Public Transportation from Rome’s Airport to the City Center: A Comprehensive Guide

Rome Colosseum

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Rome, Italy is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. Luckily, taking public transportation from Rome’s airport to the city center is inexpensive and convenient! Read on to have all of your questions answered!

Table of Contents

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Where is Rome's Airport?

There are two airports that serve Rome.

Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO)

The Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, also known as Fiumicino Airport (FCO), is the busiest airport in Italy. If you are traveling internationally, you will likely arrive at this airport.

How Far Away is Rome From FCO Airport?

The FCO Airport is located about 35 kilometers (22 miles) southwest of the city center of Rome.

Ciampino–G. B. Pastine International Airport (CIA)

The Ciampino Airport (CIA) is a smaller airport that normally serves European budget airlines, such as Wizz Air and Ryanair.

How Far Away is Rome From CIA Airport?

The CIA Airport is located about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) southeast of the city center of Rome.

Public Transportation From Rome's Airport (FCO) to City Center

Train to Rome

Trains are the most frequent means of public transport between FCO Airport and Rome. You can either take the Leonardo Express, which is a direct train to Termini Station, or you can take the F1 regional train.

It is very easy to reach the train station from the airport. From baggage claim, you will see plenty of signs that guide you to the train station. It takes 5-10 minutes to walk there, and the entire walk is covered, so you won’t need to worry about getting wet from rain.

Leonardo Express

The Leonardo Express is a direct train via Trenitalia that runs to Termini Station in central Rome. It runs between 6:30 AM and 11:30 PM, with trains coming every 15 minutes. The trip takes 32 minutes.

A one-way ticket costs about 14 EUR.

F1 Regional Train

If you are not staying near Termini Station, you can also take the F1 regional train. This train runs every 15 minutes, with stops at Trastevere, Ostiense, Tuscolana and Tiburtina stations. The trip takes about 30 minutes, and is more suited to travelers without much luggage.

A one-way ticket costs about 8 EUR.

Public Transportation from Rome's Airport
Train at Termini Station.

Bus to Rome

A cheaper option for going to Rome from the FCO Airport is by taking a bus. This is what I did, and it was very easy.

From baggage claim, you will see signs leading you to where the bus tickets are sold. Look for the pillar with the number 11, and you will find the line to buy bus tickets. The buses to Termini Station are usually parked near pillars 14 and 15.

The ticket cost about 6 EUR and the trip took about 1 hour with traffic.

Public Transportation From Rome's Airport (CIA) to City Center

520 Bus and Subway to Rome

If you are coming from CIA Airport, you can get to Rome for only 1.5 EUR!

First, buy a bus ticket for Bus 520. You can buy these online or outside of the airport. It costs 1.5 EUR. Once it is activated after entering the bus, you can take any public transportation with the same ticket for 100 minutes.

The 520 bus comes every 30 minutes and will drop you off at Cinecittà Station on Line A of the Rome Metro. Once there, use your same ticket to go to Termini Station.

Termini Station

Once you arrive at Termini Station, you can take a bus, get private transportation, or walk to your accommodation. 

Termini Station is Rome’s biggest train station. If you plan on visiting other parts of Italy, I recommend staying near Termini Station. You will be able to easily travel across the country, or even take a day trip to San Marino, Vatican City, or other places, via the trains and buses at Termini Station.

Vatican City day trip
You can easily visit Vatican City via Rome's public transportation system.

Where to Stay in Rome

Rome is a huge city with tons of options for accommodations.

For budget travelers, I recommend staying at Palladini Hostel Rome. This is where I stayed, and the social atmosphere of this hostel helped me meet some cool people! It is also conveniently located near Termini Station.

For a truly luxurious experience, check out Umiltà 36. This 5-star hotel is located right next to the Trevi Fountain, a popular attraction in Rome

Check out the map below to see available accommodations.

 

Need help planning your trip? Click HERE to find a variety of tools and information that can help make your travel planning more enjoyable.

Resources For Your Trip

Book A Cheap Flight
The first place to look for cheap flights is Skyscanner. This website gathers information from different companies and websites around the world to find the best deals for you. One of their best features is the ability to see the cheapest day to fly each month. Google Flights is another excellent resource.

Book A Place To Stay
Booking.com is my go-to website for booking accommodations. They consistently have some of the best prices for hotels and frequently have deals. For hostels, I use Hostelworld. If you specifically want to rent a home, check out AirBnB or Vrbo.

Looking For A Tour?
The best resource for looking up tours is GetYourGuide. This company will make planning your itinerary a breeze. For budget travelers, I recommend looking up available tours here and trying to organize them yourself to save some money.

Use Your Phone Abroad
Whenever I travel abroad, I use Airalo. This is a company that offers eSIM services via a phone app. It is very convenient and you won’t have to worry about swapping SIM cards out of your phone. You can pay a few dollars for plans that range from 1 week to 1 year. Use the Promo Code ANDREW9734 for $3 off your first purchase!

How To Travel On A Budget?
Traveling on a budget is my specialty. Check out my post on Traveling Internationally With Only A Personal Item. For other ideas on saving money while traveling, check out my ebook The World Is Yours: How to Afford International Travel on a Budget.

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Andy Alcala

Hey there! I'm a travel enthusiast always seeking new adventures. I've visited over 70 countries, mostly in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. I prefer to travel off the beaten path, where I've discovered hidden gems and authentic cultural experiences that are often overlooked by most travelers. I look forward to sharing my stories with you!

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