Search Flights from Madrid to Rome

The Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport, also referred to as Madrid-Barajas Airport, is located 12 km from Madrid’s city center. The airport is very easily accessible by taxi, rental car, and public transportation. Taking the train and metro are both convenient and quick transportation alternatives to access Madrid-Barajas Airport.

Rail

To get to the airport by metro from the city center you have to take metro line 8. This line starts from the Nuevos Ministerios Station and provides transportation to every terminal at the airport. This line takes between 12 and 15 minutes to reach the airport. The RENFRE train C1 line, which you can access from the Chamartin, Nuevos Ministerios, Atocha and Principe Pio stations, provides transportation to Terminal 4. The total trip time will vary depending on your location and which station you get on from. It takes 11 minutes to get to the airport from Chamartin and 38 minutes to get to the airport from Principe Pio.

Bus

Airport Express buses are another transportation alternative. These Airport Express buses depart from the Atocha Station. You can access Atocha Station from your location in the city using a different bus line or metro line. When calculating the duration of the trip take the varying traffic conditions into consideration, especially during rush hour. There are also regular public bus services that operate between the city and the airport. For more information on these bus routes please visit Madrid-Barajas Airport’s website.

Airport Information

Located 12 km from the city center,  Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport, also referred to as Madrid-Barajas Airport, is the main airport in Madrid, serving both international and domestic flights. Madrid-Barajas Airport consists of 4 terminals, Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and Terminal 4, which was built in 2006. Terminal 4 is the largest terminal in the airport and operates flights for many major airlines such as Turkish Airlines and American Airlines. It is an impressive structure with modern architecture that also features a satellite building, TS4. Terminal 1 is the airport’s oldest building and another major terminal. Many airlines take off and land at Terminal 1. Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 are smaller in comparison to the others. Terminal 3 is dedicated to flights operated by Lagun Air. There is an airport shuttle bus that runs 24 hours a day, providing inter-terminal transportation.

Internet at the airport is free for the first 15 minutes. In Terminal 4 you can connect to the internet by paying a fee. In Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3 you can connect to the internet in the departure lounges, VIP lounges, and restaurant area.

There are various VIP lounges located at the airport. The La Revoltosa and Premium lounges at Terminal 4, La Revoltosa lounge in Terminal 4S, Cibeles lounge in Terminal 1, Puerta de Alcala lounge in Terminal 2, and Puerto del Sol lounge in Terminal 3 are accessible for those with a Priority Pass card. Apart from those there are 3 VIP lounges in Terminal 4 belonging to Iberia Airlines. Madrid-Barajas Airport offers passengers a rich variety of stores where they can go shopping. If you weren’t able to do as much shopping as you would have liked during your time in the city, you can easily make up for it at the airport.

There are many stores at the airport where you can buy various products such as duty free items, food, cosmetics, gifts, electronics, clothing, jewelry, and accessories. While the majority of the stores are located in Terminal 1 and Terminal 4 there are plenty of options in the other terminals as well. The airport is home to many brand name stores such as Adidas, Carolina Herrera, Sunglass Hut, Hugo Boss, Burberry, Massimo Dutti, Zara, and Michael Kors.  

Madrid-Barajas Airport also offers passengers a range of eateries aimed at meeting their pre-flight and post-flight needs. If you want to get a bite to eat or something to drink before or after your flight you can go enjoy familiar venues such as Starbucks, Mc Donald’s, Burger King, Paul, and Lavazza. The airport also features various cafes and restaurants that serve delicious examples of international cuisine. 

You can get to the city center from Fiumicino Airport, also known as Leonardo da Vinci Airport, using a variety of transportation methods like bus, airport shuttles, train, taxi, or car. The airport is located 35 km from central Rome.

Bus

There are many bus lines that depart from the airport and go to different locations in Rome. While the bus ride varies depending on the traffic and according to the destination, it takes approximately 1 hour. It is not the fastest option to get to the city center however it provides direct transportation to central locations in the city and it is the most affordable means of transportation. The Cotral buses, which depart in front of Terminal 2, go to “Cinquecento Square”, “Roma Tiburtina Station”, “Cornelia Station” and “Eur Maglliana Station”, respectively. The last 2 stops are also stops on the metro line. So it is easy to transfer to the metro from those stops. To get to the Cotral Bus follow the “Regional Bus Station” signs at the airport. You can buy a bus ticket from the newsstand or small markets. You can also pay once you get on the bus, but it can cost more.

Airport Shuttles

There are many bus (airport shuttle) lines to get from the airport to Rome’s most famous station, Termini Train Station, which is located in the city center. After arriving at Termini Train Station by using these buses, you can take a train to different cities in Italy or transfer to the inner city metro. You can also access the inner-city buses from this main station.

