Roma - Fiumicino

Located around 31 km southwest of Rome's city center, which takes about 40 minutes by vehicle, depending on traffic, and serving tens of millions of passengers a year, Leonardo da Vinci International Airport, also known as Fiumicino (FCO), is the busiest airport in Italy, where my partner, our friends, family member, and I departed as first-timers and ended our memorable trip to Italy in September. We arrived at our modern terminal, being part airport and part luxury shopping center. It was like a small city with a huge variety of shops, cafes, and amenities to explore. Despite its size and the crowds, it was exceptionally well-maintained. The signage and systems were clear and easy to follow. The facilities were clean and neat, and the staff seemed to manage the high passenger volume very efficiently. Great overall experience!

Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) - Terminal 1: Modernity Achieved 🙌 Overall Rating: 5/5 Stars After years of development, Rome Fiumicino’s Terminal 1 has finally emerged as a world-class gateway that truly reflects the excellence of modern Italian design and efficiency. It is a phenomenal improvement. A Modern Architectural Gem: It took some years of renovation works, but the effort has paid off handsomely. The new areas of Terminal 1 now look very modern, with bright, open spaces, high ceilings, and beautiful contemporary architectural touches. It is a vast improvement and a pleasure to navigate, feeling airy and sleek. Security is Lightning Fast: The security experience is genuinely revolutionary. Thanks to the rollout of advanced CT-scanning machines, security screening for Schengen/domestic flights literally took me 2 minutes. Since these modern screening machines do not require passengers to take out liquids, laptops, or electronics from their hand luggage, the throughput is incredibly fast and stress-free. This alone is a massive win for the passenger experience. World-Class Retail and Dining: The shopping and food experience is phenomenal, with a vast choice of almost everything you could want. You can find high-end luxury Italian boutiques alongside authentic Italian food markets and a huge range of restaurants, from gourmet sit-down options to quick, quality fast food. You can grab a final perfect Roman coffee or indulge in some high-quality retail therapy: it is the perfect way to spend your pre-flight time. Overall, Terminal 1 at Fiumicino has shed its old reputation and embraced the future. It is modern, incredibly efficient, and packed with amenities.

This is a huge airport with three terminals. Despite being a big airport it's very well maintained. We even boarded a train to go to our terminal. The airport lounge is also huge with a good buffet. There are free play areas to keep the kids entertained like the huge chessboard. There are enough number of signs to direct people to their destination. The elevators are big and move quickly, they didn't get crowded even when people traveled up and down with luggage.

Overall, Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO) is a clean, modern airport with efficient security, helpful Staff, and Lounge access (was able to use Priority Pass via American Express). Construction made navigation a bit tricky, but traveling through FCO was mostly convenient and comfortable; especially having checked in online and packing light! 🧳 Note: Checking in online or via a designated app ahead of time prepares your boarding pass on your phone in most cases. If you’re traveling light with just a carry-on, this lets you head straight to security without waiting in line at the gate unless otherwise notified! ✅ For context, my husband and I flew into Rome to start our trip touring southern Italy. We stayed a few nights in Rome, then took a train to Naples, followed by a ferry to Sorrento, and finally picked up a rental car to drive back and fly out of Rome. Coming from Frankfurt, while living abroad in Germany, this round-trip plan via Fiumicino was the most convenient and cost-effective option for our itinerary 💳 When we arrived, although we didn’t need to check a bag, our airline offered to check our carry-ons for free to save space in the cabin. We agreed to this because we didn’t mind waiting for them at baggage claim! Our main plan was simply to check into our hotel and grab a late-night bite once we arrived, and that’s exactly what we did 😋 Basically, we knew we would arrive in the evening and had planned to take a train into the city by booking it on the spot. Note: This option is much cheaper than a taxi or Uber and just as quick. Tickets don’t need to be purchased in advance, as trains run frequently and last-minute fares aren’t too expensive. I recommend this approach because you never know if your flight will be delayed ✈️ Before catching our flight home, it was super simple to drop off our rental car 🚗 The walk from the rental return area to the main terminal was short and easy, with moving walkways making it smooth to move luggage. Security was quick and efficient, and check-in was simple. Inside, there are plenty of shops and cafés, though we had lounge access through Priority Pass, which was a great way to relax before our flight 😌 I have to mention that I also appreciated the help systems at FCO! For example, you could scan a QR code to chat via WhatsApp with airport support, which was very convenient. That said, the information didn’t fully reflect the current construction layout, so directions weren’t always perfectly accurate. Still, we were able to navigate to our gate without any issues 🧭 All in all, a positive experience 👍 Fiumicino is a clean, modern airport that will likely be even better once the construction wraps up! It offers Lounges (depending on traveler access), nice shops, and plenty of places to grab a bite or a drink before your flight 🛫

Second time to this Airport and loved the ease of finding our way around. Ensure you give yourself ample time as this airport was extremely BUSY during our visit, as there was some construction, and they were celebrating 2025 Jubileum, or Holy Year, a significant Catholic event marking the 2,025th anniversary of Jesus Christ's Incarnation. Several decent food spots and gift stores. Try and have Euro funds on hand before getting to Airport as it is more costly to change out there. Great no-touch bathroom faucets and amenities. Barcode scans available from large teleprompter monitor to your phone for easy and up to date flight and gate info.