Civitavecchia Port (commonly referred to as the Port of Rome) is located approximately 70 km north west of Rome on the Tyrrhenian Sea. Besides serving cruise ship lines, there are also ferries embarking to Sardinia, Sicily, Malta, Tunis and Barcelona.
The pedestrian-friendly town sits along a seafront promenade with a lot of nice bars, restaurants and open-air cafes to enjoy. There’s even a small shopping center. If you have a couple of hours to kill, it’s not a bad place to hang out, however, if the major part of a day is open to you, we recommend going into Rome.
ORIENT YOURSELF
Have a look at this aerial map of the port to get your bearings:
PLAN YOUR TIMELINE
The most economical way to get from the piers to the center of Rome is by train. Figure on a one-way trip costing €5 to 16€ (one-way), and taking about 45 minutes (Intercity trains) to 1.5 hours (Regional trains) between Civitavecchia Station and Rome’s main railway station, Roma Termini. From there, it’s easy to catch the Metro (subway) or buses to reach the city’s main tourist sites. Trains between the two stations run every hour (sometimes two per hour, depending on the time of day). Click here to search for train times and fares.
Important! Don’t forget to factor in the time it takes to get from your ship’s quay to Civitavecchia Station!
Here’s a breakdown of the drill:
By Rail:
- Take the free shuttle from your ship’s pier to the cruise terminal.
- From there, buy a ticket for the Argo bus (departures every 20 minutes) at any bar or newsstand. It’s only a 10-minute ride.
OR
- By foot. From the shuttle stop outside the entrance of Varco Fortezza, walk 650 meters (9 minutes) to the train station. (See Google Map directions below).
Private Train Service (cruise customers only)
- For cruise travelers there’s limited, direct private train service to the Vatican Station (St. Peter Square) from the Port, but it’s seasonal and not available every day. Ask your cruise line for details or click here for more information.
*Note: Local cabs at the port are not permitted to transfer people to and from the Civitavecchia train station.
A TICKET TO RIDE
If you’ve decided to go to Rome by train from the port of Civitavecchia, we suggest you purchase the BIRG Ticket (5 zones). It’s a great value because:
- it allows unlimited trips on all public transport to and from the port, and all over the city of Rome
- it’s good from the time of validation until midnight.
- the BIRG can be purchased right at the station.
YOU DO HAVE OPTIONS
While the train is the most convenient and cost-effective way to travel into Rome, if you have money to burn you can choose to:
- hire an authorized Civitavecchia car transfer
- take a taxicab from your ship.
Keep in mind that car and taxi fares start from €130 and upwards (one-way). In addition, they can be subject to traffic congestion and road construction delays.
Whichever way you choose to get there, the Eternal City awaits.
Civitavecchia Port, Prato del Turco, 00053 Civitavecchia, tel: +39 0766.191.6106
I highly recommend taking the train. The BIRG ticket is a real bargain. Public transportation train/bus/subway is the way to go.
Rome’s traffic congestion can be unbearable. Don’t let that spoil your enjoyment of Rome.
I appreciate your assistance and support, I am 86 y.o.and
this might be my last trip home from the US
grazie Ugo
Nicely done! Glad it isn’t an interactive map so doesn’t need data on my phone.