public travel passes in Rome - 1, 3 or 7 day pass > 50개주 여행

The public travel passes in Rome are very straight forward. No complicated zonal system, peak or off peak variations or anything like that. Your ticket is valid for all public transport, (city buses, metro, trams and some rail lines) within the Rome urban area.

Your only decision is whether you need a 1, 3 or 7 day pass. Travel pass prices are at the foot of this page along with the prices of individual tickets. The travel passes are for calendar days, not 24 hour periods, e.g. a 1 day pass expires at midnight on the day of use.

 

For buses, you can only use the Rome travel passes on the city buses. You cannot use them on the Rome hop on, hop off sightseeing buses or the airport buses to either of Rome's airports. On the trains the entire Metro system is covered and local services in the city of Rome district are also covered. The travel passes do not cover any of the trains to Fiumicino Airport, the main airport for Rome, this includes the Leonardo Express train running non-stop between Fiumicino Airport and Rome's Termini Station. You cannot use the travel passes on the trains to and from Rome's cruise port, Civitavecchia, which is a long way outside Rome.

Most visitors will only be travelling in a compact area in the centre of Rome where all the main attractions and hotel districts are situated. The Metro system is very simple, at the moment just 2 lines with a third scheduled to be implemented in stages up to 2018.

 

If the Metro is not the solution to an individual journey then the local city buses will be the answer. At first sight the number and complexity of bus routes can seem overwhelming.

On the ground less so, as each route at each bus stop is laid out clearly with all the stops to its terminus. There is normally at least one direct bus going to the destination you require on short trips.

Buses are very frequent too.

 

The bus and Metro map, (link above) covers all of the central area if you want an orientation of routes in advance. If you are planning on using public transport extensively to get around Rome and visit attractions outside the tourist hotspots in the centre then investing in a Rome bus and Metro map is worthwhile. You can find these sold in most newsstands around bus and train stations like Termini Station.

You can purchase the travel passes from a wide variety of sources including vending machines at stations and many newsstands and normal retail shops.

If you don't speak Italian and are nervous about using vending machines you can purchase on-line (with delivery to your home address for a price premium) or purchase from the cluster of kiosks in the bus station in front of Termini Station, Rome's main transport hub and biggest hotel district.

Kiosk at Termini Bus Station Selling Travel Passes & Tour Tickets

The kiosks here specialise in selling travel passes and tours. They advertise the transport passes prominently with prices displayed boldly and staff speak English too.

 

When you first purchase a travel pass it is blank.

The travel pass only becomes 'live' after you have validated it, (stamped with the date you first use it). Showing a ticket inspector an unvalidated ticket is no different to having no ticket at all.

On the Metro lines the travel pass is automatically validated when you pass through the ticket barriers for the first time. On other modes of transport there is a validating machine inside buses and trams and on the platforms of train stations where it is your responsibility to insert your pass into the machine and get it validated.

Your travel pass is valid from the date stamped on the pass for the number of calendar days of the pass. If you purchase a 3 day pass on a Monday at 2 p.m. it expires on Wednesday at midnight.

Automated Ticket Machine

All local public transport is integrated in Rome. You have to purchase your tickets before you board any public transport in Rome. Most people will have a pass of one kind or another.

Tickets for both the bus system and Metro can be purchased from tobacconists, bars, or vending machines at metro stations and major bus stops. On both buses and metro there is a flat fare. whether you go one stop or to the end of the line.

Ticket Validation Machine

At Metro Stations there are ticket barriers where you have to insert your ticket to enter and leave the Metro Station.

On buses and trams you will find ticket validation machines similar to that pictured. If you have a single ticket then enter the ticket into the machine, if you have purchased a pass, you put the pass into the machine on your first journey. This stamps the date and time from which the pass or ticket is valid.

 

Most of the locals will not be using these machines, they are not fare evaders but have season tickets of one type or another.

Groups of ticket inspectors from time to time descend onto a bus or platform to check all passengers have valid tickets. If not you will incur a heavy fine, playing the innocent tourist doesn't work.

 

Many visitors will be arriving at Termini Station. Termini Station is a good place to get your tickets, especially travel passes. There are a lot of kiosks at the bus station in front of the railway station and many tobacconists around the station who are used to dealing with visitors and advertise the fact in English.

 

If you are brave, there are some automatic ticket vending machines with instructions in English, (pictured above), the machine pictured was at Termini Station.

Ticket options are:

Note: Public transportation is free for children less than 10 years old.