airport to city), COTRAL (€5 one-way; fewer departures than Terravision), and Flibco (from €6.99 when booked online; around 45 minutes with up to 40 departures daily).
- Public transport via metro: Take the local ATRAL bus from outside the terminal to Anagnina metro station (Line A). A metro ticket to central Rome costs €1.50 and is valid for 100 minutes; total journey time to Termini is approximately 50 minutes. Alternatively, take ATAC urban bus line 720 to Laurentina (Line B) or Line 520 to Cinecittà (Line A); cost is €1.50 for a 100-minute ticket.
- Shared shuttle: Approximately €15 per person, though journey time may vary if other passengers are dropped off first.
- Taxi: The fixed price to the city centre (within the Aurelian Walls) is €30 and includes luggage and up to four people.
Etiquette & customs
Rome's public transport system follows several unwritten rules and customs that travellers should observe. When queuing at metro stations or bus stops, form orderly lines and wait your turn; pushing ahead is considered rude. On escalators, stand on the right side to allow others to walk past on the left. The metro has priority and quiet seating areas reserved for elderly passengers, people with disabilities, and pregnant women; offer your seat if you see someone who needs it more than you do. Eating and drinking are generally not permitted on metro trains, though it may be tolerated on buses and trams outside peak hours. During rush hours (typically 7–9 am and 5–7 pm weekdays), trains become very crowded; expect packed carriages and be prepared to stand. Be aware that pickpocketing does occur on crowded lines, particularly Line A and Line B, so keep valuables secure and bags zipped.
Official links
Survival terms
- Metropolitana (or Metro): Subway / Metro
- Biglietto: Ticket
- Linea: Line
- Entrata: Entrance
- Uscita: Exit
- Cambio (or Coincidenza): Transfer
- Corsa semplice: Single fare
- Abbonamento giornaliero: Day pass
Download an offline metro map before your trip or use the journey-planning tools on the ATAC website to plan your route, as this will help you avoid confusion with transfers and ensure you catch the correct line at the right station.