My teenage son and I arrive in Rome international airport at noon and have a train to catch at Roma Termini at 15:00 hours. Can some advise the best way to do transport ourselves in these 3 hours? Thanks!
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Take the Leonardo Express, it will take you to Termini in 30-35 minutes. There are a few trains direct from FCO airport to Fitenze or Venezia, is your next destination either of those? Do you already have your tickets for the 15:00 train?
Posted by
San Antonio TX, United States
2393 posts
Posted by
Moncton NB
1148 posts
Be aware that there are TWO international airports in Rome: Leonardo da Vinci (aka Fiumicono) and Ciampino. You're probably going into LDV but do check.
Posted by
OP
Seattle. WA
18 posts
@Zoe Yes I already have my tickets from Roma Termini.
Posted by
OP
Seattle. WA
18 posts
@ Christi - Thanks for the very useful links.
And yes, I am landing in FCO.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32405 posts
A bit of further information......
You can buy your tickets for the Leonardo Express at the airport rail station, either from a Kiosk or staffed ticket office. The cost is €14 PP last time I checked, although the ticket offices may charge slightly more. One very important point to note is that you must validate (time & date stamp) your tickets prior to boarding the train, or you'll risk hefty fines which will be collected on the spot!
One other very important point is that there are two trains serving the airport, the Leonardo Express and the FM/FR-1. BE SURE to board the correct train or you won't end up at Termini.
Posted by
Wisconsin
470 posts
When we took the Leonardo Express to Roma Termini a couple years ago, we easily found the ticket kiosks shortly after leaving FCO's baggage claim area. The line in front of each kiosk was long and relatively slow moving because some people were struggling to figure out how to use the machine. So we just missed one train and had to wait 30 minutes for the next one. (It was 10:30 p.m., and my recollection now is that the trains do not run as frequently by that time of night.) As it turns out, we wouldn't have needed to wait in a long line. Once we passed into the train station area of FCO, there were many more ticket machines with no lines, and a manned ticket desk, also with no lines.
Another part of the experience that sticks out in my memory is that when we used our credit card in that ticket machine, it asked for a pin number, and I was very glad that I had called my bank, in advance of the trip, and insisted on having a pin number issued for the card. My bank had tried to tell me that I wouldn't need one, for any reason, but I'd heard otherwise, so they did give me one.
Posted by
CA, USA
1272 posts
most of the time you'll make the train. However I suggest you bring 50-60E with you in case you need to take a taxi. The official fare from the airport into town is 48E.
Why might you need to take a taxi? If your plane arrives at noon, you won't. But most of the flights I"ve been on to Europe have been delayed an hour or more (assuming you're talking about a flight from the US here). Figure it's 30 minutes to get off the plane and get to the FCO train station. Then you need to buy a train ticket, faster from the automated machine but usually a short line at the window. On average the next train will be 15 minutes away (they run every 30 minutes) but at worst case you will wait almost 30. Then its a 30 minute ride to Termini, and you have to find and board your 3pm train. So depending on when your plane arrives a taxi may be your only hope of making the train.
If you do take a taxi be sure to confirm with the driver before you put your bags in the trunk and hop in that he agrees the fare is 48E. Plenty of tourists seem to get charged more.