Ciampino Airport, Rome’s secondary airport, has been growing steadily over the last few years, serving an increasing number of budget flights, including many to the UK. As the airport, which is just outside the city, expands, the limited transport options are improving at a slower rate.
Public transport to Ciampino
Ciampino Airport – Anagnina Metro
A crowded and sluggish public bus service (run by local companies Cotral and Schiaffini) connects Ciampino Airport with the bus and Metro station at Anagnina. Buses have little space for luggage, and the aisle gets crowded with standing passengers and suitcases; it’s not a speedy or a comfortable way to travel. Tickets cost 1 (plus another 1 for large suitcases), and can be bought from the driver or staff by the bus. Buses leave from a clearly-indicated stop just outside the terminal buildings, alongside the taxi rank, at roughly 40-50 minute intervals (timetables are displayed on the bus stop or available on the Schiaffini website – see right-hand panel). The final stop (allow up to 40 minutes) is Anagnina bus station; descend a flight of stairs from the bus stop and you’ll arrive at Anagnina metro station. Personally, we relied on this cheap travel option for years, but as passenger numbers grow, the trip has become extremely hot, crowded and uncomfortable. It’s also annoyingly slow, since the bus isn’t usually direct, but does the rounds of Ciampino village and station. Nowadays we reckon that it’s worth paying the extra for a comfortable direct service.
Ciampino railway station
Between Ciampino and Anagnina, most of the buses (check timetable) also stop at Ciampino railway station, (or Ciampino FS). This stop is on a mainline run by the Ferrovie dello Stato, Italy’s rail network, and trains run fairly frequently to Stazione Termini. The fare is 2; buy your ticket at the desk or news-stand and stamp it in one of the machines provided before you board a train.
Anagnina onwards
Anagnina is at the end of Metro Linea A, which runs right through Rome, with stops including Stazione Termini and the Spanish Steps (‘Spagna’). This section of the journey will take half an hour or more. Tickets (1 for 75 minutes’ travel) can be bought from machines or news-stands. If you’re planning to do a lot of travelling by public transport, this is a good time to buy a travelcard.
Terravision bus
This is a direct bus service, timed to coincide with flights, which connects Ciampino with Stazione Termini in the centre of Rome. This airport service has always seemed fairly efficient, and is, after a taxi, the most efficient and comfortable way to get into Rome. And after a shopping trip, being able to sling your heavy case into the hold of their coach and then relax in comfort instead of carting it on the Metro and upstairs to the bus at Anagnina is worth the extra cost. Their customer service hasn’t always been the best, and we’ve had (and heard of) problems with a couple of their other services, but in Rome they have lots of buses and we’ve not encountered any difficulties. The journey takes around 40 minutes, depending on traffic. If you book online you can avoid ticket queues, and at the time of writing there is an online special offer with tickets for 5 on way/ 10 return instead of 8 / 14. To make a booking, click on the link alongsideCiampino – Termini bus
A newer and infrequent bus service, also run by Schiaffini, connects the airport with Termini. It’s slightly cheaper than the competing Terravision bus, costing 5 each way (although you may be asked to pay an extra 1 per suitcase), but it only runs about seven times a day, and is less comfortable. Tickets are bought from the driver or staff by the bus, and the service uses the bus stop just outside the terminal building at Ciampino. At Termini the bus stops at the poorly-indicated Cotral stop for Fiuggi – at the time of writing this was alongside the main part of the railway station in Via Giolitti. For timetable details, visit the Schiaffini website (see right-hand panel).
Taxi
Thanks to a great move by the Rome authorities, there is now a set price for taxis between Rome and its two airports. From Ciampino Airport into central Rome (anywhere within the Aurelian walls, which basically includes the central tourist area) a taxi ride should cost 30 euros (this includes baggage). This also applies in the opposite direction. If you have problems, ostentatiously write down the taxi’s license number (check this is displayed in the cab when you get on board), and ask for a receipt. Call 060606 to report any problems. Italian driving aside, this is a comfortable way to travel and not too expensive if you are travelling in a group. The great advantage is that you can travel from/to your hotel’s entrance, with no need for heaving your cases over cobblestones or onto public transport in the centre. There is a taxi rank right outside the terminal building, with rows of official taxis waiting to oblige. We’ve had extremely bad experiences with these Ciampino-based taxi drivers in the past, and thoroughly appreciate the council’s new price rulings. Catching a taxi from central Rome lately, we did confirm the 30 price with the driver, but he didn’t quibble, didn’t ask for more, and seemed perfectly happy with the system. Our journey was so much faster and more comfortable than public transport that we’re tempted to stick to taxis for the airport run.
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