Transportation in Rome, Italy

The bus service in Rome can be one of the more trying aspects of your vacation in the Eternal City. Where possible plan your routes so that you eliminate the need for buses and the uncertainties which are associated with taking them. That being said, taking buses can give your feet a much needed rest and are a cheap alternative to private transportation.

Please be aware that buses in Rome do not run on time, but the major tourist routes are usually well serviced. Buses do not have a limit to the number of people who can be on board at any one time. This limit is dependent on if the automatic doors are able to close or not creating a rather unpleasant overcrowded situation during rush hour.

Bus stops
Demarcated by yellow or sometimes green poles. Reading the signs carefully, will show you the buses which stop there, the present stop you are at, the route it will take and the direction in which it is going.
Stops which many buses use, may have up to 5 poles displaying necessary information, so check each sign carefully to make sure you take the correct bus.

Useful Buses
#40 Express - This runs the same route as #64 but skips some of the stops getting you to your destination quicker. It is also less crowded and usually follows on the heels of #64.
#64 - Links Termini, Via Nazionale, Piazza Venezia, Largo Argentina, Corso Vittorio Emmanuele and on to St. Peter's. This bus can get horribly crowded (awkward for female travelers) and is a haven for pick pockets. Do not put anything of value in your pockets and women should keep hand bags close to their bodies.
#70 - Links Termini, Via Nazionale, Piazza Venezia, Largo Argentina, Piazza Navona.
#81 - Take this to reach San Giovanni in Laterano, Bocca della Verita, Largo Argentina
#116 - Links Castel Sant'Angelo, Campo di Fiori, Pantheon, Villa Borghese
#117 - Links Piazza del Popolo with San Giovanni in Laterano. This is a tiny electric bus and can get unbelievably crowded at rush hour.
#175 - Links Termini, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Venezia, Colosseum, Circus Maximus
#492 - To reach Tiburtina station, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Venezia, Largo Argentina, Vatican Museums
#714 - Links Termini, San Giovanni in Laterano and E.U.R
#910 - Links Termini, Ville Borghese, Parioli, Stadio Olympico (for football matches and concerts)
H - Can be used to reach Termini, Via Nazionale, Piazza Venezia, Bocca della Verita, Circus Maximus, Trastevere.
N5 - Nocturnal bus services Termini, Via Nazionale, Piazza Venezia, Largo Argentina, Corso Vittorio Emmanuele.

Dont's
Don't try to buy tickets on board the bus. In most cases you can't. Avoid embarrassment and fines by purchasing tickets in advance.
Don't scream at bus drivers through open doors to find out if you should get on the bus. Look at the information at the bus stops and when in doubt ask information from a store.
Don't point to your map or shove pieces of paper at the bus drivers. They are concentrating on getting you to your destination safely. If you must ask a question wait until he has stopped and speak slowly and clearly.
Don't take buses during rush hour (16:30 - 19) unless you absolutely have to. You may be stuck in traffic, in an overcrowded bus for a very long time.

 

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