Transportation to Rome from FCO airport?

I'm no expert, but I'm planning on taking the Leonardo Express Train from FCO to Termini Station in the city. 14€ per person. A car might save you money if you have a large party, but I hear traffic can be rough.

http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en/Services/Fiumicino-Airport

50 Euro (dollars?) sounds low. Check for add-ons. The train is fine, but it goes to Termini station. Use Google Maps to locate your hotel, which will show the (limited) Rome Metro and some of the bus lines nearby. You want to drop your bags for storage at the hotel so you can begin sightseeing.

If it was just me, I'd take the cheap FM train to Trastevere and then the street car to Teatro Argentina, just a few blocks from the Parthenon. But that is me. The $50 car service, driver meets you at the airport luggage exit (I assume) takes you to the hotel door, is not a bad plan. First time in Italy and dragging tale after an overnight flight, sounds like the way go.

We used the Leonardo from FCO to Stazione Termini for years before switching to romeshuttle.com. Leonardo is cheap and easy, but requires other logistical strategies. Several years ago we started using romeshuttle and really like their service. The cost to a location in Roma from FCO is 50€, which is more expensive than Leonardo.

Romeshuttle will meet you as you exit customs, will take you to the car, and then deliver you to your destination. No muss-no fuss. Another reason we like this service is that it eliminates exposure to a certain group of pickpockets that swarm their targets. My wife is a magnet for this population and and the 50€ is worth the cost.

buon viaggio,

The hotel I am using also offers a 50 Euro car. I'm using it, but the train is ok and cheaper for 2 people (50 vs 28). If you have 3 or more, then the car is best.

I just prefer to avoid Termini with luggage and jet lag. Then you have to get a bus/cab/other to your hotel. A car takes you right to your hotel, where you can leave your luggage if the room isn't ready. Easier and sometimes that's worth a bit extra - it's a judgement call depending on your budget etc

For our last trip to Rome, we used Rome Chauffer to get to our hotel. There were 4 of us plus luggage. Massimo met us at the baggage area and escorted us to the Mercedes van. The cost was 55 euros door to door. If you are coming off a transatlantic flight and this is your first time in Italy, I would spend the extra money to avoid the issues that could arise with public transportation.

After a long flight, some jet lag, not being familiar with the area, there is nothing better than having your private driver meet you inside the terminal and whisk you to your hotel. No fending off the "mavrick" cabs, waiting in the regular taxi line, or just having a "lost" feeling. It is not the cheapest way, but it is definitely the best. We can not say enough good things about Rome Cabs. It is a private car service (not a cab company) but only cost about 10 Euro more than a regular taxi. We always use them and have always been very pleased. Go to romecabs.com and see what you think. We usually send an email and they answer us with a quote within 24 hours. You do have to pay cash (Euros) and the end of the journey but not in advance.

Go outside the terminal and walk to the taxi stand in front of the terminal where all official taxi cabs are lined up (just like in any airport in North America). Get on the taxi, tell the driver the name/address of your hotel, and be done with it.

The flat taxi fare, imposed by the City of Rome, is 48 euro (all inclusive) to any destination within the Aurelian city wall. I've never been charged more than that. There is a very prominent sign on every taxi cab that states the flat fare to/from the airport in both Italian and English. If they try to get more (never happened to me), you can report them to the authorities (tel number provided in the taxi cab as well).

You will be at your hotel 30-40 min later, depending on traffic, and you don't have to worry about carrying luggage on the train, dealing with people soliciting hotels/car ride at the station, dealing with gypsies trying to steal your luggage, etc. Besides, the train takes you only to Termini, then you will need a taxi to your hotel, because it's not walking distance (or it's a very long walk) with luggage. Once you add the 28 euro (2 people x 14 euro for the train), and the 12-15 euro for the taxi from Termini to your hotel, the cost is not that different.

If your hotel is offering a car ride for 50 euro, that is not too bad either. It's just 2 euro above the taxi fare.

I would suggest looking at the Rome Toolkit web site. All your questions, including the ones you don't even know you have (yet) are answered there.

From the airport, there are two trains. Consult the Rome Toolkit site.

From the airport, taxi service is a flat rate to the city center. More details on the Rome Toolkit web site.

Private transfers are also available for about the same fee as a taxi. Again, a quick trip to the Rome Toolkit web site will fill in the details.

Have a great trip!

I am with Sam here. Take the regional FR train FR1 get off at trastevere Station then take tram to Largo Argentina . The pantheon is a 5 - 10 minute from there.

I have taken the bus and the Leonardo Express from FCO, and I prefer the Leonardo Express. The cheaper train option will work for you, too, since either way you will need to change to another means of transportation in the city.

As mentioned, a taxi from FCO airport into the historic center of Rome (which includes the Pantheon) is fixed at 48 euros. That's the option I would take since there are at least two of you and you'll have luggage. Walk to the official taxi queue in front of the terminal. Do NOT talk to anyone who approaches you inside the terminal asking if you want a taxi. Those are the scammers.

