Rome metro guide — lines A, B and C explained
How does the Rome metro work?
Rome has three metro lines — A (orange), B (blue) and C (green). Lines A and B cross at Roma Termini. A single BIT ticket costs €1.50 and is valid for 100 minutes across all ATAC transport (one metro entry). Metro Line A is the most useful for tourists, connecting the Vatican (Ottaviano), Spanish Steps (Spagna) and Trevi Fountain area (Barberini). Line B stops at the Colosseum (Colosseo).
The Rome metro: functional but limited
Rome’s metro is the fastest way to travel longer distances across the city, but it covers a relatively small number of central sites. The historic street layout — and the near-certainty of hitting archaeological remains during any new tunnel excavation — has limited expansion. The result is a three-line system that serves key hubs well but leaves large parts of the city, including Campo de’ Fiori, Piazza Navona, Trastevere and most of the Centro Storico, unserved.
For tourists, the practical approach is to use the metro for the journeys it does well (airport to Termini via the Leonardo Express connection, Termini to Colosseum, Termini to Vatican/Spagna) and walk or take a bus for everything else.
The three lines
Metro Line A — orange
The most tourist-useful line. It runs from Battistini in the west through the city to Anagnina in the southeast.
Key stops for visitors:
| Stop | What’s nearby |
|---|---|
| Ottaviano | Vatican Museums entrance (500 m), St Peter’s Square (700 m), Prati district |
| Lepanto | Alternative Vatican approach; Prati restaurants |
| Flaminio | Piazza del Popolo, Villa Borghese (entrance via Viale dell’Arte), northern Centro Storico |
| Spagna | Spanish Steps (exit and they’re immediately in front of you), Tridente shopping, Via Condotti |
| Barberini | Trevi Fountain (10 min walk up Via delle Muratte), Piazza Barberini, Via Veneto |
| Repubblica | Piazza della Repubblica, Baths of Diocletian, Santa Maria degli Angeli, near Termini |
| Termini | Main hub — bus networks, intercity trains, regional trains, connection to Line B |
Metro Line B — blue
Line B branches at Bologna into B and B1. The main Line B route from Jonio south through Termini to Laurentina is most relevant for tourists.
Key stops for visitors:
| Stop | What’s nearby |
|---|---|
| Colosseo | Colosseum (2 min walk), Arch of Constantine, Roman Forum entrance (300 m) |
| Circo Massimo | Circus Maximus, Aventino Hill (Orange Garden, Priory keyhole viewpoint), Mouth of Truth |
| Piramide | Testaccio market area, Ostiense station (FL1 to Fiumicino, Roma-Lido to Ostia Antica) |
| Garbatella | Southern residential area, limited tourist interest |
| Termini | Hub — same concourse as Line A, follow transfer signs (5–7 min walk between platforms) |
Metro Line C — green
The newest line, Line C currently runs from Monte Compatri in the far southeast to San Giovanni on Line A. The central extension towards the Fori Imperiali and Piazza Venezia has been under construction for many years and remains unfinished as of 2026. Line C is of limited relevance to most tourists unless you are staying in the far eastern suburbs.
Tickets and passes
Single BIT ticket: €1.50 Valid for 100 minutes from validation. Allows unlimited bus, tram and urban rail transfers, plus one metro entry (the metro barrier only allows one tap per ticket). Buy at:
- Automated machines in all metro stations (coin and card)
- Tabacchi (tobacconists) throughout the city — look for the “T” sign
- Some bars and newsstands
- ATAC app on your phone
Always validate your ticket immediately on entering the metro — at the yellow or green automated barriers. Validate again when boarding buses (yellow machines by the doors). Plain-clothes inspectors conduct spot checks; the fine for travelling without a valid ticket is €50+.
Tourist day passes:
- 24h: €8.50
- 48h: €15
- 72h: €22
- 7-day CIS: €29
Roma Pass: The 72h Roma Pass (€52) includes unlimited transport and 2 free museum/site entries. The 48h (€32) includes transport and 1 free entry. Even with a Roma Pass, you must separately book a timed Colosseum reservation on the official Colosseo site — the Pass provides admission credit but not the slot itself.
Metro hours
- Sunday to Thursday: approximately 05:30–23:30
- Friday and Saturday: approximately 05:30–01:30 (night service)
Night buses (N prefix: N1 approximates Line A, N2 approximates Line B) take over between metro closure and first service. Night bus frequency is approximately every 30 minutes — significantly less convenient than the metro.
Pickpocket warning on Line A
Metro Line A is the most pickpocket-prone transport route in Rome. The section between Termini and Ottaviano (the Vatican route) sees the highest concentration of incidents. This is not speculation — it is documented by Rome’s municipal police.
