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Here we share the different ways of arriving to the city from both Rome Fiumicino (FCO, also known as Leonardo da Vinci) and Ciampino (CIA, also known as G.B Pastine) airports.
Rome is served by two airports:
Fiumicino (Leonardo da Vinci) which handles the majority of international flights, and Ciampino (G.B. Pastine) which is used primarily by budget carriers including Ryanair and easyJet.
Make sure you know which one you’re landing at before you travel. They are in completely different directions from the city and transport options into the city vary.
Fiumicino is Rome’s main international airport, located around 30km southwest of the city centre. Once you’ve collected your bags and walked through the sliding doors into the arrivals hall, look up – the yellow overhead signs are clear and well organised. Here’s exactly what to do depending on how you want to get in.
Follow the yellow signs with a train symbol from the arrivals hall. Depending which terminal you land in, you will either take escalators up and walk through covered elevated corridors with moving walkways – around 5-10 minutes to reach the station, fully indoors – OR you will go outside, cross the road and back into the train terminal (easy to navigate).
The fastest and most straightforward option. No stops.
€14 per person one way
32 minutes
06:08 from airport
11:38 from airport
Every 15-30 minutes
Under 4 free · Ages 4-12 free with paying adult
Online via Trenitalia or Trainline.com • Paper tickets from machines • Tap & Go
ONLINE
Tickets can be purchased online via the Trenitalia or Trainline website / app. For taking trains in Italy in general, many travellers find Trainline easier as it shows all train options in one place, in your chosen language, plus easy ticket management, live journey updates and predicted train platforms before announced on the departures board.
Our tip: wait until you land to book your Leonardo Express ticket. Trains run regularly and don't sell out. Wait until you are at baggage claim where the train station is approximately 10-12 minute walk. On Trainline, you can book your ticket up to 15 minutes before the train departure time. If you do book in advance and your flight is delayed, you can change the train within the app.
PAPER TICKET
Paper tickets can be purchased from Trenitalia ticket machines at the airport terminal or at the airport station. Select your language, train, number of tickets and receive a printed ticket. Paper tickets are scanned at the gate to enter the train platforms and must be validated before travel in the green. machines (see below rules).
Our tip: ticket machines in the baggage claim area and arrivals terminal often have smaller queues than the machines at the train station. Purchase your ticket on your way to the train station.
TAP & GO
You can simply tap your card or contactless payment at the gate to the platforms at Fiumicino airport and your card will be charged will be charged €14 one way automatically. The charge will show up within 2-3 days. You do not need to tap off again when you reach Roma Termini station. The same applies for Roma Termini to Fiumicino airport - tap on at the gates by platforms 23/24. If inspectors ask on-board, show them the card or contactless payment you used to tap on. One card can be used per passenger, so if you are travelling with children over the age of 12 years, you need a separate card to pay for each child. These rules are set to change in 2027 to make travelling as a family easier.
Our tip: Tap & Go machines can sometimes have technical difficulties, so have Trenitalia or Trainline ready to purchase online or grab a ticket from the machine if you have any issues.
Tap & Go only works for the Leonardo Express to Roma Termini - not for the regional train (see below).
Travellers taking the Leonardo express train from Rome Fiumicino airport to Roma Termini (city centre) need to understand these rules:
Tickets purchased are for the EXACT train time you booked. If you have a valid ticket but board a different time train, inspectors on board will charge €5pp.
Need a different time? You can change the ticket online before departure.
Accidentally booked the wrong route? (e.g. Roma Termini to the Airport instead of Airport to Roma Termini) can result in a €50pp fine on board plus €64pp for a new ticket.
Paper tickets MUST be validated before boarding. Green machines are along the platform (after you scan through the gate). If one doesn't work, try another; don't give up until your ticket is validated. Fine on board for not validating tickets can be €50.
Tap & Go. You can now simply tap your card on the gate to the platforms at Fiumicino airport and you will be charged €14 one way. You do not need to tap off again when you reach Roma Termini station. The same applies for Roma Termini to Fiumicino airport - tap on at the gates by platforms 23/24. If inspectors ask on-board, show them the card or contactless payment you used to tap on.
Travelling with children? This is where we see the most common mistake
0-4 years = free
4-11 years = free with an accompanying paying adult (one free child per adult
Over 12 years = ADULT ticket
Some trains in Italy allow free travel under 14 years, but not the Leonardo express.
If you have a child ticket for 12+ years old you may face a fine on board of €50 + €64 for a new ticket.
Taking a taxi from Roma Termini? Join the official taxi queue outside the station and do not leave the queue for anyone who approaches you or offers a skip the line option. Before your journey, always confirm that the driver is using the metre and that you can pay by card. You can also use Uber which is a safer option to pay via the app and know the exact cost. Open your maps app and track the journey- if the driver goes a different way that looks like a large detour - you can later dispute any extra charges in the Uber app.
A cheaper option if your accommodation is in Trastevere or south of the centre.
€8 per person one way
05:57 from airport
11:27 from airport
Every 15 mins weekdays · Every 30 mins Sundays & holidays
Online via Trenitalia or trainline.com • Paper tickets from machines
How to buy: Tickets are available from the red and white Trenitalia machines at the station (touch screen, available in English), on the Trenitalia website or app, or via the Trainline app.
Tap & Go is not available for the regional train – only the Leonardo Express.
Our personal recommendation:
Wait until you land and are through the customs – then open the Trainline app, search for the next train with a safe time frame for you to collect luggage and walk to the station (30 minutes ahead is usually enough time but it depends if luggage belts are delayed). On the Trainline app, you can book a ticket up to 10-15 minutes before departure, leaving you time to choose.