Take a taxi or the hotel car. It's your first time in Italy. You don't need the hassles of finding trains, buying tickets, walking with luggage etc. etc. You'll arrive at your hotel comfortably and be able to drop your luggage. If your stars are in alignment, they will even have a room ready for you (they'll give you the room as soon as it's ready). If not, you can still use a bathroom to freshen up, and you'll be ready to explore Rome.

PS - don't skip the San Luigi church around the corner from the Pantheon. There's an interesting Bernini statue in the plaza and the church has several Caravaggios.

airport to pantheon area. by taxi is a flat rate $48 euro. we are reserving a private car back to FCO for $50. our host says they are more reliable and priced competitively. we arrived by train and took a taxi- white official one-- $12 euro for 4 people and 4 carry on sized luggage and small back packs. very quick trip even in late afternoon. we are in Rome right now by the way.

btw. you could ask your host/hotel to reserve a driver for you from FCO. MY sister did this and they met her in the station $50 euro.

Here is a limo/private car service at 45 euro for up to 3 people incl luggage. We did it with 6 adults in April and it cost us 65 euro. Our apartment was near (60-70meters) the Pantheon. Great service and NO HASSLE right to our door for a great price. Going to Termini with full luggage after overnight flight makes no sense to me (9 trips to Italy via FCO in past 12 years)

http://www.romeshuttlelimousine.com/?portfolio=transfers-to-and-from-the-major-airports-in-rome

When you mention prices, what about tip? Do you tip the taxi and shuttle drivers in addition? That always makes it go up a lot too.

A tip does not add a lot IMO. At most a 10% tip is adequate. Remember this is Italy and not the US where a 20% or more tip is expected.

I agee with Sam's recommendation to take the local train from FCO to Trastevere. It is located on the track next to the Leonardo Express train. You can get the tickets from the booth or ticket machine. We have visited Rome several times and always take the local train to Trastevere and then the tram to Lago Argentina which is very close to the Pantheon. It's a much less expensive train (I think about $8) and you don't have to deal with the main train station and then a bus or taxi to your hotel. We've always arrived after a long flight and have found this way to arrive in Rome fine, plus you feel like you're with locals right away.

Kris,

As this is your first visit to Italy, I'd suggest using the simplest and easiest solution. You'll be tired and jet lagged, and the chaos of Italian airports and stations may be a bit confusing and intimidating. Using multiple forms of transportation (rail, tram, metro) is not a good idea in these circumstances (IMHO).

There are also some potentially expensive "caveats" to be aware of when using public transit in Italy, and if you're not up to speed with those the ride from the airport could become very expensive! If you need more information, post another note.

Therefore, my suggestion is much the same as Roberto posted. Use either the car service suggested by the hotel, or a Taxi from the rank in front of the airport. The cost will be well worth it! I'd suggest having a piece of paper with the name and address of the hotel (in Italian), to show the driver. Also have the phone number listed, as if the driver needs more specific directions, he can phone the hotel for clarification. Even with a GPS, I've had some drivers in Rome that didn't have a clue!

If you don't have a copy already, I'd suggest packing along the RS Italy guidebook as there's an enormous amount of information there that will help your trip go smoothly.

The cheapest and best option in my view is taking the shuttle bus which is on the right side when you go out of the arrivals hall. I was in Rome in February 2014 and it worked perfectly for me. You can check the bus' website here: http://www.terravision.eu/airport_transfer/bus-fiumicino-airport-rome/

But the Terravision bus drops you at Termini, then you'll need to get a cab from there.

Anyone who gives a tip to Italian taxi drivers should have their passport revoked for life. Italian taxi drivers are not employees of the taxi company, they are licensed entrepreneurs owners of the taxi cab and the license. Italian law requires that the taxi license be given only to the individual taxi driver, not to. Companies. They are a rather privileged cast that has managed to lobby for the banning of Uber and Lyft.

Leaving a tip to taxi drivers in Italy is like leaving a tip to your lawyer or to your dentist or to your CPA, on top of their professional fees. Who does that?

Taking the train to Trastevere means you have to backtrack to get to your hotel. A taxi from the Termini station to the Pantheon is less than €20, plus the €14 for the Leonardo Express is less than a taxi/car from the airport and will probably be faster.

Taking the train to Trastevere means you have to backtrack to get to your hotel

Huh? Pantheon is due north of Trastevere station connected (very close) by the No 8 tram. But we digress. Why pay 14 EUR (per person) for the Leonardo Express, then walk out of the station and find a 20 EUR taxi, when, as the hotel indicates, they will have a driver meet you at the airport arrivals, take your luggage to the waiting car, and whisk you to the hotel front door for a very reasonable 50 EUR?

Tip is totally unexpected, agree with Roberto.

If more than 3 people the private car is the obvious choice. Get Euros at the ATM in the airport terminal first to pay the driver.

In addition to the Sam method, there is the SIT bus to Piazza Cavour (it says destination Vatican, Via Crescenzio n.2, but the stop is not that close to the Vatican) which, if your hotel is a a few blocks north or west of the Pantheon, could work out to be a similar length walk as Largo Argentina (less than 15 minutes), without the transfer.