Italy Travel Tips: Air Edition

We are experts at sharing insider advice to elevate your Italy vacation, stress-free. Some examples include our Italy Travel Tips then followed by our list of Italy Travel Must-Haves and our Tips for Traveling Solo. Needless to say, over the almost 10 years of building Casa Mia we have accumulated a large body of practical tips, local insights, and recommendations! To celebrate our first decade, we’re sharing a Travel Tips Series focused on Transportation. In this first instalment, we’re sharing our Italy travel tips: air edition, with hacks for mastering Italian air travel, designed to ensure your Italian adventure runs smoothly from the moment you touch down.

Hacks for Air Travel in Italy

Flying into Rome, Florence, or any of Italy’s major cities is just the beginning. For overseas visitors, navigating transit in a foreign place and in a new language can feel like uncharted territory. A bad transit experience can break a perfectly planned vacation.

Our insider’s guide equips Italy travelers with the best tricks and hacks to get around like a local, to get you through passport control, tackle baggage claim and solve all your onward travel logistics.

Traveling with kids? Here’s our tried and tested tips for traveling internationally with kids in tow.

Major International Airports in Italy

• Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO): Italy’s primary airport, serving Rome and central Italy.
• Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP): Main international airport for Milan and northern Italy, offering numerous connections.
• Florence Amerigo Vespucci Airport – aka “Peretola” (FLR): Serves Florence and Tuscany, offering connections to major Italian and European cities.
• Naples International Airport – aka “Capodichino” (NAP): Serves Naples and the Campania region, popular for Amalfi Coast and Pompeii visitors.
• Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE): Gateway to Venice and the Veneto region, offering scenic flights over the city.
• Catania Fontanarossa Airport (CTA): Primary airport for Sicily, serving Catania and popular tourist destinations.

• Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ): Located in Bologna in northern Italy, offers connections to major European cities.
• Turin Airport (TRN): Serves Turin and Piedmont region, with connections to major Italian and European cities.
• Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport (PSA): Primarily serves Pisa and the Tuscany region, popular for leaning Tower visitors.
• Bari Karol Wojtyla Airport (BRI): Main airport for Puglia, offering connections to major Italian cities.
• Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport (OLB): Located in Sardinia, popular for beach holidays and Costa Smeralda.
• Palermo Falcone Borsellino Airport (PMO): Main airport for domestic flights, serving Palermo and western Sicily.

A word about flying in and out of Rome

Unless you’re planning to enter Italy elsewhere, the best airport to arrive at (and out of) in Italy is Rome Fiumicino International Airport. Geographically located in the middle of the “boot”, it’s the best entry point to visit the rest of Italy, and then, well––Rome! Hello? Situated approximately 35 kilometers (22 miles) southwest of the city center, Fiumicino Airport serves as a crucial hub for both international and domestic flights, connecting Italy to countless destinations worldwide. But logistics and the Roman Empire aside, FCO Airport is also one of the best from a service standpoint.

According to a ranking compiled by the International Airport Council, Rome Fiumicino airport (FCO) is Europe’s best airport, this year is the sixth time winning this prestigious title. Long gone are the days when the Rome international airport was somewhat of an embarrassment. Teeny terminals, few gates, great runways and among the best control towers, but little in terms of luster and variety of services.

What to expect inside FCO airport

Today Fiumicino – aka Aeroporto Leonardo Da Vinci, named after the first man to suggest the idea of flying machines as early as the 15th century – shines with its sleek Terminals and passenger services.

The 18,000 sq ft “A” boarding area in Terminal 1 is dedicated to fashion with accessory, garment, footwear and jewelry brands like Bulgari, Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Moncler, Dolce&Gabbana, MaxMara, and others. The “E” boarding area is home to the Tax Free Mall, a Duty Free plaza with more than 50 stores and brands like Brunello Cucinelli, Fendi, Prada, Swarovski, and more.

Plus terminals at FCO are embellished with fountains, elegant design, sculptures, airline lounges, delectable food and beverage courts, even 4 grand pianos for guests to play during their layover, or while waiting to board their flight in Terminals 1 and 3.

Italy travel tips: Air edition – Handling layovers in Rome

Great news for passengers with long layovers in Rome! Thanks to the Airport in the City service, now travelers can check in and leave baggage for free at Roma Termini station, and then collect it directly at their destination. This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone wishing to extend their time in the Eternal City, without having to worry about lugging around bulky suitcases.

Travelers can check their luggage at least 3.5 hours before their flight departure time, Monday to Sunday, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. In this way, those who wish to enjoy the last hours of their stay in Rome can do so without having to use temporary storage facilities for a fee.

