Rome's Dual Airport System: Travel Options Explored

Rome has two airports: Fiumicino Airport (FCO), also known as Leonardo da Vinci Airport, and Ciampino Airport (CIA), also known as Giovan Battista Pastine Airport. Fiumicino is Rome's main airport, with five terminals and 36 gates, and is used by major airlines. Ciampino is the smaller of the two airports and is used by budget airlines.

Rome's Fiumicino Airport (FCO)

Romes Fiumicino Airport (FCO), officially named Leonardo da Vinci Airport, is a major port of call for intercontinental, national, and European flights. It is located 32km from Rome and is the city's main airport.

Fiumicino is Italy's busiest airport and the 9th busiest in Europe, serving over 40 million passengers in 2023. It has five terminals and 36 gates, with more than 43 million passengers passing through each year. The airport is served by 111 airlines flying to and from 208 destinations across 76 countries.

Fiumicino is where most major airlines will land, so if you're travelling internationally, you will likely arrive here. The airport offers a range of transport options to get to and from the city centre, including licensed taxis, buses, and trains. The Leonardo Express train, for example, takes 30 minutes to get to Rome's main railway station, Stazione Termini, and runs every 30 minutes between 6:30 am and 11:30 pm.

Fiumicino Airport has a wide range of shopping and dining options, as well as essential services such as banking and currency exchange. There are also executive and airline lounges in all terminals, providing a quiet space for passengers to relax and wait for their flights.

The airport is well-equipped to assist passengers with reduced mobility, with disabled parking spaces, elevators, and accessible toilets. Tourist information desks are also available in the arrival halls of each terminal for those who need suggestions or assistance during their visit to Rome.

Rome's Ciampino Airport (CIA)

Romes Ciampino Airport (CIA) is one of two airports in Rome, the other being Fiumicino Airport. Ciampino Airport is located 12km (7.5 miles) south-southeast of central Rome, just outside the Greater Ring Road, the circular motorway around the city. It is the smaller of the two airports and is used by budget airlines such as Easyjet, Wizz Air, and Ryanair. It is also a commercial and military airport, hosting the headquarters of the 31º Stormo and the 2nd Reparto Genio of the Italian Air Force.

Ciampino Airport was opened in 1916 and is one of the oldest airports still in operation. It was Rome's main airport until 1960, serving over 2 million passengers per year. After the opening of Fiumicino Airport, Ciampino handled almost exclusively charter and executive flights for several decades. However, in the early 2000s, the terminal facilities were extended to accommodate the growing number of low-cost carrier operations.

The airport has a single, one-story passenger terminal building for departures and arrivals. The departures area consists of a main hall with some stores and service facilities, 31 check-in counters, and 16 departure gates. The arrivals area has a separate entrance and features four baggage belts and some more service counters. The airport is relatively small and easy to navigate, with all flights departing from or arriving at this single terminal.

Ciampino Airport is conveniently located only about 12km (8 miles) from the center of Rome, making it the closer of the two airports to the city. There are various transportation options available to get to and from the airport, including buses, taxis, trains, and car rentals. The airport also has ample parking facilities located a short distance from the terminal.

The airport provides essential amenities such as ATMs, banks, currency exchange, and VAT refunds. It also offers shopping and dining options, including fashion, essentials, food, and more. Additionally, the airport provides resources for disabled travellers, such as designated parking spaces, accessible bathroom facilities, and wheelchair-accessible lifts.

Ciampino Airport is a great option for those travelling on a budget or those looking for a fuss-free and convenient airport experience when travelling to or from Rome.

Transport options from Fiumicino Airport to Rome

Rome's Fiumicino Airport, also known as Leonardo da Vinci Airport, is located about 20 miles from the city centre. There are several transport options to get from the airport to Rome. Here are some of them:

Leonardo Express Train

The Leonardo Express is a direct train service from Fiumicino Airport to Rome's main railway station, Stazione Termini. The train departs every 15 to 30 minutes and the journey takes around 32 minutes. Tickets cost €14 one way and must be stamped before boarding. The service runs between 6:30 am and 11:30 pm.

