Journey from the
airport to rome
Journey from the
airport to rome
How to get from
rome airport to city center
“All roads lead to Rome.” Are you fed up with that sentence yet? If you’re anything like us, you’ll have read it in every Rome travel guide you’ve looked at and heard it from at least ten people you know.
Well, I’m guessing most of you will actually be hopping on a plane to get to Rome. And I’m also guessing none of those people followed up with any insight into how you might actually get to the city centre or the place you’re staying once you’ve landed in Rome? No, I didn’t think so! The fact that all roads lead to Rome tends to cover the extent of their travel expertise!
But you don’t have to just hope for the best once you step off that plane! You’ve come to the right place to learn all about all the roads that lead to Rome (well, the ones from the airport at least).
HERE’S WHAT
YOU NEED TO KNOW
- You can land in one of two airports when you visit Rome: Fiumicino (also known as the Leonardo da Vinci Airport) and Ciampino. The first of those is around 30 kilometres away from the city centre and the second is about 18 kilometres out.
- Fiumicino is the biggest of the two. But all you need to do is follow the signs and you’ll find your way to the trains, buses and taxis.
- Chances are you’ll be approached by someone asking you if you’re looking for a taxi as you walk through the arrivals hall towards the exit. Think about it, though. A proper taxi driver wouldn’t come in and start asking around to find fares. Official taxi drivers wait outside in their cars for passengers to come to them.
- Keep a close eye on your bags and wallets when you’re buying train tickets at the machines. If someone helps you out with the ticket machine, they’ll be expecting you to give them a tip.
- Most hotels and many tour providers will offer to arrange your transfer from the airport for you. It’s worth paying the extra for this service just so you can relax, knowing that it’s all taken care of for you ;-) If you have a private transfer booked, look out for the letters “NCC” on the car. This stands for Noleggio Con Conducente and you need an NCC licence to transport passengers like a taxi.
- Or take a look at the VIP Service I just checked out for you!
the two
airports
Rome
FIUMICINO
tip 1
public transport
The cheapest way to get from Fiumicino to the city centre is to take the regional train. You should note, though, that this is not necessarily going to be the most straightforward option. Follow the “Train/Treno” signs to make your way to the train station. You don’t have to leave the airport to get there.
A ticket on the FL1 costs EUR 8 and you’ll need one for each person travelling.
One child aged between 4 and 12 can travel for free with each adult travelling. You can buy your tickets from the machines or at the counter you’ll come across just before you reach the platforms. This train does not go directly to Termini, which is Rome’s biggest station. But it’ll get you to Roma Trastevere, Roma Ostiense and Roma Tiburtina. You can change at Ostiense (also known as Piramide) or Tiburtina and take Line B (blue) on the metro to get to Termini, Colosseo or Circo Massimo. A metro ticket will cost you EUR 1.50 (find out where to buy these tickets right here).
Journey time
It takes around half an hour to get to Ostiense (Piramide) and the total journey time to Termini is about 45 minutes.
Top tips:
- The Roma Pass isn’t valid on this train.
- Don’t mix up the FL1 regional rail route with the Leonardo Express fast train (you can’t miss these trains since they are very obviously branded). The FL1 goes from Platform 1.
- You need to validate your ticket before you start your journey. The option to validate your ticket after you board is only available on the bus and tram – not the train or metro.
Unlike the regional rail route, the fast train goes directly to Termini, Rome’s biggest station.
A ticket costs EUR 14.
One child aged between 4 and 12 can travel for free with each adult travelling. Children under the age of 4 never have to pay to travel.
If you haven’t booked your ticket online, you can buy one from specific ticket machines or at the dedicated Leonardo Express counter. Just look out for the Leonardo Express branding – you can’t miss it. If there’s no sign whatsoever of that branding on the machine, counter or train you’re looking at, you can be sure it’s nothing to do with the Leonardo Express.
Journey time
It takes 30 minutes to get from the airport to Termini on the Leonardo Express.
Top tips:
- The Roma Pass isn’t valid on this train.
- Don’t mix up the FL1 regional rail route with the Leonardo Express fast train
- The Leonardo Express goes from Platforms 2 and 3.
Tip 2
FAST TRAIN: LEONARDO EXPRESS
There are plenty of shuttle buses that’ll get you from Fiumicino to Termini, Rome’s biggest train station. They’re all pretty similar and super practical all in all.
I’d recommend the Terravision bus. It’ll get you to the city centre (Termini) for a very reasonable price (EUR 5.80 for a single if you buy online and EUR 7 otherwise).
If you haven’t booked a ticket online, you can buy one at the Terravision counter at the bus station. The bus station is in front of the airport, at the end of Terminal 3. The Terravision buses go from Bus Bay 7.