These “Terravision” buses depart every 30 minutes from the bus stop in front of Terminal 3. These buses only stop once, in Marsala, before going directly to the Termini Station; the bus ride takes about 55 minutes. You can book a ticket online for this bus service, which operates every day of the week between 5:35 am and 11 pm. You can buy your bus ticket online in advance or when you get there, on the bus. Those who purchased their tickets in advance online are given priority when boarding the bus. Price-wise these buses are relatively cheap and there are no baggage restrictions. However, because it is one of the most preferred services it is sometimes difficult to get a seat. When it is busy you run the risk on not getting a seat and having to wait for the next bus. Therefore we strongly suggest booking your ticket in advance.

Another service that goes from the airport to the Termini Station is the “SIT Bus Shuttle”. These buses depart every 30 minutes every day of the week. These buses go directly to the Termini Station, without any extra stops. The bus ride from the airport to the station is approximately 1 hour.

This bus company has another line, the Vatican, which departs in front of the arrivals hall at Terminal 3. You can buy your ticket on the bus or in advance online.

These buses that provide transportation between the airport and Termini Station and the Vatican operate between 8:30 am and 12:30 am. These buses aren’t as busy as the Terravision buses. Another bus company that provides transportation to Termini Station, which departs in front of Terminal 3, is “T.A.M. Srl.”. This bus operates every day of the week between 5:20 am and 1 am. This bus departs approximately every 40 minutes and the journey takes 45 minutes on average. However, you cannot buy tickets online for this bus. You can buy your ticket once you’re on the bus.

You can also use the Atral Lazio bus company services to get from the airport to the Termini Station. These buses depart from the same area and provide likewise services. There is another line that provides transportation from the airport to the Ostiense Station.  

Train

The fastest way to get from the airport to the city center is by using the Leonardo Express trains. These trains depart about every 30 minutes and go directly to the Termini Station, without stopping at any stops. From there you can get to almost any part of the city by transferring to the metro, getting on a different train line, or getting on a bus. The train fare is more expensive than the bus. Children under the age of 4 or children between the ages of 4 and 12 traveling with an adult ride for free. You can purchase a train ticket at the airport from self-service kiosks, newspaper stands or small markets or in advance online. While it is not customary to show your ticket as your board the train, officials can do random checks and if you don’t have your ticket you receive a fine. So we recommend holding on to your ticket for the duration of the train ride. The Leonardo Express trains operate every day of the week between 6:23 am and 11:23 pm. Trains depart every 30 minutes but during peak hours trains depart every 15 minutes. The train station is located inside the airport. The station is quite close to both the arrivals and departures terminals and easy to find. Another Trenitalia line that departs from the airport is the “FL1 Regional” Train. This train departs from the airport and goes to Orte Station, stopping in some of Rome’s other major train stations, like Trastevere, Ostiense, Tuscolana and Tiburtina. These trains run every 15 minutes on weekdays, and every 30 minutes on weekends. However, they are a much slower option compared to the Leonardo Express trains. In addition, the high-speed Frecciargento trains take off from the airport twice a day. Using these trains you can get to other cities in Italy like Rome, Florence, Bologna, Venice, and Padua without having to transfer anywhere or get on any other vehicle.  

Taxi

You can find a taxi at every terminal exit at the airport. Official taxis in Rome are white with a visible taxi sign on them. There are other unlicensed cabs that operate in the city so we recommend paying attention to this detail. Airport taxis go to the city center or major train or metro stations for a fixed fare. This fixed fare is much more affordable than what the taximeter would calculate. If you want to turn on the meter you might face some resistance. This only applies to rides to the historic city limits and City of Rome taxis. If your hotel or destination is somewhere else then the taxi driver can use the taximeter. Taxis can take a maximum of 4 people. There is no extra fee for luggage; the fixed fare includes everything.

Rental Car

To rent a car at the airport you can visit one of the many rental car agencies located in the arrivals hall of the airport. Rental car companies that have offices in the airport include Auto Europa, Avis-Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Locauto Rent, Maggiore, Sixt and RENT4U. After you arrive at the airport’s arrivals hall you can follow the signs that direct you towards the rental car agencies. After completing the car rental process you will need to pick up your vehicle from level B or C in the parking lot.

If you’re planning on staying in Rome we think its unnecessary to rent a car because most places are accessible on foot and the city has an advanced public transportation system. Not to mention the fact that local traffic can be a little complicated. There are also high-speed trains that are available, which are faster ways to get to other places in Rome and other cities in Italy. But of course if you’re planning a road trip in and around Rome then renting a car is a convenient and flexible option.