Sleeping in Rome Fiumicino Airport

Rome Fiumicino Airport sleepers — Terminal C (Photo courtesy of Alireza / 03Oct2011)

If you’re dealing with a long layover or an early morning flight departure at Rome Fiumicino airport, you might be wondering if it is possible to sleep in the airport. Our guide to sleeping in Fiumicino airport provides essential information for seasoned airport sleepers and newbies to help travellers arrive prepared for the experience.

We keep this guide up-to-date with the help of airport sleepers who have generously shared their experiences and airport reviews. If you have any tips or photos to contribute, please take a moment to write a review. Your feedback will help us stay informed about the latest advice for future sleepy travellers.

Sleeping in Rome Fiumicino Airport

Locations & Seating

Seating varies across the four terminals, but seating is generally limited, and most seats are equipped with armrests. If you prefer to stretch out on the floor, bring blankets, a sleep mat, or a sleeping bag to provide cushion and warmth on the cold tile. Expect fewer sleep spots if you’re staying in the landside area.

Here are good sleep spots that travellers have reported:

In Terminal 1, head to Gates E12 and further for big red sofas. Gate E52 might have lounge chairs, too.
The best seating may be near the B and D Gates. Gates B9, B11, and D1 are noted for reclining chairs.
Lounge-style chairs may be located near Gate H3.
In Terminal 2, head upstairs for about a dozen reclining chairs; it may be a little quieter, too.
Most cafes and restaurants close for the night, so try to grab a couch or soft bench inside one for the evening.

Rest Zones

Rome Fiumicino Rest Zone — (Photo courtesy of a Guest Reviewer / 10 May 2017)

A few designated rest zones with reclining seats are available; one is near Gate D1 in Terminal 3, but we don’t have details on where the others are.

Hotels

Do you prefer the privacy and comfort of a hotel room? Two hotels are located on airport premises if you would like a good, solid sleep between flights without straying far from the airport. The Hilton Rome Airport is connected to Terminals 1, 2, and 3 via a covered moving walkway. The hotel offers overnight and day rooms and free shuttle service to the Rome city center. The HelloSky hotel is located across from Terminals 1 and 3, offering day rooms in 3- and 6-hour blocks. More hotels are situated within a quick 10-minute drive of the airport. See the hotel section in our Airport Guide for locations, or visit Tripadvisor to find hotel deals at Fiumicino Airport.

Lounges

While Rome Fiumicino Airport has a few lounges, none have designated sleep rooms or rest areas. If you only want to relax in a comfortable seat for a few hours before your flight, check out this list of lounges in our Rome Fiumicino Airport Guide that you can pay to access.

Airport Conditions

If you plan to spend the night at the airport, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Temperature – Expect the airport to cool down at night as the air conditioning continues to run and fewer people are inside.
Lighting – At the time of this update, we have not received reports from travellers related to terminal brightness. Arrive prepared with eyeshades or something else to cover your eyes, such as a shirt or towel.
Noise – During the day, expect the usual hum of airport activity: music blaring, frequent announcements in multiple languages, and workers and travellers chatting. At night, the airport quiets down considerably, but it’s still best to bring earplugs or noise-cancelling headphones for some decent rest.

Food & Drink

When you get the midnight munchies or give up trying to sleep and need a coffee to stay awake, 24-hour food concessions are available. Check out these vendors:

Terminal 3, landside: Semplicemente Roma
Airside: Caffe Kimbo (E Floor 2), Rosse Intenso Food and Wine (Gate D2), and GranCafe Platinum (Gates E37-38)

Showers

Freshen up (and loosen those stiff muscles) with a shower before your flight. Shower-only packages are available at the HelloSky hotel, located landside, across from Terminals 1 and 3. For €20, you get shower access, towels, hairdryer and toiletries. A few pay-to-use lounges also offer shower facilities. See our Rome Fiumicino Airport Guide for lounge details.

Security & Safety

Airport staff seem generally quite tolerant of airport sleepers. One traveller from 2016 noted that she was told to leave the airport overnight because she had EU citizenship, which meant she could come and go from the airport with no problem. No other travellers have reported this issue to us.

At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at Rome Fiumicino Airport.

However, sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:

Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who woke up without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.

Pro-tip: If you sleep in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds, waking people up as travellers arrive for morning flights.