Money at Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino (FCO)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Rome, Italy.
Rome uses the EUR (€). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly €55 (taxi flat) · €14 (Leonardo Express). Card accepted at licensed taxis; cash for small fares.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino (FCO)?
Italy uses the EUR (€). Airport ATMs dispense EUR directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from FCO to the city cost?
Expected fare on the FCO → Rome centre (Aurelian Walls) route is roughly €55 (taxi flat) · €14 (Leonardo Express). Around €80–€100 is already high, and €120+ is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at FCO?
Not expected — round up. Drivers in Italy don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at FCO?
Card accepted at licensed taxis; cash for small fares. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of EUR notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at FCO?
Only if you need $10–20 of EUR to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
Every transport option ranked, fare tiers, first-30-minute checklist and reported scams.