A group of 40 people landing at Fiumicino at 07:00 has a practical problem: getting everyone, with their suitcases, to the same hotel or the same event without splitting up between train, taxis and scheduled buses. That is why agencies, companies and parishes ask us for a Fiumicino shuttle reserved for the group: a coach or minibus that waits on arrival and takes everyone to their destination in a single run.
The same goes for Ciampino, the city’s second airport. Here is how we organise transfers from Rome’s two airports, where the vehicles stop and what happens when a flight is delayed. These services are part of our coach and bus hire in Rome.
Scheduled shuttle or private transfer: what changes for a group
Every day scheduled buses leave Fiumicino for Rome and other cities, from the Bus Station on the Arrivals level of Terminal 3. They work well for people travelling alone. For a group the limits show up quickly: seats are not reserved, luggage goes wherever it fits and the drop-off is the line’s stop, not the hotel.
With a private transfer the vehicle is yours alone. It leaves when the group is complete, loads all the suitcases into the hold and stops at the address you gave us. If the programme includes a stop on the way, for example lunch or a visit before check-in, we build it into the route at quote stage. We work the same way with tour operators and DMCs in Rome, who often combine the transfer with the first visit.
For small groups, up to 8 people, a car or minivan from our chauffeur service in Rome is often enough. From 16 people upwards you move to a minibus or a coach.
Fiumicino shuttle: where the coach stops and where it waits
Fiumicino has precise traffic rules, set by the airport’s road regulations. On the road in front of Arrivals, tour coaches and minibuses can drive through and stop in the blue bays with parking meters for as long as loading takes. If the wait gets longer, coaches use a dedicated holding car park in the airport’s East area and come back to the terminals from there when the group is ready.
So there is no point asking the driver to stay parked in front of the exit for an hour. The vehicle pulls into the bay once the group has collected its luggage and given us the go-ahead. Before the service we agree with you the terminal, the exit and the exact point where the group leader gathers everyone.
The rules for NCC cars (noleggio con conducente, private hire with driver) are just as detailed: according to ADR, operators without a sub-concession pick up clients on the ground floor of Multi-storey car park B (Terminal 1) or in car park PR7 (Terminal 3). Aeroporti di Roma reminds travellers not to accept transport offers made inside the terminal by unauthorised people: the transfer is booked in advance, with an operator you can recognise.
Ciampino: a small airport with tight spaces
Ciampino is a compact airport: walking distances are short, but there is little space in front of the terminal building. The scheduled bus bays are opposite International Departures and at peak times the roads fill up quickly.
Here there is one practical rule: the group comes out together. If half the people are waiting for luggage and the other half are already outside, the vehicle sits there unable to load. We ask the group leader to let the driver know when everyone has their suitcases, so the coach only pulls up at that moment.
Arriving groups often include pilgrims heading for the basilicas. During the Jubilee 2025 we handled the movements of many religious groups in Rome, and in spring we organise transport for groups and pilgrims at Easter.
Arrivals on several flights and delays: how we organise it
We monitor flight times. If a flight is delayed, the vehicle waits without you having to tell us. This is the most common situation and it needs no phone calls from the gate.
The trickier case is a group arriving on several flights: some from Milan at 10:00, some from London at 12:30. There are two options. You can keep a single vehicle that waits for everyone, in which case the first arrivals wait; or you can run two trips, with a minibus for the first wave and a coach for the second. We decide together based on the day’s programme and the cost of the waiting hours, which have an hourly rate set in advance in the quote.
If the group is heading to an event or a congress, we plan around the start time rather than the landing time. The same approach applies to congress shuttles to La Nuvola in the EUR district.
Choosing the vehicle by people and luggage
For an airport transfer the number of seats is not enough: the suitcases count too. A group of 30 people with a week’s luggage needs a large hold, and a 36-seat bus or a 54-56 seat Gran Turismo works better than a vehicle filled to the last seat.
For groups of up to 20-27 people with light luggage, a minibus is often more convenient: it moves easily in the narrow streets of the centre and reaches hotels a coach cannot get to. For these groups we suggest a minibus with driver instead of a coach.
The Fiumicino transfer does not only go to the centre. Many groups go straight to the port, with the transfer to the port of Civitavecchia for embarkation. Journey times to the centre, the Vatican, EUR or the port depend on the time of day and the traffic, and we give them in the quote for your schedule.
How to request a quote for a transfer from Fiumicino or Ciampino
To prepare an offer we need:
- airport, flight number and arrival time (or the flights, if there is more than one);
- number of passengers and a rough amount of luggage;
- destination address and any stops;
- any return transfer, with the departure flight.
The written quote includes the driver, fuel, passenger insurance and vehicle maintenance; any tolls are shown separately. The hourly rates for coach hire in Rome are indicative and depend on the vehicle. We reply within a few hours during office hours; for a transfer that needs organising the same day, it is better to call.
For groups arriving in Milan the service works differently, with the transfer from the Milan airports handled by our Lainate base.
Phone: +39 06 4882027. Email: info@toddebus.it (subject line: “Fiumicino Transfer” or “Ciampino Transfer”).
Frequently asked questions
How long does the coach wait if the flight arrives late?
We monitor the flight time, so the vehicle works to the actual landing time, not the scheduled one. You do not need to tell us about the delay. Waiting hours beyond those planned have an hourly rate agreed in the quote.
Where do I meet the driver at the Fiumicino exit?
The meeting point is agreed before the service: terminal, exit and a precise landmark. The coach pulls up at the bays reserved for tour coaches when the group is ready, because the airport does not allow long stops in front of Arrivals.
Is a scheduled shuttle or a private transfer better for a group of 25?
With 25 people and luggage a private transfer is usually more practical: one vehicle, departure when everyone is ready and arrival in front of the hotel. The scheduled shuttle makes sense for people travelling alone with light luggage.
Do you run transfers from Fiumicino straight to the port of Civitavecchia?
Yes, agencies and cruise groups often ask us for this service. We plan the timing from the boarding time shown on the travel documents, with a margin for any flight delays.
Does the service run at night and on public holidays?
Yes, we work 7 days a week, public holidays included, at any time. Flights landing at midnight or departures at 05:00 are part of our normal work.
