Leonardo da Vinci International Airport — Attraction in Fiumicino

My experience with Ryanair at Rome Airport was an absolute disgrace from beginning to end – unprofessional, disrespectful, and dehumanizing.

First off, the check-in staff were shockingly rude. I was visibly unwell with period cramps, and instead of offering any assistance or understanding, the woman at the check-in desk treated me like an inconvenience. She demanded I open my suitcase on the spot because I had a few kilos overweight. This would’ve been considered nothing with other airlines – Qatar Airways, for instance, didn’t even blink at the same luggage. But this Ryanair employee at Rome insisted on charging me €30 on the spot without a single ounce of empathy and made me open my suitcase to check them?? For what?

Then it got worse. She denied that I had cabin baggage included in my ticket – even though I had paid for it. She insisted I pay €60 more, and only after I called the agency I booked with and made her check the system herself (which she refused to do earlier), did she admit I was right. But of course, no apology. Just cold and disgusting behavior like I was some criminal trying to smuggle a backpack onto the plane.

At the boarding gate, another Ryanair staff member decided to harass me over a small bouquet of flowers I had brought for my sister’s birthday. Every other airline I flew that same day – Qatar Airways – let me bring the flowers without a word. But this Ryanair employee made a scene, claiming the flowers were “oversized.” Oversized? Are we serious? It's a bouquet, not a suitcase.

When I asked for her name to report her behavior, she snapped at me, saying, “I’m not the police, don’t ask for my name.” Excuse me? That’s your response to a paying customer? I then asked to pay in cash for the supposed extra item, and again she was rude and aggressive, saying “card only” with no explanation, no flexibility, no decency. I explained again that I had already paid for cabin baggage, that I had no issues on the other flights – and she simply didn’t care. Her tone was belittling and hostile the entire time. She told me either pay or throw the flowers away and refused to even listen. And when I was in the fight every cabin was full I couldn’t even put my bouquet there? So what was all this fee for?

This is unacceptable customer service in Rome Italy. I’ve never seen such blatant lack of professionalism, zero empathy, and aggressive behavior from airline staff in any country. It’s like they go out of their way to make flying miserable.

Ryanair and the ROME staff doesn’t treat passengers like humans. They treat you like numbers. I don’t care how cheap their tickets are, no one deserves to be spoken to and treated like this. I left that airport stressed, disrespected, and disgusted. I have inserted the picture of the rude lady who told me to throw away my bouquet and take the...

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...

TL:DR -DONT BUY WATER, ITS FREE!

I rate airports with one most important factor in mind, and then all the rest: if it offers free drinking water or not.

This one does! 👏

If you're flying out within Europe it's likely you'll go through the new security control in Terminal 1, in which you don't need to get your liquids or laptop out of the bag so everything is pretty fast.

You can't however bring more than 100ml (it was possible in the past but they changed the rule from September 1st 2024).

This means that if it's not hight season, you'll finish security in 10 min.

If you are flying elsewhere (like the US) you'll go through a different security check (older) in which you DO need to take out laptops and liquids, and this might take more time.

The good news:

after you get to the duty free area you can fill water bottles from the toilet - it's drinkable! 💪

In Terminal 1 you have lots of places to eat, although food is expensive (around 7 EUR for a sandwich and 13 for salad).

You also have sockets in the seats of gates A for charging (AC and USB).

For people who fly in to visit Rome: DONT BUY WATER BOTTLES IN THE CITY!

When you walk around Rome you have many water fountains with cool, fresh and tasty water.

You can carry your own bottle and refill it almost anywhere (you can search for "drinking water" on G. maps).

If you can, please don't buy unnecessary plastic water bottles that pollutes the planet 🙏

GETTING TO AND FROM THE AIRPORT:

It's relatively easy - you have a direct train from/to Rome Termini called "Leonardo express" which costs 14eur one way and leaves every 20 minutes.

DISCOUNTS:

If you are a group of 4 and more you can buy them cheaper for 10 Eur per person. Ask the person in the ticket booth or check if you get the discount automatically when selecting 4 tickets from the ticket machine.

A cheaper option is a bus. There are a few companies: Terravision, T.A.M, RomeAirportBus and maybe more.

If you buy online it's a bit cheaper.

THE AIRPORT

The signs inside are pretty clear so getting around is relatively easy.

However, there is a part that is a little confusing - when you LAND at TERMINAL 3 and want to find the train station, you don't need to go up - simply follow the signs to the train and when you reach the exit go outside, cross the road and the train station will be there (or a walking distance from the exit). You can also walk inside the terminal and exit when you are closer.

If you're not sure, check G.maps to see your location compared to the train station's. You don't need WIFI for GPS to work!

If you still can't find it - ask a staff member...

Enjoy...