How do you get around Rome by public transport?

Discover Rome’s best public transport routes, ticket hacks, and alternative ways to explore the city—essential advice for students and young expats in 2026.

Yordan

12 minute read

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Updated on 16 Sep 2026

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Living

Rome runs on public transport with over 350 lines and more than 8,000 stops, and a single ticket costs just €1.50 for 100 minutes across the whole network. Figuring out how transportation in Rome works can be daunting as a newcomer. To help you navigate Rome's public transport, we've created this useful guide so if you're looking to locate rental homes near Rome and avoid the pricey rents in the centre, you're covered!

If you're planning your move or long-term stay, don't miss your complete guide to living in Rome for all the essentials on settling in, neighbourhoods, and daily life beyond just the transport system.

Key takeaways:

• A single ticket costs €1.50 and covers 100 minutes on metro, bus, and tram with unlimited transfers. A monthly pass costs €35.
• Buses and trams run from 05:30 AM to midnight. Metro runs until 11:30 PM on weekdays and until 01:30 AM on Fridays and Saturdays.
• For students and young professionals commuting daily, a monthly or weekly pass costs less than buying single tickets and works across the entire network.
• For families and short-term visitors, a day ticket or 3-day pass gives unlimited rides without needing to track individual fares.
• Night buses fill the gap between 12:30 AM and 05:30 AM, running every 30 minutes from central hubs like Piazza dei Cinquecento and Piazza Venezia.
• Riding without a validated ticket risks a fine starting around €50 (reduced rate) up to several hundred euros, so always validate before boarding.

Rome has over 8,000 public transport stops, including trams, metros, buses and railways. You'll always have one option or another to get around Rome conveniently and affordably. Rome is also an excellent transport hub for heading to and from other Italian cities, so you won't just have excellent local transport options here.

Every ticket you buy in Rome works across the whole network, so you don't need separate passes for the metro, bus, or tram. Here's what a ticket costs, where to buy one, and how to avoid a fine.

How much does Rome's public transport cost?

Rome metro prices are the same as bus and tram fares, because every ticket works across the whole network. Public transportation in Rome is priced averagely compared to other European capital cities.

You can find the exact prices for 2024 in the table below:

If you're budgeting your move, transport is only one piece of the puzzle—see your overall cost of living in Rome for what you'll spend each month including rent, food, and utilities.

Which ticket should you buy?

Prioritise the single-use or day ticket if you're in Rome for a few days and only plan a handful of trips. Prioritise the weekly or monthly pass if you're a student or young professional commuting daily, since it works out cheaper than buying single tickets one by one. Prioritise the yearly pass if you're settling in Rome long-term, as it covers unlimited rides for a full year at less than €21 a month.

If you're a student, see the best universities in Rome to help you figure out campus locations and how your commute fits into daily life.

Where do you buy Rome public transport tickets?

You can buy Rome public transport tickets at vending machines in metro stations, at the desk in certain metro stations, as well as in stores, newspaper stands. You can sign up to ATAC Roma to get your monthly or annual cards.

If your monthly or yearly subscription runs out, you can charge your card at the following locations:

• ATAC offices
• Online via ATAC's website
• Selected stores
• Unicredit ATMs in the city and surrounding area
• Pay&Go parking meters

You can also use contactless payments and pay for your public transportation as you use it in Rome, no need for a ticket!

Any public transportation ticket you buy in Rome can be used across Rome's public transport network, there's no need to buy different tickets for different transport modes.

How do you validate your ticket, and what happens if you don't?

Validate your ticket the moment you board, using the small yellow or green machines near the doors of buses, trams, and metro gates. Validation stamps the time on your ticket and starts the 100-minute countdown for transfers.

Riding without a validated ticket is risky business in Rome, as ticket inspectors carry out frequent checks. If they catch you without a valid ticket, expect a fine that typically starts at €50 if you pay within 5 days of the notice, but can climb to €100 to €500 for unpaid or repeated violations. Always validate as soon as you board, even if you already have a monthly pass loaded on a physical card.

What are the best apps for planning your journey in Rome?

Download Moovit or the official ATAC Roma app before you arrive. Both show real-time bus, tram, and metro arrivals, help you plan a route door to door, and flag delays or line closures as they happen. Moovit also lets you buy and validate ATAC tickets directly in the app, so you can skip the queue at the vending machine.

