After a long overnight flight, no one looks forward to the challenges of arriving at the Leonardo Da Vinci Airport outside Rome. The airport is also known as Fiumicino (after the city where the airport is actually located) or by it’s three-letter designation, FCO. In this posting, we’ll focus on getting though the passport control area, through baggage retrieval, and into the public, non-secured area of the Terminal 3 Arrivals. Slowly, and surely, FCO is moving towards the 21st century… but not easily! Things that are automated in many US or other European airports are not yet in place at FCO – although we seem to be more impacted on budget flight departures from FCO than International Arrivals… but that’s ANOTHER post!
First we’ll focus on NON-Schengen arrivals. If you’re flying directly from the USA to Rome, this is YOU! If you are flying from a NON-Schengen country, like coming in from Asia, this is YOU! Yet, if you connect first in Europe, say Paris or Frankfurt, you will arrive in a different section of the airport – we’ll cover that below.
Arriving at the FCO Airport – an Overview
The FCO Train Station – Getting into Rome
Where to Meet Another Party at FCO Terminal 3
Terminal 5 at FCO – Departures on a US Carrier
Lost Luggage – What to do and How to Prevent
The Many, Many Budget Airlines in Europe
The Best Hotels and B&B’s near the FCO Airport
Arriving at the Schengen Area
At FCO, the airplane loading and unloading gate areas are designated by LETTERS, (B, C, D, G, and H). The departure and arrival terminals are NUMBERED (T1, T2, T3, and T5). Arriving passengers will go from letters to numbers, or gates to terminals. If you’re coming in from outside the Schengen Area, you’ll probably arrive at either Gates G or H…. and you’ll end up in Terminal 3 (T3). Note: In the above picture, the A,B,C, D, and E are parking garages and do not reflect the gate areas… not sure why they named the garages as such?
Above is a map of the G gate area. Almost all US flagged carriers arrive and depart from the G gates. Upon arrival at FCO, you will see little of this area as you will be directed by signage to head for Passport control. From the G gates this means boarding the sky-train. You can see the bridge connecting the sky-train to the T3 area in the silhouetted diagram above – the red dot represents the G Gate area. There are RARE occasions that the G gates are full, with no gate available for an incoming flight. If so, these aircraft are parked on the runway and you will get off the plane and onto an airport bus for transport to the Terminal 3 area. In 40+ US entry flights, this has happened to us once! You can see from the above diagram the directions to the other gates on the lower right side. This is the location of the sky-bridge. There will be many, many signs to help you! For departure info from the G gates back to the USA on your return flight, you might read, Terminal 5 at FCO – Departures on a US Carrier
Above is an overview of the Terminal 3 (T3) Arrivals Area. You will arrive on the left side of this map, in Passport Control, and work your way to the right side, through baggage collection, and finally customs. In this map, and the following close-ups we’ll provide, the thin red line in the map represents the secured zone. Anything above the red line is in the secured area, only for arriving passengers. Anything below the red line is the public, non-secured area of T3. Below the red line would be where you would find your pre-booked shuttle drivers waiting, taxis, or perhaps friends coming to pick you up at the airport. Note: the yellow circle in the bottom left of the map is the location for “Left Luggage” in T3. For easier viewing, click on this map – or any map in this posting – for larger, printable PDF files provided by the Fiumicino airport webpage, www.adr.it. To use these PDF’s, click to SAVE and then open using Adobe Reader.
Terminal 3 Arrivals – Passport Control
After deplaning from your arriving NON-Schengen flight, you’ll probably ride the sky-train into Terminal 3. Then you’ll start walking, following the signs to Passport Control (Immigration). You may have to go down an escalator or two… and keep walking. This section of the terminal is fairly large – so just keep walking! After about five minutes you’ll come into the Passport control area, pictured above. You’ll enter from the top left of the map, designated by the red number 1. You’ll head for the correct line and then counters, designated by the yellow circled area.
