FCO Airport Customs/Security Time
 

I have a flight arriving at FCO at 9:15 a.m. on May 2nd, and would like to get to Naples by train. How much time will be needed at the airport to pick up luggage, go through customs, security, etc., then take public transportation or get a cab from FCO to Roma Termini? Would 2.5 hours be enough time? Should I just wait and buy a train ticket when I get to Termini? Are train tickets more expensive if not purchased in advance?

Thanks for the help!

Yes, train tickets will be much less if bought in advnace if you are using the high speed train. For local trains there would be no difference but the trip would tkae longer.

The problem at FCO is not customs (which takes about 30 seconds) and there is no security coming out of the airport.

What can take a while is

Getting a jetway - or bus to the plane - if a lot land at the same time you can be on the tarmac for 30 minutes or more (and you plane is late - many from the US land at 7 or 8 am and they are all ahead of you)

Immigration - can be fairly quick or can take a while, again if a bunch of planes land at once

Luggage - this is the real wild card. I have had luggage already there when we got through Immigration - or had to wait for an hour for any bags from the plane to appear (perhaps due to a staff slow down - who knows?)

I would just wait and purchase your ticket upon arrival. There is no way to predict how long it will take to get through immigration and to collect your luggage, as it depends on the number of planes that land at the same time yours does. And your flight may be delayed. But be prepared to wait up to an hour for luggage. Thankfully they recently remodeled the restrooms in the baggage claim area, so the facilities are decent while you are waiting.

>>> Are train tickets more expensive if not purchased in advance?

You can find this out on your own without having to wait for someone to tell you.
Go to the Italian national rail web site, www.trenitalia.com

Look at prices for Roma-Napoli. Do you see the price difference?
Last minutes: use March 30th
Advance: use July 28th

Arriving at FCO on any given day is difficult to estimate because of many factors such as those listed above. Sometimes we've arrived soon after landing, passing quickly through passport control, quickly retrieving our luggage, and then walking over to the Leonardo Express or meet the private car driver. Leaonardo takes about 30-40 minutes to arrive at Stazione Termini. It is longer if you take a private car, which we now prefer, or a taxi.

I think you can but tickets to go to Termini and Napoli all at the station in FCO. There is a ticket window and an automatic kiosk at the railhead. Also, tickets for Leonardo can be bought from the newsstands, as well. What is the cost differential between buying at the station as opposed to pre-purchasing online when you consider the overall cost of the trip to Italy.

Go and have fun.

Buon viaggio,