Stadio Olimpico away guide

Fly direct to Rome Fiumicino (FCO) or Ciampino (CIA) from Manchester or London, then take the Leonardo Express to Termini and Metro Line A to Flaminio, finishing on tram 2 to Piazza Mancini. Away fans sit in the Distinti Nord Ovest, the north-west corner, kept behind extra barriers with its own entry (AS Roma, Stadio Olimpico seating).

Fast facts

Getting there from the UK

Rome has no hub detour to worry about: both Manchester and London fly direct, so the real choice is which Rome airport. Fiumicino (FCO) is the main one, with the fast Leonardo Express straight into Termini in 32 minutes (Aeroporti di Roma). Ciampino (CIA) is the Ryanair option, often the cheapest fare, but it is smaller and further out, with a 40-minute shuttle bus into Termini rather than a train (Terravision). From either airport you finish on Metro Line A to Flaminio and tram 2 to the ground.

Costs are estimates and swing hard with the fixture date and how early you book. The Fiumicino train is quicker and runs every 15 minutes; the Ciampino shuttle is cheaper but slower and traffic-dependent.

Getting there from the airport

From Fiumicino (FCO), take the Leonardo Express non-stop to Roma Termini. It runs in 32 minutes, every 15 minutes, and a ticket costs €14 (Aeroporti di Roma). From Termini you connect to Metro Lines A and B, city buses and trams to finish the journey to the stadium (Aeroporti di Roma). From Ciampino (CIA), take a shuttle bus or the train link to Termini and pick up the same connections.

Getting there from the centre and Termini

AS Roma's own directions give two options: Metro Line A towards Battistini to Ottaviano, then bus 32; or Metro Line A to Flaminio, then tram 2 to the stadium (AS Roma).

The buses serving the Stadio Olimpico are 32, 69, 168, 280, 301 and 628 (AS Roma).

By car, use G.R.A. ring-road exit 5 (Flaminia) and follow the signs to the Foro Italico (AS Roma).

A match ticket does not buy you free travel in Rome, unlike some German and Italian grounds. The standard BIT ticket is €1.50 and covers 100 minutes across metro, tram and bus with one metro entry, so validate it and use it for the whole hop out (ATAC).

Nearest metro, tram and walking

The most direct rail route is Metro Line A to Flaminio, then tram 2 towards Piazza Mancini, walking to the ground from the Mancini and Ponte Duca d'Aosta area (AS Roma).

The stadium sits in the Foro Italico complex north of the city, so it is not walkable from the historic centre. The Ottaviano and Lepanto metro stops near the Vatican are roughly a 45-minute walk away, so use tram 2 or the bus links rather than walking from there (Destination Calcio).

Inside the stadium and allocation

For Roma home games the visiting-supporters (Ospiti) allocation is in the Distinti Nord Ovest, the north-west corner. It is kept behind extra barriers and stewarding with its own entry and exit (Stadio Olimpico seating). The exact number of tickets varies by fixture and can flex with demand, but expect a corner block rather than a full end (Destination Calcio).

Entry gates are grouped by area. The Viale XVII Olimpiade gates serve Tribuna Monte Mario and the Distinti Nord and Sud, while the Piazzale Clodio gates serve the Curva Sud and Distinti side, so check the zone printed on your ticket (Destination Calcio).

AS Roma bans luggage and suitcases, power banks, e-cigarettes, lighters, helmets, pushchairs, professional cameras, and bottles or drink containers. Permitted items are a valid ticket and ID, non-professional cameras, food such as sandwiches and pizza, and umbrellas without a pointed end (AS Roma FAQs). There is nowhere to store luggage at the stadium, so do not travel to the ground with bags you cannot take in (AS Roma FAQs).

Avoid the Curva Sud: it is the AS Roma ultras' end and hostile to anyone not in colours. The Olimpico is rated among the best atmospheres in Italian football wherever you sit, with three tiers of banners, colour and noise, and the peak occasion is the Derby della Capitale, Roma against Lazio (Football Ground Guide, Destination Calcio).

