Fiumicino or Ciampino: what changes
Fiumicino handles most long-haul flights and traditional airlines. It has its own railway station, a few minutes' walk from the terminals: it is the better-connected airport. Ciampino has no station at the terminal; you arrive and leave by bus, or by bus then train. On the other hand, it is only about fifteen kilometres from the centre and the taxi costs less.
Check your accommodation's address before choosing: Termini station serves the east of the historic centre, Trastevere and Ostiense are on the FL1 line, and the Vatican is served by some shuttle buses. To choose your district, see our guide on where to stay in Rome.
From Fiumicino to the centre by train
The airport station is within the airport grounds, opposite the terminals: follow the "Treni" signs. Two types of train leave from it.
Leonardo Express: non-stop to Termini
Trenitalia's Leonardo Express links the airport to Termini station non-stop, in 32 minutes. The ticket costs €14. Trains leave every 15 minutes, sometimes every 30 minutes off-peak. First departure from the airport at 05:38, last at 23:27; in the other direction, from Termini, from 04:50 to 23:05.
- Children under 4 travel free; from 4 to 12, one child travels free per paying adult.
- The "Minigruppi" offer gives 4 tickets for €40 instead of €56.
- You can pay contactless directly at the reader at the platform entrance, with a bank card or a phone: no need to go to a ticket office.
At Termini, you can change to metro lines A and B and the main bus routes. The station exit leads into the Esquilino district: the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is a 10 minute walk away and Palazzo Massimo is right opposite the station.
FL1 regional train: cheaper, several stations
The FL1 regional line does not go to Termini, but it stops at Trastevere, Ostiense, Tuscolana and Tiburtina. The ticket from the airport costs €8. Trains run every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on Sundays and public holidays. Allow about 30 minutes to Trastevere and 47 minutes to Tiburtina. It is the best option if you are staying in Trastevere, Testaccio or near Ostiense, with a connection to metro B at Ostiense (Piramide station).
Note: Rome's urban transport ticket is not valid to the airport, which lies outside the municipality of Rome. Buy a Trenitalia ticket from Fiumicino Aeroporto.
From Fiumicino by bus
Several private companies link the terminals to Termini station, stopping on Via Marsala, alongside the station. It is the cheapest option, but the slowest: allow 45 minutes to an hour, more at rush hour.
- Terravision: from €4 to Termini and from €6 to the Vatican, about 45 minutes to Termini, with a departure every 20 minutes according to the company. Prices vary with the purchase date; they are lower online.
- SIT Bus Shuttle and other companies offer similar journeys to Termini, with prices that vary by departure time.
- Cotral runs the night journeys between the airport and Tiburtina and Termini stations, when trains are no longer running. The night ticket costs €5 if bought in advance, on the Cotral app or website, or at a ticket outlet.
Buses are handy for very early or very late arrivals. For a daytime arrival, the train is more reliable, as it avoids motorway traffic jams.
Fixed-fare taxis
The City of Rome sets fixed fares between the airports and the centre, inside the Aurelian Walls, which enclose the historic centre and Trastevere. The Vatican and the Prati district are outside: the fare there is charged on the meter. The price is per car, not per passenger, luggage supplement included.
- Fiumicino – centre: €55.
- Fiumicino – Tiburtina station: €60; Fiumicino – Ostiense station: €50.
- Ciampino – centre: €40, and €40 as well to Tiburtina or Ostiense.
- Fiumicino – Ciampino: €55.
- For an address elsewhere inside the Grande Raccordo Anulare, Rome's ring road, the fare to or from Fiumicino cannot exceed €80.
Only take official taxis, from the rank outside arrivals: white cars, a "TAXI" sign on the roof, a licence number on the doors. Tell the driver "tariffa fissa" before setting off. Turn down offers from touts in the hall: these are unlicensed cars, much more expensive. Our advice on scams to avoid in Rome covers this trap, and our guide to paying in Rome helps you prepare cards and cash.
From Ciampino to the centre
Ciampino Airlink: bus and train for €2.70
Ciampino Airlink combines a bus and a train on a single Trenitalia ticket at €2.70. The bus leaves from the square in front of the airport, bay number 6, and reaches Ciampino station non-stop in 10 minutes. There you take a regional train to Termini. The whole trip takes about 30 minutes, excluding waiting time. The bus leaves every 20 minutes. Buy the ticket on the Trenitalia app or website, or at the machines, choosing "Ciampino Aeroporto" as the departure station.
Buses to the metro
Atral buses run to Anagnina metro station, the terminus of line A, for €1.20 per journey. ATAC routes 520, to Cinecittà and Subaugusta stations (metro A), and 720, to Laurentina (metro B), accept Rome's BIT ticket at €1.50. These options are cheap, but mean a change with your luggage.
Direct shuttle buses to Termini
SIT, Terravision and Schiaffini (Rome Airport Bus) link the airport directly to Termini station. With Terravision, the trip costs from €6.50 and takes about 40 to 45 minutes, with a departure roughly every 40 minutes. Atral also runs a route to Termini early in the morning and late in the evening. For a very early flight, it is often the only option apart from a taxi.
Summary: prices and journey times
| Route | Mode | Price | Duration | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiumicino – Termini | Leonardo Express | €14 | 32 min | 15 min |
| Fiumicino – Trastevere, Ostiense, Tiburtina | FL1 train | €8 | 30 to 47 min | 15 min on weekdays, 30 min on Sundays |
| Fiumicino – Termini | Shuttle bus | from €4 | 45 to 60 min | 20 to 30 min |
| Fiumicino – Tiburtina, Termini, at night | Cotral bus | €5 | about 60 min | a few departures per night |
| Fiumicino – centre | Fixed-fare taxi | €55 per car | about 40 to 50 min, depending on traffic | on demand |
| Ciampino – Termini | Ciampino Airlink | €2.70 | about 30 min | 20 min |
| Ciampino – Anagnina (metro A) | Atral bus | €1.20 | depends on traffic | several departures per hour |
| Ciampino – Termini | Shuttle bus | from €6.50 | 40 to 45 min | about 40 min |
| Ciampino – centre | Fixed-fare taxi | €40 per car | about 25 to 30 min, depending on traffic | on demand |
Prices observed in October 2026; private shuttle prices vary with the date and the sales channel.
Our tips for arrival
- Arriving at Fiumicino between 06:00 and 22:00: the Leonardo Express if you are staying near Termini, the FL1 train for Trastevere and the south of the centre.
- Four people with luggage: the fixed-fare taxi from Fiumicino (€55) costs about the same as 4 Leonardo Express tickets (€56) and drops you at the door.
- Late arrival at Ciampino: check the time of the last Airlink and shuttle buses before you leave; otherwise, the taxi at €40.
- On departure: allow plenty of time for early morning flights, as the first Leonardo Express leaves Termini at 04:50.
Once in town, the metro, buses and tickets are explained in our guide to getting around Rome.
Further reading
For your first day, follow our itinerary one day in Rome. To choose your accommodation according to your airport, read where to stay in Rome. And to plan two full days, see a weekend in Rome.
