How do I get to the FCO Airport?

The regional or local trains – the least expensive way to travel by train in Italy – are also structured to create a higher price to the airport. See the map above of the regional trains and metro system in Rome. For a link to this PDF overview of the Metro and Regional Train System, you can also click here!. To zoom in on the map, hover your mouse over the picture and then click on the “+” sign that the Adobe superimposes over the map.

You can see Fiumicino Airport on the bottom left of the screen and the FR1 line – the regional line – running to it. (You’ll also see this referred to as the FM1 line). The Roma Pass DOES allow you to ride 2nd class on regional trains INSIDE the Rome City Zone. Unfortunately, the airport is two stops OUTSIDE the designated “city” zone.

This is a close-up of the FM1 line route as you near near the airport. Notice the name, Ponte Galeria on the map. It is highlighted in red. Your Roma Pass is good all the way out to…. this stop! Thus, you cannot use your Roma Pass to get out to airport.

Looking again at the PDF map above, you’ll see Red Names on ALL the regional train lines. This is the last stop where your Roma Pass or ATAC ticket (bus, metro, and trams) are valid.

Inside the red-named train stations, you can ride the trains using your bus ticket. Outisde those red-named train stations, you cannot use your ATAC tickets. As you can see on the bottom left and bottom right of the PDF map above, both airports are OUTSIDE the “City Zone” designated by those red-named train stations.

To make matters worse, a regional train ticket from the Roma Termini Station, Roma Ostiense, or Roma Trastevere stations to the Ponte Galeria stop today costs  0,90€. But to go from Roma Ostiense or Roma Trastevere to the airport stop costs 8,00€.  (Note, there is one more stop AFTER Ponte Galeria – Parco Leonardo – so the extra two stops costs you an additional 7,10€).

To clarify, if you try and use regional trains from Roma Termini, you will have to connect at Roma Ostiense or another Roma station – there are NO direct, inexpensive, regional trains to the airport from the Roma Termini train station – another little wrinkle in the system. From Roma Termini direct to the airport, without a connection, you would have to ride the Leonardo Express, currently priced at €14 per person. So your Roma Pass is no good – the discounted regional tickets at 0,90€ are no good – what are your options? Depending on where you are staying in Rome, there are a few choices.

Travel Options

Photo from the COTRAL website

COTRAL BUS (€4.50 per person)

The COTRAL Bus is probably the least mentioned mode of transportation to the airport – but it’s the cheapest! The COTRAL is a regional bus. You can catch the COTRAL bus outside Roma Termini and it will then take you to the bus depot at the FCO Airport, just outside the Terminal 3 Arrivals area, the lower level of the Airport.

The “standard” hours of operation for the COTRAL bus are from 05:10 – 21:00. I’ve used the COTRAL system from FCO once, and here is the problem I had. Their website ambiguously says the bus will depart every 15-60 minutes… and I waited almost 45 minutes on my trip in from FCO…  but if you catch it right, it could be a good alternative. You can visit their website and get time tables. The rate quoted is the “direct” route from Roma Termini which takes a little more than one hour –  Budget your time!

They do not accept credit cards and often EXACT change is required/requested… so be warned! The one advantage COTRAL offers is they have an early morning – albeit limited – service to FCO. The COTRAL Bus will depart from the Roma Termini station when no other public transportation (trains, Terravision Bus or SITBus Shuttle) are running.  It’s pretty limited, and times are approximate – so be warned, but you can catch the bus FROM Roma Termini to the airport to at around 01:15, 02:15, and 03:30. Going to FCO, you depart from Roma Tiburtina station at 00.30  – 1.15 – 2.30 – 03.45  -  09.45  -  10.30  -  12.35  -   17.30.

The problem with this group is … it’s just so inconsistent and often not on-schedule. If you see their bus, run for it – Otherwise, I’d look for other options that fit my schedule. But if you need to be at the airport for a 06:00 flight, the 03:30 AM route from Roma Termini Station is your only public transportation option that meets your 06:00 flight requirements. Otherwise, you’ll need to book a private shuttle or taxi for these early airport arrivals.