One of the most frequently asked questions is, “How long will I have to spend in customs?” In actuality, customs is a walk-through at FCO, as it is in most European countries. You’ll spend more time here in Passport Control, getting INTO the country from a non-Schengen location. How long this will take really depends on when you arrive… and how many other flights are arriving at the same time! And also on how many counters they have open! Often on Sundays and holidays, these positions are more-sparingly staffed. There are separate lines for EU citizens and then also non-EU folks. For USA arriving flights rush hour seems to be from 07:00 – 08:30, as multiple USA-flagged carriers arrive during this period. I’ve been through here in less than two minutes and waited as long as a half-hour. So it’s really a matter of timing. The guards are fairly laid-back. Often times I’ve not even had my passport stamped as I’ve come through passport control.
Once you clear the passport control area, no need to rush if you checked your bags… Odds are they have not yet arrived at the baggage carousel. Remember, after you get through Passport Control, you’re now in Italy… and things move a little slower! In the map above you’ll exit the yellow circle area and then feed directly into the baggage claim area, starting with carousel 4 (not sure what happened to 1,2, or 3?).
Okay, now you’re in Italy… and in the baggage claim area. I’ll go ahead and say it… Brace yourself for a wait. FCO is not known for being the fastest at getting you your luggage. We always hope just to GET our luggage (Okay, we’ve really only had two issues at FCO with luggage but they were memorable!). The average luggage wait-time for us on an arriving NON-Schengen flight is about 40-45 minutes. Our fastest was about 20 minutes after clearing Passport Control – our longest wait, 1.5 hours.
In the T3 Arrivals area, there are actually two “luggage halls” – basically two rooms joined together. The NON-Schengen flights tend to have their luggage dumped in the first room, carousels numbered 4-8. Doesn’t sound like much but this is a HUGE, long room! In the map above you can see carousels 5-8. Again, anything ABOVE the red line is in a walled-off secured area. Below the red line is the public terminal area. When you are getting your luggage, you cannot see any part of the public area – just a wall! In the public area of the map above, below the red line, you can see a hallway with a bancomat (ATM machine) circled in green, the Info area for Rome – where you can get your Roma Pass – circled in red, and then all the transportation connections, circled in yellow.
There will be overhead displays telling you on which carousel your flight’s luggage will arrive. You’ll gather your luggage and head towards the #8 carousel at the far end of the hall.
Here are two photos of the first luggage “hall.” We’re looking back from the #8 carousel to the arriving passengers. You can see all the carousels, numbered 4-7, which as you arrive, would be on your LEFT! Opposite the carousels, is the wall I spoke of earlier. On this wall are the offices and counters of folks you DO NOT want to have to meet… the lost luggage desks! You can see in this secured, passenger-only area there are few amenities.
In these two pictures, we’re walking out of the first baggage hall near the #8 carousel. The baggage carousels are on our left as we exit the area. The next set of signage you see is for carousels 9-11 and for Customs (Dogana). Just keep headed in that direction. You’ll walk down this ramp (pictured just above) which connects the two baggage collection halls. Once down this ramp, you’ll take a right at the customs area and head out – You’re almost out of here… If you like, you can skip down to the section, Exiting the Baggage Area!
Baggage Area – Carousels 9-11
Carousels 9-11 are primarily for Schengen arriving flights. If you’re coming directly from the US, you’ll almost always get your luggage at carousels #4-8. But if you’re connecting in Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, etc. your inbound flight will probably come into Gates, B, C, or D. If so, you’ll walk through multiple corridors until you get to the gates area – See the first picture below.
In the top picture we’re walking through Gates D, headed for the luggage retrieval area. You are walking in the departures area. If you have a connecting flight – and you’re luggage is checked through – you could head straight for your next gate. And many people do! In the above picture, the couple is leaving the D gates and headed toward the center of the departures area.
Now, in the second picture – near the D gates – you MUST pay attention if you are heading to pick up luggage! With the exception of Alitalia, Air One, Air France and KLM flights you’ll head to the right and down some stairs to get your luggage. See the blue arrow on the floor curving to the right – and the signage with the arrow pointing DOWN and right in the bottom picture. If you miss this hallway, you’ll have to walk all the way back to this point. Worse, I’ve seen folks miss it and EXIT the secured area WITHOUT retrieving their luggage. Then they have to get escorted back into the secured area by the security folks at the airport. I’ve seen this happen 2-3 times. So if you are on a Schengen flight, arriving in at Gates D, be looking for this signage and the stairs/escalator down to the lowest level of the airport which is where the Arrivals area – and the luggage carousels – are located. In the very top map, the stairs/escalators down are designated by the red #3.
