Airport Train to Central Rome: Leonardo Express and other Rome, Italy Transportation Tips

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: Updated April 08

Take the Leonardo Express for a quick ride into Rome. It stops at Roma Termini, the main train station in Rome and cloest to the historical center.

A ticket costs 11E, the trains usually leave from Track 2 at the airport., and they usually arrive at Track 24 in Rome, which is a good thing, as 24 is much closer to the exit than the old Track 26. Saves about 10 minutes of walking.

The train is easy and there's no chance of getting caught in Rome's infamous traffic. Follow signs in the airport to the station (Stazione), find the small vending machines, select the direct train to Roma Termini, insert your credit card, and 5 seconds later, you've bought your 11 euro ticket to Rome. Don't forget to time-stamp your ticket in the yellow machines on the platform.

The Leonardo Express usually leaves at :05 and :35 after the hour and takes 31 minutes. There's only one stop - Roma Termini. Keep a watch on your luggage and belongings.

Departure announcements are made in English. If you have time, walk to the last car as it will be the closest to the entrance when you arrive in Rome. There's a "left luggage" service at Termini near Track (Binario) 24.

If your hotel is too far to walk to, grab a taxi from the official line under the covered sidewalk in front of the main entrance. DO NOT accept a ride from anyone who comes up to you and offers you a taxi.

RETURN TRAINS: They leave for the airport at :22 and :52 after the hour. For an up-to-date schedule, check out the website below. Enter "Fiumicino Airport" and "Roma Termini." Look for the trains with a "D" for direct.

If you're looking for the CHEAPEST way to get into town, try the regional train (Ferrovia Metropolitana 1 or FM1) to Tiburtina Station (5.5 E), and from Tiburtina, take the Metro to Termini (1 E). Tiburtina is 5 k's east of the historical center. Other stops fairly near the historical center include Trastevere and Ostiense/Piramide.

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Website: www.trenitalia.com

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: It's important to remember to time stamp your train ticket BEFORE you get on the train. (You need to stamp your bus tickets when you get on the bus, too.) If it's not time stamped or validated (in Italian, "convalida") and a conductor checks your ticket, you'll be fined big time (well, if they are in a good mood, maybe only 5-10 E, but it could be 50E, or as much as 500 euros). If you're not sure how, just watch other folks. If the machine you try doesn't work, try another.

And there will be no explaining that you're just a dumb tourist and didn't know any better. That argument won't work as they've heard it before!

If the machines aren't working, you are supposed to write the date and time on your ticket.

This photo shows folks stamping their ticket in the yellow machines at the Fiumicino Airport train station. The bus machines are either yellow (the new ones) or orange (the old ones.)

It's true that if you have a "reserved" seat on a train (for example, a Eurostar) you don't need to time stamp your ticket (your ticket already lists a specific date and time) - but why take chances? Just do it every time and you won't forget and won't be sorry.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: This is one of those instances in which traveling by bus is both faster AND cheaper than traveling by train in Italy. I learned about this bus (AFTER taking the longer and more expensive trains) from VT member Baronedivandastad, who was born in Siena.

SENA runs a bus from Tiburtina Station in Rome (website schedule: http://www.sena.it/index_e.htm). They run every 2 hours, between 5 and 7 per day, and take about 3 hours to get to Siena.

You can get to Tiburtina directly by train from Fiumicino (5 euros), or by metro if you’re already in Rome (Metro line B).

You can buy your ticket at the bus station across the street from the Tiburtina train station entrance. A ticket costs (or used to cost) around 16 euros. You can buy a ticket on the bus, but they’ll charge you a few euros more.

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Website: http://www.sena.it/index_e.htm