How to Travel Smoothly From Airport to Center
Rome has two main airports: Fiumicino (FCO), also called Leonardo da Vinci, and Ciampino (CIA). Fiumicino is the bigger airport, about 30 kilometers from the city, and it handles most international flights. Ciampino is smaller, about 15 kilometers from Rome, and is mostly used by low-cost airlines. Both airports have easy ways to get into the city by train, bus, or taxi.
Fiumicino (FCO)
The easiest and fastest way into the city is by train. The Leonardo Express takes you directly to Roma Termini, the main train station, in about 32 minutes. Trains run every 15–30 minutes, and tickets cost around €14.
If you’d like to save a few euros, hop on the FL1 regional train instead. It doesn’t go to Termini, but it does stop at stations like Trastevere, Ostiense (handy if you need Metro Line B), and Tiburtina. At about €8, it’s a solid budget-friendly choice if your hotel or Airbnb is in those neighborhoods.
Buses are another cheap option. Companies like Terravision, SIT, and T.A.M. run services into the city, usually to Termini or the Vatican area. They take about 45–60 minutes depending on traffic, and tickets are around €6–€8.
Official white taxis charge a fixed rate of €55 to central Rome (inside the Aurelian Walls). Just be sure to grab a licensed cab from the taxi rank — they’ll have “Comune di Roma” on the door. Ride apps like Uber are also available.
Ciampino (CIA)
Ciampino is much smaller and doesn’t have a train station right at the airport. The simplest option here is the shuttle bus. Terravision and SIT both run direct services to Roma Termini. It takes about 40–50 minutes, depending on traffic, and tickets cost €5–€7.
If you don’t mind a short transfer, you can take a local bus from the airport (a 5–10 minute ride) to Ciampino town, then catch a regional train to Termini. The train ride is only 15 minutes, and the whole trip costs about €3.50. It’s a little less convenient with luggage, but definitely the cheapest way in.
For a stress-free ride, taxis from Ciampino charge a fixed rate of €31 to the center.
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