Journey time
It takes about an hour to get from the airport to Termini on a Terravision bus, but that journey time will depend on the traffic.
Top tips:
- The Roma Pass isn’t valid on this bus.
- The buses leave every 45 minutes or so.
tip 3
SHUTTLE BUSES
Taking a taxi is the most expensive way to travel to the city centre, but by far the most convenient option. Official taxis wait just outside the terminals. The “Taxi” signs in the airport will show you the way.
The white taxis with “Roma Capitale” in red lettering will take you to the city centre (inside the Aurelian Walls) for a fixed price of EUR 48.
You’ll have to pay a surcharge if your accommodation isn’t within that zone. It’s best to give the driver the address for your hotel before you set off, so you can avoid any nasty surprises.
Top tips:
Don’t get these taxis mixed up with the “Fiumicino” taxis because they have a fixed price of EUR 60.
Just make sure you get in a taxi that has “Roma Capitale” on the door and you can’t go wrong.
My tip for comfortable travel: Book a taxi pick-up service!
Travel by taxi from the airport to the city (one way)
Public transport for three days (additional cost per Person)
From EUR 62
Tested by me! Read about how I got on here…
Tip 4
Taxi & VIP Service
Rome
Ciampino
Tip 1
Public transport
The bus station is easy enough to find since Ciampino isn’t a huge airport.
There’s also plenty of information at the bus stop about which buses will take you to which metro stations.
The 520 and 720 buses don’t go directly to Termini from Ciampino but they can get you to Line A (red) or Line B (blue) on the metro. Change for the stations Termini,
Colosseo or Spagna (the Spanish Steps).
The 520 bus, for example, will take you to the Tuscolana/Cinecittà metro station, which is on Line A.
The 720 bus, meanwhile, goes to the Laurentina metro station, where you can join Line B.
Bus and metro tickets cost you EUR 1.50 for 100 minutes.
Find out where to buy these tickets right here soon.
Journey time
Depending on what the traffic is like, it’ll take around 15 to 20 minutes to get to the metro stations and another 20 to 25 minutes to get from there to Termini.
Top tips:
- The Roma Pass is valid on this journey.
- The buses go every 20 minutes or so between 5.30 a.m. and 11.30 p.m.
- Extra adult tickets have to be purchased for extra-large luggage.
tip 2
SHUTTLE BUSES
Just like at Fiumicino Airport, there are plenty of shuttle buses that’ll get you from Ciampino to Termini. Once again, I’d recommend going with Terravision.
The Terravision bus will get you to the city centre (Termini) for a very reasonable price (EUR 5 for a single if you buy online and EUR 6 otherwise). And it’s a comfy ride. You can buy your ticket at the airport if you haven’t already booked one online. The Terravision counter is in the airport arrivals hall.
Journey time
It takes about 45 minutes to get from the airport to Termini on a Terravision bus, but that journey time will depend on the traffic.
Top tips:
- The Roma Pass isn’t valid on this bus.
- The Terravision buses go from Bay 1 at the bus station in front of the airport.
- The buses leave every 35 minutes or so.
The official taxi stand is just outside the exit to Ciampino Airport. You can’t miss it!
The official white taxis with red lettering (Roma Capitale) will take you to the city centre (inside the Aurelian Walls) for a fixed price of EUR 30. Check beforehand that your hotel is in that zone because you’ll have to pay a surcharge if it isn’t. Make sure you ask the driver before you set off at least.
Top tips:
Don’t get into any taxis that aren’t waiting just outside the airport entrance because that official fixed price won’t necessarily apply.
My tip for comfortable travel: Book a taxi pick-up service!
Travel by taxi from the airport to the city (one way)
Public transport for three days (additional cost per Person)
From EUR 62
Tested by me! Read about how I got on here…
Tip 3
Taxi & VIP Service
SUMMARY
If it’s your first time in Rome, I’d recommend that you take a taxi or travel directly to Termini on public transport (on a Terravision bus or the Leonardo Express train). Sure, you might have to pay a bit more or spend a bit longer in traffic. But if you don’t know your way around the bus and train system in Rome, it doesn’t take a lot for it to become overly stressful. (Where do I get on? Where do I get off or change? Then where do I need to go next?)
If that prospect doesn’t put you off, you can save yourself some cash by travelling on public transport. That’ll leave you enough for a few cups of tasty coffee, and a wish at the Trevi Fountain during your trip 😉 However you choose to travel, you should treat yourself to plenty of coffee in Rome. It’s the good stuff and very reasonably priced too. Find out where to get the best espresso in town right here.
All of the prices and information shared on this page were correct as of May 2022. We can’t guarantee that these details won’t change!
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