We are travelling from Australia to Europe in a few days and we will have a 5 hour and 35 minute layover in Roma FCO airport on 19 June during the day, on route to Athens.
Any ideas on what we can do? Myself and two teenaged children. As we will have had 21 hours of flying to get to Rome, we are keen to get out of the airport if possible, but I don’t think there is enough time to go into the city of Rome, so I am hoping there is something else close by to the airport? We arrive in Rome at 10:00 and depart again at 15:35. Our checked bags will be checked straight through to Athens so we will only have our carry on back packs with us.
(We will be back in Rome a few days later to stay for 4 days so I don’t mind not going into the main city for this short layover - just keen to get out of the airport!)
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7229 posts
Ostia Antuca is close to FCO but I don’t think you’ll really have time to get there-visit -get back
You can’t be sure of your flight actually arriving at 10
Add at least an hour to get thru passport control
Then you’ve got to be back at FCO get thru security, check in etc so return to FCO by 1?
Really only have 2 hours to kill at best
You could just taxi to the Fiumicino beach and back I suppose
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
6587 posts
There was just a recent post regarding a visit to Ostia Antica during a airport layover. There is public transportation to Ostia. If you rplane arrives on time, or even early, and passport control goes well, two hours in Ostia would be adequate to get a great overview of Ostia. To give yourself even more time, you could do a cab.
Posted by
Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico
1937 posts
This website (https://www.dolcevia.com/en/articles/5-cool-things-to-do-around-romes-fiumicino-airport) has two ideas that might work for you:
- Land of the Giants
- Roman Ships Museum
I only know about these from doing a Google search and finding this website, so I can't tell you anything beyond what's there.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23642 posts
Personally think lay over times in the range of 4 to 6 hours is a suck play. You think you should have enough time to do something but really don't when you consider the time for passport control, going through security a couple times, transportation time, etc., etc. , you don't have much time, I could catch a nap, lunch, and wait it out.
Posted by
Abruzzo Mountains
1089 posts
Flights to Greece depart from Terminal 1, which has a great Eataly branch airside (after security.) You can get a great (ok, very good) meal there in air conditioned comfort. It’s already hot here, so schlepping to Ostia Antica or Fiumicino town is going to leave you a sopping wet mess before your next flight from the weather alone, without factoring in the time stress.
Another idea is to buy a day pass to the Hello Sky lounge to have a shower and a snack. It’s a decent place, but it is outside security on the sky bridge to the parking garage. Be sure to allow enough time to get back through security. Food is better at Eataly but a shower would feel great.
If you arrive at Terminal 3, exit to the lounge for a shower, go back through security at Terminal 1 (always very quick), get a bite to eat at Eataly and wander through the enormous shopping mall to get to your gate, your time will be used up and you should feel a bit better after your long flight. Rushing around outdoors is going to make you feel worse, in my opinion. Enjoy Europe once you get to your destination. (Although Greece is boiling now too.)
My two cents, worth what you paid for it.
Edit: this new arrivals process applies to Australians too and I apologize for excluding Aussies from the list in my earlier post
Posted by
Edmonds, WA 🌨 ☂
11948 posts
Another idea is to buy a day pass to the Hello Sky lounge to have a shower and a snack. It’s a decent place, but it is outside security on the sky bridge to the parking garage. Be sure to allow enough time to get back through security. Food is better at Eataly but a shower would feel great.
I'm with Nelly, for how to spend the time, especially after a flight from Australia.
On a trip from Buenos Aires to Seattle, had a long enough layover in Dallas to get a shower. WONDERFUL.