FCO - 4 hour wait time for travel companion

Are you headed in to Rome for your first night or moving from the airport on to another location?

Is this after an international flight?

I often stay at the Hilton at the airport, and when there, my wife and I like to walk to the terminal and visit Santé, a wine bar. It’s before security, therefore you can access even if you are not a ticketed passenger. They have food and of course wine. Most other shops and restaurants are beyond security, therefore you won’t be able to access unless you are a ticketed passenger.

I'll be flying in from Chicago via Dublin so I'm not sure if I'll pass through customs in Dublin or in Rome. My friend is flying direct from LA so she'll have to do customs in Rome. We will be picking up a rental car (her reservation) then driving north.

The restaurant outside of security may be a good option. I'll need to find an atm for cash and probably grab a SIM card for my phone. Other than that I was hoping that I would still have access to the shops within security. I fly with carry-on only so don't have to hurry.

With four hours to wait, just go to your hotel and check in.

Agree with Suki. Your friend might arrive later, hit a time when getting through immigration is prolonged. Even if everything goes swimmingly, 4 hours is a long time to kill. Go to your hotel.

But it sounds like the OP is driving north with friend, not checking into a hotel in Rome. If the friend is renting a car, I don't think spending the night in Rome is a good option.

The ATM machines are in the arrival hall. Look for Bancomat.

I don’t remember if there are any mobile phone shops in the terminal outside security. Ask. The major providers are TIM or Vodafone.
For sure you can find a Vodafone and a TIM store at the nearby “Parco Leonardo” Shopping Mall. To get there take the train FM1 (not the Leonardo Express, which makes no intermediate stops). The Parco Leonardo is the very next station after the Fiumicino aeroporto station. The train ticket from the airport to the Parco Leonardo station is 8€ each way (I know, it’s highway robbery for a 3 min ride) and you can buy tickets at the kiosks. Remember to validate (date stamp) at the stamping machines before boarding. The Parco Leonardo train station is across the street from the shopping mall. If you want you can spend the 4 hours there. Besides the telephone stores, there are way more shopping options than at the airport terminal. Don’t make the mistake to take the taxi to the mall. The way to get there from the freeway is convoluted and taxi drivers always get lost. The train is way easier.

FCO Terminal 3 is huge and loaded with restaurants and shops - all airside. You’ll also find a TIM store near the exit to get a SIM card. Their are some information booths and they’ll be able to guide you to a bank-operated ATM machine.

My friend is flying direct from LA so she'll have to do customs in Rome. We will be picking up a rental car (her reservation) then driving north.

Who is doing the driving and how far are you going?

After 12 hours in the air ( 13 hours in the plane), getting in a car and driving is probably at or near the top of "things not to do" list.

Any ideas on ways to spend my time?

Pray

I managed to kill time at FCO while waiting for my friend - I pretty much stayed in the E gates area. I should have crossed thru passport control sooner but not exited to get to the other gate areas. It would have meant more stores to look at. (I was carry on only - this won’t work if you have checked bags.)

I got my SIM card from the TIM store by the B gates which only took 20 minutes or so including waiting in line. After leaving the baggage claim / customs area I used a bank ATM. Then bought a soda at a newsagent to break a 20 Euro note. (I pulled out 280 euro to make sure it wasn’t all 50 euro bills) At that point I should have gone up to arrivals where more shops/food options were available. Arrivals is fairly grim in comparison.

Once my friend arrived we picked up the rental car for our drive to the hills above Florence. I had the driving directions set in my offline google map but within the garage I wasn’t getting cell signal. It was pretty easy to get out onto the autostrada where cell service returned. But I do suggest taking a look so you have some idea of your first few turns.

It’s been a wonderful trip so far - Thanks for the ideas everyone!