Photo from the Terravision Website

Terravision Bus (€6 per person)

Starting July 15, 2011 Terravision Bus service returned to the FCO Airport. Terravision is a major bus service provider in Europe. In Italy, with the addition of FCO, they also offer services at Ciampino, Pisa, Bergamo Orio al Serio, Trapani, Verona, and Torino. Working with Alivision – a major Bus Transportation company – Terravision operates the airport bus service from the Roma Termini station tto the Fiumicino Airport bus depot. Their buses are scheduled to run about every 40 minutes to Fiumicino Airport and also back to Rome city center. TIf you’re headed into town, he Terravision will drop you off at Roma Termini and from there you can connect via bus, metro, or taxi to all parts of the city.

You can book your tickets for the Terravision bus online – click here!

Use the online form to select your departure and/or arrival, date, time, # of people, etc. You can even “pre-order” items from the Terracafè menu and add to your reservation. You can pay with your PayPal account or a major credit card account. Print out your tickets and then show them to the Terravision staff at the bus stop. The ticket prices ONLINE are as follows:

• Adult One-way € 4.00
• Adult Return € 8.00
• Journey time – 55 Minutes from Fiumicino airport to Roma Termini

If you do not buy your tickets online, you can buy them at the airport counters or at the Terracafè in the Roma Termini train station. You do need to be at the bus stop 15-20 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time of your coach. There will probably be a line to get on the bus. Upon boarding the bus, show your ticket(s) to the Terravision personnel in front of the coach (or to the driver).

If you purchase a return (round-trip) ticket… on the 2nd leg of your trip, you must go to the counter or the Terracafè to pick up a boarding pass. If you go wait in line to get on the bus, you won’t be allowed on the bus UNLESS you have this boarding pass. On single journeys, your email or purchased ticket covers you… but the 2nd leg of the return tickets acts differently. If you arrive late and miss your scheduled bus, you will be able to board the following coach with your existing ticket and no penalty fare will be applied! I would definitely arrive early to secure my spot on my scheduled coach.

Photo from the SUTBus website

SITBus (€8 per person)

The SITbus Shuttle runs from Via Marsala (next to Roma Termini station) and Piazza Cavour (near Castel Sant’ Angelo) to FCO about twenty times a day. The trip takes about an hour so do plan your time accordingly.  From wherever you are staying, first you have to get to either of these locations. The good news is that Roma Termini is well connected by the bus and metro system. Both the metro lines, A and B, meet here. Piazza Cavour is well served by multiple buses, including the 130, 186, 224, 280, 492, 70, 81, and 913. It’s also fairly close to Castel Sant’ Angelo where the 40, 23, and 271 buses run.

So you can use your Roma Pass or ATAC ticket to get on the metro or bus and head for Roma Termini or Piazza Cavour. The SITBUS service starts about 5 AM – remember, we are on Italian time here! The metro system also usually starts about 5 AM. Most of the day buses – check your route to be sure – start about 5:30 – 5:45 AM.

You can buy your tickets on the SITbus. I suggest having some Euro ready. This service also leaves FROM Leonardo Da Vinci airport (FCO) bus depot headed back into the city to Roma Termini and Piazza Cavour.

Train Arriving at FCO

FM1 – Regional or Suburban train (€8 per person)

For many folks, this is a cheaper train alternative than the Leonardo Express – discussed below. If you are staying in the Ostiense or Trastevere area, than this is the train for you. Head to your train station and plunk down your €8. The trains usually leave about every 15 minutes on weekdays and every 30 minutes on Sundays and holidays.  They start a little after 5 AM. The FM 1 trains from the Roma Ostiense station take about 30 minutes and from Roma Trastevere (the next stop on your way to the airport) about 26 minutes.

You can ride local public transportation to these stations. Ostiense is on Metro Line B (Adjacent to the Piramide metro stop) and also well connected by buses. Roma Trastevere is linked by buses or most folks get there on the #8 tram – usually from Largo Argentina, which is a major bus hub. (See our article, The #8 Tram in Rome.

I ride from Roma Trasevere often. The FM1 TO the airport from the Roma Trastevere station leaves from Track 5.

