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How Do You Get from Civitavecchia to Rome: Train, Bus or Shuttle?
This guide on how to get from Civitavecchia to Rome compares the regional train, the port coaches and the shuttle buses a cruise passenger can book, with the train reaching St. Peter's Basilica in about 1 hour 5 minutes via Roma San Pietro. It covers the walk or bus from the ship to Civitavecchia station, the best Rome stop for each sight, the coach drop-offs and how to plan the ride back to the ship.
Quick answer Train, coach or shuttle bus
The cheapest way from Civitavecchia to Rome is the regional train, about 1 hour 5 minutes from Civitavecchia station to St. Peter's Basilica via Roma San Pietro. The simplest is a booked coach from the port gate at Largo della Pace, about 80 minutes each way to the Vatican area or Roma Termini. Either way you first ride the free port shuttle from the ship to the port gate.
Key takeaways
- A pre-booked rail seat costs $6 on the Shore Excursion Rail Connection to Rome, plus the station bus unless you walk.
- The Civitavecchia Port to/from Vatican City Bus Transfer costs $17 and drops you in Prati, a short walk from St. Peter's Basilica.
- The Shuttle Bus to/from Rome Termini Station leaves Largo della Pace daily at 9:30 for $17.
- For a fixed day with coach seats both ways, Rome On Your Own: Bus Transfer from Civitavecchia runs 8 hours for $33.
Civitavecchia to Rome Transfers You Can Book
All four are transport only: none includes entry to the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum or any other sight. Three are shared coaches that run between the port and central Rome. One is a pre-booked regional train seat from Civitavecchia station, the cheapest at $6.
from $33
Most reviewed day
Rome On Your Own: Bus Transfer from Civitavecchia
A $33 coach seat to Rome and back with about 5.3 hours of free time in the city and no guided itinerary.
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from $17
Vatican drop-off
Civitavecchia Port to/from Vatican City Bus Transfer
Cheapest port-to-Vatican link: a $17 shuttle bus with onboard guide, WiFi and luggage space, dropping you a 10-minute walk from St. Peter's.
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from $6
Lowest price
Shore Excursion Rail Connection to Rome
The lowest price into Rome: a $6 return rail ticket on cruise-timed regional trains to Termini or Ostiense. Non-refundable.
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from $17
Most booked
Shuttle Bus to/from Rome Termini Station
A shared 80-minute coach from Largo della Pace to Termini or the Vatican area, with an escort and WiFi, for a self-guided day.
Check AvailabilityWhich Civitavecchia to Rome Transfer Fits Your Port Day?
Book the rail seat for the lowest fare, an SIT coach for the simplest ride from the port gate, and the Civitatours coach for a fixed 8-hour day.
The four options differ in where you board, where you land in Rome and how flexible the return is.
The Four Options Side by Side
The table compares each bookable option by its listed price per person, the ride time each way, where it boards and where it drops you in Rome. The rail seat adds the station bus at $6.65 (€6) one way unless you walk about 15 minutes. Read it together with your ship's all-aboard time.
| Option | Price | Ride each way | Boards at | Drops you at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shore Excursion Rail Connection to Rome | $6 | About 1 hour | Civitavecchia station | Roma Ostiense or Roma Termini |
| Civitavecchia Port to/from Vatican City Bus Transfer | $17 | About 80 minutes | Largo della Pace | Prati, near the Vatican |
| Shuttle Bus to/from Rome Termini Station | $17 | 80 minutes | Largo della Pace, 9:30 | Roma Termini or Via Crescenzio 2 |
| Rome On Your Own: Bus Transfer from Civitavecchia | $33 | 80 minutes | The cruise terminal | Opposite the Justice Palace |
Who Each One Suits
The rail seat suits travellers who want to start at Roma Ostiense for the Colosseum area or ride on to Roma Termini. It is non-refundable and issued in your name, so carry matching photo ID.
The two SIT coaches suit a first visit with no train changes. Pick the Vatican bus for St. Peter's Basilica and the Vatican Museums, or the Termini shuttle for the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps side of town. Both cancel free up to 24 hours ahead.
The Civitatours coach boards at the cruise terminal itself and gives an 8-hour day with a coach assistant who hands out a map. It is not suitable for wheelchair users. More port-day choices sit on the civitavecchia rome tours homepage.
