Indy Chronicler

The Rome subway system has few lines and for this reason, it is a precious asset. A fast and cheap means of transport between the 4 cardinal points always having Termini Station as its center. Stops such as the Colosseum or San Paolo will leave you in front of some of the wonders of the city.

In this article, I have collected information, prices, maps and timetables about the Rome subway to help you get around the Eternal City.

In fact, in Rome there are only three subway lines, A, B and C (which consists, for the moment, with a rather peripheral section), so it is not difficult to navigate, and you will find it easier to discover the infinite number of places to see in Rome.

Important news: Work has begun on the gigantic metro station on line C in Piazza Venezia. There will be many changes to the roads in the center. The works will last about 10 years and will completely transform the whole area. The C line station at the Imperial Forums, near the Colosseum, will open in December 2024. The city is being transformed in preparation for the Jubilee of 2025 and preventive archaeology continues to reveal enormous treasures.

Download the subway map of Rome here. We recommend taking a look at it to get your bearings and see the lines that are there – few, unfortunately – in relation to the monuments.

To visit Rome at your own pace you can also use other means of transportation: buses or cabs. If you plan to visit a city near Rome, check the section on trains. If you want information about transportation to the Rome airports (Fiumicino and Ciampino), visit our page dedicated to getting to Rome from the airports.

Information about the Metro in Rome

The Rome Metro is 38 km long and does not have many lines, but it is the fastest and most comfortable means of transport in Rome. Indeed, almost all of us use it a lot to move between the most important areas of the city…but don’t think you can get anywhere by subway!
There are three subway lines in Rome: Metro A, Metro B (since June 2012 a new branch of line B, the Metro B1, has opened) and Metro C.

In fact, only a peripheral section of this last line up to St. John Lateran (San Giovanni station) is currently functioning. In the future it should reach the Vatican Museums through the city center. But, unfortunately, I think it will be our children or grandchildren who see it completed. For example, it is not even known if the speculated line D can be built.

A Fun Fact about Rome’s Subway and a Bit of History

The first subway line in Italy was inaugurated in Rome. It was February 9, 1955 and work had begun in 1948. It was the line between Termini and EUR which saw, during its first trip, as a passenger of honor Luigi Einaudi, the president of the Italian Republic. What had been a 1938 project interrupted by the war finally came to fruition in the time of the automobile revolution with the Fiat 600 (1955) and Fiat 500 (1957).

Traveling by Metro in Rome

Rome Metro Tickets

The ticket is valid for 100 minutes from the first time it is stamped and can be used consecutively within that period on several buses, but only once on the metro. It costs 1.50€. You can see all the information about the various types of subway tickets on our page dedicated to Public Transport Tickets in Rome.
In addition, Tap&Go turnstiles have recently been installed which allow you to pay with contactless cards (Mastercard, Visa, American Express). This is a convenient way to avoid having to look for tickets.

The fine if you don’t stamp your ticket (or if you don’t carry a ticket) is 50 euros if you pay on the spot, 100 euros if you decide to pay later. On the busiest routes, ticket inspectors can appear at any time, even on Sundays. Don’t take the risk and be responsible by avoiding the hassle and unpleasant experience of a fine in Rome.

Rome Subway Schedule

The Rome subway runs every day from 5:30 am to 11:30 pm. However, construction of new sections, repair of stations or tracks often causes reduced schedules or changes. In any case, there are always substitute buses connecting the various subway stops.
Specifically, if we indicate 11:30 pm as the closing time, this means you can still enter any metro station until then and take the train normally. Therefore, trains continue circulating until they reach the last station.

In addition, on this official page of Rome Metro services you can see the latest updates with notices on the operation of the lines.

Rome Subway Map

The metro map usually includes:

• Subway lines: A, B and C
• Three suburban lines
• Eight regional lines (FR)

Here is a brief description of all the lines shown on the map, with their characteristics, train frequency, etc:

Rome Subway Line A

In Rome, subway line A is the most used, not only by tourists but also by locals. The red line runs from northwest to southeast and has 27 stations. Trains come every 3 to 5 minutes.

