Transportation In and Around Rome

Before you leave home, check Google maps for the best way to get from point A to point B. There is a button on the top to see the best routes via public transportation as well.

Navigating Rome

Rome takes immense pride in its well-developed and accessible public transportation network, which seamlessly connects its diverse neighbors and iconic landmarks. But when walking isn't possibility, below are some public transit options. 

Transit Card

If you plan on staying in Rome for one month or more, it is highly recommended to purchase yourself an ATAC È Roma transportation pass. This pass is good for the city bus system or “ATAC” along with the tram, the metro, and even some trains! You will discover that this transportation pass will become a trusted resource and will cut your commute time in half.

This card can be purchased in most tobacco shops within Roma Termini or the Tabaccheria in the Ippolito Nievo plazza right next to L’Orange. The total cost for the card is 3 euro and 1 month of transportation use costs 35 euro. MAKE SURE TO HOLD ON TO YOUR RECEIPT AT ALL TIMES!

When you receive your card, make sure you immediately write your first and last name on the back along with your birthdate (dd/mm/yyyy).

Ticket Validation

Remember to always validate your bus, tram, regional train, and any public transportation tickets BEFORE boarding. The fine can be as high as 500 Euros, and unpaid fines can get you stuck in Italy or get you red-flagged the next time you come back to Italy. 

Useful websites:

Bus, Tram, and Metro info for Rome
Trenitalia Train Company
Italo High Speed Trains

ATAC Ticket Prices

• Ticket valid for 100 minutes = €1.50
• Ticket valid for 24 hours = €7.00
• Ticket valid for 48 hours = €12.50
• Ticket valid for 72 hours = €18.00
• Ticket valid for 168 hours (7 days) = €24.00
• Monthly pass w/card = €38.00
• Monthly pass recharge = €35.00

Taxis/Cabs

Getting around any city on taxi is not difficult, but you do have to know ahead of time that in Italy taxis cannot be flagged down as they pass you along the street! Taxis are instead “stationed” at special taxi parking stands in most of the major squares in any city and at the airport and they can be requested by phone. In Rome, the number for the taxi is +39 063570/ 064994/ 065551. Or use the ITTaxi App from your phone!

Customers are advised to read the information about prices displayed inside the vehicle to make sure that the fare charged is correct. Example of some basic charges and fares within the city boundaries:

Initial Fixed Fee:

• Fixed fee from point of departure on weekdays (from 6:00 to 22:00) € 3.00  Fixed fee from point of departure on Sundays and public holidays (from 6:00 to 22:00) € 4.50 
  Fixed fee from point of departure at nights (from 22:00 to 6:00) € 6.50 HOURLY FARE Timed tick on the meter applied at speeds of less than 20 km/h; 27.00 €/h

Extra Charges:

• The first piece of luggage is free; each subsequent piece of luggage measuring more than 35x25x50 cm costs € 1.00
  The fifth passenger upwards in taxis with a capacity for more than 4 passengers: € 1.00
  he fixed fee for calling a radio-controlled taxi is € 3.50

If you are a woman out in the city center and have to get back to your hotel or apartment alone at night, take the taxi! Be safe and get a 10% discount off the fare if you travel alone between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. – the discount isn’t automatic, so ASK FOR IT!

Book your taxi online – Click here to make an online reservation with ASSO TAXI. You’ll also be able to use your credit card to pay for the fare before departure!

Airports

Fiumicino

• A direct train to/from Termini (Leonardo express) costs 14 euro
• A regional train can be taken to/from the Trastevere, Ostiense, Tuscolana, and Tiburtina stations for 8 euro
• Terravision shuttle bus- The Terravision shuttle can be taken from Termini. The office is located along the left side of the station. Tickets can be purchased online or at the office for 4 euro.
• A taxi has a fixed rate of 48 euro + 1 euro for every piece of luggage

Ciampino

• The Terravision shuttle can be taken from Termini. The office is located along the left side of the station. Tickets can be purchased online or at the office for 4 euro.
• A taxi has a fixed rate of 30 euro + 1 euro for every piece of luggage.

Navigating Italy and Europe

One of the most important things to consider when planning your travel is to book your transportation in advance. This will ensure that you have a guaranteed spot on the train, bus, or plane and will also save you money. 

Depending on your destination, you may have multiple options such as trains, buses, and planes. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, so choose the one that best suits your needs. For example, trains are a great option for short distances as they are often faster than driving and more convenient than flying, while buses are often the cheapest option.

Additionally, consider using apps like Google Maps and other transportation apps, to check multiple options and compare prices, it can save you a lot of time and money.

Finally, before you leave, make sure you have all the necessary documents and tickets, including your passport or ID card, and double-check your itinerary to make sure you don't miss your connection. With these tips and tricks, you'll be able to book your transportation and travel around Europe with ease.

Trains

Travel by rail in Italy is fast, cheap, reliable, and an excellent choice for travel within Italy. Italy has two types of trains: slower regional trains, which service most places, and the newer fast trains, which connect several large hubs across Italy.

Regional Trains

You can buy regional train tickets online, but it is often more convenient to buy them at the station. Just be sure to show up about an hour early to secure a ticket and comfortably validate it and find your train. Physical tickets must be validated at the machines in the terminal before you depart, and are good for four hours of travel after validation. Always validate your ticket BEFORE getting onto the train to avoid hefty fines!  

If you choose to purchase online, be sure to have a screenshot handy of your ticket in case your wifi/data is not reliable when they come around to check tickets: it is typical to check tickets after the train has started moving, and service can be spotty.

If you need to reschedule your ticket, this can usually be done online for virtually purchased tickets, or at a nearby ticket booth. 

High Speed Trains

For high-speed trains (i.e. Trenitalia's Frecciarossa trains and Italo Treno's high speed trains) you must book a ticket in advance for a specific seat and train car. These tickets do not need to be validated, unlike regional train tickets. Note: It is important to ensure you buy tickets from the official train websites (Trenitalia: https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html Italo Treno: https://www.italotreno.it/en) and not third party groups.

Read more about the difference between the two types of trains here, or check out our handy video guide. 

Buses

Italian metro bus tickets can be bought at pretty much any tabaccheria, or for around 2€ once you board the bus from the driver. If you plan to take the bus often during your stay, it can be convenient to purchase several tickets at a time and then validate them as needed. Bus and tram stops in popular cities also sometimes have red ticket vending machines on the platform (would be nice to add a picture here).

A bus ticket is valid from the moment it is validated, and lasts for the amount of time listed on the ticket. In Florence, typically this is 90 minutes, but outside of the city this decreases to 70 minutes. Tickets differ between regions, so be sure to read the information on your ticket. You MUST validate your bus tickets on the bus AS SOON as you get on to avoid a huge fine!

The official ATAF website has timetables and bus routes available for you to plan your trip: Google Maps can also be helpful, but is less accurate. Find the timetable at http://www.ataf.net/en/.

Useful Transportation Apps

• Muoversi a Roma: This official app of ATAC will inform you when buses are arriving to specific stops as well as inform you about the fasts routes to your destination along with how much time it will take 
• MeMovo
• Moovit
• Romebus
• My Taxi
• Trenitalia: The official app for Italy’s national train company. You can purchase your ticket for national and regional routes, visualize and change your reservation, request a refund and check train punctuality in a quick and easy way.
• Italo Treno: The official app of Italo. You can check train timetables, purchase tickets, manage your reservation, and recieve live-time updates about your train trip. Available on iTunes and Google Play.