FL1 Regional Trains

The FL1 is a commuter train line that connects Fiumicino Airport with several stations in central Rome, including Trastevere, Ostiense, Tuscolana, and Tiburtina. The train departs every 15 to 30 minutes and the journey takes about 30 minutes. Tickets cost €8.

Taxi

Taking a taxi from Fiumicino Airport to Rome city centre is another option. The journey will take approximately 40 minutes and cost around €50. It is important to take an official marked taxi from the rank, which will have a 'taxi' light on top and a taxi license number.

Bus

There are shuttle bus services available from Fiumicino Airport to Termini train station. The journey takes about 50 minutes and buses run approximately every hour. Tickets cost €7 one way and €13 return. There are two main providers: SIT BuShuttle and Terravision.

Car

If you prefer to drive, the journey from Fiumicino Airport to Rome is about a 40-minute drive, depending on traffic.

Transport options from Ciampino Airport to Rome

Rome has two airports: Leonardo da Vinci Airport (Fiumicino) and Ciampino Airport. Fiumicino is the larger and busier of the two, with more than 43 million passengers passing through each year. It is located 32km from the city centre and is used by major airlines. Ciampino, on the other hand, is a smaller airport used by budget airlines such as EasyJet and Ryanair. It is located closer to the city centre, about 25 miles from the Colosseum. Here are some transport options for travelling from Ciampino Airport to the city centre of Rome:

Bus

There are several bus services that connect Ciampino Airport to Rome's main public transport hub, Termini Station, in the heart of the city centre. These include the Terravision, SIT, and RomeAirportBus-Schiaffini buses, which offer cheap transfers for as little as €5. Online fares purchased in advance are usually cheaper than buying on the day, and round-trip fares are often cheaper than two one-way tickets. The journey time is around 40 minutes. There is also a local ATRAL bus that shuttles between the airport and the Anagnina Metro Station, the southern terminus of Line A of the Rome Metro. This option is cheaper but not as comfortable or quick.

Taxi

Official airport taxis are white with an illuminated "Taxi" sign on the roof. A taxi ride from the airport to the city centre costs approximately €30-€40. It is important to agree on a price before getting into the taxi to avoid being overcharged.

Train

Although there is no direct rail link to Ciampino Airport, passengers can take a bus to the nearby Ciampino Station and then take a train into Rome. The Ciampino Airlink offers a combined bus and train trip for €2.70 each way. The bus from the airport to Ciampino Station takes about 10 minutes, and from there, trains depart frequently to Rome Termini Station. The total commute time is around one hour.

Terminals and airlines at Fiumicino Airport

Fiumicino Airport, also known as Leonardo da Vinci Airport, is Italy's busiest airport, serving over 40 million passengers in 2023. The airport has four terminals, but only two are currently in use: Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. Terminal 2 has been permanently closed, and Terminal 5 is undergoing renovations.

Terminal 1, also known as Gates A1–A83, is the home base for ITA Airways, the Italian flag carrier, and other low-cost airlines such as Wizz Air, RyanAir, and Vueling. It offers a variety of services, including check-in counters, security checkpoints, duty-free shops, and dining options. Terminal 1 also features an Eataly food court and the largest Aelia duty-free zone in the world.

Terminal 3 is the larger of the two terminals and serves the majority of long-haul flights, including those to and from the US. Airlines operating from this terminal include American Airlines, Air Canada, Delta, United, British Airways, Emirates, and Etihad. Terminal 3 also incorporates the former Terminal 5 and the satellite building for non-Schengen departures. It has a wide range of shopping options, including the Made in Italy shopping centre with over 50 shops selling authentic Italian goods.

In addition to the four main terminals, Fiumicino Airport also has a dedicated Cargo City terminal for cargo operations.

To navigate between the terminals, passengers can use the free shuttle buses or walk, as the terminals are just a five-minute walk apart.

Frequently asked questions