What's the smartest way to use public transit in Rome?

Buy a 48-hour or 72-hour pass from any tobacconist (tabaccheria) or the machines inside metro stations — single rides are €1.50 each and add up fast if you're moving around more than twice a day. The pass covers buses, trams, and the two metro lines (A and B), all of which run until about 11:30 p.m. on weekdays, with night buses taking over after that. Line A is the one you'll actually use: it connects Termini to Spagna, Barberini, and the Vatican area. That said, Rome's historic center is compact enough that you'll walk most of it, so use the metro primarily to get between neighborhoods rather than within them. Buses are slower but cover more ground; the 40 and 64 run along the main corridor from Termini toward the Vatican. Validate your ticket every time you board — inspectors work the buses regularly, and the fine is around €100.

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