On many travel sites, this seems to be one of the most frequently asked questions. Many travelers ask the question differently. Most often it’s phrased as, “I have an early morning flight from FCO and would like to know the best Airport Hotel to stay at – Can you make a recommendation?”
Like many folks who visit Rome often (or live here), I have a similar response: Please do not waste your last night in Italy sitting in an airport hotel fifteen miles from the city! You should be out enjoying Italy and exploring the city at night. Americans, especially first-time travelers to Europe, are convinced they MUST be close to the airport or they will miss their flight. Not true!
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How to Get to the FCO Airport from Rome
The FCO Train Station – the Leonardo Express and FM1
Best Places to MEET someone at the FCO Airport
The Best Hotels and B&B’s near the FCO Airport
The SitBus Shuttle Travel Option to/from FCO
- Rome Airport Hilton – From Hilton website
For the record, there are hotels out by the airport – and in the nearby town of Fiumicino. See this article for the “best” selections near FCO: The Best Hotels and B&B’s near the FCO Airport . The “safest” hotel to stay at would undoubtedly be the Airport Hilton. It is “attached” to the airport and you can walk or shuttle to the terminal. If you’ve got that 6 AM flight out of Terminal 1, 2, or 3… you can’t stay any closer to this. From the Hilton website:
A pedestrian walkway connects the Hilton Rome Airport hotel to all domestic and international terminals at the Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino Airport. Signs to the Hilton Rome Airport hotel are clearly visible. The walk takes about 5 minutes.”
Okay, what they do not tell you is that if you are leaving from the Airport to the US, you have to leave out of Terminal 5 – not the main terminal.Whereas the main terminals are a 5 minute walk, getting to Terminal 5 is a little more work. T5 is another 1/2 mile from the main terminal you must ride an shuttle bus. For more info on the Aiport Hilton, go to the Rome Airport Hilton. For some additional infromation on T5, see this post: Terminal 5 at the FCO Airport.
It is important to note that if you are departing on a US-flagged airliner, heading back to the States, you’ll be leaving from T5 … AND you won’t be leaving until after 09:30 AM. Terminal 5 does not even OPEN until 07:15 AM. If you are departing from T5, after 09:45 AM, you can use almost any means of transport to get to airport – and you really do not need to stay at an airport hotel….
- Marriott Courtyard at Rome Airport – from Marriott website
There is also a Marriott Courtyard near the hotel. From the Marriott website:
“The Courtyard by Marriott Rome Airport is a 4 star hotel located in the town of Fiumicino just 3 kms away from Leonardo da Vinci Airport. It has 187 comfortable rooms equipped with all modern amenities for business as well as for leisure travelers.”
They do have a shuttle service. It costs €6 a person and you must have reservations. If you do not make reservations, or the shuttle is unavailable, the taxi fare, as the website to go less than two MILES is €20-25 – and don’t forget to add in a “luggage” charge. I had a friend who looked into this hotel, and although they advertise a 24-hour schuttle, they could not guarantee a “service” prior to 7 AM – Definitely check if you have an early morning flight. More info at Marriott Courtyard at Rome Airport.
- Rome Airport Hilton Garden Inn – from Hilton website
The last American-based hotel by the airport is the Hilton Garden Inn. From their website:
“The Hilton Garden Inn Rome Airport is located on the Rome Fiumicino Airport platform (Leonardo da Vinci Airport), in front of Cargo City and within immediate reach of all the major attractions of Rome. The Hotel shuttle bus will take our guests to the Airport, from where connections are easy to Rome centre, the Port, beaches, Fiera di Roma, as well as the biggest shopping mall of Italy, Parco Leonardo.”
Their website does not say you need “reservations” to ride the shuttle, but that you must contact the hotel regarding their shuttle bus service. The transportation service reviews on this hotel have been good. For more info, go to Hilton Garden Inn Rome Airport. Again, this airport could not guarantee a pre-7 AM shuttle, but would call a taxi for you … might as well stay in Rome.
There are many other hotels near the airport besides these three US-hotels. I would be very careful booking a hotel near the airport. I’ve talked to many folks that have stayed at “airport hotels” near Fiumicino for the convenience and security, counting on the hotel’s advertised shuttle to take them to the airport. And yes, when they checked in, the shuttle was parked right out front.
