In a nutshell
- Rome has two airports: Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and Rome Ciampino (CIA).
- Fiumicino is the larger airport, served daily by airlines from across Europe and beyond.
- The smaller airport is Ciampino, used mainly by budget airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet.
- From Fiumicino, the most affordable option is the Shuttle Bus, and the fastest is the Leonardo Express.
- From Ciampino, the cheapest route is bus and metro — but the best value overall is the Terravision or SIT shuttle bus.
Airports in Rome: An Overview
Rome has two airports: Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and Rome Ciampino (CIA).
The larger of the two is Fiumicino, served daily by a wide range of airlines from cities across Europe and beyond. Fiumicino is located about 30 kilometers from Rome’s city center.
Ciampino is smaller and mainly used by budget airlines like EasyJet and Ryanair. On the plus side, it’s a bit closer to Rome — about 18 kilometers away.
Map of Airports in Rome
To help you get your bearings right away, we’ve put together a map showing both airports in Rome. You’ll also see Termini Station, Rome’s main train station. It’s right in the heart of the city and is a key hub for your transfer from the airport to Rome.
Although Fiumicino Airport (FCO) is farther from the city center, it has much better connections than Ciampino. If you’re traveling to Rome with kids, we strongly recommend Fiumicino — getting into the city with children is simply a lot more relaxed from there.
Transfer from Fiumicino Airport
Here’s a quick overview of all your options for getting between Fiumicino Airport and Termini Station. We’ll walk you through each one in detail below.
| Transfer | Price | Travel Time | Operating Hours: FCO > Rome | Operating Hours: Rome > FCO | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terravision Bus | 7 EUR | 50 min | 00:30 to 23:30 | 03:50 to 21:20 | Buy now |
| Leonardo Express | 17.90 EUR | 35 min | 05:38 to 23:53 | 04:50 and 23:05 | Buy now |
| Taxi | 50 EUR | 45 min | all day | all day | Buy now |
| SIT Bus | 6.50 EUR | 65 min | 00:40 to 23:50 | 04:15 to 20:30 | Buy now |
| Regional Train FL 1 | 8 EUR | 27 min (to Trastevere) | 05:57 to 23:27 | 05:21 to 22:21 | Buy now |
Terravision Shuttle Bus: the cheapest airport transfer
If you want to keep costs down, the Terravision bus is your best bet. A one-way ticket costs 7 euros, and if you book a round trip upfront, you’ll only pay 11 euros. Book online and show the ticket on your phone or printed out.
Buses run every 20 to 45 minutes and stop at Termini Station.
When booking, you pick a specific departure time — but if your flight is delayed, you can simply hop on a later bus.
Get your Terravision Bus ticket
Leonardo Express: the fastest airport transfer
The fastest way to get from Fiumicino into the city is the Leonardo Express. It’s especially worth it if you’re only spending a weekend in Rome and want to make the most of your time to see as many highlights in Rome as possible.
The train takes 30 to 35 minutes, and the big advantage is that you’re completely unaffected by traffic. That said, at 14 euros per ticket, the Leonardo Express is also on the pricier side.
It stops at Termini Station, with trains departing from the airport every 30 minutes — and every 15 minutes during peak hours. At the terminal, just follow the signs for “Treno.” On the way back, the Leonardo Express leaves from platform 23/24.
You can buy tickets at the machines on the platform or at nearby tobacco shops. Buying online is also an option, though it’ll cost you 18 euros that way.
Get your Leonardo Express ticket
Note: You absolutely must validate your ticket at the small green machines on the platform. This trips a lot of people up — at the airport you already scan the barcode at the gate to access the platform, but that is not the validation!
Taxis and private cars: the most comfortable airport transfer
If you’re happy to spend a bit more, a taxi is naturally the most comfortable way to get from the airport into the city. The downside is that you’re heavily dependent on traffic. The ride typically takes 45 to 60 minutes.
