How to Get to Rome

By air

Rome Fiumicino (FCO) is the main international gateway, with a direct Leonardo Express train running to Termini station in the city center in about 32 minutes. Rome Ciampino (CIA), smaller and used mostly by budget airlines, connects to the center by bus in around 40 minutes.

By train

Rome's high-speed rail connections make it an easy add-on to a wider Italy trip — Florence is roughly 90 minutes away, Naples about an hour, and Milan around three hours, all via Termini station, Rome's main rail hub.

Getting around once you're there

Central Rome is genuinely walkable, and many of the major sights sit within a 20-30 minute walk of each other. The metro covers longer hops (including to the Vatican and Termini) but has only two main lines, since further tunneling keeps running into archaeological sites. Buses fill in the gaps the metro doesn't reach, and a single ticket covers metro, bus, and tram within a set time window.

Taxis and ride-hailing

Official white taxis operate from designated ranks rather than being hailed off the street in most cases, and ride-hailing app coverage in Rome is more limited than in some other major European cities — check current availability rather than assuming one will be waiting.

From other Italian cities

Rome's central position on the high-speed rail network makes it an easy stop on a wider Italy trip rather than a standalone destination — most visitors arrive by train from Florence, Venice, or Naples rather than flying in specifically, especially if Rome is one leg of a longer itinerary.

Airport transfer costs and options

Beyond the Leonardo Express, regional trains and shared shuttle vans offer cheaper, slightly slower alternatives from Fiumicino, while a private transfer costs more but delivers you directly to your hotel rather than requiring a taxi or metro connection from Termini.

Driving in Rome

Renting a car for a Rome-only trip is rarely worth it — much of the historic center restricts non-resident vehicles through camera-enforced zones, and parking is both scarce and expensive. A car makes more sense only if you're using Rome as a base to explore the wider Lazio countryside.

Connecting onward

Fiumicino also serves as a practical connection point for onward flights to other Italian cities or destinations across the Mediterranean, useful if Rome is a stopover rather than the only stop on a longer trip.

Whichever route brings you into the city, keep your ticket or boarding pass until you exit the station — Italian rail occasionally checks tickets on the platform side after arrival.

Can you visit Rome without a car?

Easily — in fact, most visitors are better off without one. Between walking, the metro, and buses, a car adds cost and hassle (limited traffic zones, expensive parking) without much upside inside the city itself.