Is there a website that would show the map or layout of the Roman Subway system? Also, can anyone out there give me a refresher course on buying tickets for the subway? Thanks, Aim

Tickets can be a hassle in my experience - a terrible experience just last year. On a Sunday in a station that was unstaffed i needed to buy a ticket to ride the metro. So the machines were the only option. I just had a 1 euro coin and the ride costs some odd figure a bit less than a euro - say 87 cents, so i put the euro coin in and the machine says it can't give change and throws my euro back. I would have gladly let the machine keep the few cents in change it needed to give me but it wouldn't. So there is a young guy inside a glass-in booth who doesn't sell tickets but is there - he's talking on his cell phone and for a few minutes couldn't be bothered to answer my question on how i could get change for the machine. finally he begrudingly said no he didn't have any change and i'd have to go to a bar to find change - nothing was open in the area but i finally track down a bar and buy a beer to get some change - point is always keep an extra ticket in your wallet and don't trust the antiquated machines. maybe they're improved now but it was so frustrating!

I rode the metro last week from the Colosseum to the Piazza di Spagna. No problems with the automated machine - rides are 1 Euro each - and no problem with the trains.

The layout is simple. There are only two main lines, I believe it is red and blue. The front desk gave me map and it was quite simple.

Aim, try this link:
http://www.atac.roma.it/

You can buy a day pass for 4 euro or a weekly for 16 other wise 1 euro per ticket.

And you must remember the magic trick when using the ticket machines..... if it doesn't work, scratch the front of the machine several times with the edge of the coin.

I have to admit it didn't work for us, but the kind local offering to help us assured us this usually did the trick, and certainly from all the scratch marks on the front of all the machines, the rest of Rome apparently believes it too!

By the way, you can see a simple map of the subway system here http://www.stuardtclarkesrome.com/metro01.gif

You can also buy a group of 10 (too)-at the metro station or any tabac shop. These are 10 single use rides which are great to have for using not only the metro but the bus system (even all the way out to Ostia Antica).Just remember that in Italy the tickets are supposed to be for only (I believe) 75 minutes so make sure you have enough tickets if you do not use the day pass as mentioned above!They do occasionally check on the metro or bus and it can be a big fine if you do not punch(at the back of the bus) or have a current ticket. The Rome subway is not like Paris,London,Moscow or Munich but you can use the whole system on one ticket which is alot better than Paris.

75 minutes is correct as we learned last week. I did not think to ask and looked at the ticket only to see it had already expired.

The metro doesn't go very near many of the sights, due to the problems of tunnelling through the historic areas. We found buses much more convenient and they are very easy to use - lots of info on the bus stops. Just buy day tickets from a news stand & you're set.

Thanks for the helpful tips. Oz I'll remember that magic trick. ;o)

Just came back from Rome...at least half the automated machines are broken. Forget them, unless it is not a busy time. Instead, go to a tabaconist - there are tons of these little shops (sell cigarettes, newspapers, etc) at Termini, the main hub of the skimpy Rome network. DON'T buy one ticket. Get about 10 at once, or however many you think you'll need. Then you won't stand in line again.

I have to agree about those machines: I've yet to find one that either I could get to work or that was working...probably all my fault but I second the idea of getting your tickets beforehand, and elsewhere. No need to worry about having exact change, either.