How to reach Rome?
Rome is a sprawling city and one of the world’s most prominent destinations.
The Eternal City flawlessly fuses old-world charm with modern delight.
The Colosseum ruins, the Spanish steps, strolling along cobblestoned streets with a gelato in hand; there are many things to do in Rome.
It even receives an average of 7-10 million tourists annually.
And if you are one of them, this guide will help you to enjoy Rome without losing yourself.
Here’s how to visit Rome:
By Flight
Rome has two main international airports:
Leonardo da Vinci/Fiumicino International Airport and Ciampino International Airport.
Here’s everything about these two airports.
Fiumicino Airport
Leonardo da Vinci Airport is in Fiumicino, around 35 km (22 miles) from the center of Rome.
Being Rome’s main airport, Fiumicino is closer to the city than Ciampino.
It even receives national, international, and intercontinental flights.
If you want to travel by train from Fiumicino to the Rome city center, board the Leonardo Express!
Want to get to the center of Rome from Fiumicino by bus? Try a shuttle bus transfer from Fiumicino to Roma Termini!
Ciampino Airport
Ciampino Airport is the second international airport 12 km (7.5 miles) from the center of Rome.
European flights mainly use this airport.
Also, flights from budgeted airlines land at Ciampino Airport.
Are you coming to Rome from Ciampino Airport? Worry not; we have you covered.
Try a shuttle bus service to and from Ciampino Airport!
Another airport is Rome Urbe Airport, a small civilian airport in Rome.
It is primarily a facility for flying club activities, tourist flights, and air taxis.
Train:
Rome has an extensive range of fast trains.
There is no particular junction for all trains; five different railway stations exist.
Some major stations in Rome are Termini, Tiburtina, Trastevere, Ostiense, and Porta San Paolo.
These stations are not connected but run trains to and from many other cities and European countries.
Some of Rome’s significant and fastest trains include the Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, Frecciabianca, Italo AGV, and Italo EVO.
If you’re touring Europe and want to get to Rome by train, you can get to Milan and then take a train to Rome.
By road:
Rome has good bus service inside the region and from other Italian cities.
Eurolines is one of the major bus operators in Paris.
Intercity links to locations in the UK are provided mainly by Flixbus.
These budget travel bus operators offer popular bus routes to Rome.
There are bus routes to Rome from Milan and Venice as well.
Traveling via bus to Rome provides the perfect way to view the Italian countryside.
It can also be a great launching site from which to visit other nearby locations.
Use public transportation whenever possible because Rome is a sprawling metropolis, and the traffic is frequently congested.
It is best to hire a taxi for visitors who wish to travel by car.
You can drive up to Rome through the Autostrada del Sole.
It is the main road that connects Rome to the rest of Italy.
Traveling in Rome
Rome has one of the world’s safest and most effective public transportation networks, connecting it to the rest of Europe.
ATAC manages the public transportation system in Rome—the metro, buses, trams, and trains in the urban areas.
What makes this even better is that all these services use the same ticket type.
You don’t need to purchase a different ticket for each service.
These tickets are available throughout Rome at tobacco shops, automated ticket kiosks at metros, bus stops, and newsstands.
By Train:
Rome boasts an urban railway system that has three lines.
These lines connect Rome to three other cities in the Lazio region.
Roma Termini railway station is Rome’s most important train station.
An old network of suburban trains operates within Rome and uses the same ATAC ticket as the other forms of public transport in Rome.
Note that ATAC tickets only cover the route’s urban stretch within Rome, which ends at the “Sacrofano” train station.
Timings: Daily from 5.30 AM – 11.30 PM
Frequency: Every 10-20 min
Cost: From €7.90
By Hop-on-Hop-off bus:
Rome Hop-on Hop-off Bus tours are perfect for tourists visiting the Eternal City.
It takes care of getting around from one major attraction to another.
It also provides free Wi-Fi and audio guides.
Additionally, you can get up and down the bus whenever you want!
Want to get on one such tour of Rome? Go on and Book a Hop-on-Hop-off panoramic bus ticket!
Here are the attractions that your bus will cover:
| Terminal | Piazza dei Cinquecento corner via Cavour |
| Santa Maria Maggiore | Piazza dell’ Esquillino,12 |
| Colosseum | Via di San Gregorio |
| Circus Maximus | Via del Circo Massimo Belvedere Romolo e Remo |
| Piazza Venezia | Via del Teatro Marcello in front of civic numbers 32-34 |
| Vatican City | Lungotevere tor di Nona 7 |
| Villa Borghese | Via Ludovisi 48 |
| Barberini Square | Via Barberini 14 |
There is only one route these buses operate on.
Timings: First departure: 9.25 AM. Last departure: 7 PM
By Metro:
Rome’s subway consists of only two lines – Metropolitana Linea A and Metropolitana Linea B.
While landmarks like the Colosseum and the Vatican have stops, many other attractions don’t lie along either of the metro lines.
You have to supplement your Rome Metro usage with other forms of transport.
Metro tickets also work on other forms of public transportation.
Timings: 5.30 AM – 11.30 PM
Frequency: Every 3 min
Payment Mode: Tap&Go
By Bus:
Rome takes pride in its bus network.
It is one of the modes of commuting in the city.
Rome has 338 bus lines, 22-night buses, and 8260 stops that line the streets of Rome day and night.
There are 4 types of buses: Urban Lines (U), Night Buses (N), Express Buses (X) & Exact Buses (E).
Bus stops across Rome have signposts that bear the number of buses that stop there.
Traffic and congestion are familiar issues in Rome, so be patient in case of bus delays.
Timings: Day Buses: 5.30 AM – Midnight;
Night buses: 12.30 AM – 5.30 AM
Payment Mode: Tap&Go
Cost: €1.50 (single ride)
By Trams:
Rome has six tram lines: #2, #3, #5, #8, #14, and #19.
The trams on lines #5, #14, and #19 are older, smaller, crowded, and do not have ticket vending machines or air conditioning.
It’s also not possible to buy ATAC tickets aboard these trams.
Lines #3 and #8 have newer trams that are spacious, air-conditioned, have a ticket vending machine, and come with free Wi-Fi!
Timings: Day Buses: 5.30 AM – Midnight;
Night buses: 12.30 AM – 5.30 AM
Payment Mode: Tap&Go
Cost: €1.50 (single ride)
By Taxis:
Taxis make up about half of the overall commuting system in Rome.
Tourists opt for taxi services to and from the airport or travel back to hotels and hostels late at night.
Like any other major city, taxis, and cabs abound in Rome.
There are taxi stands all over Rome, and you can fetch a cab anywhere in the city.
Unlike many other cities, “taxi hailing” isn’t common in Rome.
Instead, taxis stop at designated taxi stands, and you must walk up to these locations.
But traffic in Rome can be unbearable at times.
Therefore, a direct route via the metro or tram is often a more viable option.
Taxis are expensive but also quite convenient.
You may figure out their prices using a typical taxi fare calculator.
Timings: Daily 24×7
Cost: Base: €3.00. €1.10-€1.60/kilometer
Rome Public Transportation Tips
The same ticket works on buses, trams, trains, and the metro.
However, you can validate your ticket by activating it.
If you don’t validate it, you risk receiving a fine of up to €50.
For tourists visiting Rome for the first time, Hop-on, Hop-off tours are perfect for you.
Not only is the getting around sorted, but you also enjoy free commentary and WiFi access.
The Roma Pass and Roma Super Pass are perfect options for anyone visiting Rome.
They give you free transportation for a selected number of days and access to major attractions in Rome.
Featured Image: Claudio Hirschberger on Unsplash