Unfortunately, you have to have someone to drive the shuttle, and herein lies the problem. At 4:30 or 5:00 AM, often there are no drivers available… and then the hotel will call you a taxi that will charge you from €20-25 to get three miles to the airport. And because you have a ton of luggage, they’ll add on a “luggage fee.” Now this is not all hotels, but this IS NOT an urban legend. Having a shuttle and having a shuttle running at 4 AM are two different things!
I speak to the “shuttle problem” from personal experience! Last year we flew to Madrid, a city I lived in 30 years ago! We had rented a car and wanted to drop it off. I found a brand-new Holiday Inn Express who advertised they were 200 meters from the Barajas Airport. With a 6 AM flight, knowledge of the area, a rental car to drop off, “points” for a free stay, and a hotel advertising a free shuttle… why not?
We got to the hotel about dark the night before our flight. The shuttle was parked out front. We asked if we could go drop our car off, would the shuttle pick us up. Sure, they said. Well, the first problem was that the hotel WAS 200 meters from Barajas…. or at least the end of a runway. But it was about four miles to the Terminal area by road. Yet we dropped the car off, the shuttle was right there and we rode back to the hotel… We made our “shuttle reservations for 4:15 AM and headed off to bed. Okay, this will work!
Wrong! The next morning we headed downstairs at 4:00 AM to catch the 24-hour shuttle service. The desk clerk informed us, that yes, this is a hotel providing a 24-hour shuttle, but no there was no one to drive the shuttle at this time of day and I would have to wait for the driver to come in. He was expected around 7 AM. End result… the hotel called a taxi and I paid €28 to ride four miles to the airport.
As a Royal Ambassador Platinum Priority Club Member for Six Continent Hotels, the highest level you can achieve, I angrily fired off a letter to the company about false advertising, seeking compensation for my taxi ride, etc. Apparently, reading the web later I found out this happened often. I received a form letter back telling me this was a franchise location and thus they were not responsible for, nor would they recoup my transportation costs… Not their finest day!
In Rome, when my wife and a friend were coming back to the States, the same thing happened at a different hotel, which also advertised the “free” shuttle and proximity to the airport….
Thus my position is, unless it’s an IRON CLAD shuttle service, and make sure you KNOW it will be available before you book, then you’re better off staying IN THE CITY and taking a private shuttle or taxi to the airport in the early morning. I realize that may make some folks nervous, but in many cases you’re going to pay for the taxi service anyway – Might as well enjoy Rome!
Getting to FCO from Downtown
So how do you get there? If you have a US flagged carrier, you’re probably not leaving till after 09:30 AM. Plenty of options for those flights – and inexpensive options too! Let’s look at those first. You can go by private shuttle, limousine service, taxi service, the Leonardo Express, or the FM1 local train. We’re not going to talk about bus service because with luggage, time restraints, that may not be the most viable option for a 10 AM flight…Yet, for more information on the buses, read these two postings: The Terravision Bus, Back at FCO or The SITBus Shuttle
- Romecabs – from their website
The private shuttles, limousines, and taxis are easily arranged. You can book a private shuttle online, or have your hotel call for you – although there will probably be a “higher fee” if you work through the hotel on a private shuttle service. Two of the most popular in Rome are www.romecabs.com and www.romashuttle.com . I’ve used both and they are very efficient and prices compare favorably (Romashuttle is sometimes €5 cheaper). You can get to the hotel for €45-50 for a party of two using these services. If you want more options, then head to our Airport Transport Page and get multiple vendors emailing you with their offers. Another service, Limos.com also will connect you with multiple vendors through email – Again at at no cost or obligation to you. These services are not just for the Rome airports, but Worldwide! Be sure to research ANY shuttle you book with.
For taxis, if you are inside the Aurelian Walls, it’s currently a flat rate of €40 for up to four people. Just make sure of this when you get into the cab. If you’re at a hotel they will call a taxi for you… just tip the doorman as he either directs or helps load the taxi with your luggage. Allow about 30-45 minutes, depending on where you are in town to get by car or taxi to the airport from downtown. In addition, if you are leaving from Terminal 5, the US flagged air terminal, give yourself 3 hours. So if I was leaving at 10:30 AM, I would probably shoot for a 06:45 – 07:00 departure from my hotel.
