Rome airport train: getting to the city center from Fiumicino and Ciampino

Rome has two airports, and the train works differently at each. At Fiumicino (FCO), the station is inside the airport grounds and two kinds of trains leave from it: the nonstop Leonardo Express and the regional FL1 trains. At Ciampino (CIA), the main airport for low-cost airlines, there is no station: you first take a shuttle bus to the station in the town of Ciampino. Once you know which airport you land at and where you are staying, the choice is quick. To plan the rest of your stay, see our complete guide to visiting Rome.

Which train should you take from the Rome airport to the city center?

The right train depends mostly on the neighborhood where you are staying. The table compares the three rail options using information published by Trenitalia, Aeroporti di Roma and the Rome tourist board.

In short: if you are staying around Termini, the Esquilino, Monti or near a metro station well connected to Termini, the Leonardo Express is the simplest. If you are sleeping in Trastevere, Testaccio or near metro line B to the south, the FL1 drops you closer and costs less. From Ciampino, the Airlink is the cheapest rail option to reach Termini.

Leonardo Express: the nonstop train from Fiumicino to Roma Termini

The Trenitalia Leonardo Express is a nonstop train between Fiumicino Aeroporto station and Roma Termini. It takes about 32 minutes and usually leaves every 15 minutes. At some hours the interval stretches to 30 minutes.

Leonardo Express schedule

• Fiumicino to Termini: first departure 5:38 a.m., last 11:27 p.m.
• Termini to Fiumicino: first departure 4:50 a.m., last 11:05 p.m.

These are the times shown by Trenitalia and by Aeroporti di Roma. The French version of the Trenitalia site still lists shorter operating hours. If your flight lands late or leaves very early, check the day's PDF timetable on the Trenitalia site before counting on the first or last train.

Fares and discounts

• Single ticket: €14 (about $15).
• “Minigruppi” fare: 4 tickets for €40 (about $44) instead of €56 (about $62), bought in a single transaction.
• Book of 10 trips: €115 (about $127).
• Children: free under 4. Children aged 4 to under 12 travel free, one per paying adult.
• Luggage: no extra charge, including for large suitcases.

Buying and validating your ticket

The fastest method is to go straight through the gates at Fiumicino Aeroporto or Roma Termini with a contactless bank card, a smartphone or a smartwatch. The fare is charged and validated as you pass. One card covers only one passenger: each traveler must use their own card or device. You can also buy a ticket at the Trenitalia desk in the airport, at the self-service machines, on the website or in the Trenitalia app.

Paper tickets from the book of 10 must be validated before departure. They remain valid for 90 minutes after validation.

FL1 regional train: Trastevere, Ostiense and Tiburtina for €8

Regional trains on the FL1 line leave from the same Fiumicino Aeroporto station. They do not go to Termini, but serve several Roman stations, including Roma Trastevere, Roma Ostiense and Roma Tiburtina. According to the Rome tourist board, it takes 48 minutes to Tiburtina and a single ticket costs €8 (about $9).

• Frequency: every 15 minutes on weekdays, every 30 minutes on weekends and public holidays, according to Aeroporti di Roma.
• Connections: Ostiense is linked to Piramide station on metro line B, and Tiburtina is also on line B.
• Children: Trenitalia advertises free travel for children under 12 accompanied by a paying adult on these airport trains.

The FL1 ticket is sold at the Trenitalia desks and machines at the airport, on the website or in the Trenitalia app. On the machines, make sure you choose a Regionale train and your arrival station (Trastevere, Ostiense or Tiburtina) rather than the Leonardo Express. A paper regional ticket must be validated before you board.

The FL1 is mainly worth it if your accommodation is on the west bank of the Tiber, in Testaccio, on the Aventine or in the university district of San Lorenzo. It spares you from going through Termini and then taking a bus or the metro back out.

Where is the train station at Fiumicino airport?

Fiumicino Aeroporto station is inside the airport grounds, near the arrivals and departures terminals. In the arrivals hall, follow the “Treni / Trains” signs. Aeroporti di Roma provides a station map on its train page. The station screens show the platform and type of train: make sure it is the Leonardo Express if you are going to Termini, or an FL1 regional otherwise.

Ciampino: how to get to Rome by train

Ciampino airport has no station. The rail option is called Ciampino Airlink: a single ticket covers a shuttle bus to Ciampino station, then a regional train to Roma Termini.

1. The bus leaves from the forecourt in front of the terminal, at stop (stallo) no. 6. It reaches Ciampino station in about ten minutes, with no stops in between. It drops you in front of the station exit, on the platform 1 side.
2. The regional train then runs from Ciampino to Roma Termini. When the service launched, the FS group announced about 15 minutes for this stretch and about 30 minutes in total to Termini.

The combined ticket costs €2.70 (about $3), of which €1.20 (about $1.30) is for the bus. It is sold on the Trenitalia website and app, at machines and ticket desks, and at some affiliated tobacconists. Enter “Ciampino Aeroporto” as the departure or arrival station. The bus portion cannot be bought separately through Trenitalia channels.

For children, regional train rules apply: free under 4 with no seat, half fare from 4 to under 12. There is no discount on the bus portion, however.

Taking the train from Rome to the airport for your return

On the way back, the Leonardo Express leaves Roma Termini from 4:50 a.m., and the last train is at 11:05 p.m. There are no seat reservations: buy the ticket or tap your contactless card at the gate, then board the next departure. The platform varies from day to day, so rely on the screens at Termini. If you are staying near Trastevere or Ostiense, the FL1 in the other direction saves you crossing the city.

For Ciampino, buy the Airlink ticket with Ciampino Aeroporto as the destination. The train drops you at Ciampino station, where the bus waits in front of the exit on the platform 1 side.

Can you go from Fiumicino airport to Florence, Naples or Venice by train?

Yes. According to Trenitalia, some Frecciarossa trains leave directly from Fiumicino Aeroporto station for Florence, Bologna, Padua, Venice and Naples, with no change in Rome. The number of departures is limited: book on the Trenitalia site at the same time as your flight if you are connecting straight to another city. To build a multi-stop trip starting from Rome, our Italy section helps you choose which cities and regions to combine.

Train, bus or taxi: when the train is not the best option

The train remains the most reliable choice at rush hour, since it avoids the traffic on the Fiumicino highway. It becomes less practical in three cases:

• Arriving before the first train or after the last: you will need a bus or a taxi.
• A group of three or four with lodging far from the stations: a taxi may be simpler, especially with lots of luggage. Compare it with the combined cost of tickets plus a metro or bus ride.
• From Ciampino: several coach companies run directly to Termini, and the ATAC city buses 520 and 720 connect to the metro. These are alternatives if the Airlink bus-train connection does not line up well.

For all these options, schedules and fares change regularly: check them on the day on the websites of Trenitalia, Aeroporti di Roma and the Rome tourist board.

Frequently asked questions