Airport Guide to Leonardo da Vinci/Fiumicino (FCO)

Airport Overview

Terminal Transfer | Getting into Town | Car Parking | Information Desks | Airport Facilities

The sixth-busiest airport in Europe, Rome Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport, also known more simply as Fiumicino Airport, sees a whopping 35 million passengers each year. The airport is named for Leonardo da Vinci, the famous Italian artist and inventor, who first attempted to design flying machines. The airport is well-connected to Rome via the metro train, although tickets are rather expensive.

The airport is a hub for Alitalia, although there are loads more European and international airlines with regular flights to Leonardi da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport. They come in from across the European Union as well as from the US, the Middle East, Africa and the Far East.

Like any busy airport hub, queues can be long at peak times. Get in early and, if you’ve time to spare, head for the masses of prestigious fashion stores and good coffee shops to pass the time.

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Terminal Transfer

Fiumicino Airport has four passenger terminals: 1, 2, 3 and 5. Terminal 1 handles Alitalia flights and Schengen (the borderless European area made up of 25 states) flights, Terminals 2 and 3 handle domestic flights, Non-Schengen and Schengen flights, while Terminal 5 handles American and Israeli flights. A free shuttle bus operates between them and the car parks every 15 minutes or so.

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Getting into Town

Train: The train station is across the road from Terminal 3, near car park D. There are two trains to the city. The Leonardo Express travels directly to Roma Termini, the station in the city centre, every half hour from 6:30am to 11:30pm for €14. Buy a ticket at the ticketing counter in the station and then validate it at one of the machines (the ticket will then be valid for 90 minutes). A cheaper option is the slightly slower Metro line FR1, which runs to major stations (Tiburtina, Tuscolana, Ostiense and Trastevere) every 15 minutes, or every half hour on Sundays and holidays, and costs €8.

Bus: Cotral buses leave from Roma Tiburtina railway station and stop at Piazza dei Cinquecento in front of the national museum. A one-way ticket to town will cost €4.50 if you buy it from the ticket machine in the arrivals section or at newsagents or tobacconists in the airport, and €7 if you buy it on the bus.

Taxis: The cost of a taxi from FCO is €40. This is for a maximum of four passengers including baggage for all destinations in central Rome (within Aurelian Walls).

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Car Parking

With thousands of parking spaces at both short- and long-term rates, you won’t have trouble finding a spot at Fiumicino Airport. If you’re just picking someone up, there are one-hour spaces just in front of the terminal, which cost a flat €3. Otherwise, head for the multi-storey car parks A, B, C, D and E, which are connected to the terminals via moving passenger walkways. There are also special “pink parking” spots for new and expectant mothers and women generally on level D. There’s also a 4,000-space long-term car park connected to the airport via a free ten-minute shuttle ride, which runs every ten minutes during the day and every 20 minutes in the evening and early morning. Book a spot at the long-term or multi-level car parks and get discounted rates.

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Information Desks

There are information desks in each terminal, as well as several touch-screen information kiosks dotted throughout the airport.

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Airport Facilities

Money and communications: ATMs and currency exchange throughout the terminals.

Luggage: Baggage-wrapping facilities at all terminals.

Conference and business: Head for the ATA Hotel Executive Centre in Area B, after security, for your business needs.

Other facilities: Travel agents, pharmacies, massage parlours, photo booth (Terminal 3). Terminal 1 has a beauty parlour, hairdresser and solarium, as well as slot machines and laundry facilities.

Wi-Fi: The airport has free Wi-Fi, and Exactta Internet kiosks throughout the terminals.

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