In the top picture, you can see the “alternate” baggage claim options in Terminal 3. These signs re-direct you for these specific carriers. In the bottom photo, this is the Baggage retrieval area as seen if you’re arriving in the B Gate Area. Many, many of the flights arriving here are one of the four carriers listed Alitalia , Air One, Air France and KLM. So there are different options to get to baggage claim, but all are well-signed.
Okay, if you’ve arrived in the C or D gates you’ve probably turned, followed the blue arrow on the floor, and headed down the stairs/escalator to the lowest level of the airport. Or, perhaps your Schengen flight parked out on the tarmac and you were bussed into the T3 Arrivals area. On the map above, the red #2 marks the spot where the buses arrive at T3. Either way, you get here – the entry area to the Baggage Claim area. Once in here, you’ll have to depart through specific, monitored exits.
The first thing you’ll see as you turn the corner at the foot of the stairs or as you come through the doors from the buses, are these turnstiles of the Baggage Retrieval area. In the top picture, you can see in the backgroud folks positioned at carousels waiting for their luggage. In the bottom photo, this gentleman is entering the area. The turnstiles are automatic. You walk up to them and they open… but they are only one direction – IN! So once you’re in this area, you can’t reverse direction and head back to the secured, NON-Schengen departures area (where the B, C, D gates are located). Make sure your group is all together before passing into this area, as you won’t be able to return and search for anyone.
Again, carousels 9-11 are the primary luggage retrieval spots for NON-Schengen flights. For arriving US flights, you’re just going to walk through this “luggage hall” on your way to the exit. For Schengen flights, you’ll wait for your luggage here and depart through the SAME exits.
Exiting the Baggage Area
Now you got your luggage and you want out! You’re still in a secured area. In the map above, if you’re coming from a NON-Schengen flight, you’ve already been through passport control, retrieved your luggage (hopefully), passed by carousels 4-8, down the ramp towards carousels 9-11. On a Schengen flight, you’ve picked up your bags and you also are headed out! There are TWO exits. In the map above the BLACK arrows mark the direction to the exits. If you’re coming from carousels 4-8, the exits will on your right. If you’re carousels 9-11, you’re almost facing the exits. On the map above the two exits are marked by the red numbers, 4 and 5.
Some other notes on this map. The thin red line again marks the secured area (above the line) and the unsecured areas. Below the line, in the unsecured area, is the primary waiting area for T3 Arrivals. Here you’ll find the private shuttle drivers waiting for their clients, cruise ships forming up their groups, friends waiting for arriving friends, and illegal taxi drivers trying to hustle up unsuspecting clients. In this area, the red #6 marks the Meeting Pole – which is just outside the arrival doors. It’s a great place to meet or wait for folks arriving after you because there is a huge display board showing all arriving flights.
The two red number 7’s reflect the exit doors to the street outside the T3 Arrivals Area. Once out there, you can jump into an official Roma taxi in the taxi queue, designated by the red star in the map. The red #8 marks the hallway you head down to get to the FCO train station. (Exit the frosted doors and turn left).
In the T3 Arrivals area, you are on the LOWEST level of the airport, To get to the car rental desks, you have to go UP. To get to the departures area, you have to go UP! To get to most of the shopping in the unsecured areas of FCO, you have to go UP! Down here, you’re only real options are small cafes, the Commune di Roma info booth (marked by the red circled location on the map), and public and private transportation options. You can see a couple of bancomats (ATM’s designated by the 3 in the diamond-shape) located here on the lower level. To go up, the elevators and escalators are circled in yellow.
Okay, back to the secured area – and getting out! In the top photo, you are standing at carousel #10 looking back down the hall, and up the ramp in the distance, towards carousels 4-8. The exit from this position is the sign on the left – and you can see a section of an X-Ray machine on the left. You’re going to follow the signage to Customs (Dogana).
