How to get from Fiumicino airport to the city center of Rome
Last Updated on April 25, 2025 by admin
Wondering how to get to the city center of Rome from Fiumicino airport? In this post, I’ve laid out all the options according to price, time and convenience.
Let’s jump right in!
How to get to Rome from Fiumicino (FCO)
Named after Leonardo da Vinci, Fiumicino is about 30km southwest of the city of Rome, on the coast in a town called Fiumicino. It is the larger of Rome’s two airports.
Flying into Rome’s smaller airport? Here’s a sister post on getting from Ciampino airport to Rome.
Fiumicino has been modernized and renovated in a serious way over the last several years. I can’t speak to every terminal because I’m most often flying into or out of 1 and 3, but in my experience, the airport is comfortable and convenient, with lots of dining options (helloooo, giant Eataly food court), and shopping for anyone who wants to treat themselves at the last minute or perhaps wants to grab a few souvenir bottles of limoncello.
They have e-gates for checking passports, and in some security areas, they have the more advanced scanners that allow you to not have to remove your liquids, laptops, tablets, etc. from your bag. Getting to your gate in these areas in a breeze.
Note that, even with these improvements and the fast-tracking of a couple of processes, during peak season (April – September), you should make sure to give yourself ample time to get to your flight. Not only are there other tourists coming in and out of Rome, there are people connecting and lots of Italians flying either domestically or internationally for their vacations too.
There are multiple options for getting from FCO into the city center: buses, trains, taxis, Ubers and private transfers.
I’ll go from least to most expensive.
Bus
There are four bus companies that run from Fiumicino into the city center of Rome: Rome Airport Bus, SIT Bus Shuttle, TAM Bus, and Terravision.
All of these buses will bring you to Rome’s transportation hub: Stazione Termini. From there, you can get on a bus, the metro, or into a taxi to reach your destination, or you can walk if you happen to be staying in the area (there’s lots of accommodation around Termini). Here’s more on getting around Rome in general.
How much is the bus from Fiumicino to Rome city center?
The prices vary depending on the company. A few offer a discount if you book round trip, so consider doing that if you want to save a few bucks.
Rome Airport Bus by Schiaffini: starting at €5.90
TAM Bus: starting from €4.50
Terravision: €6
One of the buses stops at Termini and then in the area of the Vatican, so if your accommodation is in that area, consider taking the SIT Bus Shuttle to the stop at Via Crescenzio 7 or Circonvallazione Aurelia 19 if either of those stops work better for you.
All tickets on the SIT Bus from Fiumicino into Rome city center are €7.
While we’re on the topic of moolah, if you’re visiting Rome on a budget, I’ve got some more money-saving tips for you, and I’ve got a whole guide for eating well in Rome for budget travelers, too.
Train
There are two trains that get you from Fiumicino into Rome: a fast one and a regional one.
The platforms are right in the airport and you can walk to them. Follow the signs for the train – you’ll have to go up and down some escalators – but it’s relatively easy overall.
The Leonardo Express
The Leonardo Express is the fast train that gets you from Fiumicino airport to the Stazione Termini in just 32 minutes. It runs every 15 minutes at certain points of the day and every 30 minutes at others.
From Termini, it operates from 4:50 to 23:05 (that’s 11:05pm), and from Fiumicino, it operates from 5:38 to 23:53 (that’s 11:53pm).
The Leonardo Express costs €14 per ticket.
Once you’ve arrived at Termini, you have several options: the A and B metro lines connect there, and there are buses and trams heading to just about everywhere in the city. You can also take a taxi by waiting in line at the front of the station. More on taxis below.
The FL1 train
At the time of writing, work was being done on this line, and I unfortunately can’t find the date that it’s expected to be completed.
That said, if you’re staying anywhere near Trastevere Station, this train could be very convenient for you because it stops there.
Currently, you can also change trains in Trastevere and continue on to Ostiense, Tuscolana and Termini (whereas normally, you don’t have to change lines).
Tickets for the FL1 cost €8. The line runs between Orte and Fiumicino and the ride from the airport to Stazione Trastevere takes about 25 minutes.
Taxi
You can take a taxi from Fiumicino to Rome by waiting in the official taxi line outside of the arrivals terminal. If you land at a busy time of day or year, be prepared to wait.
A taxi from Fiumicino airport to anywhere within the Aurelian Walls costs €55. If your destination is outside the walls, you’ll may what’s on the meter.
