How to reach Rome from the port of Civitavecchia
To travel the 80 km that separate Rome from the port of Civitavecchia there are different options to suit all budgets and itineraries.
How to reach Rome from the port of Civitavecchia
To travel the 80 km that separate Rome from the port of Civitavecchia there are different options to suit all budgets and itineraries.
Civitavecchia is a popular destination for many cruise lines operating in the Mediterranean. In 2019, 2.6 million passengers arrived in this port after several years of growth. That’s why over the last decade, Italian authorities have strived to create an infrastructure capable of efficiently transporting large numbers of visitors between Rome and Civitavecchia.
An overview of transportation options
Normally, cruise companies offer transfers and tour packages for their passengers to visit Rome. These services may seem convenient and practical, but in reality, they’re usually very expensive. Luckily, it’s also possible to make a trip to Rome on your own.
For this, you can choose between cabs, buses and various rail services. The best option always depends on your budget and the available time for the visit.
If you only have a few hours to visit Rome, you may want to use the Civitavecchia Express train. It’s relatively expensive but its schedules coincide with the arrival and departure of cruise ships and also allows you to reach the city center in just under an hour and a half.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative, you can travel by regional trains. There’s a ticket available called BIRG that costs €12.00 which includes the round trip transfer from Civitavecchia, plus unlimited travel on Rome’s public transportation network for 24 hours.
There are other options as well. Below you can find a brief comparison of the available alternatives. You can check detailed information about each of them in the specific sections of this article.
| Available options |
|---|
| Approximate travel time* |
| Cost of a one-way trip |
| Cost of round trip |
| Stops |
| Notes |
| Details |
| Available options | Regional train FL5 | Civitavecchia Express | Intercity and high speed train | SIT bus | Taxi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approximate travel time* | 100 min. | 80 min. | 70 to 90 min. | 85 min. | 60 min. |
| Cost of a one-way trip | €4.60(€5.00 to Termini) | €10.00(€12.00 with Portlink*) | €11.00 to €17.00 | €10.00 | €140.00 |
| Cost of round trip | €12.00(BIRG ticket) | €15.00(€19.00 with Portlink*) | €22.00 to €34.00 | €20.00 | €280.00 |
| Stops | There are 13 in total. The most relevant are: San Pietro (Vatican), Trastevere, Ostiense, and Termini. | San Pietro (Vatican), Ostiense, and Termini. | Varies. | Vatican and Termini. | Any destination. |
| Notes | The cost of the ride from the port to the train station (€2.00) is not included.**The BIRG ticket also includes unlimited travel by public transportation within Rome. | The Portlink service includes transfer from the reception center at the port of Civitavecchia to the train station. | Fares, stops, and travel times vary depending on the type of service.The cost of the trip from the port to the train station (€2.00) is not included. | It isn’t necessary to pay for the transfer to the station as the bus departs from the reception center at the port. | It can be challenging to find a cab if many passengers disembark at the same time. |
| Details | See details | See details | See details | See details | See details |
*Take into account the total travel time including the free shuttle bus from the pier to the reception center in the port, the transfer to Civitavecchia train station, and the trip to Termini train station in Rome.
**The Civitavecchia train station is located one and a half kilometers away from the reception center. It’s most convenient to take a bus at a cost of €2.00 to make this transfer, but it’s also possible to reach it on foot in about 20 minutes (see details).
Our recommendations
If Civitavecchia is the final destination of your cruise and you don’t have lots of luggage with you, the best option is to take the regional train FL5 to Rome. In case you’re travelling light, the SIT bus is more convenient as it picks you up at the reception center Largo della Pace and takes you to Termini station in Rome.
If you need to return to Civitavecchia at the end of the day, it’s convenient to buy a BIRG ticket and use it for the return trip on the FL5 regional train. The same ticket also allows unlimited travel by public transportation within Rome.
