The train is about 13 euro per person. Travel times are hard to compare. Much dipends on the traffic. The train takes less than an hour from the moment of departure, and there is a train every 20 minutes. The taxy can take significantly longer, depending on how bad is the traffic. But if there isn't much traffic it can be faster than the train.
The non-stop airporter train to Roma Termini ("Leonardo da Vinci Express") costs 11 Euros per passenger. It departs every 30 minutes and travel time to Termini is 31 minutes (or slightly more).
If you are planning to connect to an outbound train from Roma Termini to another destination in Italy, it might make sense to train in on this airporter train.
However, if your final destination is the City of Rome itself, ALSO consider taking the OTHER airporter train (the one which does NOT go to Roma Termini, but to the outlying smaller stations of Trastevere, Ostiense and Tuscolana). It costs less than half as much (only 5 Euros), departs every 15 minutes, and might not be terribly inconvenient to the location of your hotel. You could get a taxi from the Ostiense or Trastevere Station to your hotel. Ostiense is 28 minutes from the airport on this train.
If your hotel is near the Termini Station, or closer to Termini than to the other, outlying stations, your best bet is a taxi, private limo service, or the Termini airporter train itself for 33 Euros for three.
They're comparable in time. The train may be slightly quicker depending on time of day. The train costs is 10Euro. You can get tickets just just before the departure platform.
Of course, you will be at Termini in Rome when you arrive and unless you're staying in that part of the city will still have to get cab or metro from there to your final destination. The train arrives a very long way from the front of the terminal - about a ten minute walk from arrival platform to the front door.
Posts: 796 | Location: New Hampshire | Registered: 12 September 2006
I have to say that of all the discussions of things we have on Slow Travel, this is the one that mystifies me the most.
The taxi from the airport is Euro 40 and you get it at the door of the airport and it takes you directly to your hotel or apartment. You have just gotten off an overnight flight and I would think that the last thing most travelers would need (especially with three people) is the "challenge" of using public transportation from the airport. Even if it was half as expensive, it will take more time and will require more walking and wrangling luggage, and more aggravation than anyone needs when they get off an overnight flight.
Until recently, unless I'm mistaken, taxi fares to the centre of Rome weren't fixed, and were open to unscrupulous drivers charging significantly more than "about" 40E. In this case, at least you knew that the train costs X and that you weren't getting ripped off. Now, with fixed fares and potential passengers knowing where they stand, it may make more sense for people to take a taxi.
For Stan, it sounds like it would make very little difference in price between taxi and train, and that taking a taxi would be a lot less hassle.
Thank you all. What I should have been more clear about is that we are then taking the train to Florence. Yes, an open jaw ticket would have made more sense...but not payable with my miles so we are sucking it up. After some time in Florence we are returning to Rome to spend some time there before departing. What I was trying to take into account a bit was the "aggravation factor" that Jim is talking about.
This will all take place about 12:30 p.m. on Saturday....is traffic likely to be much of an issue? If not it sounds like we are talking about the same amount of time, a diffenence of about 10 euro or so. So the biggest issue is the "aggravation factor". With that in mind I may wait to see how we are feeling about life when we get in.
If you're catching the train straight to Florence then I'm with GAC. I'd say get the train from the airport. It requires the same number of "changes", ie getting on the train and off the train, or getting into the taxi and out of the taxi.
You can also buy your train ticket to Florence from the ticket office in the airport. You'll still have to change in Termini, but it saves you having to buy your ticket at Termini.
Since there are 3 of you, do yourselves a favor & book www.romeshuttlelimousine.com 35 Euros for 1-4 people & they'll be waiting for you w/your name on a placard. Nice way to start your trip & worth every euro.
Originally posted by kmmorg: Since there are 3 of you, do yourselves a favor & book www.romeshuttlelimousine.com 35 Euros for 1-4 people & they'll be waiting for you w/your name on a placard. Nice way to start your trip & worth every euro.
If a limo company will do it for only 35 Euros, its a great deal for three (and even for two) persons travelling together.
Hi, Patrick here, My wife and I were in Rome mid October. We caught the Leonardo express from the airport. It cost us Euro 11 each, was terribly overcrowded, and took about 30 mins to arrive at Termini. But, the worst thing is that when you arrive, the train stops a long way from the main platforms; it takes 10 to 15 mins. to walk this distance, and .... there are now no luggage trolleys where it stops. We saw lots of Shuttle Buses around Rome advertising the trip from Fiumicino to the city from Euro 30! I definitely would take either the shuttle or a taxi,(if there are 2 or more of you).
Posts: 22 | Location: New Zealand | Registered: 14 November 2006
Jim...I am so with you. 'Do yourself a favor.' After all night on a flight, inspite of the restful sleep you may have gotten; Schlepping luggage on a crowded train is not the best way to welcome yourself to Rome. Spend the extra$$, your first view of the city can be from the backseat of a car zipping trough the streets. You can save a few $$ later to make the difference if you need to (it is all Monopoly money after a while). IMHO
I agree with the others who said "take a taxi". The price is now a fixed flat fee of 40 Euro into the center from Fiumicino. Only slightly less than the 33 Euro it would cost you on the train and less hassle with bags etc. Only thing to be careful of is to make sure you get a taxi which is based in Rome, not the city of Fiumicino as only the Rome based taxis have to charge you the flat fixed rate of 40 Euro. More on this here.
Ok, I am pretty well convinced to use a cab or the Rome Shuttle Service. Has anyone else used the shuttle service that KMMORG listed? Not that I am a cynic or anything, I just always like more than one reference.
Good point about the walk after you get to Termini. It must be about a mile. We almost always start our trips in Rome and this is the point where I say "I packed too much."
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