Where to stay

Base yourself in the historic centre or Prati for the sights and the airport train, then hop out to the ground on matchday. Prati, just south of the stadium near the Vatican, is the most convenient for both the Olimpico and the centre. The area around Termini is cheapest and best-connected for the airport link but plainer. Trastevere is the liveliest for evenings but a longer trek to the ground.

Where to drink

Rome is not a terrace-pub city, so the real drinking splits between the centre before you travel and the bars around Ponte Milvio and Flaminio near the ground. A pint runs about €5 to €7, with Italian lagers like Peroni and Moretti at the lower end and imports dearer (Romeing).

• Scholars Lounge (centre, near Piazza Venezia): the big Irish sports bar, 22 screens, Sky Sports and a friendly international crowd. The default away-fan meet in town (Romeing).
• Druids (Monti): Irish sports bar with a big screen and a proper football feel, handy before you head out (Romeing).
• The Highlander (near the Pantheon): Scottish pub in the heart of the centre, reliable for a Guinness and a screen (Romeing).
• Roma Beer Company (Piazzale Ponte Milvio): busy craft-beer bar right by the ground. Note local rules force pubs here to switch to plastic cups one to two hours before kick-off (Destination Calcio).
• Excalibur (Ponte Milvio): traditional pub open from lunch to 2am, good beer list and food, a short walk from the stadium (Destination Calcio).
• Bar Olimpico Re Sole (Flaminio, by Ponte della Musica): café-bar with a leafy piazza and indoor and outdoor seating on the eastern approach (Destination Calcio).

Where to be careful: Piazzale di Ponte Milvio on the north side is traditional Lazio-fan territory, and the Curva Sud approach is Roma ultras. Stay in colours only where it makes sense, and keep replica shirts covered on the metro if you are the away side (Destination Calcio).

Where to eat

Rome's food is worth planning around. Try the four Roman pasta classics: carbonara (guanciale, pecorino, egg yolk, no cream), cacio e pepe (pecorino and black pepper), amatriciana and gricia. Street-food supplì, the fried rice-and-mozzarella balls, are the local match snack, and Roman-style pizza al taglio by the slice is everywhere (Carpe Diem Tours).

• Felice a Testaccio (Testaccio): institution since 1936, famous for cacio e pepe tossed tableside. Book ahead (Carpe Diem Tours).
• Salumeria Roscioli (near Campo de' Fiori): deli-restaurant with a standout carbonara and cacio e pepe, mid to upper price (Carpe Diem Tours).
• Trattoria Da Danilo (Esquilino): cosy family trattoria near Termini, strong carbonara, supplì and fried artichokes (Carpe Diem Tours).
• Grappolo d'Oro (near Campo de' Fiori): well-priced, reliable and friendly, good for a sit-down without breaking the bank (Carpe Diem Tours).
• Pizzarium Bonci (near the Vatican): the benchmark for pizza al taglio, quick and cheap, ideal en route to the ground (Carpe Diem Tours).
• Supplizio (centre): a small spot dedicated to supplì if you want the proper matchday version done well (Carpe Diem Tours).

What to do

If you are making a day or two of it, Rome delivers more than any other away trip. The classics cluster into two easy days (GetYourGuide).

• Colosseum and Roman Forum: the headline act and the most visited site in Rome, best booked for an early slot to dodge the queues (GetYourGuide).
• Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel: vast, so allow half a day and pre-book (GetYourGuide).
• St Peter's Basilica: free to enter, with a dome climb for the view over the city (GetYourGuide).
• Pantheon: the best-preserved ancient building in Rome and free to walk into (GetYourGuide).
• Trevi Fountain: free, busy, and worth an early or late visit to see it quieter (GetYourGuide).
• Piazza Navona and Campo de' Fiori: the two best squares for wandering, coffee and people-watching (GetYourGuide).
• Trastevere: cobbled, lively and the pick for an evening out and dinner (GetYourGuide).

