Leonardo Express and other Rome, Italy Transportation Tips

'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: It's not particularly cheap at 11 euros (though much cheaper than the UK equivalent), but the Leonardo Express is worth taking into the city if you land at Rome Fiumicino airport.

It leaves every 30 minutes, and takes you straight through to Termini or the airport itself. Journey time is about 30 minutes.

Its one drawback, for small people like me, is the height of the carriage from the platform. Not a problem in itself, but a real nuisance if you have to cope with a heavy-ish suitcase as well. There's not a massive amount of luggage space inside either, although reasonably-sized suitcases will go under the seats.

There's aticket booth at the airport station, in front of the platform. At Termini there is also a little booth on the Leonardo Express platform (24, well-signed) but if the man isn't there you can easily get your tickets from the machine (in other photo).

I think the convenience of this train probably outweighs the fact that it is double the fare of the 'normal' stopping train.

Don't forget to validate your ticket using the yellow machines on the platforms before you get on the train.

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Website: http://www.trenitalia.com/en/treni_stazioni/trasferimenti/leonardo_express02.html

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: Central Rome is eminently walkable, and you will see so much more whilst you are doing so.

But it also has an excellent and efficient public transport system: buses, trams and Metro (and some suburban trains. to places such as Ostia Antica).

You can buy tickets from some Tabacchi (signed with a white 'T' on a blue background), from some newstands and from machines dotted about the city. A single ticket lasts 70 minutes on all forms of transport.

But the easiest thing is to buy a 3-day ticket (also available for other periods). This will cover any and all bus, tram, Metro and suburban train rides you take over those 3 days; it only needs validating once, at the start of your first journey. Make sure you always have it with you, and that you have filled in your name and date of birth on the back: inspectors do check, and they don't wear uniforms!

The simplest places to purchase such a travel pass are the booths at the Termini bus station. Strangely, you won't get it from the bus information building there: look for the little row of booths near the Metro entrance in the bus station.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: It's worth using the Terravision bus to and from Ciampino airport, especially if it's your first time in Rome. Their stand is in the arrivals hall and the timetable fits with the Ryanair flights. They drop you off and collect you near to Termini station, which is convenient for everywhere in Rome. I prefer to book my ticket online via the Ryanair website, but you can buy tickets on arrival (online bookings have priority). The bus waits for everyone to clear arrivals before it leaves, which is reassuring. The return journey arrives in good time for check-in, and you get an interesting trip through the Roman suburbs on the way.

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Website: Link on the Ryanair website.