Rome Fiumicino Airport Guide For Travelers – Trains, Taxis & Buses

Flying into Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport? This Rome Fiumicino Airport Guide explains trains, buses, taxis, and car rentals so you can reach Rome quickly and stress-free.

Rome Fiumicino Airport Basics

It is the busiest airport in Italy and it was previously the hub for Alitalia, the Italian flag carrier that is now out of operations, but is now the hub for its replacement ITA Airways. The Rome airport is 16 miles southwest of the city and it is linked to the city by train and by road.

The train ride is 35 minutes and ends at Termini Station. Fiumicino Airport has public transport options that I’ll describe in more detail below. There are also taxis located outside Terminal 1 and 3. They are all fixed-price into the city center.

The company Aeroporti di Roma manages the Rome Fiumicino airport. It has two passenger terminals and it is dedicated to business and leisure customers on national, international and intercontinental routes.

Terminals at Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport

The Rome Fiumicino Airport, after renovation and expansion, consists of 2 passenger terminals; Terminal 1 and Terminal 3.

Terminal 1 (Gates A1–A59) typically operates with domestic and Schengen flights. If Italy is only one of your stops in Europe, you can plan to be flying in and out of Terminal 1. It is also the terminal for Italy’s ITA Airways.

Terminal 3 operates with domestic, Schengen and Non-Schengen flights and it also has flights from ITA Airways, so you will want to make sure you know which terminal you’ll need before arrival. The old Terminal 5 has been rolled into Terminal 3 following renovations.

Transportation To The Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport

As you’d expect from such a busy airport as FCO there are several transportation options, both public and private, for getting to and from Rome. Depending on your personal preferences for cost and convenience there is an option right for you.

Bus To Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport

There are several private companies that provide bus service into Rome. It will be cheaper than renting a car or taxing a taxi, but the trip will take longer. These buses leave from Fiumicino and head to the city center of Rome (typically Termini Train Station), and they include:

• COTRAL (Destination: Main subway station)
• Rome Airport Bus (Destination: Termini)
• SIT Bus Shuttle (Destination: Termini, Vatican)
• T.A.M. Bus (Destination: Termini, Ostiense)
• Terravision (Destination: Termini)

Taxi To Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport

Taxis are an option if you are traveling to Rome. The prices change, but there is a flat rate of around €55 for the trip that will bring you to the historical center (inside the Aurelian Walls). If you are taking a Taxi to other spots, you will be charged by the meter.

You can grab a taxi outside Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, in front of the Arrivals areas. All authorized taxis are white, and carry a “TAXI” sign on their roof. Don’t be fooled into taking an unofficial taxi, although cabs right outside the terminals are very tightly controlled.

Pro Tip: We recently had an issue with a very long line for the taxis, and a worker lead us from our arrival terminal out to the other one. It is an easy walking distance and the line was much shorter. So, in a pinch, consider walking to the other (T1/T3) terminal.

Trains To Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport

Inside Rome Fiumicino Airport is a train station where you can easily get to from the Arrivals and Departures areas. There are two options for More information on train travel in Italy from FCO to the historical center.

A less expensive option is to use the regional Trenitalia train. This might require a transfer, depending on where you are going, but the price for me was €6. The other option is to buy non-stop Leonardo Express Tickets, which takes around 35 minutes and brings you directly to Termini Station for €14 each way.

These can be reached from the train station across from Terminal 1. It’s important to know that the service is guaranteed even in the event of a strike (sciopero), which is not uncommon.

Subway To Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport

Nope, the Rome subway does not directly serve the airport, and so if you need access to the Metro system you will have to take either a bus or train from the airport to Termini Station in the center of the city.

Car Rentals At Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport

The airport offers car rental desks, which are located in the Office Tower 2, and have all the popular rental agencies. You will need an International Drivers License if you are from the U.S., or a valid European drivers license.

Non-Stop Flight Options

There are a number of carriers that provide non-stop flights between the United States and Rome, Italy. In addition to the routes listed below, there are partnerships with European carriers, so you should also look at Air France, KLM, Lufthansa and British Airways.

Other FAQs About Fiumicino Airport

Here is a bit more information that you might find helpful:

• To Which Terminal Should I Go? – Leonardo da Vinci Airport has two terminals: T1 and T3. Check-in procedures for domestic and international flights vary depending on the destination and airline. Contact the airline for details.
• How Long Before Departure Should I Arrive At The Airport? – Check-in procedures for domestic and international flights vary depending on the destination and airline. At the check-in desk, you’ll need to present your ticket and a valid ID to the airline. You should also make sure that the country you are traveling to does not require any special vaccinations or an entry visa. After check-in and before proceeding to the boarding gates, all passengers must go through security checks. Security check times may vary even within the same day. Because of this, the “standard” of 2 hours prior to a domestic flight and 3 hours prior to an international.
• Is There A Porter Service? – Porter service, a paid baggage transport service, can be requested at ADR information desks or booked by email at porteraggio@adr.it. For information regarding porters, please call +39 06 6595 4367.
• Does FCO Have TSA PreCheck? – No, Rome Fiumicino Airport does not have TSA PreCheck because it is a U.S. program. If you are a frequent traveler from Rome, you could consider the Fast Track program (€7) for quicker access and a premium experience at security checkpoints.
• Is Fiumicino Airport (FCO) Hard To Navigate? – I would say: “No”. There are only two terminals and they are close to each other. One word of caution about construction. The airport seems to be under construction at all times. This changes the paths to get from your arrival gates, to baggage claim to the exit, so be sure to follow the signs.

The Ciampino Airport in Rome

In addition to Fiumicino, there is another Ciampino airport in Rome (CIA). The Ciampino airport is the smaller of the two airports and it services far fewer flights than its bigger brother. This airport is located only about 8 miles from the center of Rome.

This does make it the closer of the two airports, and if that is important to you, then Ciampino could be the right choice. Although it is now used as a commercial airport, it was once a military airport that has since been converted.

It is known as a low-cost airport with several of the budget airlines taking off from Ciampino. The discount airlines that dominate Ciampino include: Ryanair, SkyAlps, Wizz Air and soon a connection with Barcelona.

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