Rome’s Metro system (called the Metropolitana) is one of the easiest ways to travel across the city. While it is smaller than metro systems in cities like Paris or London, it connects several of Rome’s most important attractions and transportation hubs.
If you are visiting Rome for the first time, understanding how the Metro works will make it much easier to move between neighborhoods, train stations, and historic sites.
This guide explains how the Rome Metro works, how to buy tickets, and how tourists can use the system efficiently.
Table of Contents
- Overview of the Rome Metro
- Metro Lines in Rome
- Buying Tickets and Travel Passes
- How to Use the Metro in Rome
- Metro Stations Near Major Attractions
- Getting to Rome’s Train Stations
- Airport Transportation and the Metro
- Safety Tips for Using the Metro
- Accessibility in the Rome Metro
Overview of the Rome Metro
Rome’s Metro system is relatively small compared to many European capitals, but it still plays an important role in getting around the city.
The system currently has three main metro lines and more than 70 stations. Because Rome is an ancient city filled with archaeological sites, expanding the metro system is slow and complicated. Construction projects frequently uncover historical artifacts that delay development.
As a result, the Metro does not reach every area of the historic center. In many cases, visitors will combine walking, buses, trams, and the Metro during their trip. The Rome events calendar may impact occasional offerings with high attendance like music concerts or Serie A football matches.
Metro Lines in Rome
Rome currently has three metro lines, each identified by a letter and color.
Line A (Orange)
Line A runs northwest to southeast and serves many major tourist areas. Key stations include Ottaviano near the Vatican, Spagna near the Spanish Steps, Barberini near the Trevi Fountain, and Termini station.
This is often the most useful line for tourists.
Line B (Blue)
Line B connects central Rome with neighborhoods to the north and south. Important stops include Colosseo for the Colosseum, Circo Massimo, and Termini.
A branch of this line, Line B1, splits north of the city center.
Line C (Green)
Line C is Rome’s newest metro line and is still expanding. It currently connects eastern suburbs with areas closer to the city center.
Buying Tickets and Travel Passes
Rome’s Metro is part of the city’s integrated public transportation network, meaning the same ticket works on buses, trams, and some local trains within the city.
A standard ticket is the BIT ticket, which costs about €1.50 and is valid for 100 minutes after validation.
During that time you can ride buses and trams, transfer between them, and take one Metro journey.
Many visitors prefer multi-day travel passes.
Common options include:
These passes allow unlimited travel on Rome’s public transportation network within the city.
Tickets can be purchased at ticket machines in Metro stations, tobacco shops (tabacchi), newsstands, and ticket counters in major train stations.
How to Use the Metro in Rome
Using the Metro in Rome is straightforward.
- Buy your ticket or travel pass.
- Validate it at the entrance gate.
- Follow signs to the correct metro line.
- Board the train in the direction of the final station listed on the platform.
Platform signs display the final destination of the train, which helps confirm you are traveling in the correct direction.
Trains usually arrive every three to ten minutes depending on the time of day.
Metro Stations Near Major Attractions
The Rome Metro connects several of the city’s most famous landmarks.
- Colosseum – Colosseo station (Line B)
- Spanish Steps – Spagna station (Line A)
- Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica – Ottaviano station (Line A)
- Trevi Fountain – Barberini station (Line A), followed by a short walk
Many attractions in Rome’s historic center are still best reached on foot, as the Metro does not run directly through some of the oldest neighborhoods.
Getting to Rome’s Train Stations
Rome has several major railway stations, and the Metro connects easily to the most important ones.
Roma Termini is the city’s main transportation hub. Both Line A and Line B stop here, making it the easiest place to transfer between metro lines.
Roma Tiburtina is served by Line B and regional trains.
Roma Ostiense is also connected to Line B with regional rail connections.
Airport Transportation and the Metro
Rome’s largest airport, Fiumicino Airport (FCO), is not directly connected to the Metro.
Most travelers take the Leonardo Express train between Fiumicino Airport and Roma Termini station. The journey takes about 30 minutes.
From Termini, passengers can transfer to Metro Line A or Line B.
Rome’s second airport, Ciampino Airport, connects to the Metro via buses that stop at nearby Metro stations.
Safety Tips for Using the Metro
The Rome Metro is generally safe and widely used by both locals and visitors.
However, pickpocketing can occur in crowded areas such as busy trains and large stations like Termini.
Travelers should keep bags zipped, avoid carrying large amounts of cash, and stay aware of their belongings in crowded spaces.
Accessibility in the Rome Metro
Accessibility varies between stations because parts of the Metro system are older.
Some stations provide elevators, escalators, and step-free access, while others still require stairs.
Visitors who need accessible routes should check station accessibility before traveling. More information can be found here.
This article was last updated on 6 March 2026.