The easiest way to reach L'Aquila is by direct bus from Rome.
If you travel by plane, direct buses to L'Aquila are available from the two Rome airports: Fiumicino Airport (~140 km) and Ciampino Airport (~120 km). If you travel by train, direct buses from L'Aquila leave from the train station Roma Tiburtina (~110 km).
While planning your trip to L'Aquila we recommend to give a look to the flyer "How to get to L'Aquila", and to the detailed information provided below.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please note that reaching L’Aquila by train is NOT RECOMMENDED since it requires a much longer journey (around 3 hours from Rome Tiburtina).
When reaching Rome by train, do select a train arriving in ROME TIBURTINA. There are no direct bus to L'Aquila from Roma Termini train station.
Getting to L'Aquila by PLANE
The closest airports are in Rome (Fiumicino Airport & Ciampino Airport). An express coach service, directly connecting both airports to L'Aquila, is available, operated by GASPARI and FLIXBUS.
The trip takes about 2h45m from Fiumicino (here a map of the bus stop) and 2h15m from Ciampino. Tickets may be bought online or directly on the bus. Tickets can be changed anytime prior to departure (the change is free for Gaspari tickets, and has a small fee in case of Flixbus). A generic schedule of the operating buses can be found at this link.
Notice that Gaspari and Flixbus buses stop at Bus stop "Amiternum" , close to Hotel My Suite, 3 km far from the city center where GSSI is located. From the very same bus stop you can take a bus directed to the city center. Tickets for public buses can be bought at the bar of the Hotel My Suite (on the opposite side), or through the app "MoneyGo". A generic schedule for the buses from the Bus stop Amiternum to Viale Crispi (close to city center) and Collemaggio terminal is available at this link.
Also taxi cabs are typically available at Hotel Amiternum. Otherwise, you can call the radio-taxi company (phone: +39 0862 25165, web: www.radiotaxilaquila.it). Notice that for late night arrivals (from 00.30 to 7 am) you should book before 7 pm the taxi service.
Getting to L'Aquila by TRAIN
While L’Aquila railway station is not well connected, frequent bus connections are available from the train station Rome Tiburtina in Rome.
Roma Tiburtina, is served with frequent high-speed service by both main Italian rail companies (Trenitalia and Italo). Be careful that trains directed to Rome may stop in Roma Tiburtina and/or Roma Termini; you need to get off at Roma Tiburtina to catch the bus to L'Aquila. If your train only stops in Roma Termini, take the metro (line B) to reach Roma Tiburtina.
Buses from Rome Tiburtina to L'Aquila are offered by several companies: you may check their schedule at the TUA, FLIXBUS, and GASPARI webpages. There is in general no need to buy the bus tickets in advance, unless you are taking the last bus of the day, or you are travelling on Sundays where public transportation is strongly suppressed.
Buses offered by TUA are the most convenient since they arrive at Terminal bus Collemaggio, 10 mins walking from GSSI, as you can see from the map. GASPARI and FLIXBUS buses arrive at Hotel Amiternum, 3 km far from the city center. From there you can reach the city center either by public transport or by taxi, as described above (see previous section). A generic schedule of buses from Roma Tiburtina to L'Aquila is available at this link.
For people traveling on the East coast along the Adriatic sea the train stations Giulianova and Pescara are also an option. Buses from Pescara to L'Aquila are also offered by TUA, FLIXBUS, and GASPARI companies.
Getting to L'Aquila by INTERNATIONAL TRAINS
Trains from Austria and southern Germany (ÖBB nightjet), France (Thello or SNCF), and Switzerland (Trenitalia/SBB) arrive at Milan or Rome, and a night train from north Germany (UEX) arrives in Verona. All of these stations are connected to Roma Tiburtina by Trenitalia and Italo high speed trains.
Getting to L'Aquila by CAR
Drivers can take highway A24 from Rome and then exit "L'Aquila Ovest". Follow the road signs to the city center and, in particular, those with the GSSI logo.