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Just about to begin an Italian adventure? Let’s make your arrival in Rome a smooth and easy process so you can relax and enjoy your trip. In this article, we share how to organize your Rome airport transfer and the best ways to get from either of the two airports in Rome to the city center and your accommodation.

Rome airports – check your flight details before arranging transfers

This table provides a quick overview of your options for getting to and from the airports in Rome. In general, if your party includes 3 or more people with luggage the most efficient and cost effective way to get from the airports to your accommodation is with a taxi or private transfer.

Both train and bus transfers will require additional transit time and cost from Roma Termini train station.

Welcome Pickups is a friendly Rome airport transfer service for your arrival into Rome. They have an easy-to-use and reliable system for booking airport transfers in Italy, Europe and around the world. Rates include meet and greet service for around the same price as a local taxi.  Customer service is available via their passenger/driver chat system – > click here for quote

Contents

Rome’s Fiumicino airport (also known as Leonardo da Vinci airport) is 32 kilometers (around 20 miles) from central Rome. Trips into the city center take between half and one hour depending on the time of day and mode of transport.

TIP: journeys by car (taxi or private car) are longest during weekday afternoon and evening commuter peak hours from 17:00 to 19:00

There is a flat rate of €55 for taxi rides from Fiumicino airport into central Rome – the area inside the Aurelian walls which covers most places where visitors stay. The rate applies to parties of up to four people and their luggage. The journey from FCO to central Rome usually takes between 40 minutes and an hour depending on traffic.

When you exit the arrivals hall and baggage claim, follow the signs to the taxi stands and wait in line for your taxi. The official Rome taxis are usually white and they always have white roofs.

Do NOT agree to get in a taxi with a random person you meet in the arrivals hall. These people are operating illegally and the chance you will pay through the nose is very high.

Yes, they do however always check with the driver that the machine is working before commencing your journey. “Accettate carte di credito?” – is a useful phrase to know.

TIP: try to pay with notes less than €50, eg 2 x €20 and 1 x €10 – it’s an old trick in the book for unscrupulous taxi drivers to trick tourists by saying they only gave a €20 note

After a long journey, take the stress out of trying to find where to go when you arrive and prebook your airport transfer to Rome.  Door to door service means you are met at the arrivals hall and have help with your luggage until you reach your hotel or apartment. There is no need to grapple with a different currency, language and customs when you first arrive.

Available 24/7, a private car transfer will take between 30 minutes and one hour door to door.

This option is great for those traveling with children and in larger groups as you can choose child car seats and the type of vehicle that works best for your group. With our recommended provider Welcome Pickups you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance > Click here to book with Welcome Pickups

Alternative transfer service we use and recommend:

Suntransfers – offers a wide range of vehicles for groups of all sizes. Transfers can be canceled up to 48 hours in advance with no penalty.

If you are staying near the station or are happy to use public transport to reach your final destination the Leonardo Express fast train service to Roma Termini train station is the best option for your transfer to Rome.

This option is also the common sense approach if you have an immediate transfer to another part of Italy by train departing from Roma Termini.

The Leonardo Express takes just 32 minutes to get to Roma Termini and runs from 06:08 am until 23:23 pm. Trains depart every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes at non peak times. It arrives at platforms 23 and 24.

A one-way fare is €14 – children under 4 ride for free, and one child aged between 4 and 12 is free with each paying adult. There is no need to book in advance however make sure to validate your tickets in the green machines on the platforms before you board your train or risk large fines.

If you want to avoid lines at the ticket machines and remembering to validate your ticket you can buy them online with Omio (our favorite service and app for buying train tickets in Italy).

Follow the signs marked “Treni” at the arrivals hall. The walk to the train platforms is around 500 meters.

NOTE: the Leonardo Express service is guaranteed should there be a strike. This happens frequently in Italy

You can also take the slower regional train that stops at Trastevere Station, Ostiense, and Tiburtina on its journey to Roma Termini.

This is a slower and cheaper option – €8 – to Roma Termini – but is useful if you are staying near the stations mentioned above or want to connect to the Metro – your best option is Piramide metro stop which you can reach at Ostiense.

This train service runs from 05:57 am with the last train departing at 23:42 pm. There are departures every 15 minutes however on Sundays and late at night there is one every 30 minutes.

Buy your tickets at the machines at the airport station. There is no need to prebook but make sure you validate your ticket or risk a large fine.

