Rome Airport & Transport Guide
Rome’s Fiumicino Airport: a Guide to Transport Options
Rome has two airports: the main Fiumicino (FCO) or “Leonardo da Vinci” airport, which operates most long-haul international flights, and the smaller Ciampino (CIA) airport, which handles more domestic flights and low-cost flights. You will probably arrive at Fiumicino if you’re flying from the U.S. or other far-off places. The good news is that the airport has won Europe’s “Best Airport” Award for nearly ten straight years (in the “over 40 million passengers” category), so it’s a great place to start your journey!
There are several ways to get into Rome, depending on where you’re going. If your hotel is near the main Roma Termini train station or you plan on taking public transit from there, the Leonardo Express train is a great option. If you’re heading somewhere else in the city and have heavy bags, you might want to just take a taxi.
Getting into Rome
The express train to Roma Termini is called the Leonardo Express. There are several departures per hour and it takes just over 30 minutes.
Slower regional trains cost less and go to other parts of the city, though they also take quite a bit longer since they make more stops.
Taxis have a fixed price into the historic city center, and as of August 2026 it’s €55
🚗Uber: independent driver services don’t exist in Italy the way they do in the U.S., but the Uber app can help you find a taxi or a luxury car for transfers. Note, however, that it’s usually more expensive than just getting a taxi at a stand (or using a taxi app like FreeNow or itTaxi).
Guide to the Leonardo Express train to Roma Termini
The train station is located across the street from the airport terminal so it’s only a 5-10 minute walk. When you exit the Arrivals area, look for the yellow signs for TRENO/TRAIN (usually to the right when you exit Arrivals) and walk until you see an underpass with stairs and an escalator. This takes you under the road and directly up and into the entrance of the train station. You can also just cross the road at street level and then look for the entrance, as shown above. From there you take another escalator or stairs up one floor to the train departures level.
Pro-Tip: if the escalator below the train station is out of order, there are elevators in a little alcove. Look for the signs!
When you get to the train station you’ll see lots of ticket kiosks. You can buy the Leonardo Express ticket on its own or combine it with onward connections if you’re not staying in Rome. There are often long lines at the ticket machines at the station so if you have a good idea of your timing, you can get yours tickets at the machines in the luggage retrieval area.
Important Details:
Journey Time: the train should only take 32 minutes but it is often delayed by a few (or more) minutes, so leave yourself plenty of time to connect at the Roma Termini train station.
Connections: the Leonardo Express pulls up at the far side of the Roma Termini (usually track 25) so you may have to walk a bit if your connection is way down at another track.
Validating your ticket: if you get a paper ticket, be sure to stamp it in the little machine before you go through the gate. This shows the controller that you have boarded the train.
Trenitalia App: you can also buy your ticket using the Trenitalia app, which is quite handy. Use the QR code to enter the gate, which is the equivalent of stamping it.
Control on Board: they almost always check tickets on this train, so be ready to show yours when the controller comes by.
NOTE: be sure to get on the exact train that’s on your ticket! Regional trains used to have “open tickets” where you could jump on any train, but now you have to take the train at the specific TIME stated on the ticket; if not you may have to pay a fine.
It’s a small train station and there are only 3 platforms, so it’s easy to figure out which is yours. The Leonardo Express is written in big letters on the express train, while regional trains have another destination on the board (here above, on the right, Roma Ostiense) and it will be a regular Trenitalia regional train.
Pro-Tip: walk all the way down and get on the very last car since that will be the first car when the train arrives at Roma Termini. 😉
Roma Termini Train Station
Once you get to Roma Termini, there are plastic partitions that separate the track area with the main hall, so you have to look for an exit. There should be a green arrow among the red X’s. They do this for security. If you have some extra time or want a snack, there’s a big food court upstairs with lots of options. You’ll find everything from sushi to a new Lebanese place to the American burger chain “Five Guys.” Note: once you exit the track area you will need to show your ticket for on onward train (ticket or QR code on your phone) to get back in again.
Rail Destinations from Rome
Now that you’re in Rome, where would you like to go? Here’s a map that shows some destinations and how long it takes by train:
From Florence you can do any of our Tuscany tours, like our Classic Walking Tour or this one that also takes you to the Tuscan Coast.
Head to Naples to start our Amalfi Coast tour.
From Bari you can do our Puglia Walking Tour.
Go to Orvieto or Assisi and have us organize a custom tour of Umbria, including some of the destinations on this Tuscany-Umbria combo tour.
Or you could even hop a ferry over to Sardinia and do a wonderful tour there!
Did you know that we can do any of our walking tours WITHOUT ANY WALKING? Transform any of our active tours into a “culture only” tour.
Contact us to set up your perfect tour, and Buon Viaggio!
🧳✈️⛱️
Frequently Asked Questions about the Leonardo Express train between Fiumicino Airport and the Roma Termini train station:
1. How much does the Leonardo Express train cost?
The train currently costs €14 but they have a group offer where you can get four tickets for €40, which is cheaper than a taxi.
2. Are there toilets on board?
Yes, there are bathrooms on board, though not between every car, so you might have to walk through a bit to find it.
3. Should I buy a ticket in advance?
No, you don’t need to buy your ticket in advance. It’s open seating and they accept standing passengers if it’s crowded. Also, you must take the train that is indicated on your ticket, so if you buy in advance and your plans change, you have to change the ticket or buy a new one. Or just get on and risk a fine.
4. Is there a First Class section?
No, there are no separate classes of cars on this express train.
5. What do I do with my luggage on board?
There are luggage racks between some of the cars, and also smaller racks overhead. If those aren’t convenient, just keep your bags next to you. You can slide smaller bags under the seats or stick them in the spaces between seat rows.
Article by Claire Duiker and Emanuela Angelini, Wild Sage co-founders