Public Transportation

Airports

Metro sign

Rome has two main airports, the first one of which, and most important one is called Leonardo Da Vinci, or Fiumicino Airport.

The smaller one, Giovanni Pastine, the home base of most budget airlines (including RyanAir) is usually called Ciampino Airport (CIA).

The Leonardo Express is a direct train connecting Fiumicino to the central railway station Roma Termini.

Several private bus companies provide a connection between Ciampino and Rome’s train station.

At the moment the inhabitants of the city of Ciampino are complaining a lot about the noise level and the number of daily flights at the airport and there is talk of building a new airport north of Rome, near the city of Viterbo.

Train

Rome’s main train station is called Roma Termini. During daytime all important trains, including the Leonardo Express from Fiumicino, arrive at Termini. There are several other railway stations in Rome, of which Tiburtina and Ostiense are the most important ones.

Buses

Termini’s main entrance can be found on the side facing the Piazza dei Cinquecento, Rome’s main city bus terminal. From here you can take city buses all over Rome. Interlocal buses can be found at Tiburtina and at several stations more in the outskirts of Rome.

Metro

Rome only has two metro lines, though a third one is being built. The two lines are called line A (or the red line) and line B (the blue line). The metro functions from 5.30am until midnight.

Trams

Rome’s tram lines are generally of less interest to the average tourist because they mostly do not reach the city center. The main tram depot is at Porta Maggiore. Some lines follow fairly scenic routes though and a new line through the Via Nazionale is being constructed.

Taxis

Taxis in Rome have to be white and have a taxi sign on the roof. The biggest taxi stand is in front of Roma Termini, on the main bus square. There are smaller stands near the other exits and also near many of the main tourist attractions. Generally it is easier to call for a taxi than to stop one in the street. There are fixed prices to and from the airports Ciampino and Fiumicino.

Car

For inexperienced drivers it can be quite an adventure entering Rome by car. Traffic is usually chaotic and drivers seem to invent their own traffic rules as they go along. Moreover, it can be difficult to find parking space, especially in the city center. The rates garages charge vary according to the area.