Are you planning to visit Rome? To help you arrive at your destination safe and stress-free, ItalyXP has come up with a short guide on how to get to downtown Rome by using the major public and private means of transportation.
So, be ready to take notes and let the trip begin!
Rome has two airports, but most of the tourist going to Rome land at the main one, the Leonardo da Vinci airport, more informally known as Fiumicino airport, and abbreviated "FCO" on flight itineraries.
Fiumicino is the main airport of Rome, for both domestic and international flights. It is also the largest and the busiest, with four terminals (oddly called 1, 2, 3 and 5). As in every major airport, in each terminal there are shops and fashionable restaurants, with Italian famous brands and high-quality cuisine.
Definitely the cheapest way to get to Rome from Fiumicino airport. There are different bus services you can choose, such as the regional transport company COTRAL, which, from Fiumicino (Terminal 2), reach the Cornelia Station (Subway line A), EUR Magliana (Subway line B), Tiburtina Station and Termini Station, as well as many other parts of Lazio. Also, COTRAL provides a night bus service.
Depending on the destination, tickets cost from 3 to 5€ one-way and they can be bought at the exits of the Terminal Arrivals, sales point (newsagents & tobacconists) or directly on the bus, although in this case they'll cost 7€. Find routes and schedules here.
There are also other private bus services you might take, but are on average slightly more expensive:
The fastest choice to reach the centre of Rome from the Fiumicino airport. The train station is located at the exits of the Terminal 3 Arrivals level, and there are two railway lines you can take:
Taxis are parked in front directly out of the doors of each terminal. You can recognize official taxis by the color white, the sign "TAXI" on the top and the identifying license number on the doors, on the back and inside the car.
Because of its awful reputation, taxi service at the Fiumicino airport has been recently standardized with a fixed price of 40€, including baggage and a maximum of four passengers, for all the destinations in the central area of the city (which means inside the Aurelian walls). For all the other destinations the price is that shown on the taxi-meter and it can be very variable.
We strongly recommend avoiding unlicensed or unofficial taxi drivers, who generally try to approach customers right outside the arrival area, as they are ridiculously more expensive and lack the insurance requirements.
If you would like a comfortable and problem-free trip, optimizing time and making the luggage transport easier, we suggest a private tranfer from Fiumicino. In order to avoid scam or fake private drivers at the exit of the airport, as mentioned before, it's best to pre-book a private transfer service, which can be done here.
This option is by far the least stressful of all transfers from Fiumicino airport to the centre: an English-speaking private driver will wait you at the arrival gates. Cars are clean, equipped with all comforts and can accommodate all special requests such as baby seats and extra baggage.
Ciampino is Rome's oldest airport, dating back to 1916. Smaller and less busy than Fiumicino Airport, it is also closer to the city centre (about 12 km south). Despite having only two terminals, Ciampino's traffic has grown a lot in recent years, mostly because of the many low-cost airlines that have chosen this airport as their main destination.
There are few bus services that provide transport from the Ciampino airport to central Rome, operating every half hour, from 5:30 to 22:40. All bus stops are located right outside the arrivals Terminal.
The most common route downtown is the regional transport company COTRAL, which goes either to:Termini station: the main train station of Rome, about 40 minutes from the airport (depending on traffic). Tickets cost 3.90€ one-way or 6.90€ return.Anagnina station: located on the border of the city, less than 20 minutes from the airport, is the terminus of the Subway line A. Tickets cost 1.20€ one-way, but there is an extra fee of 1.20€ if you have big luggage.
Another way to reach central Rome from Ciampino is by the Terravision shuttle bus, which has departures approximately every 30 minutes. It arrives in Termini station and it costs €6 if you buy the ticket on board, or €4 if you buy it online.
Unfortunately Ciampino airport is not directly connected to any train station. However, there is a public bus service (ATRAL) that depart from the airport and stops at the closest railway station (Ciampino station), which is just 10 minutes away. From here, you can take a train and reach Termini station in about 20 minutes. Cost of the train ticket is only 2€, but before getting on board make sure that you validate your ticket by stamping it in the machines by the platform.
Although it can be the cheapest solution, we do not suggest going to Rome by train from Ciampino, because both bus and trains timetables are often unreliable and therefore the trip is likely to be unexpectedly long and uncomfortable.
