The easiest way to get around Rome is on foot — the historic centre is small and walkable — backed by one integrated ATAC network of metro, buses, and trams. A single BIT ticket costs €1.50 and lasts 100 minutes, while contactless Tap & Go caps your spending at €8.50 a day. Three metro lines (A, B, and C) run roughly 05:30–23:30, later on weekends, and children under 10 travel free.
Rome rewards walkers more than almost any capital in Europe: most of the great sights sit within a compact core you can cross on foot in under half an hour. Where you do need transport, one ticket covers the lot. This guide explains the fares, the metro, the airport links, and the quirks (yes, the strikes) so you can move through the city like you belong. When you’ve got the transport sorted, our guide to things to do in Rome helps you fill the days.
Quick-pick fares at a glance
Rome uses one integrated ATAC ticket across the metro, city buses, trams, and urban trains, so a single fare works on all of them. The cheapest single ride is the €1.50 BIT; the best value for a busy sightseeing day is contactless Tap & Go or a day pass, both capped at €8.50. Prices below are current for 2026.
| Ticket / pass | Price (2026) | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| BIT single | €1.50 | 100 min: unlimited bus/tram transfers + one metro entry |
| Tap & Go contactless | pay-as-you-go, €8.50 daily cap | Tapping in with a card/phone all day |
| Roma 24H | €8.50 | One busy sightseeing day |
| Roma 48H | €15 | Two days of frequent rides |
| Roma 72H | €22 | Three days of frequent rides |
| Roma weekly (CIS) | €29 | A full week in the city |
| Children under 10 | Free | Travelling with a paying adult |
| Leonardo Express | €14 | Fiumicino airport ↔ Termini (separate ticket) |
The BIT ticket and Tap & Go
The standard single ticket, the BIT, costs €1.50 and is valid for 100 minutes from the moment you validate it. In that window you can take unlimited buses and trams and one metro entry — plenty for most short hops. A rise to €2.00 was flagged for mid-2026, but as of 2026 the BIT is still €1.50, so don’t overpay if a machine or reseller quotes more.
Even simpler is Tap & Go: tap a contactless card or phone at the metro gate or on-board reader and you’re charged automatically, with a €8.50 daily cap — the same price as the 24-hour ticket. Use the same card or device all day so the system tracks your caps correctly. It removes the faff of buying and validating paper tickets, and it’s the option we reach for on a first visit.
Roma tourist travel passes
If you’ll ride often, a time-based Roma pass beats buying singles. The 24-hour pass is €8.50, the 48-hour €15, the 72-hour €22, and the weekly CIS pass €29 — each giving unlimited travel on the metro, buses, and trams within the city. They’re validated on first use, and the clock runs by the hour, not the calendar day, so a pass stamped at 3pm on Monday runs until 3pm the next day.
For most first-timers walking the compact centre, Tap & Go with its matching €8.50 cap is simpler than committing to a pass. Buy a multi-day pass only if you know you’ll be hopping on and off transport several times a day. Note these are city travel passes — the separate Roma Pass sightseeing card also bundles transport, and neither covers the airport train.
The metro: lines A, B, and C
Rome’s metro has three lines — A (orange), B (blue), and C (green) — that intersect the centre and reach many key areas, though the historic core is deliberately under-served because digging keeps hitting ruins. Trains run roughly 05:30 to 23:30, extended to about 01:30 on Friday and Saturday nights. Line A serves the Vatican (Ottaviano) and the Spanish Steps (Spagna); Line B serves the Colosseum (Colosseo).
The metro is fast for longer crossings — Termini to the Vatican, say — but you’ll often find walking quicker between central sights than descending, riding two stops, and climbing back up. Trains get hot and crowded in summer, and pickpockets work the busiest stops, so keep your bag zipped and in front of you. For the best museums in Rome and other clustered sights, one metro hop plus a short walk usually does it.
Buses and trams
Buses and trams fill the gaps the metro leaves, reaching neighbourhoods like Trastevere and the areas around the Pantheon that no metro line touches. They use the same tickets and Tap & Go as the metro. Handy routes include the 40 and 64 (Termini to the Vatican via the centre) and tram 8 (from near Piazza Venezia across the river into Trastevere).
Buses are useful but unpredictable — traffic slows them and timetables are aspirational — so treat them as a bonus rather than a backbone. The 64 in particular is notorious for pickpockets because it’s packed with tourists heading to St Peter’s; hold your belongings close. Validate a paper BIT in the little machine on board, or just tap contactless, or you risk a fine from roving inspectors.
