The sixth-busiest airport in Europe, Rome Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO), 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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<div class="rxbodyfield">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.<p>
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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 center, 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.
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Multi-level parking lots A-D are directly linked to the terminals via pedestrian walkways; the long-term parking lot on the highrway from Rome to Fiumicino is served by a shuttle bus to/from the terminals. There are limited spaces at Terminal A and B for short-term parking.
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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 Center in Area B, after security, for your business needs.
Other facilities: Travel agents, pharmacies, massage parlors, photo booth (Terminal 3). Terminal 1 has a beauty parlor, 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.
Shopping: There's lots of shopping to be had at Fiumicino Airport, from high-end branded fashion (Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, Gucci, Hermes – the list is endless) to Italian wines, leather goods, jewelry and accessories, and foods. There are also the usual travel stores, bookstores and newsagent dotted throughout. If you've got cash burning a hole in your pocket, you won't for long...
Food and drink: Rome being the cafe-culture capital that it is, you won't be disappointed by the excellent selection of coffee shops and delis in the airport, especially in Terminals 1 and 2. For sit-down meals, there are the usual fast-food joints (such as McDonald's) and a few decent restaurants.
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