Rome's metro system is very useful and quite safe as long as you are alert. Although the bus network is extensive and buses run frequently (though still crowded), the metro is much simpler to master.

The metro system has only two lines, A and B, which cross at Termini. There are trains from 5.30 am until 11.30 pm every day (Sat. 0.30 am). Starting from January 10th 2004 the underground trains will stop running at 9.00 pm. due to restoration works. In this period the underground trains will be replaced by a shuttle bus service.
Metro stations on line A do not have facilities for disabled (except Cipro-Musei Vaticani and Valle Aurelia); In alternative, bus 590 follows the same route of metro line A and has wheelchair access (see "useful buslines below"). All the metro stations on line B have facilities for disabled except Circo Massimo, Colosseo and Cavour (direction Laurentina).

Metro A offers the possibility to organise itineraries particularly interesting both for shopping and for the visit of monuments. Here is a list of metro A stops with possible itineraries:

Cipro, is the privileged way to the Vatican Museums
Ottaviano takes to S.Pietro.
Lepanto to Via Cola di Rienzo, a shopping area right for every pocket
Flaminio, both for a walk in Villa Borghese and the Pincio Terrace and a downtown shopping along Via del Corso, Via del Babuino, Piazza del Popolo and S.Maria dei Miracoli.
Spagna, to Piazza di Spagna and the trendy Trinità dei Monti facing Via dei Condotti. Not far there is the Fontana di Trevi.
Via Veneto and the Fontana di Trevi are near Barberini stop, the Terme di Diocleziano to the Repubblica stop.
Vittorio Emanuele to the Basilica of S.Maria Maggiore
S.Giovanni to the Basilica of S.Giovanni and the Scala Santa - Holy Steps
Cinecittà takes to the film Studios.

Metro B stops relevant for tourists, instead, are the following:

S.Paolo, to the Basilica di S.Paolo
Piramide, to the Pyramid of Caius Cestius
Circo Massimo and Colosseum, to Colosseum and the Roman Forum
Cavour, to visit S.Pietro in Vincoli.