General
Overview
Rome Ciampino (CIA) is a smaller secondary airport southeast of the city, primarily serving budget airlines.
Transfer Options
Rome’s public transport operator ATAC runs periodic strikes (scioperi), often announced 5–10 days in advance. Check the ATAC service status page before travel for disruption alerts. If buses or Metro are suspended, an official taxi or rideshare (Uber / FREE NOW) is the most reliable fallback.
Luggage Storage
No storage inside the airport. Use the 'Stow Your Bags' shop in Ciampino town (short bus/taxi ride) or wait until reaching Termini Station.
Tip: Station and airport storage counters often have long queues, especially at peak hours. Booking via one of these apps is usually faster and cheaper than queuing at the official left-luggage desk — and you can drop bags at nearby hotels or shops instead.
Visitor Cards and Passes
Roma Pass
For visitors planning multiple journeys, integrated passes offer better value. The Roma Pass includes unlimited public transit and museum discounts.
| Duration | Price | Museums |
|---|---|---|
| 48h | €38.00 | 1 free |
| 72h | €62.90 | 2 free |
ATAC Tourist Tickets
ATAC Tourist Tickets cover all buses, trams, and metro. A single BIT ticket costs €1.50 (valid 100 min).
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| BIT (single) | €1.50 |
| 24h | €8.50 |
| 48h | €15.00 |
| 72h | €22.00 |
| CIS (weekly) | €29.00 |
Children’s Fares
- Under-10s travel free on all ATAC services (bus, tram, and Metro) when accompanied by a fare-paying adult.
- On Trenitalia regional trains (FL1 to Fiumicino or Ciampino), under-4s travel free without a seat; children aged 4–11 travel free — one child per paying adult (Lazio Fare 1/Ter).
- On the Leonardo Express, under-4s are free (no seat); ages 4–14 receive a 50% discount on the base fare.
At Ciampino, these passes cover the 720 and 520 local buses to the metro. Purchase them at the Tourist Information Points (PIT) located in the Ciampino International Arrivals area.
Use Citymapper for the most intuitive real-time navigation and precise station exit details, while MooneyGo is the essential choice for purchasing and validating digital transit tickets and parking in Rome.
Public Transit
Train & Metro
Price and Time
From Ciampino (CIA), the Ciampino Airlink combines a bus to Ciampino station and a train to Termini for €2.70.
Tickets & Validation
Bus
Airport Shuttles
Shuttle buses like Terravision, SIT Bus Shuttle, and T.A.M. serve both airports.
Ciampino to Termini takes 40 minutes for €6. Bus stands are directly outside the single exit.
Accessibility & Safety
Accessibility
Sala Amica assistance is available at Ciampino Airport; request in advance via your airline.
ADR AssistanceSafety
Taxi Scam: Ignore drivers inside the arrivals hall whispering “Taxi, taxi?” — these are unauthorized. Walk 30 metres outside to the official white taxi rank. The fixed flat rate to central Rome is €31 (Tariffa Fissa). If a driver turns on the meter for a central destination, insist on the flat rate.
In the city center, “Sanpietrini” (black cobblestones) are slippery and uneven. Wear sturdy shoes and avoid rolling suitcases with small plastic wheels over them, as they may snap.
Essential Services
Lost & Found
Tel +39 06 65959327 or email oggettirinvenuticia@adr.it. Info Desk Mon–Fri 09:00–13:00 & 15:00–20:00. Items are held for up to 1 year.
Ciampino Useful NumbersFirst Aid
Open 24h/365, beyond security gates — tel: +39 0665959350. No pharmacy on site; the nearest is in the town centre.
Ciampino First AidArrival
Official Taxi
Official Rome taxis are white, have a “Comune di Roma” crest, and a taxi sign on the roof.
Price: Ciampino to Center (Aurelian Walls) has a fixed fare of €40.
ADR – CIA Taxi FaresAlways use the official rank outside the terminals/station. Ignore solicitors offering rides.
Say “Tariffa Fissa” (Fixed Fare) before the driver pulls away to prevent them from using the meter.
Rideshare
For Uber Black/NCC: Head to the NCC parking area in front of the terminal. For Freenow: Use the Official Taxi Rank directly outside the exit.
Ensure the vehicle has an “NCC” sticker (Rental with Driver) on the rear window. This is the only legal way for non-taxi rideshare vehicles to operate.
Use FreeNow or itTaxi for the fastest city transit, as they hail official taxis authorized to use dedicated bus lanes to bypass Rome’s heavy traffic. Select Uber for premium reliability or a seamless transfer at Fiumicino Airport, where it is the official partner with dedicated priority pickup zones.
ATMs and currency
Locations
ATMs are available throughout airports and the station.
- Only use bank-affiliated ATMs (e.g., UniCredit, Intesa Sanpaolo). Avoid Euronet or generic kiosks.
- Always decline the machine’s currency conversion. Choose to be charged in Euros (EUR) to let your home bank handle the rate and avoid fees up to 13%.
Departure
Arrival & Check-In
Arrive 2 hours before departure. Ciampino is small but crowds quickly during morning Ryanair and Wizz Air banks. Check-in desks are in the combined Departures/Arrivals terminal — check the overhead screens for your flight.
CIA Before TravellingSecurity Controls
Security & Screening
Ciampino uses traditional X-ray screening — no C3 scanners. Standard rules apply: liquids must be in containers of 100 ml or less, placed in a transparent resealable bag (max 1 L per passenger). Laptops and large electronics must be removed from your bag and placed in the tray.
Allow extra time — security lines can be slow during peak morning departures.
CIA Security ControlsPassport Control
CIA primarily serves Schengen destinations, so most passengers will not go through passport control. For non-Schengen routes, the EES biometric exit check applies to non-EU nationals — allow extra time as the system is still in its early rollout phase.
CIA Before TravellingVAT Refunds
CIA primarily serves Schengen destinations, so VAT refunds are generally not applicable here. For non-EU departures, ask at the airport information desk about tax-free shopping procedures before leaving Italy.