If this is your first time visiting Rome and you don’t know how to organise your first steps upon arrival, whether by train or plane, and at first glance it seems like a maze, don’t worry. Even though the train, bus and underground lines seem intertwined and impossible, there’s no need to fear them. Once you’ve finished reading this post, getting around the city will be a piece of cake. At Lock Here Now, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about Rome’s main stations and airports, along with the best tips for discovering the city.
Rome Airports
There are two main airports, and each has certain benefits depending on your itinerary. Choosing between one or the other can make your arrival a breeze or a minor headache depending on the connections you want to make.
| Feature | Fiumicino (FCO) | Ciampino (CIA) |
|---|---|---|
| Distance to city center | 32 km (30–45 min) | 15 km (30–40 min) |
| Main airlines | International and long-haul flights, major European airlines | Low-cost airlines (Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet) |
| Connection to city center | Leonardo Express train (€14, 32 min to Termini) + buses | Buses only (€6–7, every 30–40 min) |
| Services | Extensive: shops, restaurants, lounges | Basic, more limited |
| Traffic and volume | Larger, can feel overwhelming | Smaller, easier to navigate |
| Best for | International connections, comfort | Budget travelers, low-cost flights |
How do I get to the centre of Rome from the airport?
If you arrive at Fiumicino and want to head straight out to explore the city, the Leonardo Express is your best friend. It’s fast, direct and hassle-free, although it may be more expensive. But be aware that if your hotel is near Tiburtina or you plan to take a regional train, there are direct buses from Fiumicino that will take you there for around €5-8. It’s worth researching according to your itinerary, try to plan it before you arrive so you can go straight to your connection when you land.
If you land at Ciampino, on the other hand, you’ll have to go a little further. The Terravision or SIT buses take you to Termini in about 40 minutes, although Roman traffic can make it take a little longer.
Rome Train Stations
This is where things get interesting, as Italian rail traffic is very heavy and Rome does not have a single main station, but several.
- Roma Termini is the most famous, the large central station where practically all lines converge. If you are thinking of taking high-speed trains (Frecciarossa, Italo) to Florence, Venice or Naples, you will probably depart from here. But it is also a constant hive of activity, with tourists unfolding their maps and, let’s be honest, some overly talented pickpockets.
- Roma Tiburtina, on the other hand, is less crowded, more modern, and strategically located if you want to avoid the chaos of the city centre. Many high-speed trains also stop here, and the connections to the underground and buses are excellent.
- Roma Ostiense is your best bet if you are arriving from Fiumicino Airport by regional train or if you are heading to the coast (Ostia, for example). It is quieter and less touristy.
Roma Tiburtina
Located in the San Lorenzo neighbourhood (university area, full of nightlife and authentic trattorias), from this train station in Rome you can take high-speed and regional trains, and you have immediate access to Line B of the underground.
Tiburtina is a great option for travelling around Italy with your stop in Rome. If your plan includes visiting nearby cities such as Florence (1h 30min, from €19), Naples (1h 10min, from €15) or even Milan (3h, from €29), leaving from here saves you the hassle of crossing all of Rome to Termini. What’s more, the facilities are clean and there is decent Wi-Fi.
Where to store your luggage in Rome Tiburtina?
Let’s talk about something that every traveller needs but no one tells you about until you’re lugging a 15-kilo backpack around in the sun: where to store your luggage if you don’t have access to your hotel or accommodation, or if you’re just passing through Rome.
At LockHereNow, we’ve come to Rome to give you a solution to this problem. Our luggage storage near Roma Tiburtina station is a lifesaver. Did you arrive early and your Airbnb isn’t ready? Do you have a night train but a free day? Do you want to explore without dragging your suitcase around? Discover how storing your luggage will change the way you travel.
Tiburtina Connections with the centre of Rome
The best way to get from Tiburtina to the city centre is by underground: Line B is your best option, as it is direct, fast and stops at key locations such as:
- Tiburtina → Colosseum: 15 minutes (change at Termini to Line B, or direct if you take the underground to Colosseo)
- Tiburtina → Termini: 8 minutes direct by metro (€1.50 single ticket)
Tiburtina → Vatican: 30 minutes (metro to Termini, change to Line A to Ottaviano)
Trains run every 4-6 minutes during rush hour and every 8-10 minutes during normal hours. The service runs from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on weekdays and until 1:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus: Lines 492, 649 and several night buses connect Tiburtina with different parts of the city. This is your best option for exploring specific neighbourhoods further afield.
Private transport: A taxi from Tiburtina to the Colosseum costs around €15-20 depending on traffic. Uber works, although Roman taxis are quite reliable if you make sure they are legal.
Cities to Visit by Train from Rome
If Rome is just one stop on your Italian itinerary, or you are considering visiting other destinations once you have spent a few days in Rome, here are the cities best connected to Rome by train:
- Florence: 1 hour 30 minutes, trains every hour, from €19 if you book in advance. The cradle of the Renaissance awaits you.
- Naples: 1 hour 10 minutes, high frequency, from €15. Authentic pizza, charming chaos and Vesuvius in the background.
- Bologna: 2 hours 15 minutes, from €25. Incredible food, medieval architecture, fewer tourists than other cities.
- Venice: 3h 45min, from €35. Canals, gondolas, and that unique atmosphere that exists nowhere else.
- Milan: 3h, from €29. Fashion, the Duomo, Da Vinci’s Last Supper.
- Orvieto: 1 hour, from €10. A medieval village on top of a volcanic hill, perfect for a day trip.
Frequency varies depending on the route, but there are usually high-speed trains every 30-60 minutes to major destinations. In summer and especially on weekends, it can be very crowded and you risk not getting a ticket, so plan ahead.
Rome Travel Tips
At Lock Here Now, we’ve learned a few tricks that make life easier when visiting the city. We hope you find them useful:
Buy metro tickets in packs: A single ticket costs €1.50, but a 24-hour pass (€7) or 48-hour pass (€12.50) is more cost-effective if you plan to travel around a lot. Valid on the underground, buses and trams.
Always validate your ticket: Yes, it seems obvious, but Roman inspectors are relentless. You’ll be fined €50+ if you’re caught without a validated ticket.
Avoid rush hour on the metro: 7:30-9:00 AM and 5:00-7:30 PM are hellish. If you can adjust your itinerary, do so.
Useful apps: Rome2Rio for planning routes, ATAC Roma for real-time public transport timetables, Trenord/Trenitalia for trains.
Book in advance: If you want to travel by train, you need to plan ahead, as prices can triple if you buy tickets on the day. Trenitalia and Italo often have special offers if you book 1-2 months in advance.
Walk whenever you can: Rome is beautiful on foot. Many attractions are closer than they appear on the map. It’s about 4-5 km from Tiburtina to the centre, which is doable if you don’t have luggage (another reason to use luggage storage in Rome).
Free water everywhere: The nasoni fountains (those public fountains shaped like noses) have drinking water and are all over the city. Bring a reusable bottle.
Avoid the crowds: If a restaurant has a menu in 15 languages and laminated photos of the dishes, run away. The best places near Tiburtina are in San Lorenzo, well known for being the neighbourhood where students eat well and cheaply.
Rome is not a city that can be conquered in a day, or even in a week. You can spend days discovering it, and the best advice we can give you is to get lost and enjoy it bit by bit, discovering it layer by layer, with a good pistachio ice cream or a perfectly executed cacio e pepe.
Rome awaits you. And now you know how to get around as if you were a local from the very first day of your trip.
