How to nail your Layover in Rome

Are you in Rome only for a long layover? And you still want to visit the city but you are unsure how? Worry not, I’m here to help!

This guide will answer all your burning questions about nailing your long layover in Rome. 

Rome, the eternal city, is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, or dare I say the world. You could spend months visiting this city and discover something new every day. So how do you pack all of those must-see places, museums or activities into only a few hours during your Rome layover? I got you covered!

This guide is only tailored for travellers who have more than 5h hours in their layover.

These ideas could be perfect either for first-timers in the eternal city or for seasoned travellers to the capital. After we visited Bologna, we had to take the plane back home so we were in the city for only 8 short hours.

Here, we will lay out transportation and logistics, sightseeing and activities. All of this is to help you maximize your experience in Rome and make the most of your time in the city before catching your next flight.

Logistics

So the first question is, why leave the airport for such a short time? It sounds stressful!

A long layover can either be a pain because you will die of boredom at the airport or you can use it to your advantage by visiting the city you are transiting to. Rome airport is not the most fun airport either, so your only option is to explore the eternal city.

Trust me, there are worse places to do a fun airport layover than Rome. Italy’s capital has TONS of things to do, whether it's your first time or you have been there multiple times. 

Yes, leaving the airport for such a small of time can be stressful if you are not a seasoned traveller. If this is one of your first times doing a big trip or you have high anxiety, I will suggest not taking this adventure. If you are used to doing this, then you have more than enough time! 

Prep time and time management are essential to do your layout successfully!

The best tip I could give you is to plan your day in advance! Whether you want to pack it with as many must-see sites as possible or you want to spend your day marvelling in one of the museums or you just want to eat your way out of the city. You have to choose what you want to do, you will not want to waste time deciding.

When choosing your activities keep in mind the distance and the closeness of each site. You don’t want to be going to all the 4 corners of the city and be stuck in Rome’s terrible traffic. Choose activities that are close to each other and that are walkable. Choose activities near the metro stations.

Another great tip is that you need to keep in mind that Rome has A LOT of tourists and that you need to consider this factor since there will be lots of queuing everywhere. At peak times, you could wait in line for more than 1 hour. So if the attraction that you chose has a huge line up it might be a good idea to have a plan b or to make reservations in advance. Ticket prices are a bit higher for skip-the-line privileges, but trust me when I say, it will be well worth the investment.

Do your math! Good time management of your Rome layover is the key! Remember that if you leave an airport, you will have to go through security regardless of your final destination and customs (if you are an international traveller) so be sure to keep AT LEAST  1 hour to do all of these processes. Also, remember that you must be on time for your next connecting flight, so at least one hour before your boarding time (it is written in your boarding pass). You will need around 1h30 in transit from the airport and back. This means that you will lose 3- 4 hours of your precious time in the city. 

What is the quickest way to get to Rome?

Forget the car, taxis or Uber take the train! 

There are 2 major international airports, Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO)  and Rome Ciampino (CIA). You will probably be travelling from Rome Fiumicino Airport. Ciampino Is a smaller airport that is mainly used for charter and budget airlines.

FCO

From Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) you will take the train. You have 2 options. 

The quickest option is the Leonardo Express train (it is a Trenitalia train) that connects the airport with the main train station in Rome, Termini. This non-stop service option takes roughly 32 minutes and leaves the airport every half-hour, or every 15 minutes during peak hours. From the Termini station, you can easily access the metro.

The first train leaves the airport at 6:38 a.m., and the last of the day at 11:38 p.m. Tickets cost €14 each way.

The second option, which is also the least used, is the regional train called the FL1. It's a commuter line and connects Fiumicino Airport with several points in central Rome. It goes through Trastevere, Ostiense, Tuscolana, or Tiburtina stations in Rome. 

The cost of a ticket on the FL1 is only €8. Trains leave every 15 minutes or so, and the trip takes about 30 minutes. The train is about a five-minute walk from the baggage carousels. 

To save time, I would recommend that you buy your tickets online in advance. 

CIA

There are several transport options for you:

• Buses

There are 2 companies: Terravision & Sit will take you to Termini station. They connect the airport directly to Termini station. The service runs between 07.45  and 00:15. The journey takes around 40min.

Both options cost 6 euros and are non-stop, meaning that there are no intermediate stops.

Cotral and Schiaffini are other companies and they will connect the airport metro station Anagnina. They are in operation from 06:10 to 22:40 and cost 1,20 Euro. The journey takes around 40 minutes.

• Airlink

Airlink requires you to catch a local bus to the Ciampino Train Station and then catch the main train line to Termini.

The bus leaves the airport approximately every 20 minutes, the bus ride takes around 10 minutes to Ciampino Train Station. From here you can connect to Italy's main railway hub, located right in the city centre. The journey takes around 40 minutes.

Pro tip: Whatever train option you take independently of the airport, DO NOT forget to scan your ticket to validate and stamp it using the yellow machines by the train platform. These machines are easy to miss so look for them. A conductor will come around the train and make sure you have a valid ticket, so don’t forget to do this to avoid a fine! Trust me, I have paid this fine because I forgot to validate my tickets. 