Source: Port Mobility Civitavecchia.
A Trenitalia Vivalto double-deck regional train at Civitavecchia station. Photo: Bahnfrend, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How do I get from Civitavecchia cruise terminal to Rome?
Ride the free port shuttle from your terminal to Largo della Pace, then board a booked coach there or continue about 20 minutes on foot to Civitavecchia station for the train.
Cruise ships berth well inside the harbour, so every route into Rome starts with a ride to the port gate.
Step 1: Ship to Largo della Pace
Port shuttle buses run from the Rct cruise terminal to the Largo della Pace Service Center. A separate shuttle serves cruise passengers only, and an ordinary shuttle stops near each of the 3 pedestrian gates. The information point at Largo della Pace opens daily 06:30-19:30 and hands out a free brochure in English.
Allow time for this leg. Travellers on the Vatican bus note that the ship docks a bus ride away from the coach stop.
Step 2: Coach or Train
The two SIT coaches board right at Largo della Pace. The Shuttle Bus to/from Rome Termini Station leaves at 9:30 and you redeem the voucher at the stop.
For the train, the station is about 20 minutes on foot from Largo della Pace or 6 minutes by the direct Civitavecchia Servizi Pubblici bus. The Civitatours coach is the exception: it boards at the cruise terminal on Via Prato del Turco.
Source: Port Mobility Civitavecchia.
How do I get from the port to the Civitavecchia train station?
Walk about 20 minutes from Largo della Pace, or take the Portlink bus between the cruise terminal and the station for $6.65 (€6) one way.
Civitavecchia station is the start of every train into Rome, and the walk depends on which gate you use.
On Foot
From Largo della Pace the walk to the station takes about 20 minutes. The Fortezza gate, beside Forte Michelangelo, sits about 600 m from the station along Via Giuseppe Garibaldi and the sea. With heavy bags, take the bus instead.
A free assistance service for reduced mobility runs at Civitavecchia station on request. Book it by phone at least 1 hour before you travel.
By Bus
Trenitalia sells the Civitavecchia Portlink bus between the cruise terminal and the station at $6.65 (€6) one way, added to the train fare. All Portlink buses leave from the cruise terminal and skip the Autostrade del Mare quays. Port Mobility says the cruise bus to the station runs only on ship arrival and departure days, with tickets on board.
The Shore Excursion Rail Connection to Rome lists this bus as an extra on top of its $6 rail seat, unless you walk the 15 minutes instead.
How do you get to Rome from a cruise ship?
Most cruise passengers ride the regional train from Civitavecchia station, which reaches St Peter's in about 1 hour 5 minutes via Roma San Pietro.
The port guide names four Rome stations for trains from Civitavecchia: San Pietro, Trastevere, Ostiense and Termini. Port Mobility counts a train every 30 minutes.
Train Time to Each Sight
The table gives the port guide's door-to-sight times from Civitavecchia station, with the Rome station to leave the train at and the last leg. Times include that last leg, not the shuttle from the ship.
| Sight | Get off at | Last leg | Total from station |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Peter's Basilica | Roma San Pietro | Walk 15-20 minutes | 1 hour 5 minutes |
| The Colosseum area | Roma Ostiense | Metro B from Piramide to Colosseo | 1 hour 10 minutes |
| The Pantheon and Piazza Navona | Roma San Pietro | Bus 64, 12 stops to Largo Argentina | 1 hour 25 minutes |
| The Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps | Roma Termini | Metro A to Spagna | 1 hour 30 minutes |
Which Train to Take
Take the regional train. Travellers on the Rick Steves forum advise a regional ticket for flexibility, because faster trains need a seat reservation and a new ticket if you miss yours. Validate a paper regional ticket in the station machine before you board.
The station gets crowded when ships are in port, so buy the ticket in advance. The Shore Excursion Rail Connection to Rome sells a $6 seat on cruise-timed departures, valid only for the train you select.
Source: Port Mobility Civitavecchia.
Which stop is best for the Vatican, Termini or San Pietro?
Roma San Pietro is best for the Vatican, about 1 hour 5 minutes from Civitavecchia station to St Peter's.
Roma San Pietro comes before Roma Termini on the line, so getting off there saves the ride back across the city.
