How to Get from Rome Airport to the City Center: Fiumicino and Ciampino

The fastest way from Rome Fiumicino airport to the city center is the Leonardo Express train: €14, 32 minutes nonstop to Roma Termini, every 15 to 30 minutes. A licensed cab costs a fixed €55 to anywhere inside the ancient Aurelian walls and is the easiest option with luggage or for a group. Airport buses are the cheapest choice, from about €6, but take longer in traffic. From Ciampino airport, which has no direct train, take a bus into the city or a cab for a fixed €40.

Below you will find every option from both Rome airports, with current prices, journey times and tips for late arrivals.

In this guide:

• Options compared
• Leonardo Express train
• FL1 regional train
• Taxi
• Airport buses
• Night arrivals
• From Ciampino
• FAQ

Rome airport to the city center: options compared

Option	Price	Time	Arrives at
Leonardo Express (from Fiumicino)	€14	32 min	Roma Termini
FL1 regional train (from Fiumicino)	€8	25 to 50 min	Trastevere, Ostiense, Tuscolana, Tiburtina
Cab from Fiumicino airport	€55 fixed	40 to 60 min	Your door, inside the Aurelian walls
Cab from Ciampino airport	€40 fixed	30 to 45 min	Your door, inside the Aurelian walls
Airport buses (both airports)	from about €6	40 to 70 min	Termini, some via Vatican area
Cotral night bus (Fiumicino)	€5 (€7 on board)	about 1 hour	Tiburtina and Termini

Prices are those in force in 2026. The best choice depends on where your hotel is: if it is near Termini, the train wins; if it is in Trastevere, Prati or near the Spanish Steps in Rome, a cab or the FL1 may be simpler.

By train: the Leonardo Express

The Leonardo Express is a nonstop train run by Trenitalia between Fiumicino airport and Roma Termini, the main station in the heart of Rome. The Leonardo Express train is the most reliable way into the city because it avoids road traffic completely.

• Price: €14 one way; children under 12 travel free with a paying adult.
• Journey time: 32 minutes.
• Frequency: every 15 minutes at busy times, every 30 minutes early and late.
• Hours: from Fiumicino from about 5:30 to just before midnight.
• At Termini: trains use platforms 23 and 24, at the far end of the station, so allow 5 to 10 minutes to walk to the metro or cab rank.

To find the station, follow the “Treni / Trains” signs from arrivals in Terminal 1 or 3, then the covered walkway to the airport station. Buy tickets from the machines or counter in the station, or on the Trenitalia app, which saves queuing. Paper tickets must be validated before boarding; digital tickets bought for a specific train do not need it.

The FL1 regional train

The FL1 is a cheaper commuter train from the same airport station. It does not go to Termini but stops at Trastevere, Ostiense (for Metro B), Tuscolana and Tiburtina, which suits travelers staying in Trastevere, Testaccio or the eastern side of the city. Tickets cost €8 and must be bought before boarding. Rome’s Tap&Tap contactless fare is not valid on the airport stretch, so do not just tap your card at the gate. Trains run every 15 to 30 minutes and take 25 to 50 minutes, depending on your stop.

Taxi from Fiumicino airport

Official white Rome taxis charge a fixed fare of €55 from Fiumicino to any address inside the Aurelian walls, the historic center. The fare covers up to four passengers and their luggage, with no extra charges for bags or time of day. Fixed fares also apply from Fiumicino to Tiburtina and Ostiense stations; for other destinations the meter applies.

Use only the official rank outside arrivals at the airport. Ignore anyone in the arrivals hall offering a ride: unlicensed drivers charge far more. Check that the car is white, has a “TAXI” sign on the roof and the Roma Capitale symbol and license number on the door, and confirm the flat fare before you set off. Cards must be accepted by law, but it is still worth asking. Allow 40 to 60 minutes, more at rush hour.

