Leonardo Express Rom
Leonardo Express Rome - Prices, Travel Times, Tickets
The fastest and easiest way to get from Leonardo Da Vinci Rome-Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to downtown Rome is by taking the Leonardo Express. This train takes you non-stop to Rome's main train station (Termini) in just 32 minutes.
From Termini, you can transfer to the metro or one of the many buses to continue to your accommodation or walk directly from the station. Many of Rome's attractions are also quickly accessible from here.
How do I get to the Leonardo Express?
After you land in Rome and collect your bags, follow the exit signs marked "Uscita/Exit". This will take you to the arrivals area of Fiumicino Airport. From here, follow the signs marked "Train/Treni" which will lead you to the airport's train station. The station is about 400 to 500 meters from the arrival hall. Through a tunnel and over several escalators, you can reach the station in just a few minutes.
Where to buy Leonardo Express tickets?
Tickets for the train can be purchased at various locations within the station and online in advance. There are several ticket machines available for buying Leonardo Express tickets. Alternatively, you can buy tickets at the tobacco shops known as "Tabacchi". Traditionally, you can also purchase tickets at the ticket counter at the station.
Recently, it has also become possible to buy tickets online in advance.
Buying Tickets Online
If you prefer to avoid the queues at ticket machines or other sales points and go directly to the Leonardo Express, you can buy your tickets online in advance. Simply visit our partner's website to purchase your tickets. They will then be sent to you via email within 24 hours. This also allows for last-minute ticket purchases.
When purchasing tickets online, you can select your travel day during the booking process and book accordingly. The online tickets are then valid for the entire booked day. Thus, you do not have to commit to a specific train or departure time when booking your tickets.
Purchasing Tickets at Ticket Machines
On your way to and at the Fiumicino Airport station, you will find numerous ticket machines where you can purchase tickets for the Leonardo Express. The purchase process is straightforward, but be aware that the machines are often surrounded by tourists, so it might take some time before it's your turn. Therefore, consider purchasing your tickets online in advance to save time at the machines and make the purchase stress-free from home.
For those who prefer to buy tickets directly at the ticket machines, we will explain how easy it is.
First, head to one of the many red machines labeled "Trenitalia." Once there, you should change the menu language to German by touching the German flag at the bottom of the screen. The ticket machines are equipped with a touchscreen, so you only need to touch what you need on the screen.
After changing the language to German, all texts will be displayed in German. Next, select your destination - in this case, "Roma-Termini" station. Since most tourists are headed to Termini, the machine will likely show this stop as a default option.
Next, select your travel date and time, which in almost all cases will be the current day you are at the machine. Just press the "Confirm" button. The specific time of travel on that day does not really matter since the tickets are valid for the entire selected day. It's important just to ensure you have selected the correct day.
After entering the date and time, the machine will show all available trains to Termini. Select any of these trains, as the Leonardo Express tickets are valid all day as previously described.
The machine will now ask how many people are traveling. Simply select the correct number of passengers (adults and children aged 4 to 12). If you have any dogs with you, you must indicate this as well.
The screen of the ticket machine will now display First Class as the class to book. This is correct, and it's the only class you can book for this train, as there is no bookable Second Class in the Leonardo Express. If all displayed data (date, number of travelers, etc.) are correct, you just need to confirm. If you notice an error, you can still change it here.
Once you have confirmed your data, the machine will ask if you also want to buy/ book a return trip right away. We recommend you decline this and purchase the return tickets separately at the time of your return trip.
The last step is paying for the tickets. You have several payment options available. You can pay for the tickets to Termini in cash or with a debit or credit card. Once the transaction is successful, the tickets will be printed and issued to you through the dispensary.
All of this might sound like a lot of "work" to get tickets for the Leonardo Express, but all in all, it's not a big effort and is quite straightforward.
Don't Forget to Validate Your Tickets!
All passengers should pay special attention to validating their tickets. Unfortunately, many forget to do this when boarding the Leonardo Express train—and it can become quite costly. Many passengers of the Leonardo Express think that the ticket is validated at the time of purchase or at least when accessing the platform, but this is not the case!
To gain access to the platform where the train departs, all passengers must first have their ticket's QR code scanned. This is only to ensure that only passengers with a valid ticket can enter the platform.
Once you are on the platform, you will see small green machines (often referred to as green Easter eggs). At these machines, you must validate your ticket. Simply insert your ticket into the slot in the middle of the green machine. The machine then prints the current date and time on the ticket. Only after this is done is your ticket properly validated.
If you forget to validate your ticket and encounter a ticket inspection, you could be subject to a fine up to 100 Euros despite having purchased a ticket. So, do not forget to validate your ticket!
What is the cost of tickets for the Leonardo Express?
A one-way ticket from the airport to downtown Rome or vice versa costs 14.00 Euros for an adult. Children aged 4 to 12 qualify for a reduced fare. Toddlers under 4 years of age can travel on the Leonardo Express for free.
The price of 14.00 Euros for an adult is available at all sales points in Rome. If you order tickets online, a processing fee of 2 to 4 Euros will also be charged, which should not deter anyone considering the time saved.
Plenty of space and comfort for travelers
Departure Times of the Leonardo Express in Rome
The train operates daily, 365 days a year, between Fiumicino Airport and the city center of Rome. Typically, trains run every 30 minutes, and every 15 minutes during peak times. The first train from Termini Station towards the airport departs at approximately 5:30 AM. The last connection to the airport departs at about 10:30 PM. Conversely, from Fiumicino Airport to the central station in Rome, the first departure is at about 6:20 AM. The last Leonardo Express towards Rome starts its journey just after 11:30 PM. This schedule ensures coverage for all arriving and departing flights at the airport.
Guaranteed Transfer
Regardless of strikes or other factors that could affect train service, the city of Rome or the train operator guarantees the maintenance of this connection between Rome-Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and the city center of Rome.
Travel Time from the Airport to Rome and Back
The Leonardo Express takes exactly 32 minutes to travel from Rome-Fiumicino Airport to the downtown area of Rome, and the same applies for the reverse route from the city center of Rome to Fiumicino Airport. The service provides a direct connection without any stops. For those visiting Rome for the first time, this means there's no chance of missing your stop or getting off at the wrong station.