Fast, Easy, and Stress-Free: Why We Love the Leonardo Express

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Our favourite way of getting to Rome from Roma Fiumicino Airport (FCO) is taking the Leonardo Express train. We can't imagine anything easier than this train service.

It's quick, taking only 32 minutes with no stops along the way. What we love most is how often the Leonardo Express runs - there’s no long wait, with trains every 15 to 20 minutes. Even better? It won’t break the bank at just €14 for a ticket.

When we first took the Leonardo Express, we had a few questions - like where exactly to catch it at Termini, how to buy tickets without any stress, and whether it would actually be as easy as everyone says.

So in this post, we’re sharing exactly what we learned, including where to board the trains, how to get Leonardo Express tickets quickly, and a few tips we wish we knew ahead of time.

The Leonardo Express is hands down our preferred way to travel from Fiumicino to Rome

How long does the Leonardo Express take from Fiumicino Airport to Rome Termini?

What we love the most about Leonardo Express trains, is the journey from Fiumicino Airport to Rome (👌 See Roman activities on sale now!) takes only 32 minutes, with no stops in between (the distance is around 30 km). Once you board the train, you can take any empty seat as there is no assigned seating on the Leonardo Express.

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Leonardo Express schedule 2025 - Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to Termini

We like the fact that catching Leonardo Express is super easy and you don't have to worry if you miss the one. The trains operates from early morning until mid-night in both directions. The first Leonardo Express train from Fiumicino Airport departs at 5:38am, and the last train leaves at 12:23am.

Leonardo Express schedule 2025 - Termini to Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)

We found taking Leonardo Express train from Termini Station also hassle-free. Once we took the earliest train from Termini departing at 4:50am to catch our flight from Fiumicino Airport at 7am. The last train departs from Termini station at 11:35pm.

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It's always busy at Fiumicino Airport in Rome

How much does a Leonardo Express ticket cost?

We found the price of Leonardo Express train, which is €14, pretty affordable. There is only one class of service and there re no discounts if you buy both, outward and return ticket at the same time. 👉 Get tickets here!

What's the fare for children on the Leonardo Express train?

Travelling with kids? Children under 4 travel for free, as well as those from 4 to 11 years old, if there is a paying adult travelling together with them. 

Important note! Child aged 12 and older pay REGULAR ADULT TICKET for Leonardo Express. Fine for not buying a ticket for your kid is €50! So, if two parents travel with 3 kids of 7, 12 and 14 year old, they'll need to purchase 4 adult tickets in total.

Are there any discounts on Leonardo Express tickets for groups?

If you're traveling with a group, you can get a discount with the Mini-groups fare: buy 4 tickets for just €40 instead of €56.

Can pets travel on Leonardo Express?

You can bring a small dog with you (with a certificate of registration with the canine registry) at no extra cost on Leonardo Express, or bring a cat or other small pets inside an appropriate carrier.

How can I find the Leonardo Express train at Fiumicino Airport?

We always easily reach the Leonardo Express train platform when we land at Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), whether at Terminal 3 or Terminal 1.

If we land at Terminal 3, after picking up our luggage and passing through Customs, we follow the yellow sign that says "Train." Once we reach the escalators (on the left side), we walk for about 4-5 minutes until we reach the platform.

When landing at Terminal 1 and exiting Customs, we walk for about a minute, following the sign that says "Train." Once we reach the elevators (on the right side), we use them to go to Level 2, then continue to follow the signs for trains until we reach the platform. This takes about 10 minutes in total.

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Follow the yellow sign "Train" to reach Leonardo Express platform at Fiumicino Airport

Where to buy Leonardo Express tickets at Rome Fiumicino Airport?

Buying the tickets for the Leonardo Express at the Rome Fiumicino Airport station is super easy. You can do this on one of many ticket machines there - by cash or credit card, the process is quick (see the steps here!).

We love to go to the ticket windows, just a few steps from there. We get tickets in a minute - staff speaks English and is helpful. After getting your tickets, scan them to access the platform. Make sure you validate your tickets prior to boarding the train.

Do I need to validate Leonardo Express tickets?

Yes! Make sure you validate your Leonardo Express tickets prior to boarding the train. If you have paper tickets, you need to stick them in the white/green stamping machines on the platforms before boarding trains. If you have digital tickets, you need to do online check-in prior to boarding.

You’ll find plenty of ticket machines near the train platform at Fiumicino Airport.

6 easy steps for buying Leonardo Express tickets at ticket machines:

1. Select “Roma Termini” as your destination
2. Select which train and time you would like to travel on - be sure to select the Leonardo Express option, as there is a cheaper train available which takes much longer to get to Roma Termini (plus, you need to change trains once)
3. Select what kind of tickets and how many of each you would like to buy (adult or child). For a kid of 12 and older, you need to buy a regular adult ticket!
4. Press "Forward" to skip the page with seat assignments, which don't exist on the Leonardo Express
5. A summary of all tickets will appear on the screen - press “Purchase”
6. The next step is payment - you can pay with Visa, Mastercard and American Express or cash (banknotes and cash)

We sometimes opt for the ticket windows at Fiumicino to buy our Leonardo Express tickets – it’s quick and easy

Where to find Leonardo Express train at Termini?