A cheaper alternative if there are just two of you would be the Leonardo Express. These trains leave from the Termini station, currently from Track #24. They leave at 22 and 52 minutes past the hour and travel NONSTOP to the FCO. It takes about 31 minutes to go from platform to platform. It’s safe, comfortable, and air-conditioned! The cost is €14 per person and children younger than 12 travel free if accompanied by an adult (price change eff. 4/2010). The first train leaves the Termini Station at 05:52 which gets you to the airport at 6:23 – plenty of time for that 10:00 flight – or even a 9 AM EU flight! Do make sure to Validate your ticket in the yellow boxes before jumping on the train. See more info on our Arrivng at Fuimicino or the Train Station at FCO postings.
- Arriving at the FCO Train Station – from ADR website
The least expensive “train” mode of transportation to the airport from downtown is the FM1 or Regional train. It currently costs €8.00 a person to travel from downtown to the airport (price change eff. 4/2010). It DOES not start from Termini though… the in-city stations you can take using this train are primarily Roma Tiburtina, Roma Tuscolana, Roma Ostiense, Roma Trastevere, or Villa Bonelli. For most folks, it’s either Roma Ostiense or Roma Trastevere as that’s where most folks stay.
Roma Ostiense “shares” the Piramide Metro station (Linea B), so you can ride the metro to the station and then catch this train. Roma Trastevere can be reached by bus or more commonly, the #8 tram. From Ostiense the train takes about 31 minutes to arrive at FCO. From Trastevere, it takes about 28 minutes. All trains dead-end at FCO so when it stops finally (the last time) you are there! The first trains from Ostiense and Trastevere depart around 05:15-05:20 AM (see Trenitalia schedules for your date) and arrive at FCO terminal at 05:48. Again, validate your ticket if you are riding the FM1.
You can also ride the SITBus Shuttle from Roma Termini or Piazza Cavour to the FCO Airport. It costs €8.00 a person for a one-way trip. The SITBus trip from Roma Termini will take about an hour – due to traffic – and these buses start at 05:00. See our post for more info!
- Inside Terminal 5 at FCO
Again, it is important to remind you that all US flagged carriers (and EL AL flights) departing from FCO will require you to depart from Terminal 5. This terminal opened in May 2008 and is a direct response to “911 concerns.” Thus, the security at T5 is “tighter” than other parts of FCO airport. For this Terminal I would recommend you be here 3 hours in advance. Once you complete your “check-in” you then get bused over to the Gate G – satellite departure terminal behind security. Terminal 5 is a free-standing terminal NOT connected to the Airport or other terminals. It’s about 900 yards from Terminal 3 – so make sure your taxi driver takes to T5 and not Terminal 3, from which US flights formerly departed.
If you are leaving to a connection, say FRA, CDG, or AMS on an NON-US Flagged airline, then you can be here about 2+ hours early as you’ll be leaving from Terminals 3, 2, or 1. Many counters for EU flights do not open until 2 hours before flight time – depends on the size of the airline – but you’l see people lining up long before the counters open.
Getting to FCO from Downtown – EARLY!
But many of you are making connections. We often fly out from FCO on the 6 AM flights – because these flights are the cheapest! So how do you get there early enough to check-in? The trains do not start running till 05:15 AM, the metro starts about 05:30 AM, the “day” buses begin their routes at 05:30 AM, and the first Leonardo does not leave until 05:52 AM…
For a 06:00 EU flight, connecting in say Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, or Paris, you need to be at check-in at least 1.5 to 2 hours in advance. They will STOP allowing check-in about 30 minutes before the plane is scheduled to depart (depending on the airline as some say 45 minutes – check yours!). The challenge at FCO and other European airports, especially with “connector” flights, is that possibly only two desks are open to check in your flight — and EVERYONE has to go through these two desks. So get there at least 1.5 hours if not 2 hours before you are scheduled to leave. Some counters will not even OPEN until 1.5 hours before the flight… but you still have to be “in line” when the counters do open!
So now, with a 30 minute trip to the airport, you have to leave at 03:45-04:00 to make that check-in time. Based on the option listed above these are really only four ways you can do this….
1- Take the COTRAL bus service from in town. This bus service runs all night from various points in Rome. The challenge is you need to be close to a pick up point because only the “night” buses are running. There’s no metro this time of the morning. The buses take about 50 minutes from Tiburtina station to FCO this time of day. Check out their website, using the English option: http://www.cotralspa.it/ENG/collegamenti_Aeroporti.asp .
