Strikes in Rome: sciopero days, guaranteed hours and alternatives

Transport strikes (scioperi) are common in Italy, and they mostly catch travellers who haven't thought about them. They are almost always announced in advance, often last four to twenty-four hours, and leave guaranteed time bands. This guide explains how to check whether a strike is planned during your stay, which services keep running in Rome, and how to organise your day without losing it. The bands given are those that appear most often in the notices published for ATAC network strikes: they vary from one notice to the next, so always check the one for the day.

How to know if there is a strike

An ATAC bus in Rome

In Italy, a strike in public transport must be announced with a minimum notice period (in practice, at least ten days). Notices are published on the official strike website of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (the "scioperi" portal), which lets you filter by sector (local, rail, air) and by area. For the city network, also check the notices from ATAC and Roma Mobilità, as well as those from Trenitalia, Italo and your airline. A national "general" strike often hits several sectors on the same day.

Two habits help: look at the strike calendar before booking expensive, non-refundable tickets, and check it again the day before every important journey (airport, long-distance train, timed visit).

Guaranteed hours in Rome

Buses, trams and metro (ATAC): service is generally guaranteed from the start of operations until 8:30, then from 17:00 to 20:00. Outside these bands, lines may be cancelled, and the metro may close from station to station without warning.
Trains: Trenitalia and Italo guarantee a certain number of trains, listed on their websites, usually at the morning and evening peaks. The most-used Frecce and Italo services are often kept, but not all.
Flights: guaranteed flights are concentrated in a few bands in the morning and late in the day; flights outside the bands may be cancelled. Airlines usually offer a change or a refund.
Taxis: they are not affected by ATAC strikes, but demand soars on those days. See our guide to taxis in Rome.

Italian law also protects certain periods, called "franchigia", when transport strikes are banned: around Christmas and New Year, Easter, some summer holiday periods and election days. The exact calendar is published by the strike-guarantee commission and changes from year to year.

Getting organised on a strike day

Travel early or late: fit the journeys you cannot avoid (airport, station) into the guaranteed bands.
Walk: the historic centre can largely be visited on foot. Our guide to walking routes in Rome offers itineraries that avoid public transport. The Colosseum, the Roman Forum and the Palatine are a few minutes from each other.
Allow a margin: for a flight or a train, arrive well before your usual time; buses and the metro are packed just before and just after a guaranteed band.
Avoid long bus journeys: lines are unpredictable and stops overcrowded. Take a regional train or a taxi for longer distances.
Museums and sites: a site may close or cut its hours if its staff are on strike (the Colosseum and state museums are sometimes affected). Check the official website and keep a replacement visit in mind.

If the strike hits your flight or train

Keep your receipts. A strike counts as an extraordinary circumstance: carriers must offer rerouting or a refund, but flat-rate compensation is rarely due. Check the conditions of your ticket and travel insurance, and avoid paying for a non-refundable hotel the same night without a margin. For airport transfers, see our guide to Rome's airports.

Going further

For tickets, lines and usual timetables, read our guide to transport in Rome; to avoid the traps that target stranded travellers, see scams to avoid in Rome.