High-risk stops: Termini, Repubblica, Barberini, Spagna, Ottaviano.
Practical precautions:
- Use a cross-body bag or a bag worn in front
- Keep your phone in a zipped pocket or inside bag, not in your hand at stops
- Nothing in back trouser pockets
- Stay alert when a crowd boards or surges around you — this is often coordinated to distract and pick
- If someone “accidentally” pushes into you or there is unusual commotion, immediately check your valuables
Line B is generally calmer but Termini applies to both.
Line A vs bus for specific journeys
Use Line A for:
- Termini ↔ Vatican (Ottaviano): ~15 min vs 30–40 min by bus
- Termini ↔ Spanish Steps (Spagna): ~10 min
- Any journey of more than 3 metro stops
Use the bus instead for:
- Termini to Pantheon/Piazza Navona (no metro stop) — bus 40/64 or 492
- Trastevere to Largo Argentina — Tram 8
- Anywhere in the Centro Storico that isn’t on a metro line
Walk instead for:
- Spanish Steps to Trevi Fountain: 15 min
- Pantheon to Piazza Navona: 5 min
- Colosseum to Palatine Hill: same complex
Tips for navigating the metro with luggage
The Rome metro has elevators at major stations (Termini, Ottaviano, Spagna, Colosseo) but not all stations have full accessibility. Escalators are present at most stations but can be out of service. For large rolling suitcases, the Leonardo Express or a taxi remains more practical for the airport journey — the metro platforms involve stairs at some intermediate stations.
The Rome metro’s archaeological problem
Rome’s metro is famously constrained by the city it runs beneath. Every new excavation risks uncovering archaeological remains — and in Rome, that risk is near-certain. The Line C central extension (towards Piazza Venezia and the Forum area) has been under construction since 2007; excavations have uncovered significant finds at every major station dig, requiring months-long archaeological investigations before construction can resume.
This is not merely a bureaucratic problem. When the Amba Aradam/Ipponio station was excavated, workers discovered a complete Roman barracks from the Imperial period (1st–2nd century AD), now preserved as a museum within the station itself. The Colosseo station (Line B), opened in 1955, was built around earlier remains and has limited platform depth for the same reason.
The practical result for visitors: Rome’s metro will likely remain a limited-network system for the foreseeable future. The city has invested more in above-ground transport improvements (new tram lines, bus rapid transit on some routes) as a more archaeologically viable alternative.
How to plan your day around the metro
A sample itinerary using the metro efficiently
Morning:
- Start at your hotel and take Line A or B to Colosseo (Line B) for the Colosseum at opening time (09:00). This avoids the morning crowd at Termini and puts you at the Colosseum early.
- Walk up to the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, and Arch of Constantine — all walkable from Colosseo station.
Midday:
- From the Forum area, take Line B from Colosseo to Termini, transfer to Line A, and ride to Barberini for the Trevi Fountain area.
- Lunch near Trevi (though the immediate surroundings are tourist-priced — walk one street back from the fountain for better value).
Afternoon:
- Line A from Barberini to Ottaviano for the Vatican Museums (book a timed entry in advance). The Vatican closes between 18:00–20:00 depending on day and season.
Evening:
- From Ottaviano, Line A back toward the centre (Barberini or Termini) for dinner in Monti or Trastevere (the latter requires a bus or walk from the centre — the metro doesn’t reach it).
This itinerary uses the metro for the three long-distance legs (hotel to Colosseum, Colosseum to Trevi, Trevi to Vatican) and walking for the rest.
Accessibility on the Rome metro
Rome’s metro has significant accessibility limitations that are relevant for visitors with mobility impairments, older travellers, or those with pushchairs:
Elevators: Available at Termini, Ottaviano (both), Spagna (one entrance), Colosseo, Circo Massimo, Flaminio. Not all entrances at each station have elevators — check which exit/entrance you are using.
Escalators: More widely available but with a history of maintenance problems. Do not rely on them being operational. Backup stairs are always present.
Platform gaps: On Line A especially, there is a significant gap and sometimes step between the train and the platform. Pushchairs, wheelchairs and heavy luggage require careful handling.
Alternative for limited mobility: The hop-on hop-off bus network provides a more accessible way to cover the major sights without metro stairs. Electric golf cart tours offer point-to-point flexibility. See the getting around Rome guide for all options.
Metro behaviour: what locals do (and what tourists miss)
Move towards the back of the platform. Tourist crowds cluster near the staircase/escalator entrance end of the platform. Moving towards the opposite end of the platform means boarding a less-crowded carriage.
Do not block the doors. The “doors closing” warning is brief; Romans board and exit decisively. Hesitating causes delays and frustration.
