JenV

Ira, I noticed you responded to another poster to allow 2.5 hours btwn FCO airport and the Termini train station. I have booked a 1:45 ES train to Naples and my flight arrives at 11:40 am - will I make it?

Thanks,
Jen

eurotraveller

The trip from the termini takes longer thatn you would think. FCO is a large airport so it is far from the downtown area. It takes about an hour by taxi but consider that you may run into traffic. It can be terrible in Rome! You should be ok but if not be prepared to put plan b in place.

JenV

Thanks eurotraveller for the quick response. I have flown to this airport before and remember a long cab ride in to the city. I don't remember how long the passport line takes but hopefully I'll be ok.

Riffic

Jen,
Another reason to give yourself so much time, as Ira pointed out (and I can confirm) is that when arriving at Termini with the Leonardo da Vinci "express" train from the airport, you have to walk seemingly forever to get to the central part of the train station. There are people-movers to help, but many of them were broken when we were there.

We also had waited 45 minutes for our luggage at baggage claim at FCO. I think FCO is famous for such long wait times. Consider this, also.

rfb

If your plane arrives on time,you should have no problems depending on how long you have to wait for your luggage. It takes about ten minutes to get across the street and up to the train station at FCO; trains leave every half hour at 07 and 37 and take about 30 minutes to get into the city. Leonardo express arrives at track 26 at the far end of Termini station, the track is quite a ways away from main station; however, a reasonably healthy adult will find it only takes 5 or 10 minutes to walk from arrival area to the main station where train to Napoli will depart.

If you miss your train go around to main ticketing area, stand in one of the god awful lines and have the agent issue you a new ticket(this may take some persuasiveness on your part).
If you haven't already purchased your ticket, just wait until you get to Rome and buy one from the many vending machines that are there. Then you won't need to worry about missing the train.

bobthenavigator

Spend 30E and book airportshuttle.it

ira

Hi Jen,

Even if your plane lands on time, it takes a while to get to the terminal.

We had to wait an hour for our luggage at FCO.

The LdV Express leaves on the :07 and the :37. You might have to wait.

Figure 10 min to walk from Track 24 to the head of the tracks.

Our plane was scheduled to arrive at 0800. We got to the head of the tracks at RomaTE at 11:30.

I suggest that you change your ticket for the next train.

The worst that will happen is that you will have time for a snack and do some people watching.

mendota98

Hi JenV,
In Italian airports I found that in various lines there were many instances of people cutting into the "line". Perhaps because they were late or out of frustration. This practice made the lines move very slow.

Also some of the lines had only one passport official or security agent for a line 100 feet long.

To balance this out it appears that all planes and trains depart behind schedule.

So depending on the time of arrival 2.5 hours is a reasonable time for arriving at the train station.

==Mike

Sue_xx_yy

Figure an hour to get from your arrival gate to the airport train station (there's a little shuttle train that we had to take to accomplish this.) Then figure 15 to 30 minutes while you buy your ticket for the express train and wait for the next one. Add 30 minutes for the ride to the station, and a minimum of 15 minutes to get to the main platform, read the overhead electronic departures display board, figure out at which platform your train is docked, and board. (You don't want to rush this step, given the consequences of boarding the wrong train.)

In theory that's anywhere from two hours to two and a quarter hours. In practice, last time our plane landed (on time) at noon, and we were on the main platform just after 2 p.m. This, despite there being no line at customs/immigration at the time, and our just being waved through. So I would add my vote that a 2.5 hour minimum estimated time is probably a safer bet.

Huitres

The transportation time between FCO and Roma's Termini station is not any worse in comparison to other Italian airports and city centres. In fact, I found the 'Leonardo Express' to be most efficient and like the fact that it goes directly into the airport terminal itself - couldn't get much easier than de-boarding and taking an elevator up to my airline gate.

The distance between MXP's (Milano) airport and Milano centrale is 1 hour by shuttle bus, etc.

It is very probable that arriving by 11:40 am, going through Customs, then hopping on the Leonardo Express to Termini should allow you to catch your 1:45 pm ES train down to Napoli. To play it safe, see if there are other trains going that afternoon (should be several) and then you can use your ticket on another train if you miss the time.

