How To Get Around Rome: Metro, Buses, Taxis & Tips

Getting around Rome, or any foreign city, in a foreign language, can be intimidating and a bit scary.

Now that I live in London, I’m ok navigating new European cities solo, since I have every Londoner’s favourite secret weapon up my sleeve – the Citymapper app.

This guide breaks down everything you need to know to get around Rome: Metro tips, tickets (digital vs. paper), buses, boats, taxis, walking, cycling, and whether or not you should ever hire a car (spoiler: probably not).

Whether it’s your first trip or your tenth, here’s how to get around Rome as the Romans do.

The Best Secret Weapon for How to Get Around Rome

The Citymapper app

Before getting into the specifics, my number one piece of advice for anyone getting around Rome, or any European city, is to download Citymapper, a free app which is like a secret superpower. It is beloved by Londoners, but seems to be fairly unknown elsewhere.

You input your destination and departure point, and the app gives you several route options, with prices and timings. It uses all the transport modalities available in Rome (which are covered in detail below). You can also put in the time you will be leaving or the time you wish to arrive at, to get an idea of how long it will take.

Once you select a particular route, it gives step-by-step instructions, including where to change trains, where to exit, and walking directions to your destination, as well as live updates when you have an internet connection. There is often no internet connection underground, but the app still tells you the next step.

Citymapper is also remarkably quick to update when there are delays, for example, if a train line is down or a station is closed, and to give alternative options.

Google Maps can give public transport route suggestions as well (plus, you can download an area for offline use – I always recommend doing this in a new city, just in case you need it), but Citymapper is a much better option.

Honestly, everyone I’ve converted tells me they can’t believe how much better Citymapper is – you’re welcome.

Walking

IMHO, walking is the best way to get around in Rome. If you’re staying relatively centrally, you can walk to most of the major tourist sites (apart from the Vatican).

One of the best things about Rome is that you stumble upon really cool, unique restaurants and bars when you’re wandering around – we found the best wine bar, Beppe e Sui Formaggi (which seems to be closed now, RIP!), on a random stroll in Rome.

A word of warning: it is very easy to rack up your steps in Rome, as in any European city, so make sure your shoes are suitable for upwards of 12,000 steps per day.

You will occasionally see a very chic Roman woman casually navigating the cobblestones in high heels, but I find it not worth the inevitable tears/drama/relationship woes.

The Metro

Rome’s Metro is fairly small by European standards, with only three lines. Tourists mostly use Line A (the orange line), which goes past the Vatican Museums, St Peter’s Basilica, and the Trevi Fountain. It also goes to the Termini Station in Rome, where you can get trains to Fiumicino Airport.

Keep in mind that the lines are not all air-conditioned, which means it can get very hot underground, even in winter – make sure that you have removable layers.

Also, with the constant temperature changes and the crowds, people often get sick after a few days of travelling on underground transport. Bring hand sanitiser and apply it liberally when you exit the Metro.

Urban Railway

There are also three urban railway lines in Rome, although the trains only run every 10 to 20 minutes, much less frequently than the Metro. The most important line for tourists is the Rome-Lido line, which goes to Ostia Antica.

Trams

Rome also has six tram lines, although they skirt the city centre, so tourists tend not to use them, apart from Line 8, which goes to Trastavere.

Although you’re unlikely to need them, they do feature on Citymapper, and I find trams incomparably charming. Also, I often think that travelling above ground helps you to get to know a city slightly better than an underground train.

Buses

Rome has an enormous bus network, and if you’re not keen on taxis, you might find yourself on buses more often than trains. Rome buses can be slightly unreliable, and Citymapper is really helpful for estimating when the next one will arrive.

Taxis

There are endless stories of taxi drivers ripping tourists off in Rome, and I’ve been a bit wary of them. When we arrived in Rome, we got a taxi to our hotel. In the taxis, there is a notice which clearly states the maximum fare for an airport trip, which is what we paid.

My sister was not so lucky – she arrived in Rome the same week, very late at night, and every taxi driver at the airport wanted an exorbitant price, far above the maximum.

Luckily, there are ride-hailing apps in Rome now, which I prefer. You can use Uber or Free Now to call a taxi as you usually would, and get a price estimate in advance.

A common misconception is that taxis are always the fastest option in European cities. This is worth checking on Citymapper – depending on the time of day, a train might be much faster, and trains are always much cheaper.

Scooters and Cycling

I must confess that I am not a confident cyclist, and I therefore do not cycle anywhere, but my husband and my friends love cycling (or scootering) around in Europe.

You can hire bikes, scooters or mopeds in Rome, and their travel times appear on Citymapper.

Car Hire/Self-Drive

I’ve never driven a car in Rome because I don’t hate myself, and I wouldn’t recommend it to tourists.

Like most European cities, Rome has emissions rules, expensive parking, and some painful traffic. Also, I don’t need to raise my blood pressure unnecessarily on holiday. The roads are often very narrow, and the driving style can be incredibly European.

When I planned my first trip to Italy, to Rome and the Amalfi Coast for my honeymoon, I remember discussing transport options with a colleague, whose advice was “don’t drive in Italy on your honeymoon unless you want to get divorced”.

However, if you must do it, you can hire cars from any of the usual suspects. We always check prices and do our bookings through booking.com.

How to Buy Public Transport Tickets in Rome

Like in London and New York, you can tap a contactless bank card on the Rome Metro, on the tram, and on most bus lines. The fare is €1.50 for 100 minutes.

On the Metro or the Urban Railway, tap to enter at the turnstiles. On a bus or tram, tap your card on the yellow readers.

FAQs About How to Get Around Rome

One Last Tip (Just in Case You Get Lost in Rome)

Honestly, I think it would be quite difficult to get properly lost in Rome, particularly if you’ve downloaded Google Maps offline and marked your hotel.

But just in case (alone at night with a dead phone, anyone?), I always make sure I know the name of the closest Metro station to where I’m staying, and usually it’s easy to remember how to find my hotel from there.

Since Rome isn’t as full of Metro stops as other European cities, memorise a bus stop or restaurant close to your hotel. If I did get lost, I would go into a shop or cafe and ask any staff member how to get to my Metro station/bus stop/restaurant – Italians are known for being incredibly friendly.