And here’s what you’ve been waiting for. This is the exit door as seen from Carousel #9. Walking from carousels 4-8, you’ll turn right at this point. In the distance, you see the frosted doors have opened (automatically) to allow folks out of the secured baggage claim area. Notice how everyone is to the right side of the hallway in this photo. That’s because they are headed out through the “NOTHING TO DECLARE” aisle – which is what you’ll be doing (or at least 99.9% of you unless you have something to declare…)
On the left side is Customs. Those uniformed people on the left side of this photo are the custom officials. Again, one of the most popular questions is always, “How long will it take me to clear Customs in Italy?” Well, looking at the picture above – about as long as it takes you to walk past the 7 meter counter on the left. Yep – that’s it. Just keep walking and you’re through customs! Very rarely, if ever, have I seen anyone pulled over. So you can “clear” customs in about 3 seconds – no paperwork necessary! Then, you are out the frosted doors into the non-secured T3 Arrivals area. Down near carousel 11 is also ANOTHER exit point from the secured baggage area – with another walk-by customs area, although most folks don’t even know it’s there!
Outside the Secured Terminal 3 Arrivals Area
What greets you when you come through the frosted exit doors is … usually total chaos! Above is a photo looking from the non-secured T3 Arrival area back into the baggage area. You can see folks, laden with luggage, exiting the secured baggage retrieval area. Below is the view you’ll see as you exit into the public area!
Many, many folks are standing, waiting for their party to arrive. You’ll also see the shuttle drivers, usually standing in the background behind these folks, holding up signs for their clients. If you’ve booked one, you might have to go “beyond” this first line of greeters to see your driver.
Once you’re out the doors, turn right and walk towards the hallway on your right to get to the train station. It’s perhaps a 6-8 minute walk to the train station. If you’re planning on rising a bus into town, like the Terravision or SITBus Shuttle, you would also turn right to get to the “bus depot.” This is also the direction if you want to get a Roma Pass at the Commune di Roma desk – see below:
If you turn left as you exit the frosted doors, you’ll head to the escalator, the elevator, a bookstore, a café, and a meeting point pole – painted burnt orange. This meeting point pole is a great place to wait because it’s within 50 feet of the exit doors and adjacent to the arriving flight display boards. Here are a few pictures if you exit LEFT out of the frosted doors:
If you head almost straight out from the frosted doors, you get to the exits of the Terminal 3 and, upon exiting, you’ll come to the taxi stand. Avoid anyone offering to help you and head left to the first taxi in the queue. Only get in a certified Roma taxi.
How do I get to FCO?
Early Morning Options to FCO
Terravision – Now Back at FCO, only €6!
The SITBus Shuttle Option into Rome
The Fixed-Rate Taxi Zone
Thus, this is the breakdown if you’re arriving through Terminal 3 at Leonardo Da Vinci Airport. It’s not perhaps the best-laid out airport but it is well-signed and you should easily be able to find you way. Hopefully this guide will make your transition – especially NON-Schengen arrivals – easier and your trip far less stressful. Good Luck!
Packing aids can help reduce your load – and your stress. And these books can help you pack lighter – which also reduces your load and your stress. For USA guests, see more Packing suggestions and bags at our Travel Store, Magellan’s Travel Supplies, or look in amazon.com. Non-USA Guests can search for packing tips and luggage at amazon.co.uk.
Packing aids can help reduce your load – and your stress. And these books can help you pack lighter – which also reduces your load and your stress. For USA guests, see more Packing suggestions and bags at our Travel Store, Magellan’s Travel Supplies, or look in amazon.com. Non-USA Guests can search for packing tips and luggage at amazon.co.uk.
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Thanks for the reply Ron. You’re great!
Fran, all of the “shuttle desks” are along the back wall of the T3 Arrivals Area. So when you come out of the frosted doors into the non-secured area… you’ll see the “counters” straight out those doors, about 35 meters away. You’ll have to go around the people standing around to get to yours…
This is great information. I’ve arranged to take a shared shuttle into Rome, and my instructions are to go to the “Hotel Reservation/Margana Welcome Desk” in Terminal 3. They don’t say what floor or where specifically that is located. Any idea where they are located?
Shari, with a GPS you’ll have no problem. One you leave the parking garage, there is signage to exit the airport area. Then, follow the signs towards ROME as you leave the airport. A few miles down the road you turn onto the GRA (or ring road around Rome). You’ll head south and then east around the “bottom” of the city until you connect with A1. Follow that road towards Naples and Sorrento. Through the Naples area, you’ll be on autostrada or divided highway the entire way. From the airport, it’s A91, then A90/E80 (the ring road), then A1.