GAC

When you purchase your ticket for the Leonardo da Vinci express airporter train to Roma Termini, you'll be able to judge whether you can make the 13:45 ES train. Calculate a minimum of 32 minutes travel time, plus 15 minutes to connect between the airporter train and the ES train (1000 yards walk). If you don't have enough time to make the 13:45 ES, purchase a ticket for a later ES or IC train to Naples. You can do this at the ticket window of the Fiumicino Airport train station (the same place which sells you the ticket for the airporter train). I suggest that you print out the list of trains to Naples from Roma Termini which leave on and after 13:45.

BoulderCO

Our plane lands in FCO at 1:55. We are trying to catch the 4:45 train to Naples. That is allowing 2 hours and 50 minutes. I am a little nervous based on previous experience. You are allowing only 2 hours and 5 minutes. I think it less than a 50% chance you could make it. You could alway get another set of seat reservations for a later ES train and then you could use your ticket on either one. That way you are covered regardless of how things work out.

GAC

Boulder: I don't know whether you can hold two different reservations for two different ES Italia trains WITHOUT having to pay for two separate tickets! I've never heard of this being done (by purchasing only one ES ticket). The reservation comes with the ticket purchase, and cannot be obtained separate from the ticket purchase, as far as I know.

You may, however, CHANGE your ES reservation for an earlier or later ES train, at no extra cost, as long as the change is made BEFORE departure of the ES train for which you hold the original reservation.

The best solution, in my mind, is either (i) reserve the LATER departing ES train, then change the reservation for the earlier departing train at the last moment if you determine that you'll make the earlier train (reservation change can be made at the Fiumicino Airport train station ticket window); or (ii)wait to purchase your ES ticket at the Fiumicino airport train station, when you will definitely know what ES train you'll be able to catch from Rome Termini Station, based on actual circumstances and not paper (or electronic) schedules. The second choice seems to be the better solution, unless you need absolute certainty of having a guaranteed seat.

JenV

Luggage, what luggage? As a confirmed fodorite light packer, I will have a carry on bag only. I learned that lesson the hard way after first trip to Italy with a suitcase the size of a small car. Two years ago I spent one month in Italy with one small carry on and I am a girly girl who likes new outfits every day and lots of shoe choices. Thanks to all for the valuable advice. I think I should make it if the plane isn't delayed (who knows with first stopover in Chicago). If not I will have to sweet talk someone at the window to get on a later train.

BoulderCO

GAC

Yes you can purchase a seat reservation without a ticket. Our tickets do not specify a particular train or time, just that it is the Eurostar from Rome to Naples. We have two sets of seat reservations - one for 445 train and one for the 645 in case we run late. I talked to a representative at RailEurope who assured me that I could hold seat reservations on two trains and use my ticket on either.

Huitres

JenV: I am with you on the carry-on only bag! After numerous trips lugging a huge, heavy suitcase around, I opt for a small carry-on that suffices perfectly for 3+ weeks in Italia. Forget baggage! Besides, I get in and out of airports quicker!

GAC

Boulder: thanks very much for pointing this out to me. Evidently, Rail Europe is doing this as a courtesy for its customers (do they earn a fee for the second reservation?). I don't know whether it can be done directly with Trenitalia, however. I've never tried it and havn't heard of it being done, either.

By contrast, I'm pretty sure that this CAN be done on Intercity trains (IC) in Italy, although you'd be paying for two separate reservations at 3 Euros apiece.

SuzieC

here comes an "informed" question...
how much is this train ticket to get into Rome from the Airport?

30E's and a shuttle sounds really reasonable to me and I'm poor.

ThinGorjus

It used to be about 11 E a few years ago. Maybe it has gone up a little?

GAC

Suzie:

Fiumicino Aeroporto to Roma Termini is Euro 9.50 (rated first class)

Fiumicino Aeroporto to Rome outlying stations (Trastevere, Ostiense, Tiburtina) is Euro 5.00 (rated second class)

The train to Termini runs every 30 mins. daily
The train to Trastevere, etc. runs every 15 mins from Mon thru Sat; every 30 mins on Sun