If you prefer the machine – there are ticket machines in the luggage collection area with smaller queues, or the train station itself (biggest queues).
Critical: If you buy a physical paper ticket, you must validate it in the green/grey stamping machines before boarding. If the machine doesn’t work at first – keep trying! Failure to validate a paper ticket can lead to an instant fine of at least €50 on board. If you have a digital ticket, show the QR code to the conductor - no stamping needed.
Head to Terminal 3 – if you landed at Terminal 1, walk inside to your right.
Exit through the glass doors of Terminal 3 Arrivals and turn right along the outdoor walkway. After about a minute you’ll reach the outdoor bus bays (Polo Bus) – look for the company names above each platform.
Terravision · SIT Bus Shuttle · TAM
€6-10 one way · €13-15 return
Usually €7-8 if booked in advance
Roma Termini
Around 05:00-05:30 from airport
Around 01:00-02:00 (covers most late flights)
Every 30-40 minutes
Booking online in advance saves a few euros and guarantees your seat.
Note: Bags bigger than a small handbag are often asked to be placed underneath in the hold. Keep all your valuables with you, and if you are nervous about your luggage, sit close to the front or middle doors so that when the bus stops in Termini and opens the hold door automatically – you can be the first off to grab your bags.
Exit the main glass doors of your arrival terminal – both T1 and T3 have their own exits. On the curb you’ll see a line of white taxis with a staff member in a yellow high-visibility vest managing the queue. Get into the first available taxi. DO NOT leave the official taxi line, if you are approached by someone saying they are a ‘supervisor’ (see below from a visit Rome Facebook forum):
€55 flat rate (within Aurelian Walls)
All luggage · Up to 4 passengers (€55 total trip, NOT per person)
24 hours · 7 days a week
Taxi checklist before setting off:
Confirm the fixed €55 rate before setting off
Make sure the driver is not using the meter for an airport journey.
Check that the driver accepts card payments You can ask “posso pagare con carta?” – legally they have to accept card but many drivers say the machine is broken and demand cash.
If paying by card – make sure you can see the total on the screen when you pay. If the price is not visible – ask to see the price. You can say:
“Prima di pagare, vorrei sapere l’importo esatto. E dopo il pagamento, vorrei una ricevuta, per favore.”
Which means: before I pay, I would like to see the exact amount. After payment I would like a receipt please.
The fixed rate includes luggage – if a driver tries to charge extra for bags on top of the €55 flat rate, politely decline.
The same rules apply for taking a taxi from Roma Termini station if you arrive by train. Stay in the official taxi line and ask to pay by card before the journey.
Inside the terminal, people may approach you offering a taxi or private ride. Ignore them completely - these are unlicensed drivers and a common scam. Official taxis are only found outside at the designated rank on the curb.
Apps for booking taxis within Rome are below, BUT the pick-up points are sometimes confusing to navigate and if the driver calls you and doesn’t speak your language – your ride could be cancelled without refund.
If you have pre-booked a private driver, exit into the arrivals lobby and look for the row of drivers holding signs or tablets with passenger names. Find yours, and the driver will take your bags and lead you to the car.
€55-70 (up to 3–4 passengers)
€75-90 (up to 7–8 passengers)
24 hours · Driver tracks your flight
Romio’s airport shuttle provides an easy, door-to-door transfers between Fiumicino Airport and your hotel or apartment in Rome for just €20 per person, per ride. With certified, professional drivers and spacious, modern vans, this is one of the most comfortable ways to handle transfers from Rome airport to hotel. Find out more and book below:
Our recommendations:
We highly recommend this large taxi service which can accommodate groups of up to 8 people for €130 total:
Must be booked at least 24 hours in advance so the driver can track your flight.
Mistakes to Avoid at Both Airports
Rome is served by two airports:
Fiumicino (Leonardo da Vinci) which handles the majority of international flights, and Ciampino (G.B. Pastine) which is used primarily by budget carriers including Ryanair and easyJet.
Make sure you know which one you’re landing at before you travel. They are in completely different directions from the city and transport options into the city vary.
Ciampino is Rome’s smaller budget airport, around 15km southeast of the city centre. It’s used primarily by Ryanair, easyJet and other low-cost carriers. It’s a smaller, simpler airport – easier to navigate but with fewer transport options than Fiumicino.
The most straightforward way into the city from Ciampino. Exit arrivals and follow signs to the official taxi rank (to the right, straight outside the airport exit).
€40 flat rate (within Aurelian Walls)
All luggage · Up to 4 passengers
24 hours · 7 days a week
Buses depart from directly outside the arrivals exit. You will see the ticket offices for each bus company directly in front of you as you exit from the luggage collection point into the arrivals hall, or you can book online (see below).
€5-7 one way
Roma Termini
Approx 40-50 minutes (traffic dependent)
Timed to coincide with flight arrivals
Booking online in advance saves a few euros and guarantees your seat.
Note: Ciampino is a small airport. If you don’t book online; when you exit into arrivals you will see all the bus operator offices with prices and you can ask them when the next bus is. The buses depart from directly outside the arrivals (you can’t miss them!).
Pre-book your transfer online and look for your driver in the arrivals area holding a sign with your name on it. Popular and trusted companies below.
From €45–60
24 hours · Driver tracks your flight
Domenico’s Airport Transfers
5* on Tripadvisor
+39 348 648 7619
info@romashuttleairport.it
www.romashuttleairport.it
Welcome Pickups
4.8* Google Reviews
www.welcomepickups.com
CabRoma
4.9* Google Reviews
www.cabroma.com
Mistakes to Avoid at Both Airports
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