Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (IATA: FCO) is in the Lazio region of Italy. It is the main airport of Rome.
Understand
The airport is 34 km southwest of Rome. With 36 million passengers it is the busiest airport in Italy and also one of the busiest in Europe. It has four runways and is operating around the clock.
Flights
Fiumicino is a hub for ITA Airways (Italia Trasporto Aereo S.p.A.), which flies to Rome from major cities in Europe, North and South America, the Middle East as well as Tokyo's Haneda Airport. The airport is also served by most major European airlines and a range of airlines from the Americas, North Africa, and Asia. Unsurprisingly, Rome is one of the world's most popular travel destinations.
E-Check-in is available for faster check-in; the machines are usually near the counter of the airline.
The airport has four terminals:
Terminal 1 (Skyteam)
Aer Lingus, airBaltic, Air Corsica, Air Europa, Air France, Air Malta, Air Serbia, Air Transat, Etihad, HOP!, ITA Airways, KLM, and Luxair.
Terminal 2 (Charter and Budget flights)
Air Moldova, Blue Air, easyJet, Sun Express, and Wizz Air.
Terminal 3 (Oneworld, Star Alliance)
All other airlines
Terminal 5
Under maintenance, closed until further notice
The gate areas are arranged by the letters B, C, D, G, and H.
Ground transportation
By train
There are two train lines to get you into Rome:
- Leonardo Express trains leave every 30 minutes to the central train station Roma Termini (35 minute, non-stop trip). These trains arrive at platform 23/24, which is a 400-m walk from the main station. Tickets cost €14 and are available on line. Tickets sold at the departure platform are also €14 if bought from a kiosk in the center of the station or €15 if bought from an agent. So if there are three of you it is cheaper to take a taxi and you get delivered to your door. You can't buy a ticket for a specific train; it's just a general ticket for a specific route (Termini), but it's good for any time. Get your ticket stamped in a yellow validation machine just before using it. The ticket will expire 90 minutes after validation.
- The Metropolitan train (FL1) does not stop at Termini. Get off at Tiburtina Station or, before that, at Ostiense Station where you can connect to Line B of the Rome Metro, or get off at Trastevere Station and from there take the '8' tram (direction 'Argentina') to go to Largo Argentina and Campo de' Fiori. Tickets are €8, plus €1.50 for a metro/tram ticket. The extra cost of the Leonardo Express is for the convenience of a direct ride to Termini and for skipping intermediate stations. If you are going somewhere else close to a Metro station, Tiburtina and Ostiense stations are as convenient. Get your ticket stamped in a yellow validation machine just before using it.
By bus
COTRAL (dead link: January 2023) operates public buses from the airport to the city. Don't forget to validate your ticket after getting on the bus. The timetables for its services can be searched here (in Italian). The public bus stop is located at ground level, at the end of the Terminal 1 (Domestic Arrivals). You can buy tickets at the tobacco shop in the Terminal 1 baggage area, with the blue sign (Tabaccheria).
Lines from Leonardo da Vinci/Fiumicino are:
- Aeroporto - Termini - Tiburtina. Tickets cost €5 one-way (or €7 one-way when purchased on the bus - cash only). The schedule is:
- Fiumicino Airport to Rome city centre: M-Sa 02:15, 05:00, 10:55, 15:30, 19:05; Sun and holidays 02:15, 05:00.
- Rome Termini station (Piazza dei Cinquecento) to airport: M-F 01:23, 03:53, 10:08, 13:13, 18:08; Sa 01:20, 03:50, 09:35, 12:40, 17:32; Su and holidays 01:20, 03:50.
- Rome Tiburtina station to airport: M-Sa 01:15, 03:45, 09:30, 12:35, 17:30; Su and holidays 01:15, 03:45.
The night Fiumicino timetable is not kept very well. The bus may be half an hour late or not arrive at all. Perch on the bus stop, do not give up, it will probably come, eventually.
- Aeroporto - Roma Cornelia (metro A): €3.40
- Aeroporto - Roma Magliana (metro B): €2.80 from airport, €2.20 to airport. This bus stops directly at the metro station and the sign on this bus reads "Fiumicino-Porto-Magliana".
