Buses to Rome from FCO airport

You can take the Leonardo Express to Termini and then transfer to the subway metro Line A (aka the pickpocket express) to the stop Ottaviano for the Vatican. Or if you are not adept at public transportation and can afford it take a taxi because you still will have to find your way from the metro stop Ottaviano to the doorstep of wherever in the Vatican area you are staying. But in the age of smart phones and Google maps it is easier than ever.

There are several bus services that make a route between FCO and Rome, these are mostly private companies, not Metro buses, a simple search will bring up companies, probably best to start with the FCO website. However, your evening arrival may limit options.

The Leonardo Express only operates from FCO to Termini station, you would then need to switch to the Metro or bus to get to the Vatican area. If you do the math, at 14 EUR each for express tickets, then a few euro for metro tickets, at ~30 for a couple, you could argue 50 EUR for a taxi might be a good deal for much less hassle.

On all of these, no need to prebook, just buy when you show up, most of the buses you pay the driver. Metro and city buses are contactless, just scan your credit card.

You may be jet-lagged, so schlepping bags and making multiple transfers at night on public transportation to an unfamiliar area does not sound appealing to me. It did not take longer than an hour to get thru FCO once we landed. We made a previous reservation for a driver to meet us at FCO, and he drove us to the door of our hotel. 50 euros well spent.

Demi, SIT coach buses from FCO do have a stop very near the Vatican.

This is the list of bus services on the FCO airport website, where it's noted that this bus line make this stop.
https://www.adr.it/web/aeroporti-di-roma-en/pax-fco-bus

The SIT website is www.sitbusshuttle.com
Schedule: https://www.sitbusshuttle.com/en/fiumicino-rome-timetable/

Dropoff points:
https://www.sitbusshuttle.com/en/bus-stops/#fiumicino

As noted, the dropoff point for the Vatican is at Via Crescenzio 19: it is directly behind Castel Sant' Angelo: reference a google map.

We've used airport coach shuttles a couple of times in Italy and find them to be very inexpensive, comfortable, clean and safe. Current fare sheet shows a mere 7 euro from airport to Rome city center/your dropoff point.

https://www.sitbusshuttle.com/en/timetable-and-fares/

Thanks to all who replied! Much appreciated!😀

...jet-lagged...schlepping bags...multiple transfers at night... public transportation...unfamiliar area....

For the reasons listed above, you might want to consider an official taxi or a private driver. It will cost more than a bus, and a private car will cost a little more than a taxi, but you may find it money well spent. We do -- and we don't believe in just throwing money away. If you consider a private driver, check our romecabs.com. We've used them a number of times and have always been pleased.

Take a taxi at the taxi stand in front of the terminals. 50€ and half hour later you are at the door step of your accommodations. Don’t bother with multiple modes of public transportation when you are tired from a long flight and carrying luggage with you. With two or more people a taxi is not much more expensive than train+metro+taxi.

I agree with the recommendations above. My husband and I (mid 50’s and mid 60’s) love traveling by train in Europe and use public transportation. We are older and this last trip (September-October) we take the Leonardo Express from the airport to Roma Termini. We then walked a few blocks to our hotel. We travel with carryon bags only, but we decided in the future, we will take a taxi or hired car from the airport to the hotel. For us, the long flight, getting through border control and the long walk through the airport, coupled with jet lag, we are just taking the easier (to us) option of a taxi or hired car.

Depending on how close the OP is staying to the SIT bus dropoff spot, she may not need multiple forms of transport. It would just be coach bus from airport to the dropoff at Via Crescenzio 19 and walk from there. It does depend on where her accommodation is, and the number of people traveling with her could make a difference too.

Hello,
Just want to clarify;
1) it is not a long haul flight.
2) No luggage except small carry-on
3) I am helping plan a trip for someone else
4) They like to take public transportation when possible
5) They have been to Italy before. Have used private drivers and official taxi (green and white) and public but it’s been a while .
And personally I think taxi’s are a waste of euros compared to a few euro for a bus- I would rather use my euros on food and goods but that’s just me .
Thanks for all the great info!
Happy Travels✨

I agree with Kathy
I used Sitbus recently when I arrived at FCO. Took me near Vatican as Kathy noted.

One advise - you’ll pay 1E more if you show up without a ticket - but I took out my iPhone and purchased the tickets while waiting in line - and showed my ticket on my iPhone to the attendant- saved me 1E

Rome's Metro A to close early for a year and a half

https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/rome-metro-a-to-close-early-for-a-year-and-a-half.html

Only Fridays and Saturdays, 05.30-01.30

Other days 05.30-21.00

Rome's Metro A to close early for a year and a half
https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/rome-metro-a-to-close-early-for-a-year-and-a-half.html
Only Fridays and Saturdays, 05.30-01.30 Other days 05.30-21.00

That article is from July 2022.
Not sure if these closures ever actually happened. Which is often the case.

More current info
https://www.wantedinrome.com/news/romes-metro-a-subway-resumes-full-service.html

Right, that is an outdated article, and I'm not seeing anything on the ATAC website about Line A closures other than a few weeks for track work last August.

https://www.atac.roma.it/en/media/news