8-hr layover in Rome...what to do?

Question

are there any places around the airport that i could check out while i wait for my next flight? Cafes, any quaint little places? and with reasonably priced transportation?

Answer 1

No, there is not much within walking distance of Fiumicino Airport.  You can take the train to the main train station and catch one of the metro lines to nearly anywhere you want to go.  It should run you less than 25 Euros for the entire round trip.  However, no matter what you decide, leave plenty of time to check back into the airport.  Remember if you are going from now until October, the lines will be long.

Answer 2

Forget trying to see the Vatican, the lines will be way too long.  The colesseum is possible and maybe a few others.

Answer 3

An eight hour layover in Roma gives you plenty of time to go out and see a few sites. I would recommend heading down to the ancient center and seeing the Colosseum,the Roman Forum across the street and walking to the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps and then have a break at one of the many cafes at the Piazza Navona. All of that is easily doable in five hours to give you time to get back to the airport and wait for three hours until your flight.

Answer 4

Unforunately, there isnt much within walking distance of the airport (I assume you mean Fiumicino), but 8 hours is plenty of time to make your way to the forum, colleseum, trevi fountain, spanish steps, pantheon, etc.  They're all within a few miles of each other.