I took the Leonardo Express train from Fiumicino Airport to Termini Station last month and found it very easy to use. The trip only took 1/2 hour and cost approx 14 Euro. There are also self service kiosks where you may purchase your tickets (just don't forget to validate the ticket before getting on the train).

You'll find that a taxi will be far more expensive than taking the train (around 40 Euros or more), and then there is the traffic you may encounter on the way into Rome.

The Trenitalia website (www.trenitalia.com) will give you more information on the Leonardo Express (price...timetables...etc.)

Happy travels!

www.terravision.eu/rome_fiumicino.html

Bus for me last 4 euro nice ride cheaper

best way to go if on a tight budget...

eurocheapo.com/rome Getting Around great tips

Train fastest but expensive go for that if short on time.

Have fun!

It depends on how tired you will be.

It is a good walk from arrivals at Fiumicino to the Leonardo Express station. The station is easy to navigate, and you can buy your tickets all the way to Florence right there.

You have to lift your luggage up into the train (three steps) then again onto luggage racks.

At Termini, it is a very long walk (fifteen minutes?) from the Leonardo Express area to the departure tracks for Florence trains, perhaps more if you include the time at the train board to see which trains will be leaving from which tracks.

The train will cost the four of you 56 euros. If I could find a taxi for that or less, I might well take a taxi.

On another note, arriving at that hour, you will be very, very hungry and only horrible coffee machines are available in the customs area after immigration. If you follow the signs for the train, you can take the escalator up instead of leaving the arrival terminal and find a very acceptable coffee and pastry bar upstairs. You order and pay at the register, then show your receipt at the coffee counter where they will make up your order. Much better and easier than waiting until you get to Termini.

Unless you already have train tickets to Florence, the going by Leonardo Express to Termini adds no more hassle. You can buy Leonardo Express AND Florence Santa Maria Novella train tickets at the same time at FCO station.

The Leonardo Express to Florence change time can be reduced by

1. Riding at the head of the Leonardo express train. The head points to Rome. At FCO, it is furthest car from the ticket office. Why? When Leonardo express pulls into Termini, all the connections require walking to the head of the train.

2. Use the underground passage ramp "sottopassaggio" to go from the Leonardo express track to the Florence track WITHOUT having to walk all the way back to the beginning of track at Termini. How do you know where will the Florence train be? Look at your ticket you bought at FCO. Look at the train number and the departure time. Look up which track "binario" that train departs on numerous digital displays placed through out the station. The destination will not be Firenze, but the final destination of the train like Milano Centrale, Venezia Santa Lucia, Torino Porta Nuova, etc.

The taxi should be cheaper.

Taxi will be cheaper for four people. Taxis are a set fee from the airport to Rome of 40€ for four people including luggage. They've requested a rate increase to 45€ a year ago, but haven't seen where it's been approved yet. You just have to make sure you get in an official city of Rome taxi (city of Fiumicino taxis can charge more).
http://www.adr.it/web/aeroporti-di-roma-en-/pax-fco-taxi

You can also book a limo shuttle cheaper than the train and you won't have to drag your luggage over to the train station. The limo driver will wait for you outside baggage claim with a sign with your name on it.
http://www.romeshuttlelimousine.com/en/airport-transfer.php

Kybourbon is correct - the fixed taxi rate to the center of Rome is still 40€ and a taxi would be cheaper than four tickets on the Leonardo Express. I would also agree that with four people splitting the costs, why not get a private shuttle? I like Stefano at www.romecabs.com or my friend Alfredo at www.romashuttle.com

If you want to go cheaper from FCO to Roma Termini, than the current Terravision special is only 4€ per person. You can't beat that price. You could also try the Cotral Airport bus for 4.50€. And the SITBus Shuttle Bus is only 8€ per person. These links may give some more info on arriving at FCO and the transportation options Good Luck!

For FCO arrival help from the USA, see: http://tinyurl.com/FCO-arrive or http://tinyurl.com/t3-baggage

For transportation info, you might read: http://tinyurl.com/FCO-trains , http://tinyurl.com/FCO-depart , http://tinyurl.com/FCO-LE , http://tinyurl.com/terravision , and http://tinyurl.com/SITBus

Personally, I road the Leonardo Express and it was relatively hassle free and quick. But it seems like for the number of people you are taking that the private shuttle is the way to go.

Thanks for all the great advice!

One more question - does anyone have any idea what the traffic situation is like on a weekday from 7 am to 8 am? My impression is that the inbound roads will be heavily congested.