Getting to Rome by Plane
Rome is served by two international airports: Leonardo da Vinci (Fiumicino, code FCO), located 30 km southwest, and Ciampino (code CIA), 15 km southeast. Fiumicino is the main hub, hosting airlines such as British Airways, ITA Airways, or easyJet. Ciampino, smaller, is dedicated to low-cost flights, notably Ryanair and WizzAir.
From London, the main airports are Heathrow (LHR), Gatwick (LGW), Stansted (STN), and Luton (LTN). A direct flight takes about 2h30 to 2h45, with fares ranging from £50 to £150 round-trip, depending on the airline (British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair, Vueling) and the season.
To reach the city center, the Leonardo Express connects Fiumicino to Termini Station in 32 minutes (€14), while shuttles (Terravision, SIT Bus) cost €6-7 (40-55 min). From Ciampino, buses (Terravision) reach Termini in 45 minutes for €6. Official taxis offer fixed rates: €50 from Fiumicino, €31 from Ciampino.
→ See Airport connections – Rome center
→ See also Find a Flight Ticket to Rome
Getting to Rome by Car
Rome is approximately 1,800 km from London by road, passing through France and Switzerland or Austria. The journey takes 18 to 20 hours without stops, depending on traffic and the chosen route.
To cross the Channel, two options are available: the Channel Tunnel (Eurotunnel) from Folkestone to Calais, starting at £30 per trip, or ferries from Dover to Calais or Dunkirk, with fares around £50-100 round-trip. In France, motorway tolls amount to about €90-100 one-way, plus €55.80 for the Fréjus or Mont-Blanc tunnel (total ~€145-155 one-way). Alternatively, in summer, the Montgenèvre or Mont-Cenis passes are toll-free, saving ~€55.80 one-way (€80 round-trip) but adding about 1h30 per trip due to mountain roads. In Italy, tolls cost around €50-55 one-way from the border to Rome. Total tolls and Channel crossing for a round trip are approximately €430-490 for a standard car.
Driving and parking in Rome can be challenging; consider using peripheral car parks, such as Villa Borghese.
→ See the article about traffic in Rome
Getting to Rome by Train, Including Night Train
From London, take the Eurostar from St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord (2h15), then a connection via TGV or Frecciarossa to Rome, often via Hanging or Turin. The total journey takes about 12 to 14 hours, with fares starting at £150 round-trip (bookings available on Trainline). A night option, such as the Thello (from Paris) or Nightjet (via Munich or Vienna), takes 14-16 hours but offers sleeper cabins (from £100).
Italian Frecciarossa trains provide fast connections from Milan (3h) or Florence (1h30) to Termini Station, Rome’s main hub. Book early for the best fares.
Reaching Rome by Sea
There are no direct ferries between Great Britain and Italy. Ferries dock at Civitavecchia, 70 km north of Rome, accessible from Sardinia, Sicily, or Barcelona (e.g., Grimaldi Lines, www.grimaldi-lines.com). Travelers can take a ferry to France (e.g., Dover-Calais) or Spain (e.g., Portsmouth-Bilbao), then continue by road or train. The Civitavecchia-Rome journey is covered by regional train (1h, €5-10) to Termini, with departures every 30 minutes. Ideal for cruise passengers or those combining sea and land travel.
