Flights from Birmingham to Rome
A historical powerhouse to beautiful buildings and exceptional cuisine.
Approximate flight time: 2 hours 35 minutes (total distance 989 miles)
Number of flights per week: 4
Airlines that fly direct: Jet2.com
Airports in Rome: Rome Fiumicino & Rome Ciampino
Seasons: High = June - August; Low = November - March
Currency: Euro (€)
Departing from Birmingham Airport
Birmingham is one of Britain's biggest cities, so it’s no surprise that its international airport has everything you could need before you fly. With a great selection of shops, restaurants and top-class facilities, you can relax and enjoy the time before boarding your plane.
Whether you’ve forgotten to pack an adapter plug or you just fancy browsing some fashion stores, our shops will cater to you. Head to Boots for any last-minute health and beauty essentials, or a meal deal for the plane. There’s a WHSmith, so you can get snacks and a good book for the flight. There’s Accessorize if you fancy some new jewellery, and you’ll find fashion stores like Superdry too. A trip to the airport wouldn’t be complete without checking out the deals at World Duty Free on liquor and cosmetics.
If you need any currency, head to our Travelex stores conveniently located in the Arrivals area of the terminal building and Departures Lounge. Whether you’re looking to top up your Euros before you fly, or withdraw some UK pounds for your return, they'll be able to sort out your travel money. If you prefer, you can pre-order your currency and get next day collection if you order before 3pm at Birmingham Airport.
If you’ve got time before your flight, you may want to visit one of our cafés, bars and restaurants. We’ve got some great restaurants offering an array of cuisines for those with a bit of time at the airport. From Wetherspoon to Giraffe, there’s something to suit everyone’s tastes. Prefer to take something on board with you? Visit Pret a Manger, Wrapchic or Burger King.
We have five fantastic airport lounges available for a small fee. Business travellers will appreciate the Regus Express Lounge which includes workstations (ThinkPods), comfy seating, laptop stands, secure Wi-Fi, complimentary refreshments and printers and scanners.
The airport is very easy to get to whichever way you travel. If you’re driving, you’ll find a choice of car parks, which are all easily accessible from the terminal by foot or via a courtesy shuttle bus.
Taxis can drop you right outside, but public transport can be just as convenient. You’ll find bus services running directly to the airport or you can take a train to Birmingham International train station. There’s a free and frequent Air-Rail link from the station which takes you to the terminal in just minutes.
Need currency for your trip abroad? Then head over to our Travelex stores conveniently located in the Arrivals area of the terminal building and Departures Lounge. If you prefer, you can pre-order your currency and get next day collection if you order before 3pm at Birmingham Airport.
To find out about our other services, head to our terminal facilities page. Whether you’re travelling to Rome on a business trip or you’re heading to the city for a long weekend, check out our handy guides full of traveller tips: tips for the business traveller, and tips for the leisurely traveller.
Arriving at Rome Airport
When flying from BHX, you will arrive at Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), also known as “Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport”. The airport is located 35km southwest of Rome city centre and is the 8th busiest airport in Europe. There are four terminals; from Birmingham, you will arrive at Terminal 3. As Italy’s biggest airport, there are plenty of onward travel options for you to choose from.
The fastest and most comfortable public transport transfer between Fiumicino Airport and Central Rome (Termini Station) is the Leonardo Express. The Leonardo Express is a dedicated airport train taking just 30 minutes to reach the city centre of Rome and running every 15 minutes. For a cheaper, slightly slower transfer, you can take a local bus or train. All trains depart from the airport train station located in front of Terminal 3. Buses depart from the Cotral Bus Stop in the arrivals area of Terminal 2. If you’d prefer to take a taxi, you’ll find a taxi rank at each terminal’s arrivals area.
Pre-book your transfer with HolidayTaxis and avoid the queues when you arrive.
What to expect in Rome
A potent blend of spectacular ruins, impressive art and vibrant street life, Italy’s energised capital is one of the most romantic and inspiring cities in the world.
As you would expect, Italian is the official and most widely spoken language in Rome. However, as Rome is a large tourist city, most of the major tourist areas will speak English. The locals will appreciate you making an effort with their language though! Try these phrases to get you off on the right foot: Si (yes), no (no), per favore (please), prego (you’re welcome) and mi scusi (excuse me).
Rome and its metropolitan area have a Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and warm to hot summers.
Culture in Rome
Italian culture is steeped in the arts, family, architecture, music and food. Home of the Roman Empire and a major centre of the Renaissance, the Italian peninsula has flourished with culture for centuries.
The major religion in Italy is Roman Catholicism - Vatican City, located in the heart of Rome, is the hub of Roman Catholicism and where the Pope resides.
Italy is home to some of the most famous structures in the world, including the Colosseum. One of the most iconic sights of Rome today, the Colosseum was a massive Roman stadium that could house between 50,000 and 80,000 spectators.
Italian cuisine has influenced food culture around the world and is a favourite of many. One great thing about travelling around Italy is that all 20 regions offer their own unique culinary delights. In Rome, you must try Pizza Romana (a rectangular pizza with a thick, crispy crust) and for dessert a maritozzo (a sweet yeast roll filled to the brim with fresh whipped cream). How delicious does that sound?