All Guides/practical
practical · 2 min read
Rome Airport Transfers: Fiumicino & Ciampino
How to get from Fiumicino and Ciampino into central Rome — the Leonardo Express, cheaper regional trains, and when a taxi or transfer makes sense.
By Todo Rome · Published 2025-01-01
Fiumicino (FCO): Rome's Main Airport
Leonardo Express is the direct, no-stops train from Fiumicino to Termini station — 32 minutes, runs every 15–30 minutes from early morning to just before midnight, and is the simplest option if you're staying anywhere near central Rome or need a Termini connection onward. Buy tickets at station machines, the Trenitalia app, or on board (at a markup) — validate before boarding if using a paper ticket.
FL1 regional train is the budget alternative — slower (around 45 minutes), more stops, but roughly half the price of the Leonardo Express, and useful if your accommodation is nearer one of the intermediate stops (Trastevere, Ostiense) rather than Termini.
Taxi: a fixed flat rate applies from Fiumicino to anywhere within the old Aurelian Walls (central Rome) — confirm the current official rate before getting in, and use only officially licensed white taxis from the rank, not touts approaching you inside the terminal.
Ciampino (CIA): The Budget-Airline Airport
Ciampino has no direct train link. Bus transfers (several private operators run frequent coaches to Termini, roughly 40 minutes depending on traffic) are the standard budget option. A combination of a local bus to Ciampino train station plus a regional train into Rome is cheaper still but adds complexity and time. Taxis from Ciampino also run on a fixed flat rate to the centre, usually somewhat lower than the Fiumicino rate given the shorter distance.
Private Transfers
Pre-booked private transfers (a driver meeting you at arrivals with a name board) cost more than public transport but remove all the guesswork — worth it for late-night arrivals, large groups, or if you're arriving with a lot of luggage and want zero friction. Book through a reputable operator rather than accepting an unsolicited offer inside the terminal.
Which Should You Choose?
Landing at Fiumicino, staying near Termini or the centre: Leonardo Express, no contest. Landing at Fiumicino, staying in Trastevere or Ostiense: the FL1 regional train, which stops closer to those neighbourhoods than Termini does. Landing at Ciampino: a bus transfer to Termini unless you're arriving very late, in which case a taxi or pre-booked transfer removes the uncertainty. Arriving with young kids, heavy luggage, or after midnight, at either airport: a taxi or pre-booked private transfer is worth the extra cost.