Meaning “little river” in Italian, Rome Fiumicino sits on the banks of an offshoot of the Tiber River as it meets the Tyrrhenian Sea. The small harbour town lies just outside Italy's capital city and has a long tradition of fishing: its restaurants serve delicious dishes made with the daily catch. The town's also known as the home of Italy’s busiest international airport. It’s a perfect stopover for travellers or those looking for an authentic taste of Italy, with easy transport links to the historical sites of Rome.
You can stay in Fiumicino hostels in the centre or on a remote stretch of beach at the edge of town. Make yourself at home in an Italian villa set amongst a flourishing garden and cosy up in the communal library. Close to the waterfront, pick a Fiumicino hostel where you can step straight out for a game of beach volleyball or try your hand at windsurfing. Choose between private doubles, triples and quadruples, all with en-suite bathrooms.
The main street in Fiumicino, Via della Torre Clementina, runs beside a small river and is lined with seafood restaurants shaded from the sun by market umbrellas. Fishing boats are moored to its edge, where the day's haul is quickly snapped up by the chefs. Across the river, Lungomare della Salute runs along the beachfront with more waterside eateries. Ostia Antica, 30 minutes away by bus on the other side of the Tiber, is an intriguing ancient Roman city with archaeological remains including an amphitheatre and public baths.
You can go shopping at Fiumicino's Parco Leonardo shopping mall, with more than 200 stores, including discount outlets. There are also walks along the rugged coastal dunes of Passoscuro and Maccarese, where kite surfers fly over the waves. It's easy to get to Rome from here; it's less than 40 minutes away on public transport. Tour the city's famous sights, such as the Colosseum and Vatican City, and return to an oasis of calm in the evening.
Rome-Fiumicino International Airport, also known as Leonardo da Vinci Airport, is just over 3km from Fiumicino town; many Rome cab drivers won't take a fare for this short distance. You can get a local taxi instead, which will charge you a flat fee to take you to Fiumicino. You'll find these just next to the Rome taxi queue. Buses also run from the airport into Fiumicino centre or into Rome, taking less than an hour.
