Last updated:
What’s the best way to get from Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to the city? Everything you need to know about transfer options and wait times.
Table of Contents
Rome Fiumicino — officially Aeroporto Leonardo da Vinci (IATA: FCO) — is Italy’s largest airport. More than 40 million travellers per year use the airport, which has been awarded best service in Europe since 2017.
The airport is located by the sea near the fishing village of Fiumicino, about 30 km from the city centre. A motorway connects it to Rome’s ring road and the southern district of Roma EUR. There is a direct rail connection via the Leonardo Express to Roma Termini, as well as the circular railway line FL1.
Fiumicino or Ciampino?
Travellers who have a choice between the two airports should be aware of the following differences:
Rome Fiumicino (FCO) is Italy’s largest airport with around 51 million passengers (2025) — a multi-award-winning, modern facility with a wide range of restaurants and shops, short security queues (liquids and electronics do not need to be removed from bags) and a direct rail connection to the city centre via the Leonardo Express. The downside: long distances within the airport and greater distance from the city (30 km). Taxi fixed fare: € 55.
Rome Ciampino (CIA), with 4 million passengers, is a small, functional airport served exclusively by low-cost airlines, with limited shops and fast-food outlets. After landing, however, you are outside in record time — from the plane to the car park in barely 10 minutes, and luggage appears fast at the belt. The downside: long queues at check-in and security before departure, and no direct train to the centre. Taxi fixed fare: € 40.
How Long Does It Take from Fiumicino Airport to the City Centre?
From the terminal to the centre of Rome there are five options: private transfer, taxi, Leonardo Express, FL1 regional train and shuttle bus.
All journey times and prices refer to a destination in the city centre around the Via del Corso. Where a transfer is required, the single public transport ticket (€ 1.50) is already included in the total price.
| Option | Journey time to centre | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shuttle bus | 90–110 minutes | € 8.50 per person | Change at Termini for public transport |
| FL1 regional train | 1 hr 20 min | € 8.– train ticket € 9.50 BIRG 3 zones | Change at Trastevere; BIRG valid all day in Rome |
| Leonardo Express | 1 hr 15 min | € 15.50 per person | Change at Termini for public transport |
| Taxi | 60–80 minutes | € 55 up to 4 persons | Fixed price incl. luggage, 24/7 |
| Private transfer | 40–60 minutes | € 70 up to 4 persons | Pick-up at arrivals terminal |
How Much Time Do I Need After Landing at Fiumicino?
From landing to the airport exit takes around one hour; for Schengen flights with hand luggage only, allow 40 minutes. Add 20 minutes to reach the train station or bus terminal. If your flight lands at 3:00 pm, book the first train or bus departing after 4:20 pm.
What Is the Best Way from Fiumicino Airport to Rome City Centre?
It depends on your priorities. The cheapest options are the shuttle bus and the FL1 regional train. Faster is the Leonardo Express direct to Roma Termini. The most comfortable and quickest options are taxis and private transfers, which take you directly to your destination.
Private Transfer
The most comfortable option is pick-up at the arrivals terminal. The driver assists with luggage and takes you to your destination by the fastest route — no transfers, no waiting at a taxi rank. Journey time is 40–60 minutes depending on traffic; the price is € 70 for up to 4 persons.
Together with the booking, 72-hour public transport tickets can be ordered, which the driver will hand over on arrival.
Taxis at the Airport
Taxi ranks are located at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. If the queue at T1 is long, the one at T3 is usually shorter. Only use taxis from the official taxi ranks — do not accept offers from anyone approaching you in the terminal.
The fixed fare for journeys within the city walls is € 55 for up to 4 persons — including luggage, around the clock, with no surcharges. Journey time to the centre is 60–80 minutes depending on traffic. For destinations outside the city walls, the meter applies. Further details in our article on taxis in Rome.
Taxis to the Airport
The journey from Rome to the airport can be pre-booked — particularly useful during rush hours or bad weather when taxis can be scarce. In this case as well, the flat rate of €55 applies, provided the driver does not have to wait for the passengers.
Leonardo Express
The Leonardo Express runs every 15 minutes from Fiumicino Airport non-stop to Roma Termini. The train journey takes 32 minutes. Including the onward connection by metro or bus to the city centre, allow around 1 hour 15 minutes in total. The fare is € 15.50 per person. Children under 12 travelling with a fare-paying adult travel free.
