Sleeping at Rome Ciampino Airport

Hello,

I'm a young Canadian woman, going on my first trip to Europe in May by myself. I have a Ryanair flight leaving Rome Ciampino at 6:45am to Barcelona (Girona). It's a hellishly early flight and I figure that the best thing to do is just to go take the bus (I'm on a budget) to the airport the night before and sleep over at the airport, rather than risk missing the flight. I have checked out the internet's ubiquitous www.sleepinginairports.net and read the comments about whether or not it is possible to sleep overnight at Rome Ciampino airport, but the comments seem mixed...some people say that they slept overnight fine, and others say they've been kicked out during the night...so I was wondering if someone could clarify for me about whether or not it is actually possible to sleep overnight at Rome Ciampino.

Any kind of advice would be appreciated even if you haven't slept over at the airport before - ie: in the event that I DO get kicked out of the airport in the middle of the night would I be safe (as a single woman traveller) waiting outside for a couple of hours during the night for the airport to reopen? Is it really quiet there? Will there be other travellers also braving it overnight at the airport?

Any help would be great! Thank you!!!

This may sound harsh, but if you can't afford the last night in a hostel/hotel than you need to shorten your trip. Who will watch your belongings while you sleep? If you do get kicked out of the airport there is nothing around Ciampino Airport. You are a woman traveling alone. While Italy in general is safe you need to take precautions like making sure you have a place to sleep at night and not take the risk of sleeping on the concrete sidewalk outside the airport.

Stay at a hostel near Termini and take the Terravision shuttle to the airport in the morning to make your flight.

I appreciate the advice... I would like nothing more than to stay another night at the cool hostel that I booked.. however, the flight is at 6:45am.. public transportation in Italy is famous for being late...and nevertheless doesn't run that early. I also considered the Terravision shuttle...I even emailed them to double-check if they left that early, but never got a response. You're supposed to be at the checkin at least an hour before-hand...so that would be 5:45am... would there be a Terravision shuttle at 5am in the morning? Moreover, am I really that much safer if I have to wait at Station Termini at 5am in the morning? I've heard stories that Station Termini is full of sketchy characters and pickpockets - who quite boldly accost tourists in broad daylight... i'd imagine it'd probably be even worse at 5am.... more so than the Rome Ciampino airport would be at that time (although not having been there, I can't say for sure...it's just a hunch that I'd be very grateful if somewhere here can provide clarification on...)

I'm trying to make a good cost-benefit analysis. I've thought of all the options. I just want to know the answer to my question about the airport so i can make the most informed decision. If you know the airport well, just give me an honest opinion about how safe you think it is.. Or whether or not it's open 24 hours. I'm not going to fall flat asleep in an airport ...i'm far too risk averse for that. In terms of belongings, i'm only going to have a backpack, which I can watch over carefully.

There should be no problem for early connections between Rome and Ciampino: Terravision and: Sitbus Shuttle (this one leaves at 4:30).
The coaches are located outside the station (right side if facing the trains) and you will not have to wait, just pay and get on. The area is quite safe.

> The coaches are located outside the station (right side if facing the trains)

Correction: the coach terminal moved to via Marsala that's on the left of the station when facing the trains.

Take the SIT Shuttle from Termini to Ciampino. It departs at 4:30a and arrives at the airport at 5:05a. At that time in the morning traffic will not be an issue. The shuttle is only 6 euro, inclusive of luggage. Stay in a hostel near Termini (Via Marsala side to be near the shuttle) and keep me & other people from worrying about you sleeping at the airport! Have a great time!

Sleeping at Ciampino

not recommended by people who have tried it.

When I went through there in October last year, it was largely a building site, so I suspect sleeping conditions have got worse.

The area around Termini isn't great, but it is reasonably well lit and there are always police around. Be smart, be alert and you'll be fine.

Thanks for all the fantastic info everyone! I really appreciate it. Europe's a complete mystery to me right now...a wholly magical place a North American girl like me has only read about in books and seen in movies... thank you again!

Does anyone have any suggestions as to hostels within short walking distance of the Rome Station Termini? I'm not sure about what is meant by "Marsala side of the Termini Station" and otherwise... if it's fairly straight-forward, i'm sure i'll figure it out when I get there...but if I should be further enlightened that would also be great too.

I would recommend Fawlty Towers

Very close to termini and very clean and friendly hostel.

I'm actually wondering what day[s] you're going to be in Rome, if you don't mind telling! I'm from America and I'm backpacking with my friend in May as well. However, he is leaving from Rome on the 25th of May, so I'll be alone in Rome until my flight out [also on ryanair] leaves the morning of the 26th... I thought perhaps if your plans coincided we could meet up and figure it out together!

Oh wow, this was from 2007. nevermind!