Rome: To and from FCO

Rome: To and from FCO
This article outlines the various ways of getting from and to Rome Fiumicino (FCO) airport. The options are listed from least to most expensive. This generally corresponds with least to most convenient, but the location of your hotel in Rome affects the convenience of some options. Get a map of Rome and become familiar with the location of your hotel and of the places mentioned in this article.
Buses
Terravision Shuttles (€4 per person online, €6 at the booth). Between 05:35 and 23:00, this shuttle service operates between FCO (Terminal 3) to Termini Station (Via Marsala). The buses are located at Terminal 3, and ticket price is €4.00 per person (€6.00 if bought at the booth).

SIT Airport Bus (€5 per person online, €6 at bus station). SIT run more than 20 buses daily in each direction. They run between 05.00 and 20.30 from Rome, and between 08.30 and 00.30 from FCO. The stops in central Rome are at via Marsala (next to Termini station) and piazza Cavour (near Castel Sant'Angelo). The journey between FCO and Termini takes 50 minutes. See www.sitbusshuttle.it If you are catching the SIT bus do arrive at your stop at least 20 minutes before the scheduled departure; buses can arrive - and leave - early.

There are also infrequent buses between FCO and Tiburtina station, calling also at Termini. The cost is €4.50 if tickets are bought before travel, or €7 if bought from the driver. Some of the journeys are during the night. See the timetable.

Alitalia Bus (€7 per person). Operates from Terminal 1 (between 05.20 and 22.45) and various locations in Rome including Termini station (via Marsala).

Atral Bus (€5 per person FCO to Termini). Operates from Terminal 3 to Termini (via Giolitti). They run between 06.30 and 21.50 from the airport. See their website for more info.

Cotral night bus from Tiburtina and Termini For those who have to reach Fiumicino airport at a very early hour, before the trains and other buses are running, there is a night bus that connects central Rome to Fiumicino airport for a one-way cost of 5 euros. See the schedule at http://www.cotralspa.it/PDF_Areoporti... . To avoid paying more for the ticket on the bus, you should buy the ticket the day before at one of the sales points mentioned on the schedule. At the same time, you should locate the bus stop so that you don't have to search for it in the dark with your luggage.

Cotral bus plus train or metro (about €3 per person). You can also get to central Rome using only public transportation. Although it would cost only a little less than the Terravision shuttle, and would take longer if you were going to Termini station, it might be more convenient for people going to some parts of the city. You can take a Cotral bus from stops outside Terminal 2 or Terminal 3 to Ostia Lido, and take the Roma-Lido railway from there to Ostiense station, followed by Metro or bus to your final destination; the Cotral bus costs a few euros and the Roma-Lido railway can be ridden with the same bus-tram-metro ticket used by the rest of the ATAC (Rome's public transportation agency) network, which costs €1.50. You could also take a Cotral bus to the Anagnina Metro station, and take the A line from there. This route would be somewhat longer, but could be more convenient if your destination is on line A. The cost would be about the same. The tickets for the Cotral bus, as well as for the metro or a bus, can be bought at a tobacco shop or newsstand. If you buy a a BIRG ticket (€8), you can use it for the Cotral bus and for all metros, buses, trams, and urban trains (including the Lido train) for the rest of the day. This route isn't recommended for people with a lot of luggage.
Suburban train (€8 per person). There is a train station at FCO, with walkways from all terminals. The FR1 suburban service has a number of stops: those close to the centre of Rome are at Trastevere, Ostiense, Tuscolana, and Tiburtina stations. At Ostiense and Tiburtina, this service connects with Metro line B. At Trastevere, it connects with tram (streetcar) line #8, which runs along viale Trastevere (the main street of Trastevere) to piazza Venezia: from the second-to-last stop (the "Arenula/Cairoli" stop), it's a short walk to Campo de' Fiori, Piazza Navona, and the Pantheon, so this route may be helpful if you do not have much luggage. See all stops.
Express train (€14 per person). The Leonardo Express train is a non-stop service between FCO and Rome Termini (the main station). It is very useful if your hotel is near Termini or if you want to catch a train to some other part of Italy.
Taxi (€48 per taxi). The fixed fare for a Rome taxi is €48 between FCO and central Rome (within the Aurelian walls) for up to four people and their luggage. If your hotel is outside this area, you will have to pay whatever is on the meter. For a map of the area that's covered by fixed rate fares from the airports, and the current rates, see the Rome taxi fare schedule, in several languages, with a map of the fixed rate area on the last page: http://www.comune.roma.it/PCR/resourc....
For other journeys, ask around to see what the taxi should cost or get an estimate online. Have small bills to count out carefully when paying. If possible, snap a quick photo of the tag number on back of the taxi before you get in. Then you have a way to trace them if there are problems.
Note that the fixed price from the airport to central Rome applies only to taxis licensed by the City of Rome; these taxis have the City Council's crest (with "SPQR") painted on the doors. Other taxis, such as those licensed by the Comune of Fiumicino, can charge by their meter. Insist on taking a Roman taxi: they now have the fixed rate to and from the airport (48 €) printed on the doors.
If you are travelling as a group of 4, a taxi is cheaper than the Leonardo Express train and avoids having to lug your suitcases to the train and then having to make connections on other transportation once you get to central Rome.
Private car and driver (€40 and up per car). For perhaps less money than a taxi, you can have a driver waiting at the exit from Customs at FCO or at your door in Rome. Prices start at €40 for three people. Frequently recommended on TA are www.romecabs.com and www.romeshuttlelimousine.com. Private car services usually charge more if there are more than two or three people in the group, so the service may or may not be cheaper than the train. Private services also usually charge more for early morning or late evening transfers, so you need to get a quotation for your particular situation. For up to three people, during the day, a private driver is often cheaper than a taxi.
Avoid any car or shuttle service that requires payment in advance. The reliable companies ask for payment after they have provided the service.

Tipping: It is never necessary to tip for anything in Italy, although equally it is fine to give a small tip (no more than 10%) if you feel you have received excellent service. You are not obliged to give a tip to your car or taxi driver