At Roma Termini, the Leonardo Express departs from platforms 23 and 24. Tickets can be purchased at machines near the baggage carousels or at the airport station, or paid contactlessly directly at the turnstile by card or smartphone (Tap & Tap — remember to check out at your destination).
Online tickets can be changed up to the scheduled departure time of the booked train. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport.
Ticket Fiumicino → Rome · Ticket Rome → Fiumicino · Return ticket
FL1 Regional Train
The FL1 regional train is slower than the Leonardo Express as it makes many stops — but it is cheaper and more practical for certain destinations. The FL1 runs in a semicircle around the city, stopping at Trastevere, Ostiense and Tiburtina, among others.
- At Trastevere: change for St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican
- At Ostiense: Metro Line B crosses here; the Ostia line also starts here
- Tiburtina: intercity rail hub with the central coach station
Total journey time to the centre is around 1 hour 20 minutes. There are two ticket options:
The standard train ticket costs € 8.– and covers the train journey only. The BIRG ticket (3 zones) costs € 9.50 and covers the entire FL1 journey from the airport to Rome plus all public transport within Rome on the same day until midnight — excellent value if you plan to use the bus or metro in Rome.
Online tickets can be changed up to the scheduled departure time. Children under 4 travelling with a fare-paying adult travel free. Tickets at Omio
Shuttle Buses
At the far end of Terminal 3 there is a bus station from which airport buses depart for Rome. The popular SIT Bus stops at the Via Aurelia and Castel Sant’Angelo on its way to Roma Termini. Terravision runs direct to Termini. The bus fare is around € 7.– per person; the total journey time to the centre is 90–110 minutes. The onward public transport ticket from Termini is included in the total price of € 8.50. Shuttle bus tickets
Car Hire
A hire car is not necessary for a stay in Rome — the city is well served by public transport and parking is difficult. For those wishing to explore the beautiful countryside around Rome, however, a rental car is the best choice.
Many car hire companies are located directly in the airport car parks. Others collect customers at a meeting point on the departures level: take the escalator one floor up and head to the meeting point in the car park between T1 and T3. Car hire at Booking.com
Visit city-pass.it for more information about car rentals in Italy
How Far in Advance Do I Need to Be at Fiumicino Airport?
For Schengen flights with hand luggage and online check-in, one hour before departure is sufficient. With checked luggage, allow up to 30 minutes for check-in, depending on the airline — low-cost carriers often request passengers to arrive up to three hours before departure. For non-Schengen flights, add up to 30 minutes for passport control.
When Do I Need to Go Through Security at Fiumicino?
As the walk to the gate can be long, aim to reach security at least 60 minutes before departure — for non-Schengen flights with passport control, 90 minutes.
Security at Fiumicino is equipped with modern technology: electronic devices and liquids do not need to be removed from bags (except for flights to the USA and Israel). Waiting times are therefore only a few minutes. Pregnant passengers and families use the family lane. A free priority lane called QPass can also be reserved at fco.clearme.com.
Lounges, Dining and Shopping at Fiumicino Airport
Arriving early at the airport is no problem. Once checked in, the airside area offers excellent restaurants and bars for an aperitivo or a meal, plus a wide range of shops — with tax-free shopping for non-EU flights.
Airport lounges are available in Terminal 1 and in the extra-Schengen area of Terminal 3, where you can relax, store luggage and charge devices. Book an airport lounge
More about airports in Italy
My son arrives from the US on Delta at Terminal 1 (FCO) departing at Terminal 3 on ITA. He only has one hour. Can he do this? What is the quickest way to do this?
Delta arrives at T3 and if your son has a domestic flight, then he will depart from T1. If he has both flights on one ticket and baggage checked thru to the final destination, he has a good chance that the connection flight will wait for him. T1 and T3 are connected internally, but with time to disembark, passport control, and walking between terminals, an hour is very tight.
Hello! I have a flight booked from Rome FCO to Venice (Marco Polo) via Al Italia (I know that a train would have been a better option, but we had a flight credit) in late August. We plan on taking a day trip – so no checked luggage or anything like that – how much time should we give ourselves between arrival and boarding? Also is the Venice airport similarly efficient (or inefficient)?
Thank you so much for your insight!
Hello, have you seen our suggestions for a day in Venice?
Rome and Venice are both efficient airports. You shall make the web check-in. Then you can go directly to the gate and 60 minutes before boarding shall be enough. I don’t see evening flights from Venice to Rome, so you may stay overnight there.