Common questions

How do you get from the airport to the stadium?

From Fiumicino take the Leonardo Express to Roma Termini in 32 minutes, running every 15 minutes for €14. From Termini take Metro Line A to Flaminio, then tram 2 towards Piazza Mancini and walk the last stretch to the ground (Aeroporti di Roma, AS Roma).

Which airport should I fly into for a Roma away game?

Rome Fiumicino (FCO) is the main hub and the one to aim for, with the fast Leonardo Express into town. Both Manchester and London fly there direct, so there is no hub detour. Ciampino (CIA) is the Ryanair alternative and slightly further out, using a shuttle or train to Termini (The Getaway Lounge).

Are there direct flights from the UK to Rome?

Yes. Manchester flies direct to Fiumicino with Jet2 and easyJet and to Ciampino with Ryanair. London flies direct to Fiumicino with British Airways, ITA and easyJet from Gatwick and Heathrow, and to Ciampino with Ryanair from Stansted. No connection or nearby hub is needed (The Getaway Lounge).

Where do away fans sit?

For Roma home games the visiting-supporters (Ospiti) allocation is the Distinti Nord Ovest, the north-west corner, kept behind extra barriers and stewarding with its own entry and exit (Stadio Olimpico seating).

How big is the away allocation?

It varies by fixture and can flex with demand, so expect a corner block of a few thousand rather than a full end. Check your club's official ticket details for the exact number on the day (Destination Calcio).

What time should I get to the ground?

Give yourself plenty of margin. The ground is 30 to 40 minutes out from the centre on the metro and tram, security is thorough, and there is no luggage storage. Aim to be at your gate an hour before kick-off and enter at the time printed on your ticket to avoid the crush (AS Roma FAQs).

Can I drink inside the stadium?

Alcohol is heavily restricted at Italian grounds and bottles and drink containers are banned from entry, so do not count on a pint inside. Do your drinking in the bars beforehand, where the Ponte Milvio pubs switch to plastic cups an hour or two before kick-off anyway (AS Roma FAQs, Destination Calcio).

How much is a beer?

Reckon on €5 to €7 for a pint. Italian lagers such as Peroni, Moretti and Nastro Azzurro sit at the cheaper end, with imported and craft beers dearer (Romeing).

Is Rome safe for away fans?

Rome is a normal major city and fine with common sense. The football-specific risk is proximity to Roma and Lazio ultras: avoid the Curva Sud entirely, keep away colours covered on the metro and around the ground, and steer clear of Piazzale di Ponte Milvio on the north side, which is Lazio territory (Football Ground Guide, Destination Calcio).

Where are the away-friendly areas to drink?

The safest bet is the historic centre before you travel, around the international sports bars like Scholars Lounge, then the mixed bars around Flaminio and the south approach to the ground. Ponte Milvio has the liveliest matchday scene but leans Lazio, so read the room (Romeing, Destination Calcio).

Does my match ticket include free transport?

No. Unlike some European grounds, a Serie A ticket does not cover local travel in Rome. Buy a €1.50 BIT ticket, which is valid for 100 minutes across metro, tram and bus with one metro entry, or a €7 24-hour ticket if you are hopping about all day (ATAC).

How far is the stadium from the city centre?

The Stadio Olimpico sits in the Foro Italico north of the centre, about 30 to 40 minutes away on Metro Line A and tram 2. It is not walkable from the historic sights, so plan on the metro and tram rather than strolling out (AS Roma, Destination Calcio).

Where should I stay?

Prati, near the Vatican and south of the stadium, is the most convenient base for both the ground and the centre. Termini is cheapest and best for the airport train, while Trastevere is the liveliest for evenings but a longer haul to the Olimpico. Any of the three works given how good Rome's transport is.