Rome Airports 2027: Fiumicino or Ciampino? My Honest Comparison

Rome airports can be confusing: the closer one is not automatically the easier one. Fiumicino (FCO) is farther from the centre but has direct trains and many more facilities. Ciampino (CIA) is smaller and closer, but most public transport options involve a change. We arrived at Ciampino with our children, and for us its small size was convenient. Still, I would not choose an airport by distance alone.

My short answer: if the flights cost roughly the same, I would choose Fiumicino for the easiest and most predictable public transport. I would choose Ciampino for a clearly cheaper or better-timed flight, especially with hand luggage only. Before booking, add the airport transfer to the airfare and check how you will reach your accommodation at the actual arrival time.

What you actually save: the simplest journey from Fiumicino is the Leonardo Express, which costs EUR 14 and takes 32 minutes directly to Termini. From Ciampino, the Airlink costs EUR 2.70 and usually takes about 35 to 50 minutes including the bus and train. Ciampino can therefore save EUR 11.30 per person, but it involves a change and may take up to 18 minutes longer. By taxi, Ciampino is currently EUR 15 cheaper and the official journey estimate is about 10 to 20 minutes shorter, although traffic can change this completely.

💡 Planning your first visit? Start with my 3-day Rome and Vatican itinerary. I have also written separate practical guides to Vatican tickets, Colosseum tickets and whether Roma Pass is worth it.

Still choosing an area? Read my guide to where to stay in Rome before comparing the final door-to-door journey from each airport.

Fiumicino vs Ciampino: quick comparison

	Fiumicino (FCO)	Ciampino (CIA)
Best for	The simplest rail connection, long-haul flights, more facilities	Low-cost flights, a small terminal, travellers staying in the south or east of Rome
Distance from central Rome	About 30 km	About 15 to 17 km
Direct train to Termini	Yes, Leonardo Express	No, use the Ciampino Airlink bus and train combination
Cheapest useful public transport	FL1 regional train, currently EUR 8	ATAC bus 520 or 720, currently EUR 1.50
Official fixed taxi fare to the Aurelian Walls	EUR 55 per vehicle	EUR 40 per vehicle
Airport atmosphere	Large airport with more shops, food and seating	Compact and easy to navigate, but with fewer facilities

Which Rome airport should you choose?

Choose Fiumicino if…

• you want a direct, predictable train to Roma Termini;
• your accommodation is near Trastevere, Ostiense, Tuscolana or Tiburtina, which are served by the FL1 regional train;
• you have checked luggage, a long connection or expect to spend time at the airport;
• you are arriving on a long-haul or full-service flight;
• the price and flight times are similar at both airports.

Choose Ciampino if…

• the flight is substantially cheaper after adding baggage and transport;
• the flight times give you more usable time in Rome;
• you prefer a small airport and travel with hand luggage;
• you are staying near Metro A or Metro B in a location that makes bus 520 or 720 convenient;
• you already have an active Rome public transport ticket or Roma Pass that covers buses 520 and 720.

Do not pay much more just to land at Ciampino because it looks closer on the map. For many central locations, Fiumicino’s train is easier than changing between a bus and metro or train from Ciampino. On the other hand, I would happily use Ciampino again for a good low-cost flight. The terminal was easy to understand, and after our arrival we even found a small children’s corner.

Fiumicino Airport (FCO): how to get to Rome

Fiumicino, officially Leonardo da Vinci Airport, is Rome’s main international airport. Its biggest advantage is the railway station inside the airport. You do not need an airport shuttle to reach the train.

Leonardo Express to Roma Termini

The official Leonardo Express runs non-stop between Fiumicino Airport and Roma Termini. The journey takes 32 minutes and the current single fare is EUR 14. Trains are normally scheduled every 15 minutes, although some time periods may have a 30-minute interval.

This is the option I would choose if I were staying near Termini, changing to another Italian train or simply wanted the least confusing arrival. Metrebus tickets and Roma Pass are not valid on the Leonardo Express. Children under four travel free, and one child aged 4 to 11 travels free with each paying adult. Trenitalia also currently offers a mini-group fare of EUR 40 for four people.

💡 Fiumicino transfer: If you prefer to have the ticket ready on your phone, you can book the Leonardo Express here. This ticket is currently non-refundable, so I would only buy it once the travel plan is fixed.

FL1 regional train: often better than Termini

The FL1 regional train currently costs EUR 8 and stops at stations including Trastevere, Ostiense, Tuscolana and Tiburtina. It does not go to Roma Termini. This matters because many airport guides describe it as a cheaper alternative without explaining that you may need another connection.

Choose the FL1 if one of its stations is close to your accommodation or gives you an easy connection. For example, Ostiense connects with Metro B at Piramide. If your hotel is next to Termini, the Leonardo Express is much simpler.

Bus, taxi or private transfer from Fiumicino

Airport coaches to Termini are usually cheaper than the train, but the journey depends on traffic and the bus departure time may not match your arrival. Compare the full door-to-door journey, not only the time shown on the ticket.

The official fixed taxi fare between Fiumicino and an address inside the Aurelian Walls is currently EUR 55 per vehicle, including supplements. The official estimate is about 40 to 50 minutes, but traffic can make it longer. With three or four people, compare this fare with several train tickets.

