Most international flights into Rome will arrive at the Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport at Fiumcino, approximately 18 miles (29km) west of the main metropolitan area of Rome. You should, however, check your itinerary to make sure, because there is a small possibility you could be arriving via the G.B. Pastino International Airport at Ciampino, 7.5 miles (12km) south east of the city.  This possibility is much greater if RyanAir is your chosen carrier.

You can identify which airport you are destined to arrive at by checking the itinerary document, flight ticket, or boarding pass.  If you see the letters FCO, this means you will be arriving at Fiumcino, and if you see CIA, it means you’ll be arriving at Ciampino.

Getting through immigration

The immigration formalities you will have to complete depends on your nationality, your purpose of travel, and where you are arriving from. Most nationalities will not require a visa for a stay of up to 90 days, however the actual length of stay you will be granted can vary, if you arrive from another Schengen state of which you are not a permanent resident.

Many visitors may be asked to provide proof of sufficient funds for the duration of their intended stay in Italy, including in some cases an onward ticket to prove you are not at risk of becoming stranded in the country.

Once your passport has been checked (and, if necessary, stamped), if you don’t need to declare anything to customs, you can proceed out of the immigration checkpoint.  It’s at this moment that most travelers start feeling a little lost, unless their travel arrangements to get to the city have already been taken care of.

Getting to the city

Getting to the city from the airport shouldn’t be a hassle, even though it is quite a long way in the case of Fiumicino.  Ignore any touts who approach you; they don’t have your best interests at heart. There is a train to the city from from Fiumicino, which is actually quite decent, but you shouldn’t use it if:

• You are not traveling alone: The more people you travel with, the less savings you gain from using a train or bus.
• It’s late: You should never wander around an unfamiliar city late at night while wearing your tourist uniform.
• You have a lot of luggage: It’s way too awkward, and you run a real risk of losing something.
• You don’t know how to get to your hotel from the train station: You could end up wasting a lot of time and money trying to find your way.

 The same holds true for the buses, but also going by bus is much worse than going by train. The next option, and by far the most popular, is to go by taxi. This will cost about 50 euros from Fiumicino or 30 euros from Ciampino.  The problem with this is the taxis are indeed very popular and these are busy airports, so you have to compete for a ride, and you could have to wait a while, and you get no guarantees about the quality of your ride.

A better option

A much more recommended way to handle your airport transfer in Rome is to use a private limousine service like Blacklane. This may cost slightly more than a taxi, but offers several advantages. For one thing, you won’t have to search for a ride or wait on a line, because your driver will be right there waiting to greet you the moment you step out of the immigration area.

 The driver will guide you to an awaiting luxury vehicle and will assist you with all your luggage. You won’t even need to tell your driver where you want to go, because he or she will already know. Any questions you have can be answered, and you’ll be taken swiftly, safely, and professionally to your destination.

 Those are the reasons why using a limousine service for your Rome airport transfer is definitely the best choice, and the extra luxury it provides makes it a worthwhile indulgence.

This can also be a great way to get around once you’ve settled in, because you can pre-book all your destinations and get advice from the driver about where else you might want to go. You never have to worry about struggling back to the hotel with your shopping or other things, because you always know you have a ride waiting for you.