Rome Airport to Civitavecchia Cruise Port
Part of the full Rome in One Day: Colosseum and Pantheon
Civitavecchia, the port town about 80 kilometres northwest of Rome where the city’s cruise ships dock, is 45 to 60 minutes from Rome’s Fiumicino airport by road, or a little under 90 minutes by train with one change in Rome; at the harbor, a sixteenth-century fortress still guards the port, and Roman baths stand on the hill above the town.
From Fiumicino airport to Civitavecchia port
Civitavecchia is about 65 kilometres up the coast from Fiumicino airport, 45 to 60 minutes by taxi or private transfer. A taxi costs roughly €150 to €180, and shared shuttle services between the airport and the port are cheaper, at fixed times.
By train, take the regional train from Fiumicino Aeroporto station, opposite Terminal 3, to Roma Trastevere, about 25 minutes, and change there to a regional train for Civitavecchia, about an hour; the whole trip takes a little under 90 minutes and costs around €13. Civitavecchia station is about 15 minutes’ walk from Largo della Pace, the port’s main gate. Coming from central Rome instead, a shuttle bus between Rome’s main station and the port runs on ship days.
The free shuttle bus from the ships to the port gate
Cruise passengers can’t walk between the berths and the town: a free shuttle bus runs every 15 minutes or so, from early morning to late evening, between every cruise berth and Largo della Pace, the service area at the port’s main gate. Taxis, transfers and tour buses all stop there, and the town center and the train station are an easy walk away. There is no luggage storage inside the port.
Forte Michelangelo, the fortress on the harbor
Forte Michelangelo stands at the harbor’s edge, a few minutes’ walk from Largo della Pace. The popes built it between 1508 and 1537 to guard the port against pirates, to a design begun by Bramante, and it takes its name from Michelangelo, who is credited with finishing its central tower. Its round corner towers and long pale walls are best seen from the harbor front, free; the inside is mostly closed to visitors, apart from occasional weekend openings of the courtyard.
The Roman baths of the Terme Taurine
The Terme Taurine stand a few kilometres inland, on a hillside of umbrella pines above the town, about ten minutes by taxi from the port. The first baths here were built around 80 BC, and under the emperor Trajan, who founded Civitavecchia as Rome’s port, they were doubled in size, with heated rooms, black and white mosaic floors and a library. The site opens daily from 9:30am to 1:30pm, with last tickets at 1pm, for €5; at weekends, visits need booking by phone at least a day ahead.
Luggage storage near Civitavecchia port
The port itself has no luggage storage, but storage points operate in the streets just outside Largo della Pace and near Civitavecchia train station, a short walk from the free shuttle bus stop. With more time, direct regional trains run from Civitavecchia to Roma San Pietro, a few minutes’ walk from St Peter’s Square, in about 40 to 60 minutes.
Collect the bags on the way back to Largo della Pace or the station, and allow at least three hours from the port to an international departure at Fiumicino.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do near Civitavecchia cruise port?
From Largo della Pace, the port's main gate, walk the harbor front past Forte Michelangelo, the sixteenth-century fortress that guards the port, free to see from outside. With a morning to spare, take a taxi a few kilometres inland to the Terme Taurine, Roman baths begun around 80 BC and enlarged under the emperor Trajan, open daily from 9:30am to 1:30pm for €5. With five hours or more, a direct train reaches Roma San Pietro station, beside the Vatican, in under an hour.
How do I get from Rome Fiumicino airport to Civitavecchia port?
By road it is about 65 kilometres, 45 to 60 minutes by taxi or private transfer, for roughly €150 to €180 by taxi; shared shuttles are cheaper. By train, take the regional train from Fiumicino Aeroporto station to Roma Trastevere, about 25 minutes, and change there for a regional train to Civitavecchia, about an hour, a little under 90 minutes in all for around €13. From Civitavecchia station, the port's main gate is about 15 minutes' walk.
How do I get around inside Civitavecchia port?
Cruise passengers can't walk between the berths and the town. A free shuttle bus runs every 15 minutes or so, from early morning to late evening, between every cruise berth and Largo della Pace, the service area at the port's main gate, where taxis, transfers and tour buses stop. The town and the train station are an easy walk from there.
Is there luggage storage at Civitavecchia cruise port?
Not inside the port. Luggage storage points operate in the streets just outside Largo della Pace and near Civitavecchia train station, a short walk from the free shuttle bus stop.