The Airport in the City check-in desk is located inside the Termini train station on Via Giovanni Giolitti 16, near the Mercato Centrale and platform 24. For the initial trial period, this service is exclusively dedicated to ITA Airways travelers on flights departing the same day from Fiumicino to any destination (except USA and Israel). The good news is that other airlines may join this new service in the future.

Start the Vacation Right: Touch Down Tips

If you are leaving the continental US or Canada in the afternoon/evening, you will most probably be landing in Italy in the early morning. Thirty minutes before the wheels touch down, wash your face, moisturize, slap on a hydrating sheet mask, change into something crisp, brush your teeth and drink an entire bottle of water (preferably with electrolytes) before leaving the aircraft.

After flying so many hours in a pressurized cabin, you need to hydrate! No worries, the bathrooms in Arrivals terminals are very clean and with very few queues. As someone who’s been an intercontinental traveler since birth, I can assure you that this is the best hack to arrive feeling refreshed, properly hydrated and awake.

Passport control

As anyone who’s spent what felt like an eternity shuffling through an immigration line after a 12-hour flight can tell you, Passport Control can be a painful final hurdle before you get to baggage claim.

Once off the plane, you will be herded to your arrivals Terminal. This may happen with a shuttle bus or through a passenger boarding bridge, the enclosed, movable connector which commonly extends from the airport terminal to the plane. Just follow the crowds to the Passport Control area. The Border Officers will stamp your Passport and wave you by.

• If you must stop for a quick bathroom break, I recommend you use the restrooms after you clear Passport Control, just to get ahead in the lines. There are restrooms immediately after the Passport check queues and at Baggage Claim. Note: In some Italian cities you may be asked to pay 1 Euro to use public facilities.
• Make sure you get in the correct line: there is one for European Union Passport holders – Schengen and one for everyone else. Passengers holding US, Canada, UK and other nationality Passports will be asked to use the Non-EU line. However, if you are flying into Italy through another European country (France, Netherlands, Germany, etc. which are all part of the European Union), your passport may non even get stamped, or even opened in Italy.
• It may take you anywhere from five minutes to an hour to get through Passport Control depending on how many flights arrive and queue up. Many flights from overseas all come in around 8-9 AM. In high season it’s more crowded and the wait is obviously longer.
• The good news is that Fiumicino has installed 67 SmartPass E-gates for passport checks. If you have an electronic passport (that has a microchip symbol on the cover), all you have to do is go to the E-gate and scan your open passport on the reader as advised. The E-gates use facial recognition technology. If the check is successful, the gate will open, if not you will need to go to a control gate operated by a Border Officer.

Foreign currency

While many businesses in Italy accept credit cards, it’s advisable to exchange some currency to have Euro cash at hand. We recommend carrying approximately 200 Euro in cash, in smaller bills, like 50 and 20 euro.

Casa Mia Hack: Airport exchange rates are not the most favorable, so consider exchanging money at ATMs instead of at currency exchange booths. In Fiumicino airport in Rome, the bank is located in the arrival hall of Terminal 3.

ATMs are present in the terminals and indicated on the airport maps and multimedia stations. In the city, it’s best to use ATMs operated by banks, not ones outside souvenir shops or newsstands. The latter are less reliable and apply bigger fees on the exchange transaction.

Luggage

I’m a hard core hand luggage advocate. But if you must travel with checked baggage, upon landing, screens in the arrival terminal will display your baggage claim carousel number; sometimes flight attendants will even announce this info when you’re still waiting to disembark the aircraft.

In the terminal, look for signs with “Ritiro Bagagli” and proceed to the carousel number to collect your luggage. Baggage carts are free of charge, if your bags don’t have wheels, get one or two carts. Pick-up your bags from the conveyor belt and head out.

Note that most Schengen countries no longer make you go through Customs, but you may see Guardia di Finanza officers standing by. They have the right to check any suitcase at any time. Trained canine units may also do random sniff tests.

Check out our What to Pack for Italy checklist for our top packing tips and suggestions!

Missing, Lost or Damaged Luggage

Should your luggage not show up or be damaged during transit, the place to file a report is always near the baggage claim area, indicated with clear signage in multiple languages. Here you will be asked to provide the luggage stickers on your boarding pass, and other information for filing the report.

How to reduce the chance of losing your luggage?