It's easy to find Leonardo Express train at Termini Station. The trains always depart from platforms 23 or 24. You'll find them at the right side, close to Coin department store.

To reach Termini Station is easy, use the metro, buses or just take a taxi ride from your hotel or apartment. When we stay at Sophie Terrace Hotel, we walk to the station, as it's only 5 minutes away from there. If staying at Laurina 33 Guesthouse, which is close to Piazza di Spagna, we usually take a taxi.

Where to buy Leonardo Express tickets at Termini Station?

If you haven't bought Leonardo Express train tickets ahead of time, once you arrive at Termini Station, you'll see many Trenitalia ticket machines from which you can purchase the tickets. We love to use the ticket machines located within the Trenitalia office, situated on the platform level (open daily from 6:30 am to 10:05 pm).

Once you pass through the office doors, go left, and you'll find the ticket machines. A staff member always helps us with the buying process. A Leonardo Express ticket bought this way is open, meaning you can travel anytime on that day. We love to rest on the benches in front of the office while waiting for the trains.

Trenitalia ticket office at Termini Station (inside you can also find ticket machines)

Why purchasing Leonardo Express tickets in advance is a smart choice?

We love buying tickets for the Leonardo Express train in advance. We usually use the Trainline website, where you can do this in just a few clicks.

Once we purchase the ticket, we receive it directly via email. This is convenient, as you can easily manage it online in case you want to travel earlier or later. Just click on the ticket, choose a new time, and then check in. Buying Leonardo Express tickets online saves your time as you can jump on the train shortly after getting your luggage.

What is the luggage allowance on the Leonardo Express train service?

We love the fact that Leonardo Express trains have plenty of comfortable seats and room for our luggage. The large suitcases can be placed in the luggage area, which can be found at the front and back of each train car. Smaller bags can be placed on the racks above your seat.

If the train is not crowded, we keep our suitcases with us. We usually look for seats close to the luggage area so we can easily reach our luggage and quickly get off the train.

Leonardo Express train boats plenty of room for luggage

Leonardo Express or private car transfer? Here’s what we picked:

Sometimes it's worth paying an extra €20-30 for a car transfer from Rome Fiumicino Airport. We do this when travelling in a group or when we have lots of luggage, as it's not easy to manage several suitcases on a crowded train.

We usually take Welcome Pickups for our car transfers, which can be easily booked online. Once we make a booking, we receive all the details about the transfer via email. We never have to wait for the driver; they are always there with a sign.

It’s definitely nice to be escorted to the car and let the driver handle the rest. Plus, we've never had to inform them about any changes to our flight time. We usually pay about €60 for this car transfer, which is just slightly more than the cost of a regular taxi. 

All Leonardo Express trains arrive at and depart from Roma Termini station in central Rome

Once you arrive to Termini Station...

Once you arrive to Termini, you can easily find a taxi or use metro to reach your hotel or apartment. Some parts of Rome are not served by metro, so you'll need to take a taxi (such as Trastevere). From Termini you can catch a metro to Spanish Steps, the Vatican or the Colosseum area. 

From Roma Termini Station, you can reach numerous destinations within Italy. The station serves as a hub for high-speed trains (Trenitalia and Italo), which can take you away to cities such as Naples (1 hour), Florence (1h 30 min), Bologna (2h), Siena (3h), Milan (2h 50 min) and Venice (3h 15 min).

Where we drop our bags in Rome - steps from Termini:

We found it convenient to stay close to Termini Station, so we can easily reach our accommodation once we arrive by Leonardo Express train.

Our little corner near the Termini is the Sophie Terrace Hotel, which can be reached on foot from train station in only 4-5 minutes. Warm staff and super comfortable rooms are what makes this hotel so attractive. Plus, it has a rooftop terrace - ideal for relaxing, breathing fresh air and having a drink after a day of exploring the city.

A beautiful view from Sophie Terrace Hotel near the Termini Station

Another great option for staying nearby is the Nerva Boutique Hotel. To reach it, you'll need to walk a little bit further. From Roma Termini, just follow Via Cavour all the way down, then turn right onto Via di Tor de' Conti (it's a 15-minute walk). You'll see that you're quite close to the Colosseum!

The homely atmosphere, cosy rooms, and friendly staff are what we adore about this small hotel in the heart of Rome! If you stay here, don't miss the delicious breakfast served in the ground-floor restaurant! 

Here are a few more hotels/apartments in Rome we love staying at.

Need to drop your luggage at Termini? Here’s how:

Sometimes we’re just passing through Rome on our way to Florence and have a few hours to spare for a quick wander. But the big question is - where do we leave our bags? We usually go with the luggage deposit at Termini. It’s open daily from 7am to 9pm and costs around €10–12 per bag for the whole day.

Once we hop off the train, we take the left exit toward Via Giolitti and walk straight along the sidewalk. After we pass the Coin Department Store, we head into the tunnel - and right in front of the car rental area, there it is: the luggage room. So simple!

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