How to Get to Rome from Fiumicino Airport (FCO)

How to Get to Rome from Fiumicino Airport (FCO)

Getting to Rome can feel like the most complicated thing if you aren't a frequent world traveler. Signs are not well placed, directions don't seem to be translated well enough to make sense and every time you stop to ask for help, either you can't understand the person well enough, or they talk you into using a company because their friend owns it and will give you a great price.

Yeah right.

Number One: Know your end destination. 

Too often, the visitors coming to Rome who I know tell me Termini Station is near their hotel, or the hotel tells them that's where they have to get on the metro to get to the stop closest to their hotel. Termini is likely to be your destination (at least from the airport's point of view) if you are the average tourist without a contact out here.

Other people many times go to the other two choices: Trastevere Station or Ostiense Station.

Getting off at Trastevere Station is great for those whose final destination is in such neighborhoods as Monte Verde, Trastevere, Prati (the Vatican City area) and others on the west side of the Tiber River.

Getting off at the Ostiense Station crosses the Tiber and is great for those whose final destination is in such neighborhoods as Testaccio, Garbatella, the Aventine Hill, and honestly those who want to save euros on travel to get to the center of the city.

Number Two: Decide how much you want to spend against how fast you want to get into Rome.

• 4 Euro bus ride through a private company to Termini Station is the best I've seen (currently offered here), 1 Euro subway/tram/bus ticket to your next destination if applicable. I've seen many bus companies offering 6 Euro per way.
• Longest potential wait time before departure. Duration of travel dependent on traffic, around 55 minutes, could be more than an hour easily.
• 8 Euro for a train to Trastevere Station, 1 Euro tram/bus ticket to your next destination if applicable.  
• Duration: 26 minutes. Departs every 15 minutes typically.
• 8 Euro for the same train, just goes to the next stop, Ostiense Station, 1 Euro subway/bus ticket to your next destination if applicable.  
• Duration: 32 minutes. Departs every 15 minutes typically.
• 14 Euro for a train to Termini Station,  1 Euro subway/tram/bus ticket to your next destination if applicable. 
• Duration: 32 minutes. Departs every 30 minutes typically.
• 25-50 Euro for a Taxi. Shared taxi travel is cheaper, haggling is highly recommended for better prices. 
• Shortest potential wait time before departure.  Duration of travel dependent on traffic, could be 45 minutes to more than an hour easily.

Number Three: Find your departure location at the airport.

Finding a taxi is simple. Walk straight outside after you pick up your bags. It's hard to miss the longs queues for a taxi or the random taxi driver ready to haggle with you for a "good price". 

Talk with your bus trip provider to find out where they pick up from.  For example Terravision buses pick you up outside Terminal 3, bus parking number 3. Simple!

IMPORTANT NOTE #1: If you choose a taxi and attempt to haggle for it, make sure you have the address of your final destination in Italian. The last time I took a taxi, he didn't have GPS and so he traveled all over one particular nieghborhood trying to find the correct street. His street map just didn't get the job done.  Eventually, we made it there.  And yes, he expected a tip.

IMPORTANT NOTE #2: Taking the bus? Give a tip if you are feeling extra generous. It shouldn't be expected though.

The rest of the instructions apply to those traveling via train.



Number Four: Go to the Train area

1. Once you get your bags, exit the baggage area and go to the "customs" line.
1. Which is mostly nothing in Italy... look for a double doorway where there is usually no one there to check your bags. If there is, they certainly don't ask you questions.  In fact, it's almost guaranteed that you won't have your passport stamped.
2. Once through the doorway, walk into an open hall where people congregate to greet their arriving friends. 
3. Most cases I have found that you will turn right and head down the long hallway. 
4. Follow the signs for the train. In most cases, after a surprisingly long walk down the hall, you turn left to take an escalator down, continue straight, take escalators back up, and it forces you into a dead end where you take a right turn. 
5. Pass through the small corridor, please note the large format paper with train times/final destination cities in a glass panel located on the wall in that small corridor.  You may have to walk back over there to see when the next train time is.
6. You are now in the Train area.

Number Five: Buy your train ticket(s)

1. Walk across the train station hallway and then look for the windows down on the far right.  It should say TRENITALIA. 
2. Get in line for the windows that have the Trenitalia screens over them, not the tourist ticket places. 
3. Tell the ticket agent at the window "Un biglietto per Roma Ostiense (or Roma Trastevere, or Roma Termini)," One ticket for Rome Ostiense. They take credit cards, or you can pay in cash. 
1. SIDE NOTE: Using your credit card at the do-it-yourself ticket machines typically does not work.  U.S. credit cards do not have the same PIN technology that European credit cards have in them and therefore do not allow the transactions to occur.
4. The agent will hand you the ticket(s) you just bought.

Number Six: Validate your ticket(s) before going on the train and then find your train and get on board.

1. Every ticket you buy needs to be stamped at the yellow, box-like validating machines.
1. They are located on each side of each platform just before you get to the train itself.They are not huge and relatively easy to pass if you are not paying attention.
2. Look at the screen above each platform. Choose the train you board based on its destination.
1. If you need to exit the train at Trastevere or Ostiense, go on the train that says on its screen Ostiense ... or Orte ... or Fara Sabina. They all go through these two stations. 
1. This is a regional train with multiple stops from the airport.  It's wise to pay attention to the stops.
2. This is the one you get on if you bought that 8 Euro ticket!
2. If you need to exit the train at Termini, go on the train called the Leonardo Express.  The digital sign before the train will say TERMINI.  
1. This should be a direct, non-stop train from the airport to Termini Station.
2. This is the one you get on if you bought that 14 Euro ticket!
3. Board the correct train!
4. Check your watch from the time you leave. Once 25 mins pass, make sure to look at each station's name. 

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT TRAIN TRAVEL IN ROME

Trenitalia does a sub-par job on telling you which station you are arriving at next. Sometimes their digital signs work, sometimes the audio messages work, but most times they don't!  So be ready to exit the train with a moment's notice.  Each station will be clearly labeled when you stop there so pay attention. The trains don't give you a lot of time to exit at the stations so make sure you are ready to exit when you the train comes to a halt.  Be at those doors ready to step off the train, not just out of your seat.

Heed these instructions. Here's what happens to you if you don't pay attention to what stop you get off at. 

You don't want to be waiting for that next train, bored like him, do you?