Search Flights from San Francisco to Rome

Located 21 km from the city center, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is a major transit center for passengers, particularly those traveling from Asia. San Francisco International is the second busiest airport in California, following Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Every year SFO handles a significant number of both domestic and international flights. There are a variety of transportation alternatives passengers can utilize to get to and from the airport.  

San Francisco International Airport stands out for the comfortable and exceptional services it offers. The airport features services aimed at meeting your every need, from comfortable passenger lounges, to restaurants that offer a wide variety of cuisines and a vibrant array of stores where you can go shopping.

San Francisco International Airport is accessible by taxi, bus, train, rental car, and personal car as the airport contains parking lots that offer short-term and long-term parking options.

Train

There are two rail systems that you can use to get to San Francisco International Airport from the city center. The first is the rapid-rail system, the BART. The BART starts running in the early hours of the morning, providing easy and fast transportation between SFO and the northern and southern parts of the city.

The other rail system that you can use to get to SFO is the CalTrain. This train departs on the hour, every hour, every day of the week, until 10 pm. This train provides transportation between San Francisco and San Jose and SFO.

Taxi

One of the most convenient and fastest transportation alternatives to get to SFO from the city center is by taxi. Taxi fares are calculated based on the kilometers traveled. A taxi from downtown San Francisco can cost between 42 and 62 dollars and takes about 20 minutes. For more information on taxi companies and their contact information please visit San Francisco International Airport’s website.

Bus

SamTrans buses provide transportation between the San Francisco city center and the airport. These public buses are operated by San Mateo County and run between San Mateo, various parts of San Francisco and San Francisco International Airport. SamTrans lines KX, 292, 397, and 398 run directly to the airport terminals. Buses stop at the arrivals and baggage claim level of Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 and at Level 1 of the International Terminal.

Rental Car

Renting a car is another transportation alternative to get to the airport. There are many rental car companies located in the city. You can drop off your rental vehicle at the Rental Car Center before your departure. From the Rental Car Center the AirTrain Blue Line provides access to the airport terminals and it operates 24 hours a day, every day of the week. Rental car companies that you can choose from include Alamo, Dollar, Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, National, Budget, Fox and Thrifty.

Bike

San Francisco International Airport contains bike assembly stations and parking areas for those who want to access the airport by bike. The BART and SamTrans rapid rail systems provide passengers with bike/transit options and the airport features marked bicycle routes. Bike lovers can easily access the airport by bicycle.   

Airport Information

San Francisco International Airport is located 21 km from the city center. The airport covers an expansive area and operates domestic and international flights out of 4 terminals, Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3, and the International Terminal. The AirTrain automated system provides free transportation between each terminal, as well as the Rental Car Center and BART station. The AirTrain Red Line links all terminals, terminal garages and the BART Station. The AirTrain Blue Line links the Rental Car Center with all terminals, terminal garages, and the BART Station. SFO also contains a variety of services and amenities to meet passengers’ pre-flight and post-flight needs.

The airport features health services in the terminals, rental car offices, banks, a lost and found, wireless internet, charging stations, clothing stores where you can go shopping, restaurants and cafes, the Aviation Museum & Library, rotating exhibitions, spa services, children’s play areas, free yoga rooms, a market, and much more. 

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.