From Venice airport you can take a taxi or a boat to Venice. Taxi is the fastest but you arrive at Piazzale Roma near the train station and from there you have to walk. The alternatives are the waterbus or a watertaxi. This needs around an hour to arrive but you arrive directly in the center like San Marco or Rialto. With the waterbus (vaporetto), take the orange line, The watertaxi you can book directly on Getyourguide.
Hello I hope you can help me. I arrive in Rome from the US on Delta at 10:35am. My departure is at 12:10pm on Alitalia to Cairo. Is 95 minutes enough time to make the connection?
Hello,
If the baggage is checked thru to Cairo and you don’t need to leave the transit area of terminal 3 this shall be enough.
Good evening, I am scheduled to arrive FCO terminal 3 at 07:40, and my connecting flight departs from FCO Terminal 3 (Gate E15) at 09:15.
This leaves me with 1 hour and 35 minutes to disembark, collect my baggage and check-in for my connecting flight (different airline)
— do you think 1h35 is enough transit time to make the connection?
Hello,
for a simple transit without leaving the gate area it would be ok. But if you have to go trough the airport to collect the baggage and then check-in, make security check and passport control, your chances are not very high. Actually there are not many passengers in Fiumicino but I would not feel comfortable to have such a tight connection with baggage.
hello arriving FCO at 9:10 am from USA. connecting flight to Palermo at 11:55 am same terminal(3). how do I get from arrivals terminal 3 to departures terminal 3 and is that enough time to claim and recheck luggage? Thank you
Hello, behind the exit from the baggage claim area on the left are an escalator and elevators that take you to the departure level of terminal 3. Time is enough.
Hello Bernhard. I am hoping that you will be able to answer my question.
Myself and my husband will be departing to NY from FCO terminal 3, while my daughter will be departing to Australia one hour later from terminal 1. Will she be allowed to go through customs and remain with us at our terminal and then arrive later at her terminal without having to go through customs again? Many thanks for your response.
Hi Linda,
probably your daughter will check in at terminal 1 but departure will be for sure at terminal 3. T1 and T3 are internally connected and there is only one passport control and one gate area (E) for intercontinental flights. The gate areas B, C and D are for national and EU (Schengen) flights. If your daughter goes to Milan or another EU destination and transits from there to Australia, she can not pass with you the passport control.
Please help: I will come in: Rome, at 11:50 (D+1) (FCO), ITALY
Terminal 3, Fiumicino Airport and need to transit to (FCO), ITALY
Terminal 1 Rome at 12:35 Fiumicino Airport. I have 45min to do this. Will I make it in time or do I request for assistance?
Thanks
Hello, 45 minutes is very tight if you come from outside EU (due to the passport control). If you come from the Schengen area and the arriving flight is on time, you can do it. There is a direct passage from T3 to T1 for transit passengers. If you have incoming and outgoing flight on the same booking and baggage checked through, the airline will give you assistance in case of delay.
Hello, we have a flight on Turkish airlines at 7;15 AM on Sunday, leaving out of FCO for the US. How early should we plan to be at the airport? Is the airport and check in counters open in early hours? And finally, what are our options to get to FCO that early from Piazza Navona area? Thanks.
Hello, your departure is at terminal 3. If you fly economy you shall be there around 5:15 for luggage check-in, otherwise 30 minutes later. I think, the best is to take a taxi. You shall book the taxi in advance. Travel time in the early morning from Piazza Navona is around 35 minutes by car, so you shall book the taxi for 4:40. There are not many alternatives, the first train is later and the first shuttle bus leaves at 4:45 from Termini and arrives at 5:40 at the airport. That would be rather tight and on such a long flight you shall start it comfortably.
My son will be arriving on Norwegian Air, and has 1 hour to find his transfer flight with Czech Airlines. Does he have to go through customs, security, etc. to catch his transfer flight? Also, can you tell me the terminal and route he should take once he arrives? Thank you!
This is only possible if your son has already the boarding pass for the connecting flight and he travels with hand luggage. If he wants to check in luggage, he has to clarify before, whether he can check thru baggage from Norvegian to Czech Airlines. This depends on the airline DCS they are using.
Czech Airlines is in codeshare with Alitalia. The Alitalia flight departs from terminal 1, the Czech flight from terminal 3. He will see on his boarding pass the departure terminal. If your son does not leave the transfer area, he has no customs and security control.