Google Maps also works well for basic route planning in Rome, though it doesn't always reflect real-time delays as accurately as Moovit.

Buses and trams in Rome have the same operating time. They run on a strict schedule from 05:30 AM to 12:00 AM.

Metros in Rome have a slightly different schedule, running from 05:30 AM to 11:30 PM, Monday to Thursday. There're more metros running over the weekend and they run later. On Fridays and Saturdays the metros run until 01:30 AM.

Night buses in Rome

Like most European capitals, Rome has an excellent night bus service. There're 20 night bus lines running from 12:30 AM to 05:30 AM to accommodate travellers during the "rest time" of the other transport lines in Rome. The main stations that Rome's night buses run from are Piazza dei Cinquecento and Piazza Venezia. Here, night buses will leave every 30 minutes.

An owl marks the location of night bus stops

Stick to well-lit, busier stops like Piazza dei Cinquecento and Piazza Venezia if you're travelling late, and keep your phone and bag secured while boarding, since crowded night buses are a common spot for pickpockets. Travelling in a pair or group after midnight is safer than waiting alone at a quiet stop.

Metros in Rome

Getting around Rome by metro is usually the fastest option across the city centre, especially during rush hour traffic. Rome's metro network has 3 lines, but a whopping 73 stations along these metro lines. Lines A (orange) and B (blue) have a lot of tourist traffic as they service a lot of tourist hotspots in Rome. Line C (green) is a more residentially-focused line that stretches all the way to the outskirts of the city in the north.

Buses in Rome

A lot of locals need to use buses to get around Rome, as the metro lines don't reach far outside of the city centre. Traffic is a big issue in Rome, so buses may be delayed. It's always a good idea to give yourself some extra time to get to your destination. But don't stress too much, Italian culture tends to be pretty laidback and being late is common.

Rome has 4 different types of buses, recognizable by the lettering at the bus stop:

• Urban Lines (U) the majority of buses travelling around Rome
• Express (X) lines run to the outskirts of Rome
• Exact (E) lines connect the city centre with the neighbourhoods that surround it
• Night Buses (N) run throughout the night

Trams in Rome

Unlike other European capitals, trams in Rome are used less by tourists than other transport options. The 6 tram lines that service Rome don't cover the tourist hotspots. Rome's trams connect the outskirts of the city centre to the rest of the city. They're well connected to the metro lines so combining the 2 to get around the city outskirts and centre is common.

Rome's urban railways

Rome's urban railway has 3 lines that help you get to and from other cities in the Lazio region. The urban railway is a great way to visit other parts of the region for a day trip or to get out of the busy city center. You can visit Lido, Viterbo and Giardinetti with the urban railway and make it back to the city in one day as the lines operate from 05:30 AM to 10:30 PM with trains running every 20 minutes.

Getting around Rome as a first-timer comes down to 5 steps: buy a ticket, validate it, check the line and direction, board, and transfer if needed. Here's how each one works in practice.

1. Buy your ticket before you board. Get it from a vending machine at any metro station, a newsstand, a tobacco shop (marked with a black-and-white "T" sign), or through the Moovit or ATAC app.
2. Validate it the moment you get on. Tap or stamp your ticket at the yellow or green machine near the doors. On the metro, validate at the turnstile before going down to the platform.
3. Check the line colour and direction. Metro lines are colour-coded (A orange, B blue, C green), and platforms show the final destination of each direction, not the district you're headed to, so match the end-of-line name, not the neighbourhood.
4. Board and hold on to your ticket. Keep your validated ticket until your journey ends. It stays valid for 100 minutes and covers transfers between bus, tram, and metro.
5. Transfer within the time window. If your route needs more than one leg, hop on your next bus, tram, or metro within the 100 minutes without validating again, as long as you're on the same ticket.

Most of Rome's metro network is accessible, but a few historic stations aren't. According to ATAC, all metro stations have step-free access except for line A's Spagna, Barberini, Repubblica, and Vittorio Emanuele stops, which are older stations without space for lifts. Line C, the newest line, is fully accessible with elevators and level boarding at every stop.

