Civitavecchia Rome

Getting to the port:

Departing from Fiumicino Airport:

From Fiumicino Aeroporto, a train to Civitavecchia with 1 change of trains takes approximately 1.20 to 1.45 hours. You must carry your bags on and off the train, so use it if that is manageable. From the station, walk 1600 meters (= 4 blocks) to the port or try for a cab, which can sometimes be hard to get. The walk is easy, passing the beach and shops. At the port entrance, a free shuttle is available, although it can run inefficiently and often appears to have only one bus for all cruise- and ferry ships in the harbor. Be sure to board the correct shuttle, as the…

With a lot of luggage, reserving a shuttle may be preferable.

A permanent cruise terminal opened in May 2018. The Amerigo Vespucci Terminal has 12,500 square metres of space, making it one of Europe’s largest. Its ground floor contains an atrium and a 4,200 square metre luggage hall; the first floor has a VIP area, bar, waiting area and 60 check-in desks.

For time in Roma first, use the direct Leonardo Express non-stop train from Fiumicino Airport Station to Roma Termini, the central station. Daytime trains leave every half hour from 06:37 to 23:37 and take around 32 minutes. Direct trains from Roma Termini train station to Civitavecchia take from 0. 46 to 1.18 hrs, depending on the service. Train schedules. The train station is about 1.5 km from the shuttle stop, and the Argo shuttle bus is another option.

A Civitavecchia–Rome train costs about Euro 5.50 each way. The slightly faster IC (intercity trains) requires a seat reservation, costs a more expensive Euro 11, and can be more cumbersome to arrange if you do not master Italian well.

Civitavecchia is a pleasant beach town in its own right, although the beach is pebbled. Often, an hour in town is enough.

Civitavecchia is Italy’s most used cruise port, with nearby Napels a close second. Livorno and Genoa follow closely.

Accommodation in Rome.

To explore Roma independently, the train is the best option. The train station is an easy 20-minute walk from the port entrance, though Civitavecchia is an industrial port, so you must first take a shuttle from the ship’s berth to that entrance. Exit the port, cross at the crosswalk towards the newsstand on the opposite corner, turn right, then follow the street parallel to the coastline until you reach the station. The journey into Rome takes about an hour to the first stop, St. Peters Basilica. Alternatively, continue to Roma Termini where…

Rome, the Eternal City, has some of the world’s best-known churches, monuments and fountains: the Colosseum, Sistine Chapel, Vatican City, Spanish Steps and Trevi Fountain—toss a coin into the fountain to ensure your return. Enjoy a cappuccino at a café in a piazza or window-shop among Via Condotti’s high-fashion boutiques. Walking Rome’s streets is wonderful, or take a taxi or subway to the Colosseum as a fine place to begin. The small rooms beneath its floor bring animals and gladiators to mind. Across the street from the Colosseum stands the ancient…

Did you know that Berlusconi crooned on a cruise ship long before becoming head of state?

Buying a BIG ticket for 4 Euro is a good option, giving 1 day of unlimited travel on Roma buses and underground. Write your name on the back and validate it using the little yellow machines in the train terminal.

In addition to the ticket above, several Hop-on-Hop-off routes are available; all leave from Railway Termini Station.

Terme Taurine, or the Taurine Baths, is a large and elaborate ancient Roman baths complex about 4 km east of Civitavecchia, reachable by local bus.

For shopping in Rome, choose from an endless range: Italian fashion’s most famous designer labels dominate the more elegant city streets, while outlets outside the city, traditional craftsmen’s shops and laboratories, and flea markets provide further options.

Rome’s best-known fashion area consists of three parallel streets meeting Via del Corso, beginning at or near Piazza di Spagna: Via Condotti, Via Borgognona and Via Frattina. Via Condotti, the most famous, is named for the channels that once brought water to Agrippa thermal spa baths. Today, it ranks among the world’s most elegant streets and is lined with shops for the most famous fashion labels.

The currency used is the Euro.

Italian is the language.

Free wifi is now available across the Civitavecchia downtown area.

In an emergency, dial 112.

In Italy, most shops and businesses open Monday to Saturday from around 8am to 1pm, then from about 4pm to 7pm. Many close on Saturday afternoons and Monday mornings, and working days in the south can begin and end an hour later. Some northern businesses keep 9am-5pm hours to support international dealings. Traditionally, everything apart from bars and restaurants shuts on Sunday, though most towns have a pasticceria open in the mornings; Sunday trading is becoming more common in large cities and tourist areas.