I’m changing airports, do I have enough time?

Chances are that you will be arriving and leaving from FCO since it's the main international airport. But you may be using a budget airline for your second destination and you will be leaving from CIA. As you saw above, both can be reached through public transit. 

If you need to change airports, worry not, the navigation is very easy you will be transiting through Termina station, most likely. 

What do I do with my luggage?

This section only applies if you have luggage with you, after all, you don’t want to carry your luggage in the most crowded city by tourists. 

Remember to add this time of dropping and collecting your baggage into your time management. 

At Fiumicino Airport, You can leave them at the luggage storage located in Terminal 3, International Arrivals close to door n°6. It is open from 7.00 a.m.-11.00 p.m. The price is 10,00€ per luggage for 24 hours. If you stay less than 24 hours, you will still need to pay 10,00€. The Payment is made upon collection of baggage. No reservation is needed.

If you are switching airports, there is luggage storage in the train station Termini and other locations around the city. Several companies specialize in luggage storage like Luggage Hero, Nanny Bag, and Stasher, among others. I did not use these storage so I cannot recommend them personally. The average price is 6 euros.

Psst: Baggage storage is also called “left luggage” so don’t be confused.

Other tips 

Download Google offline map. If you are planning not to activate your data, it’s best to have a copy of the offline map with you to help you navigate around Rome.

Security - Do I need to go through security again for a connecting flight? Yes! You are obliged to through security.

Things to do in Rome in 1 day

Now for the fun part, How to Explore Rome during a layover?

Tours, passes and buses

If you want to skip the lines and visit many places, you can buy a skip-the-line pass, the Rome tourist pass. This card might be expensive but it includes the entrance fee to the majority of the main attractions and you will save tons of time!

Rome is a city with a lot of history and doing a walking tour can be a good way to learn the past of the city. To make the most of history, you can take a sightseeing bus or a walking tour, a food tour or any other type of tour that you prefer. The bus and guided tours might be a good option since you will not have to worry too much about timing since they also have a tight schedule. With these, the only thing that you will have to worry about will be arriving at the meeting point on time. Also, remember that tours are sometimes slower so count some extra time in your schedule.

DIY tour

Since the hubby and I have already been to Rome, we decided to briefly tour the main places.

We started at the Colosseum, we passed by the Altare della Patria, the Trevi Fountain, then the Vatican City. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to inside any of the sites but it was nice to just wander around the city. Of course, we took the time to eat one last meal in Italy and a delicious gelato.

Another great itinerary could be to do the Vatican museums, Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon, Piazza Venezia and Piazza Navona. All of these are within a 5 or 10 minute walk or by public transit. Terrazza del Pincio also known as Pincian Terrace. The terrace will give you beautiful views over the Roman skyline. This can be reached from Trinità dei Monti just above the Spanish Steps. If you are visiting the Pantheon, it is highly recommended to book a timed-entry ticket online in advance (be sure to read the instructions carefully.)

If you just have time at the end of the day, you can do these sites as they are all well-illuminated. The Trevi fountains look beautiful at night. Or I would recommend going to Trastevere, a call neighbourhood filled with bohemian vibes, this will be perfect to have supper or enjoy a drink. Trastevere is charming with its cobblestone streets and plenty of boutiques, restaurants and bars.

Psst: Looking for more ideas? Use this “Interactive Walking Map of Rome”.

Or you can just focus on the Coliseum (be sure to include the Arena Floor and the underground) and the Roman Forum if ancient Rome is your main interest. 

If churches or the Renaissance period are your thing then on your Rome day trip you need to visit St. Peter’s Basilica,  the Sistine Chapel, the masterpiece by Michelangelo and Palazzo Doria Pamphilj. From San Pietro’s Basilica, you climb up to the cupola, from where you will enjoy glorious views over Rome.

if you are doing an overnight layover, this is your chance to experience Rome's nightlife. Sadly, you won’t be able to visit any museums or sites as they might be closed but you can still see them without entering, and a lot of the monuments are beautifully illuminated.

If you like museums, you can add one or two to your day tour of Rome: Galleria Borghese, Terme Diocleziano, Capitoline Museums, MAXXI, Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna, Mattatoio Testaccio, Scuderie del Quirinale.

If you are a recurring tourist, I have a great option for you to visit during this one-day Rome itinerary. Just 20 minutes from Piazza del Popolo you will find Castel Sant’Angelo. The walk is along the Tiber River and you will be taking the Ponte Sant’Angelo with its lined sculpted angels by the master Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Castel Sant'Angelo is also known as the Mausoleum of Hadrian. The museum guides you through the history of Rome and how the city has evolved over a period of 2000 years. The building dates back to 123-4 AD. Piazza del Popolo ( People’s Square in English) is a huge plaza with different monuments including an ancient Egyptian obelisk that dates back to 1279 BC, Porta Flaminia of ancient Rome, the church Santa Maria del Popolo and the impressive Fontana del Nettuno (Fountain of Neptune)

So what are you doing during your next layover in Rome?

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