Rome is a walker's city — its dense historic centre is best explored on foot, and many of the great sights sit within a short stroll of one another. But you will still need to know your options: how to get in from Fiumicino and Ciampino airports, how the compact three-line metro and the extensive bus and tram network work, whether the Roma Pass is worth it, and how taxis are priced. This guide covers everything with real routes, ticket prices and practical advice.
Rome transport explained
1.Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to the city
Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino (FCO) is Rome's principal airport, about 30 kilometres south-west of the city, and it is well connected by several transport options at different price points. The quickest and most reliable link is the Leonardo Express, a non-stop train running roughly every 15–30 minutes directly to Roma Termini, the central station, in about 32 minutes for a fixed €14 — ideal if your accommodation is near Termini or on the metro. A cheaper alternative is the regional FL1 train (€8), which does not serve Termini but stops at Trastevere, Ostiense and Tiburtina, useful for those neighbourhoods and connections. Several companies run shuttle buses to Termini for around €6–7, taking 45–60 minutes depending on traffic — the budget choice, though slower and less predictable. Official white taxis charge a fixed rate of €50 to anywhere inside the Aurelian Walls (the historic centre), which can be good value for groups or those with heavy luggage; always use the official rank and confirm the fixed fare. Ride-hailing and pre-booked private transfers are also available. Remember to validate regional train tickets before boarding, and allow plenty of time to reach the airport for departure, as central traffic can be heavy.
Hours
Trains ~05:30–23:30; buses and taxis 24h
Price
Leonardo Express €14; regional FL1 train €8; shuttle bus €6–7; fixed taxi €50
Getting there
Leonardo Express from FCO to Roma Termini in 32 min; or the slower FL1 to Trastevere/Ostiense/Tiburtina
Insider tip: The Leonardo Express train is the fastest fixed-price link to Termini — buy at the machine and validate before boarding.
2.Ciampino Airport (CIA) to the city
Ciampino (CIA) is Rome's smaller, secondary airport, about 15 kilometres south-east of the centre, used chiefly by low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and Wizz Air. It has no direct train station of its own, so the most straightforward way into the city is by one of the frequent dedicated shuttle-bus services (operated by companies including Terravision, SIT and Rome Airport Bus) that run to Roma Termini in roughly 40 minutes for around €6, coordinated with flight arrivals. Alternatively, a local ATRAL bus links the airport to Ciampino town station, from where regional trains run to Termini, a cheaper but more convoluted option, or to the Anagnina metro station on line A. Official white taxis charge a fixed rate of €31 to destinations within the Aurelian Walls, a reasonable option especially for groups or late arrivals — use the official rank and confirm the fixed fare in advance. Pre-booked private transfers and ride-hailing services also serve the airport. As with Fiumicino, factor in potential traffic delays when heading to the airport for a departure, and buy shuttle tickets online or from the clearly marked desks rather than from touts. For most visitors on a budget flight, the shuttle bus is the simplest choice.
Hours
Shuttle buses ~ first to last flights; taxis 24h
Price
Shuttle bus to Termini ~€6; fixed taxi €31 to the centre
Getting there
Shuttle bus (Terravision/SIT/Rome Airport Bus) to Termini in ~40 min; or bus+train via Ciampino station
Insider tip: Low-cost carriers use Ciampino — the dedicated shuttle buses to Termini are the simplest and cheapest way in.
3.The Rome Metro (Lines A, B & C)
Rome's metro system is compact by the standards of other capitals — just three lines — largely because digging tunnels in a city sitting on layer upon layer of archaeology is notoriously difficult, with excavations constantly halted by ancient discoveries. Line A (orange) and Line B (blue) form a rough cross intersecting at Termini station, while the newer Line C (green) runs out to the eastern suburbs. Between them they are genuinely useful for longer journeys and for reaching key sights: line A serves the Vatican (Ottaviano), Spanish Steps (Spagna) and Trevi/Barberini area, while line B serves the Colosseum (Colosseo), the Circus Maximus and Ostiense. However, the metro deliberately skirts much of the tightly packed historic centre — there is no station at the Pantheon, Piazza Navona or Campo de' Fiori — so you will still do a lot of walking, which is often the nicest way to see the city anyway. The same tickets cover metro, buses and trams: a single is €1.50 and valid for 100 minutes, while 24-, 48- and 72-hour and weekly passes offer good value for active sightseeing. Validate tickets on boarding buses and trams, watch for pickpockets on crowded lines around Termini, and combine the metro with plenty of walking for the best of Rome.