- Sleeping at FCO – from Boston Globe
2- Stay at FCO. Yes, many people just head out to the airport and crash! I’ve found many folks sleeping there in the Terminal 3 area at 04:45 AM. This is primarily for you younger folks with only carry-on luggage… but it can be done.
3- NOW for the rest of us…. the best option may be a taxi. If you are staying in a hotel or B&B, the concierge, manager, or owner can call the day before and schedule a taxi for you. We do it often and have NEVER been left stranded! If you have an international capable cell phone they will even send you a text message when the call is sent to the appropriate cab. You can agree on fixed rates in advance. We pay €45-50 this time of day. Again, this is a common practice and you’ll get support if necessary from the larger hotels.
4- Or your last option, book a private shuttle. We also do this – just include it in the price of those 6 AM tickets! Again, if you want multiple shuttle options (and pricing), head to our Airport Transport Page or use Limos.com The prices for a shuttle are perhaps €5 higher than the taxi service. Usually these folks are waiting on the curb when we come down from our apartment. And on occasion, when we’re running late, they will call us from downstairs!
So those are your options…. Yes, it will cost you about perhaps €25 more to stay downtown and then ride a taxi or private shuttle (as compared to say taking the train in the middle of the afternoon the day before and staying at an airport hotel), but you paid THOUSANDS to fly over here. Why would you want your last night to be in a drab airport hotel? Stay up late, SEE THE STREETS OF ROME AT NIGHT, catch the ride to the airport in the early morning… and SLEEP on the flight home – After all, “You’re in Roma!”
Rick Steves features many, many luggage options – from the standard carry-on to the large 26 roll-about, these bags are water and stain resistant. Great for trips to Europe! Many of Rick’s bags are among the lightest in their class. Click on any to get more information. Or head to our Travel Store, Magellan’s Travel Supplies, or look in amazon.com for more Rick Steves luggage and travel items for your upcoming European trip. Non-USA Guests can search for luggage and travel items items at amazon.co.uk.
Rick Steves features many, many luggage options – from the standard carry-on to the large 26 roll-about, these bags are water and stain resistant. Great for trips to Europe! Many of Rick’s bags are among the lightest in their class. Click on any to get more information. Or head to our Travel Store, Magellan’s Travel Supplies, or look in amazon.com for more Rick Steves luggage and travel items for your upcoming European trip. Non-USA Guests can search for luggage and travel items items at amazon.co.uk.
Let Me Coach You, if you’re looking for travel assistance or some help creating an iitinerary! If you want to build your own vacation, please feel free use the information in the articles of the Ron-in-Rome website to help plan your next trip. If you need consulting, head to the Coaching page; For a list of all articles on this website, head to the Postings page. Or use the SEARCH Box, on the top right of each page!
Header: Autostrada Fiumicino Roma – Photo by BarbaraMaria
Minor update: according to Delta, the T5 now opens @ 7:15AM. Also, many thanks for the awesome info!
Great site with good gouge. We left Rome on British Airways to London to connect to the US. Flight sched dep at 11:45am. Ultimately didnt leave til 13:45. We took taxis to and from the airport. It is a standard 40 Euro fare one-way in Rome for the “Commune di Roma” white taxis. My opinion is that unless your hotel is within a couple blocks of Termini, or75 unless you have only carry on luggage, you are better off with a taxi. Our B&B was over near Vatican City and getting to/fm Termini would have been a nightmare with luggage. Even in late April the temp was near 30 C midday. The Taxis are very readily accessible at the taxi stands are all that we took (4 or 5 in Rome alone) were honest, clean, and professional.
If you are flying KLM to AMS, then you will most likely depart from Terminal 1 as KLM is part of the Skyteam Alliance that contains Air France, Alitalia, Air One, etc. These planes, when flying on domestic routes, depart from T1.
we are leaving FCO to vancouver, bc, canada with a stopover in Amsterdam, can you tell me which terminal we would leave from? thank you
Thanks for this information. I lived in Bologna for 8 years, but have never taken an 6:20 morning flight out of Rome until next month. So I did not know how much time to allow. I really like the way you covered all options. And you convinced me to stay in Rome instead of the airport hotel.
Excellent information.
Thanks so much for the warning!! We are staying our last night (November 6,2011 at the Hotel Club Isola Sacra – and now at least I can expect to pay cab far at the early time we will have to leave for a 7:50 flight home to the States, via London. . . . grrr!