The end stations are Anagnina (southern Rome, important if you’re arriving from Ciampino airport) and Battistini (northern Rome). Click here to see a large, complete map of Rome’s public transportation.

Rome Subway Line B

Line B has fewer passengers but is very useful when visiting the city as it takes you to points of interest like the Colosseum and the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls.

The blue line has 25 stations and trains come every 5 to 6 minutes. The terminals are Rebibbia and Laurentina.

You can also see a larger map of the B line here.

Rome Subway Line B1

In June 2012, a new branch of line B called line B1 opened.

When trains arrive at the Bologna station, they split: some go to Rebibbia and others continue to Conca d’Oro. The destination of each train is announced over the loudspeaker both onboard and in the station.

On the map here you can see this line bifurcation graphically and the stations it stops at.

Rome Subway Line C

From the Castelli area (first station Montecompatri), this line currently goes to San Giovanni in Laterano. At the San Giovanni station, you can switch to line A. Unfortunately, the other planned stations towards Rome’s center beyond San Giovanni are not yet built.

The ultra-modern San Giovanni station will surprise you. In fact, it allows you to take a trip back through the different historical layers of the city. Every meter you descend represents a different era, with numerous archaeological remains found during construction on display. It’s an entire station-museum to enjoy while traveling on metro line C.

Regional Lines (FR)

The Regional Lines in Rome, commonly referred to as “FR” lines (Ferrovia Regionale), are part of the regional railway service that connects Rome with its surrounding areas in Lazio, Italy. These lines are crucial for commuters and travelers alike, offering convenient connections between Rome and various towns and cities in the region.

• FR1 – Takes you to Fiumicino Airport from Tiburtina station (line B connection) or Tuscolana (line A connection) for €8. Trains depart every 15 minutes. Does not stop at Termini Station.
• FR2 – Goes to the town of Tivoli (not Villa Adriana) with trips lasting 30-70 minutes for €2.30.
• FR3 – Train to Viterbo taking 1 hour 35 minutes for €4.50.
• FR4 – Stops at interesting destinations like Frascati and Castelgandolfo. Check timetables carefully to avoid getting off at the wrong stop. E.g. the 6:32 train goes to Frascati, 7:00 to Velletri and 7:20 to Albano.
• FR5 – Goes to Civitavecchia Port, 80 km away in 45-60 minutes for €4.50.
• FR6 – Both FR6 and FR4 pass through Ciampino town center, far from Ciampino Airport (need to transfer to a bus).
• FR7 – Once beyond the last FR stop, some regional trains continue to Naples, taking 2.5 hours but costing only €10.50.
• FR8 – Termini Station
• Leonardo Express – Direct non-stop service from Termini Station track 24 to Fiumicino Airport. Runs 6:00-23:00, trains every 30 minutes taking 31 minutes to arrive. Costs €14.

Rome Subway and Monuments

Find out which subway stops to use to reach Rome’s must-see monuments. For additional details and information about each, visit our page dedicated to the Monuments of Rome.

How to Get to the Colosseum by Subway

Take the blue line towards Laurentina from Termini and get off at the ‘Colosseo’ stop.

How to Get to St. Peter’s Basilica by Subway

Take metro line A and get off at either the Ottaviano or Cipro stops.

How to Get to the Catacombs by Subway

From the San Giovanni station on metro lines A and C, take bus 218 to the Fosse Ardeatine stop. From metro B Circo Massimo, you can take bus 118 (towards Lagonegro) and get off at the Catacombe di San Callisto stop.

How to Get to Villa Borghese by Subway

To reach Villa Borghese by subway, the easiest option is to take line A and get off at the ‘Spagna’ stop. There are several exits, so follow the signs pointing towards Villa Borghese.

How to Get to Rome’s City Center by Subway

There are several subway stations where you can start your visit of Rome’s historic center: Barberini – Trevi Fountain, Spagna, Flaminio – Piazza del Popolo.