For a very late arrival, a lot of luggage or a requested child seat, you can also compare a pre-booked private transfer from either Rome airport. Check the final price against the official taxi fare before paying, because a private transfer can be considerably more expensive.

Where to stay before an early flight from Fiumicino

The clearest genuinely walkable option is Hilton Rome Airport. It is linked to the terminals by a covered pedestrian tunnel with a moving walkway, and the official airport website says the walk takes under 10 minutes. Do not confuse it with Hilton Garden Inn Rome Airport, which is in the Cargo City area and requires the hotel shuttle.

Ciampino Airport (CIA): how to get to Rome

Ciampino is closer to Rome and is used mainly by low-cost airlines. It has no railway station inside the terminal. The advantage is its compact size. The disadvantage is that the cheapest routes require a bus and then a train or metro.

Ciampino Airlink to Roma Termini

The official Ciampino Airlink combines a direct 10-minute bus ride to Ciampino railway station with a regional train to Roma Termini. One ticket currently costs EUR 2.70. The train journey itself is short, but allow time for the connection and possible waiting. In practice, the total trip can take roughly 35 to 50 minutes when the services connect well.

💡 Ciampino transfer: If you prefer a direct coach instead of changing between the airport bus and train, you can book a shuttle bus between Ciampino Airport and Termini. Check the timetable against your exact flight before buying.

ATAC bus 520 or 720 plus metro

The cheapest option is an ordinary ATAC city bus. Bus 520 connects the airport with Subaugusta on Metro A, while bus 720 connects it with Laurentina on Metro B. The current 100-minute BIT ticket costs EUR 1.50 and is valid on the airport bus and one metro journey. Validate it correctly when you travel.

The 520 and 720 buses are also covered by Roma 24H, 48H and 72H tickets and by Roma Pass. This is an important difference from Fiumicino airport transport. Read my Roma Pass comparison before buying it, because airport transport alone does not make the pass good value.

Taxi from Ciampino

The official fixed taxi fare between Ciampino and an address inside the Aurelian Walls is currently EUR 40 per vehicle, including supplements. The official journey estimate is about 30 minutes. If your accommodation is outside the fixed-fare area, the meter applies instead.

Where to stay before an early flight from Ciampino

There is no genuinely convenient hotel from which I would recommend walking to Ciampino terminal. Several booking sites show hotels only a few hundred metres away in a straight line, but Ciampino town is on the other side of the runway and the real walking route is much longer and unsuitable for an early-morning airport walk.

A practical option is Rome Ciampino Smart Hotel. It is about two minutes on foot from Ciampino railway station and the airport shuttle stop, and about four minutes from the terminal by car. The hotel also offers a pre-bookable external car service at night. For a very early flight, confirm the first airport bus or reserve the transfer in advance. Do not plan to walk to the terminal just because the hotel looks close on a map.

The detail that can change my airport choice: arrival time

A cheap ticket is not cheap if the last useful public transport connection has already left. Before booking an early departure or late arrival, check the official timetable for that exact day and work backwards from your accommodation. Do not rely on a timetable copied into a blog months ago.

• Late arrival at Fiumicino: check whether you can still catch the Leonardo Express, FL1 or an airport coach after passport control and baggage collection.
• Early departure from Ciampino: confirm the first bus, metro and train connections. A taxi may remove the price advantage of the cheaper flight.
• Travelling with children: add time for the toilet, luggage and missed connections. A route that looks ten minutes faster on paper may be more stressful with two changes.
• Separate tickets through different airports: do not plan a tight self-transfer. There is no rail link between Fiumicino and Ciampino, and the official fixed taxi fare between them is currently EUR 55.

Rome airport taxi tips

Use an official white Rome taxi from the signed rank. The car should display the word TAXI, the Roma Capitale symbol and its licence number. Confirm that your destination is inside the Aurelian Walls and that the fixed airport fare applies before leaving. The published fare is per vehicle, not per passenger. Ask for a receipt.

The fixed fare applies to a direct trip without extra stops or additional pickups. For other destinations, a metered fare may apply. You can verify the latest rules and prices on the official Roma Mobilità taxi page.

Mistakes I would avoid before booking

1. Comparing airfare only. Add luggage, seat fees and the transfer for every traveller.
2. Assuming Fiumicino is always inconvenient because it is farther away. Its direct train can make it easier door to door.
3. Assuming the FL1 train goes to Termini. It does not.
4. Choosing Ciampino without checking the first or last connection. A taxi can erase the saving.
5. Going to the wrong airport. Rome Termini has coaches to both FCO and CIA, so check the airport code on the vehicle and ticket. Travellers really do confuse them.
6. Buying Roma Pass just for an airport ride. It covers ATAC buses 520 and 720 at Ciampino, but not the main Fiumicino airport services.

My final verdict on Rome’s airports

Fiumicino is the easier all-round choice; Ciampino can be the cheaper and quicker choice for the right flight and accommodation. We found Ciampino manageable with children and liked that it was small. But I would never pay more for it purely because it is closer to Rome.

I would first choose the best flight time, then compare the total price and the route to the exact accommodation. If the difference is small, Fiumicino’s direct rail connections win for me. If Ciampino saves meaningful money or gives me a much better schedule, I would use it again.

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