- Aeroporto - Ostia Lido: €1.10 from airport, €1.30 to airport
- Aeroporto - Fregene: €1.30
- Aeroporto - Fiumicino (città): €1.10
By coach
There are four dedicated coach services. All of them leave from the bus hub next to Terminal 3. And all of them stop at least at Stazione Termini (the main train station in the city center) either on Via Marsala or on Via Giovanni Giolitti.
- Terravision offers a connection between Fiumicino airport and Rome city center. If you book online in advance, the tickets cost €5.80 one-way and €9 return. If you buy your tickets directly at the bus stop they cost: €7 one way and €10 return ticket. The bus departs near Terminal 3 and goes to Termini station (at via Giolitti). It is not necessary to print the tickets (mobile tickets are accepted).
- SITBusShuttle is another option from Termini station (at Via Marsala) to Fiumicino. One-way tickets cost €6 and return tickets €11.
- RomeAirportBus (by ATRAL/Schiaffini) offers buses from the airport to Termini (at Via Giovanni Giolitti) in the city centre. Ticket prices depend on the direction of travel. Tickets from the airport to the city cost €5.90 single and €7.90 return. Tickets from the city to the airport cost €3.90 single and €7.90 return.
- TAM bus operates buses to Stazione Termini (at Via Giovanni Giolitti) and Stazione Ostiense. Single tickets cost €4 (€8 for return).
By taxi
There is a fixed fare of €48 from Fiumicino Airport to downtown (any point at your choice within the city's ancient Aurelian Walls) and vice versa. Taxis in Rome are white. Occasionally taxis in the queue at the airport are not from Rome but from the town of Fiumicino. These are not bound by the fixed fare rule and are best avoided.
Transport between Fiumicino Airport and Ciampino Airport costs €50.
For most other destinations fares are not fixed and are based on the meter.
Generally, Rome taxi drivers are hard-working honest people. But there is a hard core of crooks, and these tend to work the airports and the main station. Do not negotiate the price for the city center and be sure your driver activates the meter (all regular taxis have a meter) when he/she starts driving to any destination not covered by a fixed fare. Drivers at the airport may try to talk you into paying more than the fixed fare, saying that your destination is 'inside the wall' or 'hard to get to'. If they try to overcharge you at your destination ask them to call a policeman. They will probably back down. Be aware as well of unlicensed "taxi" drivers. Go directly to the taxi stand and ignore touts. See Rome#By_taxi for more taxi scams.
By rental car
Rental cars are available from all major companies. Providers can be reached easily in the arrivals halls.
By limousine
Licensed limousine drivers may approach you at the airports, particularly Fiumicino where there are several companies (mainly cooperatives) with booths close to the exit. A drive with them to the center could reach as high as €80 but if you are in a group a large limousine or "van" could be cheaper than two taxis.
Easy Private Taxi offers licensed limousines or minicabs that you can book in advance online. A sedan (usually a Mercedes E-class) from Fiumicino Airport to Rome Centre and hotels can be booked for €45 or a minivan for €55.
Fiumicino-Shuttle.com offers low price shuttle service with limousines or minivans that you can book in advance online without credit card and then pay directly at the driver. A transfer from Fiumicino Airport to Rome Centre and hotels can be booked for €39 or a minivan for €55.
Get around
To get to the gates that are labeled G you have to take the shuttle train Sky Bridge.
Wait
The Emirates Lounge is closed, so the Giotto Lounge is used instead.
In the terminals 1 and 3 there are many shops before the security check. Airside shops can be found in the areas B, C-8-C16, D, G and H. There you can also find restaurants and cafes.
Eat and drink
- Antica Focacceria San Francesco, 41.798013°, 12.250147°, +3906659524650. Casual eatery serving Sicilian specialties including arancini, caponata, and panelle. 2021-11-15
- Farinella, 41.796385°, 12.250200°, +39800606666. Casual spot for Neapolitan-style pizza and pasta. 2021-11-15
Buy
Connect
Cope
- First Aid station, +39 06 6595 3133 - 3334.
There are several pharmacies at the airport. In Terminal 1 it is next to the check-in counters; in Terminal 3 both groundside (departures) and airside and in Terminal 5 airside.