Portus, ancient port near Fiumicino
Portus, ancient port near Fiumicino
4.7 of 5 (6 Votes)

Lots of people with early morning flights choose to spend a night nearer the airport. Lots more maybe have flight delays or pick up a car and maybe need a break from a long flight - with exhausted kids in the back seat. So what to do? Here's your guide to some fantastic things going on around Rome's airport - Fiumicino or Leonardo Da Vinci.

fiumicino

Land of the Giants - Cargo Area 

giants

As you head in or out of the Rome airport, there are signs to CARGO. Follow those, and soon you'll find yourself on the Via Portuense. Keep your eyes open for some outsized abandoned stuff, basically objects that have been left behind after a movie shoot or a fair. You'll find a humongous gramophone, a metal giant, and much more. Just there, out in an open field. It's bonkers – and my favorite stop when ushering people to the airport.

Museum of Ancient Roman Boats at Fiumicino airport

museumboats at Fiumicino

This tidy museum is located right at the airport exit, nearest the roadway going out to Fiumicino, the town. It holds 5 ancient vessels uncovered when they were building the airport. After all, the Tiber River feeds out to sea, and this boats would have been used to carry everything, from Egyptian marble and obelisks to Cleopatra, and all the bread coming from Ostia into the Capitol. Ancient Rome had a population of 1 million people even at that time.

More on Rome

Rome - Turning Roman Ruins to Resorts - Discover the Newest Lux Hotels

Pasta Carbonara - Spaghetti alla carbonara from Rome

What's new in Rome this summer

The Ancient Imperial Port of Rome

Ostia Antica, nearFiumicino

Ostia Antica is known as once a thriving River port town near the sea (which today has recessed a few miles further out), but the sea port would be near the airport – again, on the Via Portuense. These stunning ruins are a lot smaller to romp around than visiting the town of Ostia Antica, but are pretty cool to see old warehouses built by Emperors Claudius and Trajan that would have served a purpose much like the modern airport today. 

For more information on this site and the Severiani Warehouses visit:  https://www.visitfiumicino.com/tour/parco-archeologico-dei-porti-di-claudio-e-traiano/?lang=en

QC Termeroma near Fiumicino

termeroma near Fiumicino

If you just want to treat yourself to some R&R and have a spa day at the baths like an ancient emperor, QC Terme Roma is for you – but book your treatments well in advance. This spa offers everything, and is right near the airport so you reach your flight totally ready for re-entry. 

QC Termeroma - Via Portuense 2178/A, Fiumicino - Check the price here

Fresh Fish Meal in Fiumicino

fritto misto

It is where all the fish comes in for Rome's thousands of restaurants, you won't have a bad meal here in Fiumicino - but choose wisely! There's an excellent "strip" of eateries, but I once enjoyed a 17-dish "appetizer" selection of fish done in every way, shape and form, at a restaurant that I never would have found had it not been for google. When friends come into town or have a layover in Rome, this is where we head. Try this one:

Ristorantino da Giorgio - Via della Torre Clementina 200 Foce del Tevere, Fiumicino - https://www.facebook.com/Ristorantino-Da-Giorgio-480279622110861/

As a final bonus feature of the Rome Airport surroundings, instead of racing to drop off your rental car, or run to your hotel, take time to really look at the magnificent statues scattered around the grounds. I mean, really look. You'll see the amazing Leonardo Da Vinci (FCO's unofficial name) as you come into the airport. But drive around the traffic circles, and there are some pretty amazing historic commemorations to be had, like the Monument to the Fallen in Kindu -- to the first-ever team of 13 pilots on a peacekeeping mission in Congo who were captured and killed.

While inside the airport, huge reproductions of some of Da Vinci's flying machines and other inventions are on display. And every so often, Terminal 3 hosts an exhibition of more findings.

More tips for your visit to Rome

From flea market to shopping mall in Rome

15 New hotspots in Italy: discover the best new hotels in Rome, Milan, Florence and more

Colosseum visitors no longer held hostage by ticket scalpers

How to visit Rome with kids – from small to teenagers

About this post

FCO Fiumicino Airport
Autostrada Azzurra
00119
Fiumicino
RM
Lazio
Italy
Website: Airport FCO Rome

Find cheap flights to Italy

Find the cheapest flights to Italy with our flight partner Skyscanner. The app allows you to find flights not only to the main airports but includes flights to surrounding airport hubs. Skyscanner is an official travel partner of Dolcevia.com

Find hotel deals in Italy

Find the best hotel rates in Italy with Booking.com the leader in hotels, B&B and villa rentals. An official Dolcevia.com travel partner.

?