Hours
Daily ~05:30–23:30 (Fri & Sat until 01:30)
Price
Single ticket €1.50 (100 min); 24h €7; 48h €12.50; 72h €18; weekly €24
Getting there
Lines A (orange) and B (blue) intersect at Termini; line C (green) serves the eastern suburbs
Insider tip: The metro is fast but limited — lines A and B cross at Termini; for the historic centre you'll still walk a lot.
4.Buses & Trams (ATAC)
Because Rome's metro reaches so little of the historic centre, the bus and tram network operated by ATAC is essential for getting around the city, filling in all the gaps the underground leaves. Buses penetrate the narrow streets and squares of the old city that the metro cannot, and a handful of routes are especially useful to visitors: the 40 (express) and 64 both link Termini station to the Vatican via Largo di Torre Argentina and the historic centre, though the 64 is so popular with tourists that it is nicknamed the 'pickpocket express', so guard your belongings. Tram 8 runs from Piazza Venezia across the river into Trastevere, and tram 3 trundles past the Colosseum and up to Villa Borghese. Buses and trams use exactly the same integrated tickets as the metro — a €1.50 single valid for 100 minutes, or the various day, multi-day and weekly passes — and crucially you must buy your ticket before boarding (from tabacchi, machines or the app) and validate it in the small machine on board, as there are no conductors and fines for fare-dodging are steep. Services can be crowded and subject to traffic delays, and route information is easiest checked via Google Maps or the Moovit app in real time.
Hours
Daytime ~05:30–24:00; night buses (N-lines) after midnight
Price
Same integrated tickets as the metro: single €1.50 (100 min); day/multi-day passes available
Getting there
Key routes: 40 & 64 (Termini–Vatican), 8 tram (Venezia–Trastevere), 3 tram (past Colosseum)
Insider tip: Buses reach the centre the metro misses — the 40 and 64 link Termini to the Vatican; keep valuables secure on the 64.
5.The Roma Pass
The Roma Pass is the city's official tourist pass, bundling public transport with museum and monument entry, and it can offer good value for active sightseers. It comes in two versions: the 48-hour pass (€35) includes free entry to the first one paid attraction you visit plus discounts on others, while the 72-hour pass (€58.50) covers the first two attractions free and discounts thereafter. Both include unlimited free use of Rome's metro, buses and trams for the validity period, and — a significant perk — priority or reserved access at some major sites, notably the Colosseum, where it helps you skip the general queue (though you must still book a timed slot). To get the most out of it, use your free entries on the most expensive attractions, such as the Colosseum-Forum-Palatine combo or the Capitoline Museums, and lean on the included transport. Note that it does not cover the Vatican Museums and St Peter's, which lie in the separate Vatican City state. Whether it saves you money depends on your itinerary: if you plan to visit several paid sites and use public transport regularly across two or three days, it usually pays off and adds convenience; for a slower, mostly-walking trip focused on free sights, buying individual tickets may work out cheaper. Do the maths against your plans before buying.
Hours
Valid 48 or 72 hours from first use
Price
48-hour €35 (1 free site); 72-hour €58.50 (2 free sites)
Getting there
Buy online, at tourist info points or participating museums; activate on first use
Insider tip: Worth it if you'll use public transport and visit the pricier sights — make your first free entry the Colosseum or a big museum.
6.Taxis & Ride-Hailing
Taxis are handy in Rome for late-night journeys, trips with heavy luggage, or reaching places off the transport network, though for most central sightseeing walking and public transport are quicker and cheaper. Use only the official licensed taxis, which are white with a 'taxi' sign and a meter, and pick them up at the marked ranks dotted around the city (outside Termini, in main piazzas) or book by phone or app rather than accepting rides from unofficial drivers who tout at stations and the airport. Insist the meter is running for city journeys; there is a starting charge (higher at night, on Sundays and holidays) plus supplements for luggage. Crucially, fixed fares apply between the airports and the historic centre — €50 from Fiumicino and €31 from Ciampino to anywhere inside the Aurelian Walls — so you should never pay more than that for those runs; confirm the fixed rate before setting off. App-based services make life easier and more transparent: FreeNow and itTaxi summon licensed taxis with upfront pricing, while Uber operates in Rome but only through its pricier Uber Black licensed-driver service rather than budget UberX. Keep small notes handy, as drivers may claim to lack change, and always agree the basis of the fare before you get in.
Hours
24 hours
Price
Metered start ~€3–6.50; night/Sunday surcharges; fixed airport fares (FCO €50, CIA €31)
Getting there
Hail at official taxi ranks, call a radio taxi, or use apps like FreeNow and itTaxi; Uber offers Uber Black
Insider tip: Use only official white taxis from a rank or the app; insist on the meter, and note the fixed airport fares.