Friday, January 02, 2009

Bus for early morning flight out of Rome Fiumicino airport (FCO) Leanardo Da Vinci

Ok.. I put this up because there is very little information about the public transport to the Roma's main international airport at Fiumicino (Leanardo Da Vinci airport) for early morning flights. Even if you ask around all the bus drivers or information center, not many people know about it. The information center inside the Roma Termini train station knows about it and can guide you. So also check with them to make sure the bus service is still on.
Leanardo express: There is a fast express train from Roma termini to the airport. But the first train starts only at 5:58 AM and reaches the airport at 6:30 AM or so... So what if you have Flight very early like 6:30 or so ??
COTRAL Night Buses: There are buses run by a company called COTRAL that is more like Night buses to the airport. The last of the night buses leave Roma Tiburtini Bus station and also stops at Piazza dei Cinquecento in front of the Roma Termini train station at 3:45 AM. Since I recently took this bus and found no information whatso ever about where the bus actually stops and its so easy to miss it, I have marked it on the map (Blue baloon on bottom left corner of map indicates the actual bus stop). Its almost the North west corner of the Piazza dei Cinquecento and just right outside Roma termini. Basically it is very close to one of the exit point of the bus station, where most buses exit and the this bus turns right onto Via Cavour after exiting the Piazza. You will find a small board at the indicated location on the side that says COTRAL and also the timings of the night buses. The color of the bus is BLUE contrary to the usual city buses(AMT buses) which are RED in color. If you get confused ask the small shop owner(shop that sells coffee, snacks etc.) in the pizza bus station and he can direct you. The 3:45AM bus leave Tiburtini at 3:45 and comes to Termini within a few minutes and reaches airport by 4:30 AM or so. So be there by 3:45AM and if the bus doesn't show up on time, dont worry.. its Italy.. you just need some patience. It will come.. :).. It costs about 7 EUR (as of Dec 2008). Prices may vary and you buy tickets in the bus itself. Hope this helps.. What if you miss this bus too ?? well.. then.. take a TAXI which easily costs about 50 EUR or more. :)

View Larger Map
Buses to Roma Ciampino airport: There are regular buses for all flight timings from outside Roma Termini to Roma Ciampino airport. These buses leave from Via Marsala (Top right corner blue baloon on Via Marsala). There is an exit to Via Marsala from inside the Train station itself. It is to the right side if you leave the train station facing Piazza dei Cinquecento. You can even find these bus informations even from the Ryan air website as Ryanair flies out of Ciampino.