Ron, how do i get out of the airport to get to Sorrento…I have a Garmin Gps and it works most of the time…I’ll be renting a car from Auto Europe, any input is a HELP!! Shari
Thanks very much Ron! We are leaving U.S. for Rome on October 2 so I wanted to get this resolved before then. The Sulga busline schedule is here: http://www.sulga.it/orari/perugia_roma.pdf
Am I reading this correctly that the bus leaves FCO at 9 am (arrives at Roma Tiburtina at 10:30)? I sent an email to Sulga from their website but have not heard a reply.
It looks like taking the train would get us into Assisi by noon whereas by bus we would get there about an hour later if I am reading the schedule correctly. I agree, the train is preferable to the bus.
Andy, if I remember correctly, the Sulga bus leaves from Roma Tiburtina. So you’d have to arrive on time, race through immigration (passport control) , jump on the FM1 and get to Roma Tiburtina by 08:50 – 09:00. It could be done… but you’d have to have everything aligned, including getting the train out of FCO airport. If you’re able to get to the FCO train station and get on the 07:58 FM1 train to Tiburtina, you’ll make it. If it’s late or you’re too late… then you won’t make the 09:00 bus at Roma Tiburtina.
So, you could perhaps ride into Roma Termini and take the 09:50 train (#9324) from Rome Termini, change in Foligno (train #21628) , and arrive in Assisi at 11:59 – Cost is 21,00 € for a 2nd class ticket. It’s perhaps 15-20 minutes in time difference, but that might be enough if you cannot get on the 07:58 FM 1 train to Tiburtina. I always like the train option better – even with a change… but I prefer trains over buses…
The Sulga website, if I am reading it correctly, shows a bus leaving from FCO at about 9am and arriving in Assisi about noon. However, I have looked at several websites and they say the earliest bus leaves FCO for Assisi around noon. If we arrive from Canada at 7am with only carry on bags, would it be possible to make the 9am bus for Assisi or should we wait a few hours for the train? Thanks!
Steven, the parking garages are directly out the doors of the T3 Arrivals Area… but I’d be surprised if your driver was waiting there? Many drivers park in the garages, but most park long the streets in front of the parking garages. Almost all drivers wait inside the T3 Arrivals Area, holding a sign with the names of their “clients” or the name of their hotel. The hotel shuttles, like the limos and private shuttles, may also park in front of this parking garage area. Check out the first map on this post and you can see the parking garages labeled A, B, C. D and E.
Ron, great information. My wife and I will be leaving for a 3-week trip to Italy and will be arriving at Fiumicino, after changing planes in London. After picking up our luggage we need to find the ‘garage’ to meet our hotel shuttle. Any idea how we get to the garage once we reach the non-secured area? Thanks Steven
Tanja,
The Lufthansa flight will also come almost certainly come into Terminal 3. Baggage claim for Lufthansa, in my experiences, always comes through T3. Thus, I would suggest meeting at the cafe’ in the pictures, or better, the Meeting Point. If you”re over at the train station, you cannot see when planes are arriving.
This information and your previous posting about meeting places is helpful. I am arriving from the US and will therefore arrive to terminal 3. My travel companion however is arriving first in Frankfurt, before arriving to Rome on a Lufthansa flight. Since the flight into Rome is from a EU country will he also arrive into terminal 3? Curious if you think we should meet at the “meeting point” in terminal 3, or if the train station is a better option? We leave Friday morning, so an quick advise would be appricated! Thank you.
Dawn, You can look at this posting: Terminal 3 Arrivals at Fiumicino Airport
In it you will see where the Touirst Info booth is located. It’s just outside the frosted doors in the T3 arrivals area, about 100 feet to the the right from where fhe exit doors are to the taxi queue.
Thank you so much for all this valuable information about arriving into the airport. I have a question, I’ll be on a Non-Schengen flight (I don’t know what that word means, but I’ll fly direct from USA to Rome) and want to pick up our Roma Passes. If I’m taking a taxi to town will I have to walk out of the way to pick up the Passes or is it “on my way” to the taxi stands?