We do not recommend using the local bus service to get from the airport to central Rome. Apart from being very slow there is no room for luggage.

Instead, a cost-effective way to get to Roma Termini (with plenty of room for luggage) is on the Rome airport shuttle bus. This bus service operates from 08:30 am- 23:00 pm with departures every 30-40 minutes. The journey takes around 45 minutes to an hour to Roma Termini and the bus stops at Piazza Cavour for the Vatican City.

Fares are €6 for adults and children 5 and over. Kids 4 and under ride for free. It is advisable to prebook this service to avoid long wait times during peak tourist season May to September as well as the Easter holidays.

The bus departure point is outside Terminal 3. You can easily walk between terminals using the covered walkways > Click here to book the airport shuttle bus

Rome’s Ciampino airport is 16 kilometers and depending on the traffic takes around 35 minutes by car or bus to the center of Rome. It is a much smaller airport and mainly serves low cost airlines like RyanAir and WizzAir.

Unfortunately, there is no direct train service connecting Ciampino airport to central Rome.

There is a flat rate of €40 for taxi rides from Fiumicino airport into central Rome. The rate applies to parties of up to four people and their luggage. The journey from Ciampino airport to central Rome usually takes between 35 and 50 minutes depending on traffic.

Unfortunately, some taxi drivers refuse to accept this fare and want to charge meter rates or more. Make sure you confirm the fare before starting your journey. You can use the MyTaxi app to call a taxi if you are having problems.

The easiest way to get from Ciampino airport to Rome and your accommodation is via private transfer. Your driver will meet you in the arrivals hall and help with your luggage. You can then relax on the 30-40 minute journey (depending on end location and traffic) to your accommodation in central Rome in comfort.

This service is available 24/7 for a fixed price. If you book online there is no need to worry about currency and conversions or negotiating with drivers. For those traveling with children, you can book car seats in advance.

We prefer to use Welcome Pickups because they offer great prices and service as well as the flexibility to cancel your ride in exchange for a voucher up to 24 hours before your booking > Click here to book with Welcome Pickups

A cost effective way to get to Roma Termini (with plenty of room for luggage) is on the Ciampino airport shuttle bus. This bus service operates from 08:45 am- 23:10 pm with departures every 30-40 minutes. The journey takes around 45 minutes to an hour to Roma Termini.

Fares are €6 for adults and children 5 and over. Kids 4 and under ride for free. It is advisable to prebook this service to avoid long wait times during peak tourist season May to September as well as the Easter holidays.

Head outside the Arrivals Terminal to Bus Stop no.1  > Click here to book

There is a couple of local bus services however we do not recommend this journey if you have any luggage or time constraints. Bus 720 stops 22 times before reaching Laurentina where you can transfer to Metro line B. Route 520 stops outside Rome Metro subways Cinecitta and Subaugusta on Metro Line A – on a route of 9 bus stops. 

Ciampino Airlink is a combined train and bus service that launched in March 2019. A bus service takes you direct to Ciampino station where you can transfer to trains to Roma Termini. From the train station, you will need to make your way to your accommodation.

Catch the shuttle bus opposite the airport entrance. The cost is €2.70 and the journey will take between 30 minutes and an hour depending on connections. There are regular train departures from Ciampino to Termini – every 10 minutes or so from 06:15 am to 22:40 pm but the bus service to Ciampino train service is less regular – click here for timetable and more details

READ: our guide to the Top Italian airports for international & regional travel

Welcome Pickups – pre-book a trained, English-speaking driver to pick you up at the airport for the same price as a regular taxi. You’ll be met and greeted at the gate and transferred in comfort to your accommodation. Should your flight be delayed, wait time is included in the price. Child seats for all age categories are available to book online.

Suntransfers – offers a variety of options to suit your travel style and group size such as private cars, shuttles, minivans, and coaches. Your driver will always meet you in person and assist with your luggage. Pricing is competitive and you can cancel your booking up to 48 hours before departure without penalty. The online booking service is easy to use and you can access customer service 24/7.

Uber has a limited presence in Italy and while it is available in Rome we much prefer to use the official taxi service. There are many more cars available and you can call one easily on the FreeNow app which works a lot like Uber – you can track the driver who has accepted your fare and keep your payment details saved in the app.

READ: Early or late flight? Check out the Best airport hotels near Rome airport.

Rome is one of the greatest cities on earth and no doubt you have many things planned. If you’re looking for ideas or need practical advice for your trip, check out the following resources:

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