The three metro lines: what they cover
Line A (orange): runs from Battistini in the northwest through the city centre (Ottaviano-San Pietro for the Vatican, Spagna for the Spanish Steps, Termini for the main station) to Anagnina in the southeast. This is the line tourists use most. Line B (blue): runs from Laurentina in the south to Rebibbia/Conca d'Oro in the northeast, passing Termini, Cavour (for the Forum/Colosseum), Colosseo and Piramide (for Ostia trains). Line C (green): the newest line, runs from San Giovanni outward to the eastern suburbs — useful only if you're staying in those neighborhoods. The metro runs 05:30–23:30 daily, and until 01:30 on Friday and Saturday. Frequency: every 3–7 minutes peak, every 10 minutes off-peak.
Tickets and prices in 2026
BIT (single ticket): €1.50, valid 100 minutes on bus/tram/metro/urban train — but only ONE metro ride. ROMA 24H: €7, unlimited within 24 hours of first validation. ROMA 48H: €12.50. ROMA 72H: €18. CIS (weekly pass): €24, unlimited Monday–Sunday. Children under 10 ride free with an adult. If you're sightseeing for more than 2 days, the 48H or 72H ticket pays for itself within 4–5 rides — easy to hit when you're hopping between the Vatican, Termini and the Colosseum.
Where to buy tickets (and how to avoid lines)
Buy from: any tabacchi (tobacco shop with the black T sign), metro station ticket machines (English available, accept cards and cash), newsstands. The MyCicero app or the Tabnet app lets you buy tickets on your phone with a credit card and skip queues entirely — strongly recommended. You can also tap a contactless credit/debit card or Apple Pay/Google Pay directly at metro turnstiles and on most modern buses (€1.50 per ride, capped at the day-pass price if you tap many times in the same day) — this is the easiest option for tourists.
How to validate (don't skip this)
Paper tickets MUST be validated at the start of the journey or you can be fined €50–100 even if the ticket is unused. On the metro: insert the ticket into the orange turnstile and walk through — that's the validation. On the bus/tram: there's a small yellow box near each door, insert the ticket and a timestamp prints on it. On contactless card payments, the tap itself is the validation. Inspectors do check, especially on tourist routes (line A, bus 64, tram 8). Show the ticket on demand; 'I didn't know' is not accepted as an excuse.
Bus 64 and the pickpocket warning
Bus 64 runs from Termini to St. Peter's via Piazza Venezia and is the single most useful tourist route in Rome — and also the most pickpocketed bus in Italy. Use it (it saves a sweaty 40 minute walk and €15 in taxis), but: keep your wallet and phone in a zipped front pocket, avoid the crowded back of the bus, and step off if you feel two people pressing against you. Bus 40 Express runs the same route with fewer stops and is less crowded. Both are valid with a regular €1.50 ticket.
Trams: slower but scenic
Tram 8 from Piazza Venezia through Trastevere to Casaletto is the most useful tourist tram — it's how you get to Trastevere from the centre without walking. Tram 3 connects Trastevere to the Colosseum and Villa Borghese (a beautiful scenic ride). Tram 19 connects Villa Borghese to San Pietro Basilica's neighborhood. All trams use the same €1.50 BIT ticket. Trams are slower than the metro but rarely have pickpocket issues.
Airport transfers (Fiumicino and Ciampino)
Fiumicino airport (FCO): the LEONARDO EXPRESS direct train from Termini is €14, 32 minutes, runs every 15 minutes 05:23–22:53. NOT covered by metro tickets — you need the dedicated Leonardo Express ticket. Alternative: FL1 regional train (€8) to Trastevere/Ostiense, slower but cheaper. Taxi flat rate from FCO to anywhere in central Rome: €55 (use only official white taxis with the city seal). Ciampino airport (CIA): no train; use the SIT or Terravision buses (€6, 40 min to Termini) or taxi (€40 flat rate to centre).
What to avoid
1) Buying tickets from people 'helping' at metro turnstiles — they are scammers, the machines are easy with English. 2) Riding the bus without a validated ticket — fines are €50–100 and inspectors do check. 3) Trying to take the metro to the Vatican Museums — the closest stop (Cipro on line A) is 800m from the entrance; Ottaviano is closer to St. Peter's. 4) Assuming buses are punctual — use the Moovit app for real-time arrivals; ATAC's bus schedules are aspirational. 5) Taking taxis from unofficial drivers at Termini — only use white taxis from the official rank outside the main entrance.