Leonardo da Vinci International Airport

Fiumicino — officially Leonardo da Vinci — is Rome’s main airport and the hub for ITA Airways. It is the gateway most visitors to Rome arrive through, and it has improved markedly in recent years, shaking off an older reputation for chaos to become a smooth, well-rated airport.

The terminals

The airport runs on two main passenger terminals, T1 and T3, after a consolidation that folded in the old Terminal 2. Terminal 1 handles ITA and many of its partners; Terminal 3 covers most other international carriers and the non-Schengen long-haul. The terminals are connected, but they are a walk apart, so allow time if your connection crosses between them, particularly where it involves passport control.

Getting into Rome

The direct route is the Leonardo Express, a nonstop train from the airport station to Roma Termini, the central station, in about 32 minutes. It runs frequently and is the simplest way in for most visitors, since Termini connects to Rome’s metro, buses, and onward trains. There is also a cheaper regional train (the FL1 line) that stops at other Rome stations but not Termini, which suits some destinations better. The airport is about 24 km southwest of the center; taxis run on a fixed flat fare between Fiumicino and central Rome inside the Aurelian walls, which removes the meter guesswork, though the train is usually faster.

Worth knowing

Book the Leonardo Express ticket and validate it as required before boarding. If you are catching a taxi, use the official white taxis at the rank and confirm the flat city fare rather than accepting an offer from a tout in the hall. For a connection, give yourself room — Rome’s security and passport queues can lengthen in peak season, and a cross-terminal transfer adds a walk.