Will arrive on overseas flight at 8:45am in late September. Have booked a flight to Venice at 6:50pm. Any ideas on what to do during layover? Is that enough time to go into the city? Explore somewhere close by? Any recommendation on transportation for a quick outing? Appreciate any advice of a great quick tour or lunch or whatever. Be kind this is my first post although I have relied on fodorites advice for years.

While that is certainly time enough to get into town and back by train (which run constantly and inexpensively from the airport), I do hope you have more energy after a flight than I do!

Sure, go into Rome and visit one of your old faves or check out something new.

Otherwise, after an overseas flight, I'd be inclined to check into a room at the Airport Hilton or Holiday Inn and snooze.

Thinking that we may be a little tired also, but hate to waste a moment of Italy time. Any other ideas?

Ostia Antica is near the airport and a good outing if you have never been there.

Any particular reason that you are not flying directly into Venice? Or taking the Eurostar to Venice upon your arrival in Rome?

The train to Venice would be faster than your flight. If you've already booked, you can take the local train from the airport (not the Leonardo Express) to Trastevere. It departs the airport every 15 minutes and travel time to Trastevere is about 25 minutes (5.50€). There is luggage storage in the airport if you have some carryon bags you don't want to lug around.

>>>>Is there a left-luggage service at the airport?
Fiumicino's left-luggage service is located on the arrivals level of Terminal C and is open every day from 6:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Ph. +39 06 65953541.<<<

During the building of the airport, five vessels were uncovered dating from 2 BC to 4-5 AD. You can tour these at the Museum of the Vessels at Fiumicino.
http://www.adr.it/portal/portal/adr/...smo/Museo_navi

The above link also has links for other sites near the airport.

Hello Pammie. You could take the train that runs every 30 minutes from FCO into Rome to the Termini Station. Have lunch, walk around which is always nice after sitting on a plane for hours and take the train back to FCO to catch your flight to Venice.