The Rome Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport is the largest airport in Italy and the seventh-largest in Europe.
So, it’s not surprising that you may find yourself going through this famous airport if you’re Italy-bound.
Perhaps you have a long layover between destinations, leading you to wonder how the heck to fill your time until boarding starts for your next flight.
Or, maybe you were in Rome and you’ve arrived early for your flight. Now, you’ve got some time to squander.
Sure, you could spend those extra hours on your phone. Yet why not make it more interesting and explore what the airport has to offer?
In early 2026, I had a five-hour layover at Rome Fiumicino, arriving from Miami in the U.S. and then had to wait for my flight to Catania, Sicily. (You can read lots about my Sicily journey here and in other articles on my blog.)
That five hours was just long enough time to entertain myself well while at the airport but short enough that I didn’t feel comfortable leaving the airport.
Then, on the way home back to the U.S., I had another three-hour layover at Rome Fiumicino.
Our article shares six tips for things to do while you’re at the Rome Fiumicino Airport. First, here are a few Rome Airport facts.
6 Fun Facts About the Rome Fiumicino Airport
–The airport code (those codes they place on your luggage) is FCO.
–Locals often refer to the airport as Fiumicino (fee-u-mee-chino) Airport.
–Rome actually has a second airport called Rome Ciampino Airport, which mostly serves lower-cost airlines like Ryan Air and Wizz Air. Ciampino Airport is actually older than Fiumicino, built in 1916 compared with Fiumicino opening in 1960.
–Rome Fiumicino Airport is about 19 miles (30 or so kilometers) from Rome’s city center. It’s located in the town of Fiumicino, hence the airport name.
–You can get to the airport via an Express train, a taxi/Uber, or a shuttle bus service.
–Any guesses how many passengers fly in and out of Rome Fiumicino? In 2025, it was 51.3 million, a 4% increase compared with 2024. It’s a busy place!
6 Things to Do at Rome Fiumicino Airport
Mangia!
Or should we say, eat?! I mean, come on, you’re in Italy!
Upon landing around 10 a.m. local time, I promptly bought un espresso e un cornetto, per favore (an espresso and a croissant) along with a coconut water as I needed hydration after the 9-hour flight.
Later during my five-hour layover, I got a caprese sandwich. The sandwich was not the same quality as I might find in Italy’s famous eateries outside the airport–but it was still Italy so I couldn’t really complain.
Take your pick of places to eat among the airport’s many sandwich shops or restaurants. Find a full list here, and heads up: Unlike many airports that feature cuisine from around the world, many or most of the options focus on Italian food. Again, not complaining!
People-watch.
People-watching is something we love to do in airports and hope it’s not a lost art as more and more people get lost on their electronic devices. You can learn so much about human behavior just by watching people at an airport. Plus, you’ll get a few laughs (we’re talking to you, Atlanta and Miami airports).
At the Rome Airport, I don’t remember any crazy people-watching sightings but I do remember feeling amazed by the number of people from literally all around the world.
–Meditate or take a nap while listening to lovely piano music.
Meditate at the airport? For real? Yes! In Terminal 1, near gate A66, there’s an area with huge chaise-lounge style chairs that face a massive picture window looking out at airplanes. You’ll also find there a piano, one of several throughout the airport that give passengers the chance to play their favorite tunes (some performing better than others).
It was such a nice respite to sit there and passively look outside the window rather than be in a hurry. If you don’t want to fully fall asleep because you want to watch your stuff (understandable), you can still use the spot just to sit for a bit.
To find more pianos at the airport, search at the map here and type in “piano.”
Call your Italian friends and family–or meet them at the airport.
With today’s technology, it’s super easy to see friends and family from around the world using WhatsApp or any other favorite app, right?
Still, there’s something kind of fun about reaching out to your peeps while you’re in their country. I took a few minutes after my Italy arrival to video call one of my Rome-based language partners. Then, after arriving at the Rome Airport from Catania and getting ready to return to Miami in the U.S., I was able to meet this same friend at a cafe that was inside the airport but on the other side of security. It was a fun, short visit, and all I had to do was go through security again.
Just ask for help if there’s any confusion over where you should or shouldn’t go if you plan to meet someone without leaving the airport.
If you truly want to leave the airport and sightsee or meet a friend, it’s best if you have a layover that’s six hours or more.
Shop!
Any large airport will have a whole selection of stores, from those common “buy some water and a snack” type places to luxury stores to overpriced souvenir shops. The Rome Fiumicino Airport definitely has its share of high-end shops (find a full list here of all of its stores, including Burberry, Cartier, and Fendi).
Yet my personal interest always veers more towards food, which is why I took my time in a few souvenir or food-themed shops, including the famous Italian-created shop Eataly. Eataly is a large store that features Italian food products as well as several places to eat within Eataly itself. Knowing I was about to be in “Italy,” I knew I didn’t really have a need for “Eataly.” Still, looking around was a way to pass the time.
It’s also interesting to compare prices for items in the airport versus the prices you see outside of the airport.
Of course, like any international airport, there are duty-free shops, which also have their share of Italian food products in addition to the usual alcohol and cigarettes. Watch passengers decide if they really need one more limoncello bottle to take home to Aunt Susie.
Find a list of the airport’s shopping options here.
Check out some art.
In Terminal A, the same area with the piano and the large seats, there was a large sculpture called “Master of Mistakes” by Daniele Sigalot, which looked like an enormous ball of crumpled papers (a true master of mistakes, we presume). Yet you can find other art throughout the airport, which makes sense when you consider the airport is named for the master himself, Leonardo da Vinci.
Find out more about the artwork at the Rome Airport here.
Some Final Thoughts on Things to Do at the Rome Airport
Our ideas here reflect what we enjoyed at Rome Fiumicino, but we know there are plenty more things you could do there.
Like any large airport, there are private lounges and also pay shower areas (25 Euros each).
Find the airport website here for more ideas.
Of course, you can also practice speaking and listening to Italian. Yet since you’re at the airport, you’ll also hear plenty of English.
Feel free to explore more options, but hopefully our article gives you a few starting ideas.
Buon viaggio!
Italy Dreams 