Getting Around Rome

Public Transport: Metro, Tram, & Bus

Public transit is usually going to be your best option for getting around, and the three methods outlined below helpfully share one ticketing system. You can use your smartphone to charge trips directly to a payment method saved on your phone (where there's a "tap & go" reader), buy rechargeable ticket cards and e-ticket passes, or just get simple paper tickets. There are single journey tickets, or you can get tourist passes good for 1-3 days.

Maps that include all of Rome's public transit options can be intimidating to look at, packed as they are with dozens of bus and tram lines and stops. This trip planner on the official website will help you figure out the best choice for each journey you need to take.

Rome Metro

It's hard to dig in Rome, what with all the ancient ruins lying underfoot, so even though it's a very large city it doesn't have a robust Metro network. There are currently three Metro lines: A (orange), B (blue) and C (green).

Many of the main sights around the city are served by the Metro, but certainly not all of them. Line A, for instance, stops at Termini and Tiburtina train stations and the Colosseum. Line B stops at Termini, near the Spanish Steps and near the Vatican. Line B is an offshoot of Line A, extending to the eastern part of the city, though it's still under construction and will eventually serve the Colosseum and other points further west, too.

Rome Buses

Rome's bus network is far more extensive than either the Metro or tram networks, which makes it one of the best ways to get around the city and the surrounding area. It's not necessarily easy to understand, but if you learn to read the city's bus stop signage you can save yourself a great deal in taxi fare.

There are 300-plus bus lines in Rome, and you can use the trip planner linked above to figure out which lines you'll need. Bus stop signs have what might seem to be an overwhelming amount of information, but it's all really useful as they show each bus line that stops there along with the other stops on that line and what direction the bus is going. Some bus stops also have electronic signs.

Note that U buses are the ones that run during the day, N buses run at night and X buses are express lines that make fewer stops.

Rome Trams

There are six tram lines to round out Rome's public transportation map. Line 8 is popular with visitors because it runs through the historic center to the charming Trastevere neighborhood. Line 3 runs between Trastevere and the Villa Borghese, and Line 19 serves Vatican City. 

Taxis

There are taxi queues located all over Rome for officially licensed cars, identified by "Taxi" signs on the sidewalk. The main taxi stands visitors will likely need to know about are listed here. If there aren't any taxis lined up, you can wait there for one. Just note that in particularly bad weather or during a busy holiday, you may have to wait longer than usual. You can also call a taxi company directly for a pick up or use the city's Chiama Taxi Utente app, available for both Android and iPhone devices. Uber is available in Rome and can be used to request taxis as well as Uber drivers.

Hailing cabs is far less common in Rome than in some other cities around the world, but you can certainly try if you see one passing with its taxi light on.

Taxi fares are set by the city (check this link for the most up-to-date information), including minimum fares and fixed fares for certain routes. Tipping isn't required or even expected for short trips around the city, though most people do round the fare up to the nearest euro. If the driver is especially helpful, however, it's nice to add a little extra.

Bicycles & Scooters

There are a few bike sharing companies that operate in Rome, offering e-bikes and scooters for short-term use through their apps - including Bird, Dott and Lime. One of the most popular places for a leisurely bike ride is the Parco Appia Antica, and you can also rent a bike just to use at the park when you arrive or book one in advance.