Taxis and ride apps
Official taxis are white, metered, and best hailed at a rank or booked by app (FreeNow and itTaxi are the local ones) rather than flagged in the street. Fixed airport fares keep those trips predictable: €55 from Fiumicino and €40 from Ciampino to anywhere inside the Aurelian Walls (the historic centre), for up to four passengers with luggage. Within the city, short central hops run roughly €10–15.
Insist on the meter for non-airport trips, check the receipt, and be wary of unofficial drivers touting at stations and airports — always use the marked white cabs. Uber operates only as the pricier Uber Black in Rome, so the local taxi apps are usually the better bet. For a couple with luggage arriving late, a fixed-fare airport taxi can beat wrestling bags onto a train.
Getting in from the airports
Rome has two airports, and the routes in differ. From Fiumicino (Leonardo da Vinci), the fastest link is the Leonardo Express, a non-stop train to Termini in about 32 minutes for €14 — but it’s a separate Trenitalia ticket, and your ATAC city tickets or passes are not valid on it. Cheaper regional FL1 trains serve other stations, and the fixed taxi fare is €55.
From Ciampino, the smaller airport used by low-cost carriers, shuttle buses (Terravision, SIT, Atral) run to Termini in about 40 minutes for around €6, or you can take a short connecting bus to Ciampino station and a regional train onward. The fixed taxi fare from Ciampino to the centre is €40. Neither airport is on the metro, so plan the transfer before you land.
Walkability and strikes
Rome’s centro storico is genuinely one of the most walkable in Europe: from the Pantheon you can stroll to the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, and Campo de’ Fiori in minutes, and reach the Colosseum in about 20. Wear real shoes for the cobbles (sampietrini are pretty but punishing) and you’ll see more on foot than any bus would show you.
The wrinkle is strikes — Italy’s transport scioperi are frequent and often fall on Fridays, halting or thinning metro, bus, and tram service for part of the day. They’re announced in advance, and “guaranteed hours” (usually early morning and evening rush) keep some service running. Check ATAC or news notices the night before if you have a tight plan, and keep walkability as your backup. Once you know how to move, our 1-day, 2-day, 3-day, and 5-day itineraries put it to use.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a metro or bus ticket in Rome in 2026?
A single BIT ticket costs €1.50 and is valid for 100 minutes, covering unlimited bus and tram transfers plus one metro entry in that window. A rise to €2.00 was flagged for mid-2026 but has not taken effect, so it remains €1.50 in 2026. Contactless Tap & Go charges as you ride and caps at €8.50 a day, the same as a 24-hour pass.
What is Tap & Go and how does the daily cap work?
Tap & Go lets you pay by tapping a contactless card or phone at metro gates and on many buses and trams, with no ticket to buy. The system totals your rides and caps your daily spend at €8.50 — once you hit it, further rides that day are free. Always use the same card or device all day so the cap tracks correctly.
Do children travel free on Rome public transport?
Yes. Children under 10 travel free on Rome’s metro, buses, and trams when accompanied by a paying adult, so families only pay for the grown-ups. This makes Tap & Go or a single BIT the simplest choice for a family — you cover the adults and the kids ride along at no cost. The rule applies across the integrated ATAC network within the city.
Is the metro or walking better for getting around central Rome?
Walking usually wins in the historic centre, which is compact and largely metro-free by design — you’ll often reach a central sight faster on foot than by riding two stops and climbing back up. Use the metro for longer crossings, like Termini to the Vatican or out to Ciampino-side suburbs. Between the Pantheon, Trevi, Navona, and Campo de’ Fiori, always just walk.
How do I get from Fiumicino airport to central Rome?
The quickest option is the Leonardo Express, a non-stop train from Fiumicino to Termini in about 32 minutes for €14. It’s a separate Trenitalia ticket — your ATAC city tickets and passes are not valid on it. Cheaper regional FL1 trains serve other stations, and a fixed taxi fare of €55 covers up to four people to anywhere in the historic centre.
Are there transport strikes in Rome, and when?
Yes — transport strikes (scioperi) are fairly common in Italy and often fall on Fridays, reducing or halting metro, bus, and tram service for part of the day. They’re announced in advance, and guaranteed service windows in the morning and evening rush keep some trains and buses running. Check ATAC notices the night before if you have a tight schedule, and lean on Rome’s excellent walkability as your fallback.
