Help using the bus in Rome

In other recent threads, people have spoken highly of citymapper, though I haven't used it myself. It covers Rome.

I got some potentially useful hits by Googling: bus map Rome.

RS Rome guide has useful info on using the bus in Rome and how to decipher the signs on bus stops.

We spent almost a week in Rome in March at an apartment overlooking Campo de' Fiori and exclusively used public transport, mostly the bus, and relished the freedom. In advance we learned what we could from this page:

https://www.rometoolkit.com/transport/rome_bus.htm

The pictured map--without actually being there--is pretty much inscrutable, but it gives one a sense of how non-linear and archaic the system actually is. Once we got there, we did two crucial things: we bought a weekly bus/Metro pass for 24 Euro apiece (from any tabacchi shop, make sure you get and keep the receipt). All you have to do is validate your weekly pass first time at the machine at the front of the bus, then you're good to go for the rest of the week, you can enter the bus from the front or the side, no problem. And then at one of the stands at Termini station, spend I think 3 Euro for a laminated foldable bus route map. It's huge when unfolded, but it definitely serves its purpose.

Frankly I am not sure if any mobile app exists that can help you--we went decidedly non-tech. But in having that map on our person, we felt confident just hopping on a bus and going...anywhere. Metro too. We wandered, took roundabout ways to get places. One thing--make sure to note that some of these popular routes have very crowded buses, so be prepared and keep valuables at hand. I would imagine on certain routes it could be ripe for pickpocketers, although we were never challenged.

Most of Rome that you are interested is fairly compact and a Pedestrian zone, but knowing a couple of Bus or Metro routes is helpful, in fact you could try to narrow down one or two routes, depending on where your hotel is (Termini to central Rome, Central Rome up to the Vatican). Other than that, the buses are a breeze to use, just validate your ticket or pass.

We downloaded/bookmarked the transit maps (bus, metro and tram)from the Rome Map 360 site. We then referred to them often as we wandered around. We also bought multiday transit passes so we could get in and iff easily.

I used ProBusRoma when we lived there. Very easy to figure out. Do you know how to use Google Maps when you are near a transit stop to figure out how to get where you are going? I do that all over Europe now.

I go to Google,
type in the address or place of destination,
If a plain map appears, touch the designated spot to go to a screen with a blue arrow bent right inside a white square inside a blue circle and touch it,
or if this travel symbol appears right away, touch on it,
type starting point on top blue bar, destination will already show on lower blue bar,
touch the bus icon,
all the options will list, I touch on each bus number, tram, or Metro and check for the least walking time. If you have to walk, touch the down arrow for complete directions.

If you want to see the walking route on a map, memorize the last stop, go back to Google and type in destination, get to the blue bars page, type in last stop as starting point on top bar, destination should already appear in bottom bar, touch walk icon, and the walk route will appear on a map and written directions will also list.

You can practice doing this right now while you are still home. I always use Roma Termini as start point.

I just use google maps. The real time directions are helpful. I dont much care if there's a direct bus if it only comes hourly and I just missed it.

If you have wifi or data just put in your destination and get directions from your current location (or type in a location if you are planning for the future). It will give you walking, driving, and public transit options. As an example I just put in Campo de Fiori to the Colosseum and chose transit. If I were doing this right now I would walk 4 minutes to Largo Argentina and get on bus 87 which goes to Colosseo. Estimate of 12 minutes and the bus comes in 10 minutes.
Not always perfect but very helpful.