Private transfers and ride-hailing

A pre-booked private transfer with a driver waiting in arrivals costs roughly the same as a cab for a small group and more for a larger car. Uber operates in Rome, but only with licensed drivers, so prices are similar to or higher than a cab. A shared shuttle is rarely cheaper than the train.

Airport buses to Termini and central Rome

Several companies run coaches from Fiumicino and Ciampino airports into Rome, with some stopping near the Vatican. They are the cheapest option but the slowest, as traffic on the way into the city can add half an hour.

• Terravision: from about €6 online, to Roma Termini.
• SIT Bus Shuttle: about €7, to Termini, with a stop near the Vatican.
• TAM: about €7 to €9, to Termini and Ostiense.

Book online to save a little and to guarantee a seat in busy periods. Buses leave from the bus station in front of Terminal 3 at Fiumicino. In the city, they stop on Via Giolitti or Via Marsala, on either side of the station.

Arriving at Rome airports late at night

If your flight lands after the last train, you have two options. A cab is the simplest, at the same €55 fixed fare. The cheaper option is the Cotral night bus, which runs from Fiumicino to Tiburtina and Termini a few times a night, for €5 bought in advance or €7 on board. It takes about an hour. Check the timetable before you fly, and have a cab as a backup.

From Ciampino airport to the city center

Ciampino is Rome’s smaller airport, used mainly by Ryanair and Wizz Air. It is closer to the city but has no direct train, so most travelers take a bus or taxi.

• Taxi: a fixed €40 to the historic center of Rome, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Airport buses: Terravision and SIT reach the city in about 40 minutes, from about €6.
• Airlink: a combined €2.70 ticket covering the ATAC bus to Ciampino railway station and a regional train to Termini, about 30 to 40 minutes in total.
• ATAC buses to the metro: bus 720 runs to Laurentina on Metro B, and bus 520 to Cinecittà on Metro A, the cheapest choice at a standard €1.50 fare.

Which option is best for you?

• Traveling light, staying near Termini: take the Leonardo Express.
• Two or more people with luggage: a €55 cab often costs less than four train tickets and takes you to the door.
• On a tight budget: an airport bus or the FL1.
• Staying in Trastevere or Ostiense: the FL1 stops right there.
• Landing late: a cab, or the Cotral night bus if you are comfortable with a late bus.

From Termini to your hotel

Roma Termini is a transport hub, not a destination: most hotels in Rome are a short ride away. Metro lines A and B cross at Termini, dozens of city buses leave from Piazza dei Cinquecento in front of the station, and there is a large official cab rank outside the main entrance. Line A takes you toward the Spanish Steps and the Vatican, and line B toward the Colosseum. A standard ticket costs €1.50 and is valid for 100 minutes, or you can tap a contactless card at the metro gates. If your hotel is in the historic center, ask it for the nearest stop before you land, since many streets in the city center are pedestrian or closed to most traffic.

Tips for your first hour in Rome

Buy a Rome public transport ticket or set up contactless payment before you leave the airport, so you can take the metro or bus to your hotel without searching for a ticket shop. Avoid the touts at the station as well as at the airport. If you arrive on a strike day, check which services are guaranteed: Italian strikes usually protect certain hours, but the airport train can be affected. And if you are planning the rest of your trip, our Rome travel guide and trip planner can help you plan your first day.

Rome airport transfer FAQ

What is the cheapest way from Fiumicino to Rome?

An airport bus into Rome, from about €6, or the FL1 train for €8 if you are staying near one of its stops.

What does a cab from Fiumicino airport cost?

A fixed €55 to any address inside the Aurelian walls, for up to four people with luggage.

Do I need to book the Leonardo Express in advance?

No. Tickets are not tied to seats, and you can buy them at the airport station or on the app just before you travel.

Is there a train from Ciampino airport?

Not directly. Take the Airlink bus to Ciampino station and a regional train to Termini, or a direct bus.

How long does it take to reach central Rome?

32 minutes by Leonardo Express from Fiumicino airport, plus your onward connection, or 40 to 60 minutes by road depending on traffic.