Rome Fiumicino Airport is about 20 miles from the city center of Rome, and there exist several different options to get from Rome Airport to the city center. Having been recently to Rome, we explored several of the options and I thought I would share what we learned about the different options from Rome Airport to the city center. Â Note that this is a guideline between Rome Fiumicino Airport to the city center of Rome – I also have a guide on the best way to get from Rome Fiumicino Airport to Rome city center, if you’re looking to make this a round trip.
Taxi from Rome Airport to the city center
Taking a taxi from Rome Airport to the city center is going to be your most convenient option, and as always, convenience comes with a price. Don’t you guys remember reading about the truth of the Traveler’s Triangle?
A taxi from Rome Airport to the city center should cost 55 Euros if you are “inside the walls”.
This SHOULD be a flat fee as the Rome taxi division has set this price. It should be irrespective of the number of bags you have, if it’s late at night, if there’s lots of traffic. As far as I understand it, the only possible charge is if there are more than 4 passengers (for a vehicle that would support that).
Of course, the more people that you have, the more a flat cost like a taxi becomes advantageous when compared to the per-person costs of some of the cheaper options below
The Leonardo Express train from Rome Airport to the city center
Another option if you’re going from Rome Fiumicino airport to Central Rome is to take the Leonardo Express.
The Leonardo Express is run by Trenitalia and costs 14 Euros per passenger, but it’s a high speed train that makes no stops, and will get you from Rome Fiumicino Airport to Rome Termini Station in about 30 minutes. The Leonardo Express goes from Rome Fiumicino airport to the Termini station in the middle of Rome. If you’re traveling with a group, you can buy 4 tickets for 40 Euros, which is a nice savings.
Taking a bus from Rome Airport to the city center
The final option is taking a bus from Rome Airport to the city center. Because of the distance, there is no public bus nor subway that goes directly from Rome Airport to Rome City Center. There are however multiple different private bus companies that make the journey from Rome Airport to the city center. Although Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) is the largest airport in Rome (and in all of Italy), there is also Rome Ciampino airport (CIA) and these bus companies offer service from the Vatican or the Rome city center to both Rome airports.
Taking a bus from Rome Fiumicino Airport to Central Rome or the Vatican
Of all the private bus companies that go from Rome Airport to Central Rome and the Vatican, Terravision seems to be the largest, and the one that we used on our trip
It costs 7 Euros for a one-way trip from Rome Airport to the city center (and vice versa), or 13 Euros for a return ticket. If you buy online, you can get a one-way ticket for only 7 Euros, which is what I did when I was in Rome back in 2017. To board the Terravision bus, you’ll go to Terminal 3 and the Terravision Bus Stop, which is number 14.
One thing to keep in mind with Terravision is that although you might buy a ticket for a specific time, you’re really just buying a ticket to get in LINE at that time. If a bus shows up and there are more people than seats, you may have to wait for the next bus. The upside to that is that if your flight is delayed and you miss your original time, your ticket is still good for whatever time you get to the bus stop.
The Bottom Line
Those are your 3 basic options when traveling from Rome Fiumicino airport to Rome city center or the Vatican. Personally, we took a Terravision bus and although we had a few problems, I’d definitely take it again. It helped that when I was there back in 2017, there were only two of us and that where we were staying was walkable from the Termini station – had there been 4 of us (or EIGHT of us!), or if we would have had to take a taxi or other public transit from Termini to our final destination, then a taxi might have made sense
Any other good tips for traveling from Rome to Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)? Leave your thoughts in the comments below
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Sorry, the events happened to you, I am planning on taking the other bus company that drops you near Vatican City, so I will re-read their ticketing rules, as well, as I too, am flying Vueling into FCO.
I am a bit unclear from your post, however, where your concern about the train from Rome City Center back to FCO. If you bought a R/T tix for Terravision, why are you talking about train time departures?
Also, you wrote that you should have shown your e-mail confirm to the gate agent — upon landing?? — at FCO. Does Terravision actually have an agent at each gate or is there a central kiosk/station where you should have shown your e-mail.
Sorry for being a bit dense, but I am a bit unclear what you have written above.
One final note. I understand that you went thru some trials and tribulations on this trip, but you never did state where you decided to stay for your nights in London!
Those times are BUS times, not train times (I must have had trains on the brain – I updated the post).
There are agents for each of the bus companies outside of Terminal 3 at FCO – that’s where I showed the Terravision agent my email.
As for London, I haven’t gotten that far through my trip report yet – posts are coming 🙂
We took the Sit Bus Shuttle, it was more expensive but dropped us off at the Vatican stop, which is not really near the vatican but was close to our hotel. We had the issues of broken and therefore delayed buses, which is not a problem because we had delayed flights. But the drivers were unhelpful (would not help us with our luggage [we’re weaklings, and they were only carryons], wifi was not working etc.
Maybe that’s just Rome
Yes, I believe that is the one we plan to take. We will be staying at the Indigo Rome, so this seemed to be a good fit.
We took the Leonardo Express train a month or so ago. Our hotel was within a half mile of Termini, so it was very easy and comfortable. The bus options didn’t seem like they were as likely to be reliable in terms of the timing.
I always book a private car service in Rome. For less than 100 euro all in you get the best service and can even add in sightseeing if you’d like. Saves time in the long run I think.
What was the name of the private car service? I get into Rome on Wednesday night?
Yes – I’m also intrigued by this. €100 is a lot, but I could definitely see some instances where it would be useful.
We paid €55 three years ago. Rome-in-limo company they gave a web site. I deal with them by email. No money until we get to the hotel. Very reliable.
We use RomeInLimo. Paid €50 three years ago. No deposit. Pay when we are dropped at our hotel. We have used them several times. Very reliable. They have a website. Deal through emails b
I still like romecabs dot com for this. It’s bit more than a taxi but not much, nicer cars, nicer service, etc.
You completely missed the regular Italian Railway FL1 service from Fiumicino. It functions like a commuter railroad, costs less than the Leonardo Express and stops at Trastevere, Ostiense (Piramide), Tuscolana and Tiburtina stations. It does not stop at Roma Termini, and costs 8euros.