Rome Marathon

Fiumicino (FCO) is Rome's main international hub — the Leonardo Express train runs every 30 minutes to Roma Termini (31 minutes, €14). Ciampino (CIA) is used by budget carriers; Terravision and SIT buses serve Termini in 40–60 minutes.

💡 The Leonardo Express is the fastest and most reliable option from FCO. Buy tickets at the machine to avoid queues at the ticket office.

Hotels near Roma Termini give excellent metro access (Line A to EUR for the Expo, Line B to Colosseo for race day). Trastevere is more characterful and walkable, though slightly further from the Expo. Both are within easy reach of the race start near the Colosseum.

💡 Pre-arrange hotel bag storage if you arrive before check-in — most Rome hotels offer this without charge.

MANDATORY bib and chip collection — no race-morning collection is permitted. The Expo is held at the Palazzo dei Congressi in the EUR business district, south of central Rome. Take Metro Line B to EUR Fermi or EUR Palasport. Bring your registration confirmation and photo ID. Collect bib, timing chip, race pack, and runner's bag. The Expo has a large exhibitor area with Italian running brands, energy products, and official merchandise.

💡 Saturday is the best day to go — less crowded than Sunday. The EUR district is worth a brief look: Mussolini-era rationalist architecture is unexpectedly striking.

Return to central Rome and take a short stroll through Campo de' Fiori — a lively square a 10-minute walk from the Tiber. The afternoon flower and vegetable market clears by 2pm leaving bars and cafés. One Aperol Spritz is fine; avoid heavy alcohol the evening before a race. Keep the walk to 20–25 minutes total.

💡 Tomorrow's race passes within 2 km of here — a gentle preview walk helps you visualise the route. Stay off your feet otherwise.

Cacio e pepe — Rome's simplest and most perfect pasta — is ideal pre-race carb loading: spaghetti or tonnarelli with Pecorino Romano, Parmesan, and black pepper. No heavy cream sauces, no spice, no shellfish. Trattoria da Enzo al 29 in Trastevere or Il Sorpasso near Prati are excellent. Order a double portion of pasta and a still water.

💡 Skip the wine tonight. Ask for pane (bread) to mop the plate — extra carbs. Finish with a small granita di caffè if you want something sweet.

Wake by 05:30. Eat by 06:00: white bread with jam and honey, plain pasta with a little olive oil (if your hotel can accommodate), or plain oat porridge. Drink 500ml of water. Many Rome hotels do not offer breakfast before 07:00 — buy food the night before from a supermarket or bakery near your hotel (Despar or Conad convenience stores are useful).

💡 Italian bakeries (forni) sometimes open at 06:00 and sell plain fette biscottate (dry rusks) and simple rolls — excellent pre-race carbs.

The race starts on via dei Fori Imperiali near the Colosseum. Bag drop is at designated trucks near the start — closes 30 minutes before the gun (08:30). Enter your corral by 08:40. Corrals are colour-coded by estimated finish time. The area fills quickly; arrive at least 60 minutes before your wave. Take the Metro Line B to Colosseo station — do not attempt to drive.

💡 March in Rome is 8–16°C at race start — a light throwaway layer or bin bag is sufficient. The Colosseum at dawn, surrounded by 16,000 runners, is genuinely spectacular. Take a moment.

The course departs via dei Fori Imperiali, circles the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill, passes the Circus Maximus (km 8), crosses the Tiber to Prati and St Peter's Square (km 16), returns along the Lungotevere river embankment, cuts back through Trastevere, passes the Mouth of Truth (Bocca della Verità, km 28), and finishes back at via dei Fori Imperiali with the Colosseum directly ahead. KEY HAZARD: three cobblestone sections totalling about 4 km — shorten your stride significantly on sampietrini (Roman cobblestones) to avoid twisted ankles. Aid stations every 5 km. Gels at km 16 and 30.

💡 The Trastevere section (km 22–26) has narrow streets and enthusiastic local crowds — one of the race's highlights. Slow slightly to enjoy it.

Collect your finisher's medal (a beautiful bronze coin-style medal featuring the Colosseum), space blanket, and pasta meal bag. Bag retrieval trucks are along via Sacra near the finish. The Colosseum as your backdrop for the finisher photo is unmatched. Official photography and video services are available through the race app.

💡 Change into dry clothes immediately — Rome's March wind can be cutting when you stop sweating. A thin down jacket in your bag is invaluable.

Trastevere — a 20-minute taxi from the finish — is Rome's most atmospheric neighbourhood for dinner. Choose a simple trattoria for grilled chicken or lamb (protein recovery) with roasted vegetables and plenty of bread. Avoid alcohol tonight; rehydrate with still water and a freshly squeezed orange juice (spremuta).

💡 Da Augusto in Trastevere is a classic with long communal tables, no tourists, and Roman-grandma cooking. No reservations — arrive early.

Book Vatican Museums + Sistine Chapel tickets in advance (€20, skip the queue). The experience involves walking on flat, polished marble floors — manageable on post-race legs with compression socks. Alternatively, Villa Borghese Gardens (free entry) offers a flat, shaded park stroll with optional Borghese Gallery visit (pre-booked, €15). Both options require under 3 km of total walking.

💡 Book Vatican Museums tickets at least 2 weeks ahead — walk-in queues routinely exceed 2 hours and you cannot afford that on tired legs.

Stand at the bar counter and order a cornetto and espresso. This is the correct Roman way. Sit-down service at tourist cafés costs 3–4× more and is slower. The ritual is part of Roman culture — even on race-weary legs, it is worth doing.

A gentle 45-minute stroll from the historic centre hotel area. Piazza Navona's Bernini fountains and the Pantheon's 2,000-year-old concrete dome make for an effortless sightseeing circuit. Stay on flat cobblestone-free routes (Corso Vittorio Emanuele II is wide and even).

💡 The Pantheon now charges €5 entry. Entry is quick and the interior takes only 20 minutes. Worth it.

Leonardo Express from Termini every 30 minutes. Allow 90 minutes from hotel to airport gate. If staying in Trastevere, take a taxi to Termini first (15 min, €12) then the Leonardo Express.

💡 Pre-purchase Leonardo Express tickets online to avoid queuing. Validate the ticket on the yellow machines before boarding.

Fiumicino Terminal 3 has a decent selection of restaurants post-security: Caffe' Vergnano for espresso, a good rosticceria for grilled chicken and pasta. Avoid the fast-food chains — Rome's airport food is better than most.