The Internazionali BNL d'Italia are one of the most important tennis tournaments on the ATP and WTA calendar — ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000. It is one of the international sporting events that brings the largest number of foreign spectators to Rome: tennis fans from across Europe, the United States and South America. During those days, Foro Italico becomes a magnet that puts the entire northern quarter of the city's road network under severe strain.
Tickets are purchased online on the official Internazionali BNL d'Italia website. For evening sessions and on semi-final and final days they sell out weeks in advance — anyone planning a stay in Rome in May to attend the tournament must book tickets, hotels and transport well ahead.
The main transport options:
Tram 2 from Flaminio Tram 2 connects Piazzale Flaminio (near Piazza del Popolo) to Foro Italico in about 20–25 minutes. It is the most direct public transport option, but during the Internazionali the trams on peak days are packed from the morning. On evening exits after 22:00, frequencies decrease.
Metro A + bus Metro A to Ottaviano, then a bus towards the Lungotevere. Convenient for those staying near Line A, but it takes 40–50 minutes from the centre and requires two changes. After a full day in the sun under the Centrale's canopies, the return journey on a packed metro is not the best way to round off the day.
Taxi Available but unpredictable: on evening exits from Foro Italico taxi availability is low and the wait can be long. The cost from the centre varies with traffic.
Private NCC driver The driver drops you directly at the Foro Italico entrance and returns at the agreed time to pick you up. No walking, no queuing, no waiting at taxi ranks. For groups of 3–4 people the per-person cost is lower than a taxi.
On days with daytime sessions (opening 10:00–11:00), by 09:30 many of the free spaces along the Lungotevere and in the Monte Mario area are already taken. The nearby paid car parks have limited spaces and cannot guarantee availability.
On semi-final and final days, attendance increases further: thousands of spectators from all over Italy and abroad converge on the northern quarter of the city during the same time slots. Local authorities always give the same advice: arrive by public transport or organised private transport.
Arriving by car also means someone has to drive home — which rules out anyone who wants to enjoy the evening through to the end without worrying about getting back.
- Booking via WhatsApp or online form: provide your departure address (hotel, Airbnb or any point in Rome), desired time and number of people
- Pick-up from the given address with guaranteed punctuality — the driver arrives 5 minutes before the agreed time
- Drop-off at the Foro Italico entrance — the driver knows the access points and best drop-off spots for each gate
- Return pick-up — agreed in advance or updatable via WhatsApp during the day. For evening matches, timing adapts to the actual minutes of play
For foreign spectators staying in hotels, the service also includes coordination with the reception: simply provide the hotel name and the driver handles everything.
The service works for both single days and multiple tournament days. Those following the tournament for a full week can book a full-day service, with a driver available for additional city trips (lunch away from Foro Italico, a visit during a free afternoon, return to the airport at the end of the stay). For anyone who wants to use a match-free afternoon to explore the city, the guide to a Rome tour with a private driver suggests an optimised itinerary covering the Colosseum, Vatican and Trastevere.
To understand how the private driver service works in Rome in general — differences from a taxi, what is included, when it makes sense — the guide on private drivers in Rome answers the most common questions.
| Service | Passengers | Price | |---|---|---| | Return transfer hotel–Foro Italico (saloon) | up to 4 people | from €55 | | Return transfer hotel–Foro Italico (van) | up to 7 people | from €80 | | Full day with driver (saloon) | up to 4 people | from €250 | | Full day with driver (van) | up to 7 people | from €340 |
The full day includes: return transfer to Foro Italico, driver available for any additional trips (lunch, city centre, airport at end of stay). It is the most popular option for those who want maximum freedom without thinking about transport.
For a full overview of private driver prices in Rome — with route examples and comparison with taxis — see the guide to the cost of a private driver in Rome.
Daytime vs evening sessions. Afternoon sessions start around 13:00–14:00; evening sessions at 19:00–20:00. Evening sessions often run past 23:00 if there are long matches. Bear this in mind for the return transfer: give us an indicative time and update us via WhatsApp if the match runs on.
Bring your e-ticket. Access to Foro Italico is controlled — entry is not possible without a named ticket. Check the access procedure for the gate shown on your ticket.
Clothing. May in Rome can be warm (25–30°C) but also cool in the evening. For evening sessions bring a layer: temperatures drop by 5–8°C after sunset and you may be sitting still for hours.
No large bags. At Foro Italico entry checks restrict the size of backpacks and bags. Check the current rules on the official Internazionali BNL website before leaving your hotel.
Schedule changes. If for any reason a match is postponed or the timetable changes, contact us via WhatsApp as soon as possible: we adjust the transfer time at no extra cost.
The Internazionali BNL d'Italia are two weeks when Rome transforms to host the best tennis in the world. With organised transport, the only thing to think about is the game. To book or receive a quote, contact us via WhatsApp or use the online form — reply guaranteed within 30 minutes.