A few notes on taxis (for more on this, check out my in-depth post on everything you need to know about Roman taxis):
- Taxis in Rome are white and officially marked. Some “taxis” operate illegally, preying on tourists who don’t know the rules. You’ll have no recourse if you get overcharged or dropped off miles from your destination. Stick to the official line to avoid headaches.
- All taxis are required to accept credit card payments. If the driver says they don’t have a working credit card machine, tell them that you only have a card and it will probably somehow miraculously start working again. You can also make the driver very happy and pay in cash, if you so choose.
- Tipping in a taxi is not required, but it is appreciated. If you have good service – some drivers point out monuments and give tips on things to see, places to eat, etc., – feel free to give them a few euro. You will not be able to tip on an electronic payment, so the tip will have to be in cash.
Uber
Uber operates somewhat controversially in Rome (and by that I mean that the extremely powerful taxi unions really don’t like it). That said, I take Ubers over taxis whenever possible, because I’ve been scammed more than once in a taxi, and Uber’s transparent pricing doesn’t allow for that to happen.
You can pre-book an Uber to Fiumicino or request one when you land. Keep in mind that Uber is not very widespread in Rome, so you might be waiting awhile if you try to book one when you land.
I can’t say for sure because of Uber’s dynamic and surge pricing, but my guess is that it costs more than a taxi to or from the airport in Rome.
Private transfer
Sometimes, if you have a lot of luggage or are in a big group, the best option is to book a private car or van from the airport. I love this option – no waiting, no guesswork on pricing, and you’re brought straight to the door of your accommodation.
We often opt for a private transfer, especially if we’re coming back from visiting my family in the US or Jeremy’s family in Australia.
I have lately seen a series of Facebook posts written by people who have booked a private transfer through Get your Guide or Viator, and let me tell you, those companies are crowing at the fees that they’re getting. I just checked to see how much the rides are, and the cheapest I found was €40 per person! Ahia!
We normally pay between €55 and €65 (the higher end is for departing or arriving early/late). This is the fee for both Jeremy and I as well as our bags – not per person, in total. If you’re more than two people or a lot of bags, you’ll pay more.
As a reference point, consult the website of Rome Cab Transfer – they have a price list online, so you should get an idea of what’s “normal.”
Can you take public transportation from Fiumicino Airport to Rome?
No, there are no public transportation options for getting from Fiumicino Airport to Rome.
Getting from Fiumicino to the city center: FAQs
Does the Rome subway go to the airport?
No, Rome’s metro system does not connect to either airport.
How long does it take to get to Rome from Fiumicino?
This depends on your means of transportation.
Leonardo Express: 32 minutes
Bus: Timing varies depending on traffic. Early departures generally take about 45 minutes from Fiumicino to Termini, but at busier times, the bus ride can last over an hour.
Taxi, Uber or Private Transfer: This will depend on where you’re headed. If you’re staying in the southern part of Rome, it may only be about a half an hour, whereas getting to the north of the city might take 45 minutes. Traffic can snarl the roadway, too, so these times vary.
How much is the train from Fiumicino airport to Termini?
Tickets for the Leonardo Express cost €14. The FL1 train, which stops at Roma Ostiense, Roma Trastevere, Roma Tuscolana and Roma Termini costs €8.
How much is a taxi from Fiumicino to the city center?
From Fiumicino Airport to Rome city center (again, that’s anywhere within the Aurelian Walls), the fixed fee is €50, but it will soon go up to €55.
Can you book an Uber ahead of time?
Yes, you can reserve an Uber ahead of time at both Fiumicino and Ciampino.
What is the cheapest way to get from Fiumicino to Rome?
The cheapest way to get from Fiumicino airport to Rome is the bus (€6 – €7 if you book ahead of time).
What is the best transportation from Fiumicino to Rome?
This will depend on your priorities. Do you want to save money? Then the bus from Fiumicino or public transportation from Ciampino are your best options.
Do you want to save time? Then a taxi, Uber or private car is probably the best answer.
Do you have a lot of bags? Booking a taxi, Uber or private car is again, probably best for you.
Are you traveling in a big group? If you want to save money, then the bus or trains are a good option. If you’ve got some cash to splash, book private vans.
Arriving very early or very late? You’ll probably have to take a taxi, Uber or book private transfer.
I hope this guide to getting from Rome to the city’s two airports and vice versa was helpful! Thoughts? Questions? Reach out in the comments?