On buses, 98% of ATAC's fleet has low-floor boarding platforms and a dedicated wheelchair area, so most routes work for wheelchair users. Trams are less consistently accessible, so check the specific line before you travel if step-free access is essential.

If you're planning a trip and need guaranteed accessible stations, stick to Line C or Line B, and check ATAC's accessibility page before you travel, since lifts at older stations occasionally break down.

Taxis and car/ scooter/ bike sharing, there're plenty of options to get around Rome when you don't feel like using public transport. Public transport stays the cheapest option for daily commutes, so save taxis and ride-shares for late nights, heavy luggage, or when you're short on time.

Taxis

Taking a taxi in Rome is not ideal if you're trying to stretch your budget, since the service is one of the most expensive in Europe. With a minimum fare of €4 and tariffs of up to €2.41 per kilometre, the bill builds up quite quickly.

Nevertheless, the service is there for you to use when you need to swiftly get somewhere.

All taxis in Rome are white and the car number is is on the sides. Don't get in any taxi that doesn't have those features!

Car sharing

There are several car-sharing options available in Rome. The most widely available ones are "Share Now" and "Enjoy".

Car sharing is great if you don't own a car and need one for a short period of time.

Scooter sharing

Need to get somewhere fast and enjoy feeling the breeze in your hair? Then the most popular way of getting around in Italy is the way to go for you! Renting one of the scooters waiting behind every corner is one of the most enjoyable ways of travelling in an urban environment.

Bike sharing

Renting a bike for a ride is perfect if you don't have a driver's licence and the weather allows it.

The most popular bike-sharing options in Rome are "Jump" and "Helbiz".

After comparing all these modes, you might wonder about the best neighbourhoods in Rome for a smooth commute or easy access to your university or office. Your route matters, so does your neighborhood—see which areas are best connected before you pick a place.

Plan your commute

If you're moving to Rome for work or study, planning your commute is about more than just picking a transport mode. Think about where you'll live, your daily schedule, and how transit fits around working hours or university lectures. If you're job hunting, check out our tips on finding a job in Rome to help you plan your route and timing from day one.

Now that you're aware of the most important information about the public transport system of Rome, you should check which Rome neighbourhood would fit your needs best. Pick a home near a Line A, B, or C metro stop, or a well-served tram or bus route, and your daily commute gets a lot shorter.

Once you know how you'll get around, lock in your home before you land. HousingAnywhere lets you book verified rooms, studios, and apartments in Rome fully online, message landlords directly, and move in with Tenant Protection covering your first days in the city, so you can focus on learning the metro map instead of worrying about scams.

How late do buses and metros run in Rome? Buses and trams run until midnight every day. Metro runs until 11:30 PM Monday to Thursday and stays open until 01:30 AM on Fridays and Saturdays, with night buses covering the rest of the night from 12:30 AM to 05:30 AM.

How do I get from Rome's airport to the city center using public transport? From Fiumicino airport, the Leonardo Express train runs directly to Roma Termini in 32 minutes for €14, departing every 15 minutes between roughly 05:35 AM and 11:23 PM. The cheaper FL1 regional train costs around €8 and stops at Trastevere, Ostiense, and Tiburtina, though it takes longer and runs less frequently. Airport shuttle buses cost about €5 to €10 one way.

What should I do if I get caught without a ticket on Rome's public transit? Pay the fine on the spot or within 5 days to get the reduced rate, around €50 plus a small administrative fee. Waiting longer or ignoring the notice pushes the fine up toward €100 to €500, so it's cheaper to just pay early or, better, always validate your ticket before you board.

What's the best way for a student or young expat to get around Rome? Get a monthly pass if you're commuting to university or work daily, since it covers unlimited rides on metro, bus, and tram for €35. Pair it with a bike or scooter share for the last stretch between a station and your door.

How do public transport costs compare to taxis or rideshares in Rome? Public transport costs a fraction of a taxi ride. A single ticket is €1.50, while a taxi starts at €4 plus €2.41 per kilometre, so even a short ride can cost 5 to 10 times more than the bus or metro.

Does Rome ever have public transport strikes? Yes, ATAC occasionally holds scheduled strikes that reduce bus, tram, and metro service for a few hours, usually announced in advance on ATAC's website. Check for strike days before you travel and build in extra time, since some lines keep running a reduced guaranteed service during peak hours.