Your website is excellent…you just rescued me regarding transport for my early morning flight from FCO to BRU on Brussels Airlines at 6:45 a.m. on June 7!
Jason,
Glad the blog has been helpful. As you’re looking at a 6:20 departure, you’re probably better in a private shuttle (like Romecabs) or via taxi. Good luck!
Ron
Thanks for taking the time to put all of this information out there. I woke up this AM stressed out about how to get to the airport next week for my 6:20 AM flight and now I can relax. Now I just need to decide if the Shuttle or Romacabs would be best since I am staying in an apartment.
Ciao Elane! Your first leg, to AMS, will be a “domestic” flight as you are staying in the Schengen area. So you DO NOT go to T5; you will in all likelihood check in at Terminal 3 (I’ve flown this same early KLM flight 10-12 times!). After check-in, you’ll probably depart from Gates B,C, or D. You will then go through passport control at AMS and enter the secured “international,” non-Schengen area of Schiphol (the AMS airport). Schiphol is one of our favorite airports, complete with tons of shopping, a spa, and a casino! Good Luck!
Ron
I have a 6:20 a.m. flight to Amsterdam where I have a connection to Portland OR via KLM (partnered with Delta); would I go to Terminal 5 or would this be considered a n0n-”US-flagged flight” since I’m going to Amsterdam.
Like everyone else I’m very appreciative of your very pertinent information, as a middle-aged non-Italian speaking woman on her first trip to Italy.
Thank you!
Thanks so much Ron for this really helpful info. Just what I need for my next trip in late May this year. My flight will be from Rome (FCO) to Paris (CDG) at 08.55 AM by Alitalia. I’m hoping to use the express train from Termini Station to the airport. In that case, what time do you suggest I need to arrive at the FCO airport? And what time do you suggest I take the Leonardo Express train from the Termini? Thanks a lot!
*****REPLY***** The LE trains leave Roma Termini at 22 and 52 after the hour and take 31 minutes to get to the airport. If you want to get there about 2 hours early – this is FCO after all – then I would shoot for the 6:22 train; If you don’t make that one, the 6:52 AM train could be your fall-back and gets you there about 1.5 hours before your plane departs. It’s about a 5-8 minute walk to Terminal 3 from the FCO Train Station.
This is the most comprehensive, thoroughly thought out treatise on the subject available. Brilliant! Thank you for taking the time to document the process. We were about to choose the easy way out (stay near FCO) until we read your blog. But the logic of your POV is beyond reproach. We’re going to enjoy our last night in Rome! Grazie mille!
Helpful advice. I think I will follow your recomendation and take a taxi over to the airport. It’s definitely less hassle than the other options. Thanks for the great info.
Thanks so much for all of this info – I can see us using the cabs and not spending our night in Rome worrying over a shuttle that may not have a driver at such an early hour of the morning.
Nice! We rather appreciated the website
Flying in and out of Fiumicino in October, thanks for the info on Terminal 5! But do you know why there are no up-to-date or detailed maps of Fiumicino on the Web? (Like the Port Authority of NY’s plans of JFK on http://www.panynj.gov/aviation/jfkframe.htm...) I couldn’t find a single one that actually shows where Terminal 5 is situated!
**** REPLY **** We have a saying here – T.I.I. which means, “This is Italy!” Yes, there are no updated maps for a terminal that has been open since May 2008? It is about 800 meters EAST of the C terminal building… so instruct your taxi, or if you come by train, use the shuttles to get to Terminal 5.
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Addendum to my last post… when I said Emanuelle waited patiently while we “lugged our bags out and into” his car, I should have clarified that he did most of the “into” part.
We really liked the website .. Thank you.
Excellent resource and information, Ron!
Just came back from a 2 week visit to northern Italy and used RomaShuttle.com. We had a 6am flight from FCO so I called them late afternoon the day before and requested a pick-up at 3:30am from near Campo di Fiori and Piazza Navona.
“Emanuelle” called from downstairs at 3:20am, patiently waited as we lugged our bags out and into his Mercedes, then we were off. Very nice man who speaks enough English so that we could have a decent conversation, despite my pitiful grasp of Italiano.
Due to the time of day, pickup/dropoff locations and our 3 large check bags, the total came to 65 Euro before tip. Could have saved some with the other transit options listed here, but it was worth the convenience and extra time to go out and walk through Rome the last night, vs. getting up even earlier and trying to stumble our way to FCO.