Before I've gone to London, Paris, and even Montreal, I have been able to figure out the subway system before the trip, so we could hit the ground running. I've seen very little about the Rome system. I know the bus system is used a lot, but is the tube just not used much in Rome. The guide books for other cities tell which station to use to best get to the site, but I've seen nothing like that for the Rome system. I will be staying right off the Via Veneto. Is it best to not use the subway, or what?

My husband and I were in Rome in April. There are only two subway lines, which are in an 'X' shape. We stayed on the Via Nazionale, and could pick up the subway at the Piazza de la Republica which took us to St. Peters. This was the only time we used the Rome subway as it just doesn't cover the city the way New Yorks', Paris, and London subways do. However, we found it to be quite safe and easy to use, just not convenient.

Bring a good pair of walking shoes/sneakers.
I've never walked as much as I did in Rome -just to see the beauty of it all.

I just got back from Rome. Ditto all of the above about the subway system. Plus...they don't seem to be airconditioned, so people open the windows. It gets VERY LOUD because the trains really zip along the tracks.
The two lines intersect at the train station (Termini). Be prepared for a massive stampede of people getting off/getting on the train!
Ditto about doing a lot of walking. The bus system was pretty good. Very punctual...but can get very crowded.
Final suggestion: Buy one of those Day passes (about 6,000 Lira) It's very convenient...you can use them on the subway and buses for unlimited travel (otherwise each ticket costs 1,500 Lira)

Good evening, Marty
two sources for Rome Metropolitania
www.metro.jussieu.fr/
www.fnc.net/termini
Good Luck, Richard of Hickory Hills

Agree that Rome is a great walking city, however, the metro can be useful for the long distance trips. If you are staying on the Via Veneto then Barberini is the best station for you, as it's down the bottom of the VV. If you want to visit Hadrian's Villa and the Villa d'Este at Tivoli then you ride the metro to Rebbibia then catch a bus. If you use the metro along with walking you'll save your feet.

Message to Marty: The reason why the Rome subway system is so small (this is the truth) is that everytime they've tried to enlarge it, they ran into some old buried Roman archeolgical treasures. There is now a law against enlarging the subway system.