7 hour layover at FCO

The airport is about 35 minutes by train from Roma Termini, where you will find baggage storage. Count on 3 hours to wait for the train, ride to Roma Termini, check your bags, and do it in reverse on the way back. Add in the time you need to go through security again and be in the boarding area before your flight to Greece. Probably not enough time to see much of the city.

oh no 3 hours to wait for a train? Would it make sense to take a cab and go to lunch somewhere? I was thinking 2 hours to get out of the airport and 2 hours to get back in. That is a 3 hour window to sit and enjoy time in a cafe somewhere...that is not an option?

I don't remember any lockers and you might be too early for the check in for the Greece assuming it is not on the same ticket. I think what Zoe is trying to say, Is that it could take three hours to get to Rome. If arriving from the US you will need to go through immigration and customs (if not checked through to Greece). That could take 30 minutes to a couple of hours. We arrived on a Saturday morning in May a couple of years ago and it took close to three hours to clear immigration. From there you count on another hour for the train to Termini. It runs about twice an hour but if you just miss it, then you have to wait another thirty minutes. With a 5.25 departure I would plan on checking in around 4 since the airport can get very crowded late in the day. So it possible that could have two hours in Rome if everything broke against you.

And unfortunately there really is nothing around the airport. You may be just stuck.

The bottom line is you will have to wing it. If your bags are checked through to Greece, and you get through immigration quickly, look at your watch and make your decision then.

As long as you make it back to the airport at least one hour prior to your departure to Greece (or a bit earlier if you need to check your bags again). If your flight from Chicago to Greece is all in one ticket, then your luggage will transfer through automatically and you won't see it until you are in Greece, in which cease you don't need to re-check anything. You just go though security and go straight to the gate. The time it takes to land, deplane, clear immigration, walk to the airport train station (or taxi stand), varies and is not predictable. If you are lucky you might be on the train (or taxi) to the city after one hour from the moment your plane hits the ground.

From Rome city center to the airport it's 32 minutes by Leonardo Express train and there is a train every half hour. If you take a taxi it might take a bit longer at that time of day with traffic (40 to 50 min either direction on avg). The taxi costs 48€ one way (flat fee) from the airport to city center (or viceversa). The train costs 15€ one way per person. If you leave the city center at least 2 hours prior to your departure (I.e. by 3:25pm) you should be ok. So in the best case scenario you might get about 3 hours to see the City. Not much, but better than sitting at the airport for 6 hours.

I meant that it may take you half an hour to get from the jetway to the airport train station, possibly 25 minutes to wait for the train, 35 minutes to Roma Termini, a few minutes to check your luggage and get into a taxi. More than 1.5 hours to get to the Centro Storico from the airport. About that long to get back, plus some time for security and waiting to board. So you might have 2.5-3 hours in Roma, which doesn't sound like much time, and hoping that there are no glitches.

The ruins at Ostia Antica are only a few kilometers away. If time is short it might be a reasonable respite from hours in the airport.

I had thought about recommending Ostia Antica but the issue is getting back. It is not far from the airport for a taxi from the airport to OA would be quick and reasonable. However, getting back is the problem. You don't regular taxi service and the park is not that popular. The last time we were there we took the train but thought we could take a taxi back just for convenience. It was a weekday so maybe Saturday would be better. We thought that we could grab a taxi that was dropping off someone else. We waited about 45 minutes and never saw another vehicle so finally took the train back. Somehow you would have to schedule a taxi return. And no place to storage luggage.

In Italy, taxis are called. Just ask someone at Ostia Antica to call one for you for the return.

Debra, if this is your only chance to see a bit of Rome, another possibility, perhaps a little pricey though, would be to negotiate with a taxi driver (or pre-arrange with a car service or guide) to take you from the airport into the city and provide a driving tour of the city, maybe stopping at a couple of key places for a short time, and then deliver you back to the airport at a certain time. That might mean 3 to 4 hours with the vehicle, of which 2 to 3 hours would be in Rome itself. I've never done anything like that myself.

I like Larry's idea and I bet romecabs.com would provide such a service.

Hey Everyone! Those are great ideas and thank you! I have been to Italy twice before and have used this forum many times.

The recommendations have always been great! This trip is actually a "Greece" vacation, but our layover is 7 hours in Rome. We DO NOT check luggage so we will have our small rolling cases to drag around during this layover. I just hate to sit in the airport if we could leave and relax somewhere out in the sun. I will look into the suggestions. Thank you again :)

You can take the Leonardo Express from FCO airport to Roma Termini, leaves at 8 & 38 minutes after each hour:http://www.roninrome.com/transportation/leonardo-express-the-trenitalia-nonstop-train-to-the-fiumicino-fco-airport.
Roughly a 35 min. ride.

Luggage Storage at Roma Termini: http://www.romatermini.com/en/service/detail/left-luggage

Also: http://www.amoitaly.com/deposit/roma.html

The Leonardo Express departs Roma Termini at 22 & 52 minutes after each hour.
Enjoy your trip.

Here is my plan then: (I am traveling with someone who has never been to Rome) we will catch the Leonardo Express from FCO and when we get to the Rome Termini we will check our time. If we are lucky and we have 3 hours (fingers crossed) I see there is a Hop on/Hop off stop there, the loop takes 1 hr 40 min. Its corny but it does provide a comfortable tour of the city.
If we have less time, can anyone recommend a place to walk to from the Rome Termini station? For example, is there a square nearby that offers a place to eat lunch and people watch?

I have to remember we will be getting off a flight from Chicago, so this plan is contingent upon us having energy LOL

Termini is only 5-10 min Metro subway ride to the Spanish steps (Metro station: Spagna).
Go there. Take a few photos. Maybe have lunch at the Hostaria Da Giggi. Then go back.

Piazza della Repubblica is very close to Roma Termini, has a big fountain, there is a church designed by Michelangelo nearby and two branches of the Musei di Roma all within walking distance.

AWESOME! Thank you :)