The Leonardo Express train (€14 per person)

The Leonardo Express train starts at 5:52 AM and is a non-stop train from the Roma Termini Station to the FCO train station. The trip takes about 31 minutes. The Leonardo Express (LE) departs Roma Termini at 22 and 52 after the hour. It now leaves from Track #24 which is much closer than the satellite track it used to depart Roma termini from. Again, like the SITBus example above, you can ride the metro, bus, or taxi to the Roma Termini station to catch the LE. Track 24 is on the right side of the station as you face the main tracks.

once on the train there is far more luggage storage area than on the FM1. This train is usually on time and it is non-stop. At €14 per person, after a recent hike from €11, it’s not a cheap alternative for 3 or 4 folks.

Taxi (€40 per taxi)

If you are coming or going from inside the Aurelian walls (the center of town), you are eligible to use the fixed fares of the Rome taxi system. The fixed-rate fare has been at €40 for years, but if the taxi unions have their way, it will rise soon! It is usually a fast and easy ride – especially in the early morning. For many folks, if they have an early 6 AM or 6:30 AM flight, a taxi is your best transportation solution. The COTRAL bus is the only public transportation that can get you to the airport by 5 AM so your options are limited.

As we said, if you are inside the Aurelian walls and you are a group of four or less, it is a fixed price – no additional charges for luggage, extra people, etc. Don’t be “misinformed” by your local taxi driver. They know the law and you should to! Always get your FCO taxi from a taxi stand or at your hotel/residence. Never accept a ride from a taxi broker, those guys standing around saying, “Do you need a taxi?” You will pay 35%-100% more for your fare.

Again, this rate is good for up to four people and their luggage… so if you have three to four people, this is actually cheaper than the Leonardo Express – and sometimes FASTER!

If you ARE NOT staying inside the Aurelian Walls, then the fixed fare does not apply and you will be on the meter. Be careful. In town, you should be on tariff 1 – outside town, the meter should run on tariff 2. You can see the lights on the meter – Also, make sure there IS a meter and it is running – otherwise you will be in for an unpleasant surprise. Unfortunately, Roma taxi drivers have a well-deserved, poor reputation.

We ride the taxis to FCO often and call this trip… the “flight” before the flight! We’ve often been over 156 km on the highway to FCO! So hang on and enjoy the ride.

Photo from the airportconnection.it website

Private car and driver (€45 and up per car)

For not much more than a taxi, you can pre-book a shuttle service to get you to FCO. There are many, many options – see the web! I like www.romecabs.com and www.romashuttle.com . Both Stefan and Alfredo do a great job and have never left me waiting! You can book these online or call once in Rome. If you want more shuttle 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.

The rates generally start at €45 for a couple, but do verify your price – especially if you are leaving early morning or late night. Read the reviews on sites like tripadvisor and make your selection. Get their contact info – even afterhours – so you can call if they are late. Your hotel/residence can probably help you make that call if necessary – but do get the local phone numbers. I’ve never been left stranded by a shuttle service… but….

As with the taxis, if you have an early 6 AM or 6:30 AM flight, a shuttle may be a good transportation solution.

For taxis and shuttles, make sure you tell your driver to take you to Terminal 5, (T5) if you are flying DIRECT back to the States on an American flagged airline – like Delta, US Air, American, United, etc. This terminal is about 1,000 meters from the main terminals and you don’t want to walk! Since May 2008, all US (and Israeli) airlines depart from T5. If you are connecting or flying to a non-US airlines/El Al destination, you will be leaving from Terminals T1 – T3. Those three terminals are all adjacent and connected so it’s an easy walk. It’s about a 10-15 minute walk, depending on your airline and terminal. There will be screens telling you what terminal to check-in at, just after you exit the FCO train station and head for the terminals.

If you come by train or bus – and you are headed to T5 – then  you should ride the free airport shuttle.  T5 is a separate building, and again, you do not want to try and walk this route. In some places there is no sidewalk. In T5 there is “enhanced” security … so sometimes it does take a little more time to get through this terminal when checking in. On the other hand, it’s new -  a little more organized – and primarily US carriers! You can catch the shuttle from the main street that runs in front of the departure terminals – you’ll see the signs or just follow the crowd.

Good Luck on your trip!

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Header: Leonardo Da Vinci Airport Tower – Photo by Vlad Loteanu