To protect tourists from being overcharged, the city has set fixed fares for taxi rides from the airport. From Rome Fiumicino to the city center, you’ll pay 50 euros for up to four people with luggage. Fixed fares vary for other parts of the city.
These fixed fares only apply to City of Rome taxis. They’re white, have a taxi sign on the roof, and a sticker on the door showing the license number along with the label “Roma Capitale.” Taxis from the city of Fiumicino charge higher fares, and with so-called “unlicensed drivers,” you might end up paying a very different price than agreed.
The line for official taxis is right in front of the airport. For the return trip, you’ll find taxi stands throughout the city — for example, at Termini Station. You can also call one at +39 06 06 09.
In many cases, you can even pay by card in the taxi — just check before you set off.
Our tip: If you want to lock in a fixed price and skip any uncertainty, you can book a private transfer online in advance. Your driver will meet you with a sign and take you directly to your hotel.
SIT Buses: If you're staying near the Vatican
The SIT buses don’t have a big advantage over the Terravision buses in general. They run every half hour and a one-way ticket costs 7 euros, with a round trip at 13 euros.
We’d recommend them specifically if you’re staying at a hotel near the Vatican. The SIT buses stop at the Vatican first, then continue to Termini Station.
Regional Train FL1: For hotels on the outskirts
Besides the Leonardo Express, the regional train FL1 also departs from Fiumicino Airport. The ticket costs 8 euros and you can buy it on-site at the machines or online. If you buy it on-site, don’t forget to validate it before boarding.
The regional train does not stop at Termini Station — instead it serves Trastevere, Roma Ostiense, and Roma Tiburtina. We’d only recommend the FL1 for your Rome airport transfer if you’re staying in one of these neighborhoods, which sit more on the outskirts of the city center.
Transfer from Ciampino Airport
Ciampino Airport (CIA) is much smaller than Fiumicino. There’s no rail service from Ciampino — your only options are bus or car.
| Transfer | Price | Travel Time | Operating Hours: CIA > Rome | Operating Hours: Rome > CIA | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus and Metro | 2.70 EUR | 50 min | 05:05 to 23:10 | 05:30 to 23:30 | on-site |
| Terravision Bus | 8 EUR | 45 min | 08:30 to 22:30 | 04:05 to 18:05 | Buy here |
| Sit Bus | 6 EUR | 40 min | 10:30 to 15:30 | 04:10 to 16:30 | Buy here |
| Taxi | 30 EUR | 40 min | all day | all day | Buy here |
Bus and Metro: the cheapest airport transfer
The cheapest option is a combination of bus and metro. If you have a lot of luggage or don’t know the city well yet, the transfer can be a bit of a hassle.
We recommend taking bus line 520 from the airport to the Cinecittà station (nine stops), then transferring to Metro Line A and riding straight through to Termini Station.
The bus ticket costs 1.20 euros and you can buy it directly from the driver. You’ll need a separate ticket for the metro — your best bet is the BIT ticket for 1.50 euros, available at the ticket machines at the metro station.
Terravision or SIT Buses: best value for money
The Terravision and SIT shuttle buses also run from Ciampino Airport. On this route, both charge exactly the same: a one-way fare of 6 euros, or 11 euros for a round trip. You’ll find the most important details above.
That’s only a few euros more than the bus and metro combo — but in return, you just step onto the bus right in front of the terminal, no changing and no lugging your bags around. Honestly, it’s totally worth it.
Note: Only on the Fiumicino route do the SIT buses stop at the Vatican first. From Ciampino, SIT buses go straight to Termini Station, just like the Terravision buses — so the two options are essentially identical here.
Taxis and private transfers: the comfortable luxury option
Just like with the Fiumicino airport transfer, there are fixed fares for taxis from Ciampino Airport. The fare to Rome’s city center is 30 euros for up to four people with luggage.
Again, only use City of Rome taxis. The signs at the airport will point you to the official taxi stands.
We’ve already covered everything you need to know about taxi transfers in Rome above.
Our tip: If you’d rather have everything sorted before you arrive, you can also book a private transfer online in advance.
