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Getting to Sulmona from either Rome Fiumicino or Rome Ciampino airport

The query of to reach Sulmona from Rome comes up frequently on many travel forums and blogs. There are direct scheduled bus connections between both of Rome’s airports and Sulmona but they are few and far between. If you need to make this journey, without hiring a car, you will need to consider a combination of services and make a change or transfer somewhere along the way.

Here we have listed all of the known options. 

ARRIVING AT ROME FIUMICINO AIRPORT

Direct to Sulmona

Prontobus run one daily bus service direct from Fiumicino airport to Sulmona (EDIT: as of 2015 Prontobus no longer drives to Sulmona city centre but rather stops at the Sulmona / Pratola Peligna toll booth, from where you will need to get a taxi to reach town. Taxi telephone numbers in the SulmonaWiki page).  

Tourshuttle is a private company running a direct Fiumicino – Sulmona taxi / minibus service for up to 8 people which you can book online. 

Fiumicino to Sulmona with transfer

Fiumicino to Torre de Passeri via bus + taxi from Torre de Passeri to Sulmona
If the Prontobus to Sulmona / Pratola Peligna toll booth timetable doesn’t suit you, consider travelling with them a little bit further to Torre de Passeri and either taking a taxi the rest of the way or have someone pick you up.  Some of the hotels and B&B’s in town may very well offer this service.  Sulmona based taxi companies are in our SulmonaWiki page. A pick up from Torre de Passeri is likely to cost you in the region of €50.
 
Fiumicino to Rome via train or bus + Rome to Sulmona via train or bus
You can take the Leonardo Express train from Fiumicino airport to Rome’s Termini train station. 
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You can also get a local train to take you direct to Rome’s Tiburtina train station. 
Alternatively, take a bus from Fiumicino airport to Rome’s Termini train station with Terravision. Note that there are other bus services into Rome but this one appears to be the cheapest.  You can buy a ticket at the airport when you arrive or you can book online in advance if you prefer. 
Once at Termini, most local trains will quickly take you to Rome Tiburtina where you can make your connection to Sulmona. 
The cheapest way to get from Termini to Tiburtina is actually via the Metro. Take the blue line B four stops to the North.
From Rome Tiburtina bus station you can catch a bus out to Sulmona with one of the following companies:
 
If travelling onwards via train, you can buy your train ticket to Sulmona either at Fiumicino or at Rome’s Termini train station but you will need to change trains at Tiburtina. From Tiburtina you can travel by train directly to Sulmona. Timetables and fares at www.trenitalia.it. 
 
Note that Tiburtina bus and railway stations are adjacent but not on the same site.  Also, Sulmona train station is a little way out of town – a 10 minute walk slightly uphill – so you may wish to take a taxi from the station to your destination.  If you are staying at a local hotel or B&B they may very well offer to come and pick you up.
 
Taxi from Fiumicino to Rome’s Tiburtina  + Tiburtina to Sulmona via train or bus
Last but not least, consider taking a taxi from Ciampino to Tiburtina  – there will be plenty of taxis ready to go immediately outside the airport and you can connect from there as per above. The ride will cost you a fixed rate of €55 – just make sure to check this with your driver before departure.  From Tiburtina you can connect to Sulmona via either train or bus as per instructions above.

ARRIVING AT ROME CIAMPINO AIRPORT

Direct to Sulmona

Prontobus run one daily bus service direct from Ciampino airport to Sulmona. (EDIT: as of 2015 Prontobus no longer drives to Sulmona city centre but rather stops at the Sulmona / Pratola Peligna toll booth, from where you will need to get a taxi to reach town. Taxi telephone numbers in the SulmonaWiki page) 

Tourshuttle is a private company running a direct Ciampino – Sulmona taxi / minibus service for up to 8 people which you can book online. 

Ciampino to Sulmona with transfer

Ciampino to Rome via bus or train + Rome to Sulmona via bus or train
You can take a bus from Ciampino airport to Rome’s Termini train station with Terravision. Note that there are other bus services into Rome but this one appears to be the cheapest.  You can buy a ticket at the airport when you arrive or you can book online in advance if you prefer.
Once at Termini, most local trains will quickly take you to Rome Tiburtina where you can make your connection to Sulmona. The cheapest way to get from Termini to Tiburtina is actually via the Metro. Take the blue line B four stops to the North.
(You could also take a train from Ciampino’s train station into Rome’s Termini train station, but please note that it requires a bus transfer from the airport to Ciampino city train station and then back to Rome’s Termini and frankly we don’t see the point of that one).
 
From Rome Tiburtina you can catch a bus out to Sulmona with one of the following companies:
 
If travelling onwards via train, you can buy your train ticket to Sulmona at either Ciampino or at Rome Termini train station but you will need to change trains at Tiburtina. From Tiburtina you can travel by train directly to Sulmona. Timetables and fares at www.trenitalia.it. 
 
Note that Tiburtina bus and railway stations are adjacent but not on the same site.  Also, Sulmona train station is a little way out of town – a 10 minute walk slightly uphill – so you may wish to take a taxi from the station to your destination.  If you are staying at a local hotel or B&B they may very well offer to come and pick you up.
 
 
Taxi from Ciampino to Rome’s Tiburtina  + Tiburtina to Sulmona via train or bus
 
Last but not least, consider taking a taxi from Ciampino to Tiburtina  – there will be plenty of taxis ready to go immediately outside the airport and you can connect from there as per above. The ride will cost you a fixed rate of €35 – just make sure to check this with your driver before departure.  From Tiburtina you can connect to Sulmona via either train or bus as per instructions above.
 

 

getting to Sulmona from Rome Tiburtina and Termini stations

Tiburtina and Termini train and bus stations

If you are travelling to Sulmona from somewhere else, or are coming by car, please refer to the “How to get to Sulmona” guide, here

About The Author

The WTS Team

Written and curated by bi-lingual partnership Katy Gorman and Susanna Iraci, Welcome To Sulmona is the first born and remains the best-loved child of their marketing & communications consultancy ‘Quid Novi'. They enjoy researching and creating copy for their own website alongside that of the other many guest authors. More often than not Katy is ‘words’ and Susanna ‘pictures’. Katy Gorman: Ex-pat Anglo-American, Quid Novi wordsmith, English teacher & resident of Sulmona since 2009. Susanna Iraci: Marchigiana, Quid Novi visual designer & photographer - also resident of Sulmona since 2009.

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  • Brendan Coffey

    Having traveled from Fiumicino Airport to Sulmona a number of times I found the article informative. By far, renting a car is easiest as you simply walk across to the airport parking garage and in less than 2 hrs you are home. Taking the bus or the train, involves some legwork and waiting…not recommended if you are in any hurry at all. There isn’t much of any food/drink at the airport train connection but when you reach Termini Train station you’ll find more shops,,,however I found the walk to the ultimate platform would be difficult for anyone with walking issues. Having said this, the train ride is a good way to take in the city and the countryside and ultimately the best way to glide thru the mountains of Abruzzo. Unfortunately, when I took the bus from the airport I found myself running across a very crowded bus center (think dozens of moving busses) looking for the one headed to Sulmona. Fortunately, the bus depot mgr spotted mine just leaving and they flagged it down for me. Unfortunately it was full so I sat on the rear door step all the way to Sulmona. I’m sure the seats would have been more comfortable.

    • Brendan: your feedback is excellent! It really adds up to the post in such a useful, collaborative way. Thanks so much! And yes the buses can get uncomfortable at times, but it’s great to be able to reach Sulmona in such a short time compared to train rides. Get in touch for coffee next time you’re over 😉

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