Stand right, walk left on escalators — the standard Italian convention, same as most of Europe.
Keep your validated ticket. Inspectors sometimes check in the carriage after boarding, not just at entry. Even a valid ticket needs to be presented.
The metro does not announce all stops clearly. Line A and B trains have digital displays showing the next stop. Watch the display — audio announcements exist but can be inaudible over ambient noise.
Beyond the metro: integrating surface transport
The metro shines for a handful of specific journeys. For everything else, Rome’s surface network fills the gaps:
- Tram 8: Largo Argentina → Trastevere → Monteverde. Essential for reaching Trastevere from the centre without a taxi.
- Tram 3: Trastevere → Aventino → Piramide → Porta Maggiore. A scenic route through parts of the city the metro doesn’t touch.
- Bus 40/64: Termini → Vatican via Via Nazionale and the centre. Useful but see the pickpocket warning in the main transport guide — these are high-risk routes.
- Bus 116/117: Small electric minibuses that navigate the narrow streets of the historic centre where full-size buses cannot go. Useful for getting between very central points.
For the complete surface transport picture, see the getting around Rome guide. For airport connections specifically, see Fiumicino airport to Rome and Ciampino airport to Rome.
Common metro mistakes visitors make
Mistake 1: Boarding without validating The most expensive mistake. Validation must happen at the barriers before the platform, not on the train. Plain-clothes inspectors board trains at random and fine unvalidated-ticket holders €50+. Even a valid, paid ticket that was not validated is treated as unvalidated.
Mistake 2: Missing the Termini transfer The transfer between Line A and Line B at Termini involves a 3–7 minute walk underground. Many first-time visitors exit the wrong side of Termini station thinking they need to exit above ground and re-enter. Stay underground — follow the signs between the two lines through the underground concourse.
Mistake 3: Relying on Metro C for tourist attractions Line C terminates at San Giovanni (where it connects to Line A) as of 2026. There is no central extension yet. Visitors who look at a Rome metro map and see a green line heading towards the Forum area are looking at the planned extension — not operational track.
Mistake 4: Using the metro when walking is faster Between Spagna and Barberini (2 stops on Line A), walking via Via Condotti and Via Due Macelli is 12 minutes — effectively the same as metro platform time plus train. Between Termini and Piazza Navona area (no metro), walking via Via Nazionale and Largo Argentina takes about 25 minutes; Bus 40 or 492 covers it in 10–15 minutes but can be more crowded.
Mistake 5: Expecting a full underground network First-time visitors sometimes arrive expecting a metro system comparable to Paris or London in coverage. Rome’s metro serves approximately 50 stations across three lines. Paris Metro has 300+ stations on 16 lines. For everything the Rome metro does not cover, buses, trams and walking are the alternatives.
Night service: what changes after the metro closes
After the metro closes (approximately 23:30 Sunday–Thursday, 01:30 Friday–Saturday), Rome’s night bus network takes over. Key night services:
- N1: Follows the approximate Line A route, including stops at Ottaviano (Vatican area), Spagna (Spanish Steps), Barberini, Termini, and on to Anagnina
- N2: Follows the approximate Line B route, including Termini and towards Laurentina
- N26, N29, N44, N97: Cover various peripheral areas not served by N1/N2
Night bus frequency: approximately every 30 minutes on main routes. Wait times are longer than the metro’s 2–5 minute headways. For late-night returns to accommodation, a taxi (via itTaxi or Free Now) is often more practical than calculating the night bus timing.
Using the metro with the Roma Pass
The Roma Pass (€52/72h or €32/48h) includes unlimited ATAC metro, bus and tram travel. You receive a physical card that functions as a prepaid transport ticket — validate it at the metro barrier like a standard ticket.
Important nuances:
- The Roma Pass must be activated when first used (the first validation sets the 72h or 48h clock)
- If you activate it at the airport on day 1, your transport window starts then — if you have 5 days in Rome, you may want to activate later
- The Pass covers unlimited metro/bus/tram but NOT the Leonardo Express from Fiumicino (that is a Trenitalia service)
- Museum/sight entry credits included in the Pass still require advance timed reservation for the Colosseum and Borghese Gallery — the Pass does not bypass reservations
Decide whether the Roma Pass makes financial sense by calculating your expected transport usage plus sight entries. The maths is roughly: two full days of transport (2 × €8.50 day pass = €17) plus two paid major attractions. If your two attractions cost €35+, the 72h Roma Pass at €52 makes sense. If you are mainly visiting free churches and one ticketed museum, individual tickets are often better value.
See the full city passes breakdown in the Roma Pass guide and Roma Pass vs Omnia comparison.
