FCO to Roma Termini

Step 1 - Walk towards the front of the airport after clearing immigration and customs.
Step 2 - Look for overhead signs directing towards the train
Step 3 - Follow arrows.
Step 4 - Arrive at the airport train station. Total walking distance -- maybe a hundred yards.

Step 5 - Buy ticket at ticket window on your left. Or use a ticket machine if you have Euro. No difference.
Step 6 - Validate (time stamp) ticket in the little blue/yellow/green box near train. Watch others do it.
Step 7 - Board train. Make sure it is the Leonard Express - Read signs or ask question. There is also a local train at the station. Be prepared to show ticket to conductor if he/she comes around.
Step 8 - Get off in Termini and walk to front of station. If you are taking the metro on to your next stop. The metro is down a set of stairs and you will need a separate ticket. Look for sign.

Just buy a single ticket. The earlier discussion still applies. With jet lag and everything will doubt if you will have much need for addition transportation your first day.

I thought we had covered this very well in your 9/10 question. You are over processing. Hundreds, thousands of tourists do this nearly daily. Signage is good and in English.

I appreciate you detailed instructions very much.

The machine also accepts credit cards.

Since my last communication, I have accepted your advice, and that of others, and have reserved a different hotel. I am now staying at a hotel just a few blocks from Termini, and was able to cancel my original booking with no fees. Thanks again.

Helen, Thank you much. You information is helpful.

My experience now is it has to be true chip and pin card. In the past they accepted mag strip cards but slowly those machines have been replaced. If you don't have a true chip and pin, then always have cash as back-up if the mag card doesn't work.

Thank you Frank. I have a chip card, or perhaps, I should just buy the ticket in Euros from a news/tobacco stand ? Once again, your detailed advice is great.

A US chip card is a signature and chip and not a chip and pin. There is a difference. Sometime the US chip and signature card will be accepted but it can be rejected. Unless you have a true chip and pin, you cannot rely on the US chip card to always be accepted. And there is a manned ticket sales window at the airport station. There is also a tobacco shop across from the ticket window. Use either but the tobacco shop is more likely to want cash only.

Cash at the tobacco stand may be the way to go. thanks

Why am I getting the feeling you don't want to use the ticket window?

In all my inquiries no one has suggested the ticket window. the only options thus far suggested to me were the ticket machine or a news/tobacco stand. I have no relunctance to going to the ticket window, just didnt know anything about it. I agree, the ticket window sounds like the thing to do. Thank you much, again.

Frank, In rereading one of your posts, I do see that you suggeted the manned-ticket window earlier. thanks much.

Have you looked at, review any guidebooks for Rome or Italy? What do you think they do at the ticket windows? This where you can buy tickets --

1. Ticket window in near all train stations. Very small stations might have fully manned window.
2. Tickets machines - cash or chip & pin credit card. There may be some old mag card readers around but don't plan on it.
3. Any travel agency in the city. Look for the Trenitalia railroad sign outside the shop.
4. Tobacco stands for local transit tickets. Not long distance trains
5. TI will often have local tickets.

6. And on-line via the train site.

Of course I realize that tickets are sold at a ticket window. I appreciate your help and advice. I am less appreciative of your condescending tone. thank you

I am trying to the keep the answers very simple since it appears that you need a lot of hand holding. Sorry if it appears condescending but just trying to be very accurate. These are very basic questions that you kept asking and re-asking. And we keep trying to answer. You really should spend sometime with a couple of good guidebooks.

Frank, I am appreciative of everyone's assistance, truly I am. However, questions such as "What do you think a ticket booth is for ?" is, without question, condescending. Yes, I am nervous about finding my way around Rome, traveling alone, and never having been there. I am sorry if my questiions seem non-sensical to you.