• Avoid flying through Paris Charles De Gaulle airport, if the layover is under 3 hours.
• This is true for pretty much any large airport: nine times out of ten, if you’re racing to make your connecting flight, your luggage will most probably be left behind.
• Before flying out, take photos of your luggage in case you have to fill out a damaged or lost luggage report.
• You will be contacted by the airline for the baggage tracking and delivery to your desired address. If your airline uses the World Tracer baggage tracking system, you can get real time updates on the status of your lost bags’ whereabouts.
• Invest in Apple AirTags or other GPS trackers to throw in each checked bag.

Leaving the airport

Meeting points for groups and tour leaders in Italian airports are clearly marked. At peak arrival times, there’s usually a crowd of relatives, drivers (and scammers) hanging out as you exit Customs. If you can’t see the person who’s meant to pick you up at the airport meeting point, call their cell.

Casa Mia hack: Download the free WhatsApp messaging app and text the driver your exact location. You have no cell service? Free WiFi is available in most airports. In Fiumicino Airport, select the “Airport Free WiFi” network. 

At Fiumicino International airport, the Passenger Meeting Points are located in front of the passenger exits, in the Arrivals area of Terminal 1 and Terminal 3.

Drivers and tour leaders are usually waiting in the designated partitioned area marked by large round green pillars labeled N.C.C./Limo Drivers – Meeting Point, where you will find other drivers waiting for their clients, holding signs with passenger names. 

Taxi Into the City

If you are taking a taxi into town, head straight outside and turn left to the taxi stand. Only take an authorized white car taxi – legit taxi drivers are not going to approach you, they will be sitting in their cars in the fast-moving taxi queue.

In Rome, the fee from Fiumicino to the city center (within the Aurelian Walls) is a fixed rate of 50 Euro. If your hotel or lodging in Rome is outside the walls, the taxi driver will charge you based on the taxi meter. Driving time from Fiumicino to Rome (within the Aurelian Walls) is about 40 to 50 minutes.

Our advice is hiring a private car service with an English speaking driver to meet you and take you to your hotel, stress-free. Need assistance in arranging that? We can help.

Long layover, or in no rush to head straight to your accommodation in Rome? Stop for a meal in Fiumicino town! This is one of the biggest gourmet destinations on the Roman coast. You can find our top recommendations for dining in Fiumicino on our blog.

The Key to Survive Jet-Lag on Your First Day in Italy: Stay Awake

Your goal on the day of arrival after a long intercontinental flight is to make it to 9:00 PM before crashing face down in your bed. Here are a few tips to help you achieve this:

• We understand you want to take advantage of every minute on your Italy dream vacation. However, our advice is not over-packing your schedule on the day you land. On the day you arrive in Italy avoid planning anything demanding, like a walking tour in the midday heat, a Vespa tour, or a Gondola rowing class. Keep the plan light.
• Drop your luggage at the hotel or holiday rental. Get out, walk, hydrate. You can indulge in coffee or other caffeinated beverages, but if you can’t avoid it, halt the caffè intake after 5:00 PM. That caffeine is going to kick in 4 hours later and have you jumping around all night, when you should instead be sleeping and adjusting your inner clock to local dolce vita time.
• Naps are dangerous. If on the day you arrive you fall asleep you will never want to wake up. But, if you absolutely need a nap, make it short, 1 hour max. Set several alarms on the other side of the room, that will force you to actually get up instead of hitting “snooze” a million times. The long nap will have you wide awake at 4:00 AM, but groggy and exhausted the following day. Hence the “make it to 9:00 PM” rule. If you can bite the bullet and resist (without napping) and stay awake until 9:00 PM you’ll see a world of difference the next day.
• Plan a light dinner, keep the restaurant close to where you’re staying, have the table booked days in advance. Order light fare, skip dessert and keep wine and cocktails to a minimum.
• Back at the hotel, shower, slip into comfy pjs, close those blackening blinds and sleep. If you wake up in the middle of the night, DO NOT CHECK YOUR PHONE. Allow yourself (or will yourself) to fall back asleep. Countdown from 100, sort sheep, whatever you do, make it work. You need to sleep as many hours as you can. After a full night’s sleep you’ll wake up recharged and refreshed. And famished! Saunter down to breakfast like a celebrity and enjoy your welcome to Italy!

With the right information, navigating Italian air travel can be a seamless experience. By familiarizing yourself with airport procedures, and following our insider tips, you can optimize your travel time and focus on enjoying your Italian adventure.

If you need further assistance with your travel plans, Casa Mia Tours is here to help. Our local expertise can provide personalized recommendations and arrangements to ensure a memorable trip. Contact us today to start planning your Italian getaway!