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The regional LILA (previously known as COTRAL) buses leave from different terminals around the city, usually outside metro stations, according to the destination. The following is a list of those most useful for tourists.
Lepanto
(Metro Line A):
Anagnina
(Metro Line A):
EUR
Fermi (Metro Line B):
Ponte
Mammolo (Metro Line B):
Saxa
Rubra
Tiburtina
(Metro Line B): If you want to catch a bus to other destinations outside Lazio, beyond the LILA network, go to Stazione Tiburtina. Most of the bus lines have an office in the main square, from which all the buses depart. However, don't expect to save money by taking the bus instead of the train. Tickets for the bus are only slightly cheaper, and the train is almost always faster.
...to the ruins of ancient Rome's port city. The peace and tranquility of this tree-filled area is interrupted only occasionally by jets on final approach to Fiumicino airport nearby! Highly recommended. Metro Line B: Piramide or Magliana, then take the "Ostia Lido" local train to Ostia Antica. (TIP: Buy a daily ticket to cover your metro and train rides.) Open 9am until one hour before sunset; closed Monday.
This hill town offers the beautiful Villa d'Este with its sloping gardens of 2,000 fountains. Just down the hill from Tivoli is Hadrian's Villa, where the great architect-emperor recreated the sights of his travels throughout the Empire. Metro Line B: Ponte Mammolo, then blue LILA bus to Tivoli. If you would like to see both villas in one day, we recommend visiting the Villa d'Este first, then catching the local orange bus from out in front of the Villa d'Este down the hill to Villa Adriana. This bus will leave you in front of a bar, then it's a five-minute walk to the entrance of Hadrian's Villa. At the end of the day you can either take an orange bus back to Rome (Ponte Mammolo metro station) from the bar, or walk a little bit farther to the main road (Via Tiburtina) where the blue LILA bus back to Ponte Mammolo runs more frequently. Hadrian's Villa is open daily from 9am until one hour before sunset; the Villa d'Este has the same opening hours but is closed Monday.
The highlight of this little town southeast of Rome is the ancient Roman sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia, a 2nd century BC temple complex built into the hillside. A museum has been added at the top of the sanctuary and houses a huge mosaic depicting scenes of life on the Nile. On clear and cloudy days alike the views across the hills to Rome are awe-inspiring. Metro Line B: Ponte Mammolo, then blue LILA bus to Palestrina (about a 45-minute bus ride).
If you have seen the Etruscan treasures at the Villa Giulia or Vatican museums in Rome, you may be interested in visiting the actual tombs where the artwork was found. The archaeological site of Cerveteri is a 7th to 5th century BC necropolis, consisting of dozens of "tumulus" tombs (earthen mounds with carved interior chambers). As few tourists make it out here, you'll enjoy a lot of peace and quiet as you wander around, and exploring the dark caverns of these tombs will make you feel like Indiana Jones! Bring a flashlight. Metro Line A: Lepanto, then blue LILA bus to Cerveteri (the bus ride takes a little over an hour). Note: Avoid making these trips on Saturdays and Sundays during the summertime. You'll spend much more time in traffic than at the actual sites!
If you have had enough of monuments and churches and just want to go sit and get some sun, there are some beaches easily accessible from central Rome. Be aware, however, that the pictures of the sparkling blue waters of the Italian coast have not been taken anywhere near Rome! But if you are still determined to get to the Mediterranean, the beach at Lido di Ostia is the closest and easiest to reach (Metro Line B: Piramide or Magliana, then local train to Lido di Ostia--use the "Cristoforo Colombo" stop.) When you get off the train, you will see many different beach clubs. Expect to pay an entrance fee, which includes showers and changing rooms. Use of a lounge chair costs extra. Between the entrances to the different beach clubs you will find free-accesss passageways to the beach. Alternatively, you can head to the protected dunes of the Spiaggia Libera di Castelporziano. From the C.Colombo train station, it's a five-minute bus ride south to one of the numerous free-access gates. Here you will find a more traditional "beach" setting. Other suggestions for a day at the beach: Fregene This is where most Romans go to bronze themselves during the day and disco away the night. The Villaggio dei Pescatori is an oasis from the smell of coconut oil that permeates the rest of Fregene. The small houses facing the sea here will give you an idea of the Roman coast in the 1950's. To reach Fregene, take Metro Line A to Lepanto, then a blue LILA bus to Fregene. Sabaudia This pretty seaside town was developed in the 1930's, one kilometer from sandy beaches and clean Mediterranean water. The town also faces a lake with watersports facilities. The entire area around Sabaudia is part of the Parco Nazionale del Circeo, a wildlife preserve. To reach Sabaudia take Metro Line B to EUR-Fermi, then a blue LILA bus to Sabaudia. Santa Severa This small village on the Via Aurelia is remarkable for its waterside castle. The water is cleaner and the beach less crowded in June and September. To reach Santa Severa take Metro Line A to Lepanto, then a blue LILA bus to Santa Severa. Again, it's best to avoid these spots on Saturdays and Sundays in the summertime.
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