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Getting
around in Rome...
- Buses
& trams
- Useful Routes
- Night Buses
- Metro
- Tickets
- Taxis
The Rome transport system is made up of three companies. The city transport authority, ATAC, runs buses and trams that operate within the city.
The regional transport body COTRAL is responsible for the buses operating within the Lazio region, and for Rome's two metro lines. COTRAL also operates three suburban railway lines in the Rome area from Termini, Porta San Paolo and Roma Nord stations. Local lines of the FS, the state railway, are also integrated into the city transport network.
Travelling on public transport is not really safe, be aware, but Big Time! of pickpockets and gropers on crowded buses, and especially the 64 route between Termini and the Vatican.
Buses & trams
ATAC buses and trams are the mainstay of Rome's transport network.
There are nine tram routes, mainly serving suburban areas, and an express tram
service that links Largo Argentina to Trastevere and the western suburbs.
Trams and buses share the same tickets and pricing system. Owing to
continual changes in the network, however, routes and numbers are subject to
change: if you plan to use public transport, it's a good idea to pick up a
copy of the latest city bus map, available free from the ATAC kiosk outside
Termini.
Buy tickets before getting on a bus or tram - they do not sell on abourd all
buses .
Useful Routes
Colosseum, Roman Forum
75, 85, 87, 115, 117, 175, 186, 13B (tram), metro B (Colosseo)
Largo Argentina (for Campo de' Fiori, Pantheon, Ghetto)
46, 56, 60, 62, 64, 70, 81, 87, 115, 186, 492, 628, 8 (tram)
Piazza Navona
70, 81, 87, 115, 116, 186, 492, 628
Piazza San Silvestro/Via del Tritone (for Tridente)
52, 53, 56, 58, 58B, 60, 61, 62, 71, 85, 95, 115, 116, 160, 175, 850
Piazza Venezia
46, 56, 60, 62, 64, 70, 75, 81, 87, 95, 160, 170, 186, 68, 716
Termini
16, 36, 36B, 37, 38, 38B, 64, 75, 105, 115, 157, 170, 175, 217, 310, 317, 319, 360, 492, 649, 714, 910, H, metro A, metro B (Termini)
Tiburtina
11, 168, 111, 211, 409, 490, 492, 495, 649, metro B (Tiburtina); Ostiense 95, 280, metro B (Piramide)
Trastevere:
23, 56, 280, 8 (tram)
Vatican, St. Peter's
23, 34, 64, 81, 280, 492, 982, metro A (Ottaviano)
Villa Borghese
52, 53, 95, 116, 490, 495, 910
A small fleet of electric mini-buses also plies the centre. The 115, 116, 116T, 117 and 119 connect places such as the Pantheon, Piazza di Spagna, Campo dei Fiori, and Piazza Venezia with Via Veneto and Termini. It's a bit like trundling around on a milk float, but they're handy when it's too hot to walk, and views are good.
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Night Buses
There are currently 27 night routes, which run from about 12.10am to 5.30am daily.
They run every 30 minutes to an hour, and the schedule for each route (identified by an N after the number) is written on bus stops.
The following routes are particularly useful: 42N or 40N, from Tiburtina station to Termini; 78N between the Vatican and Termini.
Metro
Rome has only two metro lines, which form a rough cross on the map, with the hub at Stazione Termini. Line A runs from the south-east to the north-west, line B from EUR in the south to the north-eastern suburbs. Both lines are open from 5.30am to
23:30, daily (until 0:30 saturday).
On Sundays it is possible to travel with bicycles on metro line B and on the connecting railway line to Ostia from Porta San Paolo; just stamp an extra ticket at the barrier before the start of your journey, and use the front carriage of the train only.
Tickets
The same tickets are valid on all city buses, trams and metro lines. They must be bought before boarding, and are available from the ATAC automatic ticket machines (scattered throughout the city), information centres, some bars and newstands and all tabacchi shops.
When you board a bus or tram, you must stamp tickets in the machines by the
rear and/or front doors. If travelling without paying looks an easy option,
bear in mind that there are ticket inspectors around, and that if you are
caught you will be fined 50 Euro on the spot.
Integrated Ticket (Biglietto Integrato Giornaliero - BIG)
Valid for one day and covers all the systems (except Fiumicino airport) in the urban network, whether ATAC, COTRAL or the FS suburban trains.
Monthly Ticket (Abbonamento Mensile)
Monthly tickets for unlimited travel on the entire metropolitan transport system. Note that monthly tickets are valid for a calendar month, not for one month from the day you buy them, so may not be useful if you arrive mid-month.
Regional Ticket (Biglietto Integrato Regionale Giornaliero - BIRG)
This is a one-day ticket covering rail travel within the Lazio region. The
price varies according to the zone of your destination. The BIRG is valid on the metro, buses and the FS (second class only) but not on routes to and from Fiumicino airport.
Timed Ticket (Biglietto Integrato a Tempo - BIT)
Valid for 75 minutes, during which you can use an unlimited number of ATAC
buses, plus one trip on the metro; this ticket costs 1 Euro.
Weekly Ticket (Carta Integrata Settimanale - CIS)
Covers all the bus routes and the metro system, including the lines out to Ostia.
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Taxis
Licensed taxis are painted white and have a meter. If anyone comes up to you
at Termini or any of the other major tourist magnets, muttering 'Taxi?'
always refuse, as they are likely to charge you up to 400 per cent more than
the normal rate. Taxi fares & surcharges When you pick up a taxi at a rank
or hail one in the street, the meter should read zero. As you set off, it
will begin to indicate the minimum fare, currently 2.80 Euro(7:00-22:00
daily), 4.00 euro ( 7:00-22:00 Sunday and holiday), 5.80 euro (night time)for the first 200mts, after which the charge goes up rapidly according to time and distance.
Phone cabs
You can phone for a taxi from any of the following companies. When your call is answered, name the street and number, or the name and location of a bar, club or restaurant where you wish to be picked up.
You will then be given the taxi code-name (always a location followed by a number) and a time, as in 'Bahama 69, in tre minuti' (Bahamas 69, in three minutes). A radio taxi will start the meter from the moment your call is answered.
- Mondo Taxi (06 88 177/06 88 22)
- La Capitale Radio Taxi (06 49 94)
- Societą Cooperativa Autoradio Taxi Roma (06 35 70)
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