Your son arrives at T3. If he arrives at the bus gate, he has to go up one level and then look for the connection flight (T1 or T3).
I will be arriving from JFK (NYC) to Rome on 11/23. I need to meet reps from Royal Caribbean. Their instructions are to go to Arrival Hall. Has anyone done this before? Any more information you can share? Thanks in advance.
You’ll arrive at terminal 3. As soon as you’ve passed customs, you’ll be in the arrivals hall. There wait the tour operator and limousine service with signs in hand. More info about the transfer to Civitavecchia
Hi
I’m flying from TLV to NYC with a connection stop (for 1:50) in FCO
do I need to pass passport control?
If you have your baggage checked through to NYC you can stay in the transit area without passing passport control.
will the bus from airport to termini take bicycles that are not in bags?
Hi Mike,
this depends on the available space and is not guaranteed.
Alternative: The regional trains allow the use of folding bikes free of cost. On the FL1 line to Fiumicino, bicycles may be taken on extra charge.
I am arriving from Johannesburg on Wed 18 Sept AZ 849 6.50am, then direct to Venice AZ 1471 at 8.15. Where do I land and which terminal do I depart from?
Thank you.
Hi,
you shall check thru your baggage to Venice.
You’ll arrive in terminal 3, pass immigration and go then directly to terminal 1. There is a direct passage between T3 and T1.
Hi Bernhard,
I arrive from South Africa at Rome (FCO) at 6:50 on Alitalia. I have a connecting flight on Alitalia to Spain departing at 8:10. One ticket. Will I have enough time to clear customs, check-in again and make the connecting flight?
Hi Cecilia,
with you unique ticket you shall check through your baggage to Spain and do the customs clearance there, also receive the 2nd boarding pass already in SA. You must only pass immigration at Fiumicino and go directly to your connecting flight.
Hello There! Excelent and useful information in this site. I have a question similiar to those above: I am flying from Firenze to Fiumicino, Roma. It will be Alitalia, departing at 6:35 am, arriving at 7:25 am. I think, being a domestic flight, to terminal 1.
Second leg will be from Rome (Fiuimicino, terminal 3) American Airlines, 9:15 am. No checked luggage and most likely boarding pass on hand. My chances are?
Hi, there is a unique transit area between T1 and T3. You can pass internally from T1 to T3 without going to the exit. It is a 10-15 minutes walk from T1 to the passport control at T3, so your chances are excellent.
Arriving in Rome airport at 7:15 a.m., how long will it take to arrive at the terminal for a flight to Bari. What flight time should we look for. Will we have to go through customs again?
To be on the safe side you shall consider 3 hours between passport control, baggage claim and check in of the domestic flight. You shall also check the statistics for delays of your incoming flight on a site like https://www.flightradar24.com/. There is no customs on domestic flights but if you don’t have a transit ticket and you have to check-in in Rome you have to pass the security check. With a transit ticket and baggage check-through, two hours or less are enough.
Arriving at terminal on Norwegian at 11:40 and have a flight to Naples on Alitalia departing in terminal 1, can I make my 2pm flight with collecting my bag and going through customs? Thanks
Hi Elaine,
if the arriving flight is on time it’s ok. If possible, it would be better to check through the baggage to Naples. In alternative, you can take the Leonardo Express to Termini and take the high speed train to Naples.
How many Tourist Information Points are there in Terminal 3? I am being met at Fiumicino Airport and would like to find an appropriate spot at Terminal 3 Arrivals to be met by my contact in Rome
Hi Annmari,
there is only one passenger exit at T3 and one Tourist Information Point. As meeting point I suggest the bar “Semplicemente Roma” opposite the passenger exit inside T3.
Um voo que chega de PARIS (CDG) as 20:25 daria tempo para embarcar em um voo para Larnaca (Chipre) as 22:50. Contando o tempo de recolhimento e entrega das bagagens e passando pelo controle de passaporte?
If you have a connecting flight, you can check through your luggage from CDG to Larnaca. Otherwhise you have some risk like flight delay or delay of baggage return and you shall do this with hand luggage only.
would a US citizen arriving at 8AM into Rome airport and flying KLM to the US be able to make a flight departing at 9:30AM? thanks
For a transit that should go, but it depends on the punctuality of the incoming airline. If you come from Rome and have to drop your luggage, you should be there at least two hours before and for a group even more.