Taxi drivers are parked at the exit of the arrivals halls, and will likely approach you as soon as you exit the airport. Choose only official taxis that you can recognize by the color white, the sign "TAXI" on the top and the identifying license number on the doors, on the back and inside the car.
Taxi service at the Ciampino airport has been recently standardized with a fixed price of 30€, including baggage and a maximum of four passengers, for all the destinations in the central area of the city (which means inside the Aurelian walls). For all the other destinations the price is that shown on the taxi-meter and it can be very variable.
We strongly recommend avoiding unlicensed or unofficial taxi drivers with fake taxi cars (black or white, but without the license number), as they are ridiculously more expensive and lack the insurance requirements.
If you would like a comfortable and problem-free trip, optimizing time and making the luggage transport easier, we suggest a private tranfer from Ciampino.In order to avoid scam or fake private drivers at the exit of the airport, as mentioned before, it's best to pre-book a private transfer service, which can be done here.
This option is by far the least stressful of all transfers from Ciampino airport to the centre: an English-speaking private driver will wait you at the arrival gates. Cars are clean, equipped with all comforts and can accommodate all special requests such as baby seats and extra baggage.
Civitavecchia means "old town" and was once known as "Centumcellae". Today, the town is mostly famous for its major cruise ship port, one of the busiest in the Entire Mediterranean.
Founded in the 2nd century AD, the Civitavecchia Port is located about 60 miles north-west of central Rome, about an hour's drive from both airports and Rome itself (depending on the traffic). Although not-so-close, it is well connected to Rome, with several bus and railway services operating every hour.
The station is close to the entrance of the Civitavecchia port, but it is quite distant from where the cruise ships usually dock.
To reach the gates you'll have to walk along the pier, towards the Renaissance castle that serves as port authority and where is located the exit of the port. From here, walk down Via Garibaldi for about 15 minutes, until you'll find the train station on your left.
The length of this walk can be very variable depending on where the cruises dock. If you have luggage and don't want to deal with arduous walk, we suggest taking the shuttle buses that provides a service from cruise ships to the dock gates. Also, a quick taxi ride could be a good option.
From the railway station of Civitavecchia there is a good train service, going twice hourly to central Rome.
Local trains take about 60-80 minutes to travel the full route and cost 5€ one-way. The terminus is Termini, Rome's main station, but there are also interim stops such as Trastevere, Ostiense and the Vatican area. Remember that there are no seat reservations and tickets must be stamped before you get on the train.
There are also faster trains, Frecciabianca line, that take less than an hour and cost cost €13.50 in second class or €19.00 in first class. These trains do not stop at any other stations than Termini, and seats are reserved (seat reservation is included in the cost of the ticket).
If you want to reach central Rome in the most comfortable and relaxing way, optimizing time and making the luggage transport easier, we suggest a private tranfer from Civitavecchia. The trip will take 60-80 minutes, and it will be cheaper than the cruise's line transfer service.
In order to avoid scam or fake private drivers at the exit of the port gates, it's best to pre-book a private transfer service, which can be done here.
This option is by far the least stressful of all transfers from Civitavecchia Port to the centre: an English-speaking private driver will wait you at the dock. Cars are clean, equipped with all comforts and can accommodate all special requests such as baby seats and extra baggage.
If you prefer, you can also book online an all-inclusive shore excursion from Civitavecchia Port to Rome. You can choose to visit the Ancient Rome's highlights or the Vatican area; moreover, you can book a panoramic tour of Rome, that will allow you to see the best of Rome in one day.
Rome's main airport, Fiumicino, is about 50km (31 miles) south of Civitavecchia. Despite being the two main accesses to the Eternal City, they are not directly connected,
There are no direct trains between Civitavecchia Port and Rome's main airport, but the ride can be made really easily with a change at Ostiense or Trastever station. The route between Fiumicino airport and Ostiense/Trastever, and Ostiense/Trastever and Civitavecchia both run several times an hour and you can purchase a through ticket.
This is by far the cheapest option (10 to 30€, depending on the train line), but also way more complicated and time-consuming as it can take more than 2 hours to arrive at your destination. We do not recommend it, especially if you have luggage.
Definitely not an option to take into consideration, considering the distance between the two destinations.
The wisest choice if booked online, as it cost less than cruise's line transfer service.