San Pietro for the Vatican, Termini for the Centre
From Roma San Pietro, St. Peter's Basilica is a 15-20 minute walk. Bus 64 from there runs 12 stops to Largo Argentina for the Pantheon and Piazza Navona, about 1 hour 25 minutes in all.
Stay on to Roma Termini only for the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps, about 1 hour 30 minutes via metro A. For the Colosseum, Roma Ostiense and metro B is quicker at about 1 hour 10 minutes. By coach, the Vatican bus drops you in Prati about a 10-minute walk from St. Peter's.
Source: Port Mobility Civitavecchia.
Is there a Civitavecchia Express or high speed train to Rome?
The Civitavecchia express train service is suspended, so the regional train or a booked coach is the way in.
Regione Lazio lists the Civitavecchia express train as suspended, so plan around the regular trains.
What Runs Instead
Frecce and Intercity trains also call at Civitavecchia, but they need a seat reservation and a missed train means a new ticket. On a port day with a fixed all-aboard time, that rule matters more than a few saved minutes.
The regional train covers the stops cruise passengers use most: Roma San Pietro in about 1 hour 5 minutes to St. Peter's Basilica and Roma Ostiense in about 1 hour 10 minutes to the Colosseum area. For a seat with no change at all, the SIT coaches run 80 minutes each way from Largo della Pace.
Sources: Lazio Region, Port Mobility Civitavecchia.
How can I get a transfer from Civitavecchia Port to Rome?
Book a shared coach seat: SIT runs $17 shuttles from Largo della Pace to the Vatican area or Roma Termini, and Civitatours runs an 8-hour coach day from the cruise terminal for $33.
SIT describes its bus as the first authorized public service taking cruise passengers from the port to central Rome.
The SIT Coaches
The Shuttle Bus to/from Rome Termini Station leaves Largo della Pace at 9:30 daily, rides 80 minutes and drops you at Roma Termini or the Vatican stop at Via Crescenzio 2. Seats have USB chargers and there is luggage space. Food and drinks are not allowed on board.
The Civitavecchia Port to/from Vatican City Bus Transfer drops you in Prati. An English-speaking guide rides along and a walking tour can be added. Both sell one-way or return vouchers.
The Civitatours Coach Day
Rome On Your Own: Bus Transfer from Civitavecchia boards at the cruise terminal and drives 80 minutes to Lungotevere Marzio Zanardelli, opposite the Justice Palace. You explore on your own and the coach brings you back to the terminal at the end of the 8-hour day. Monument and museum tickets are not included.
Source: Port Mobility Civitavecchia.
How do you get back to the ship on time?
Board a return coach or train that leaves a clear margin before all-aboard, since none of these transfers states a return-to-ship guarantee.
The ride back takes as long as the ride in, plus the port shuttle from Largo della Pace to the ship.
Coach Returns
The Termini shuttle hands out its return times on a flyer when you board. Be at the stop at least 15 minutes before departure. If you plan to board the return at Via Crescenzio 2, tell the staff when you board in Civitavecchia.
Travellers on the Rick Steves forum note that only a cruise line's own shuttle comes with the ship waiting for a late bus. With an independent coach or train, the margin is yours to keep.
Train Returns
Count back from all-aboard: the train, then about 20 minutes on foot or 6 minutes by bus from the station to Largo della Pace, then the port shuttle to your terminal. The rail seat on the Shore Excursion Rail Connection to Rome is valid only for the train you select and is non-refundable, so pick a return train with room to spare.
Source: Port Mobility Civitavecchia.
The platforms at Roma San Pietro, a short walk from St. Peter's Square. Photo: CAPTAIN RAJU, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Civitavecchia to Rome FAQ
How can I transfer from the cruise port in Rome to the city?
The cruise port for Rome is Civitavecchia. Ride the free port shuttle to Largo della Pace, then board the Shuttle Bus to/from Rome Termini Station for $17, about 80 minutes each way.
How far is Civitavecchia from Rome?
Measured in time, the train takes about 1 hour 5 minutes from Civitavecchia station to St. Peter's Basilica, and the coaches take about 80 minutes each way. See the Civitavecchia Port to/from Vatican City Bus Transfer.
How much is a taxi from Civitavecchia to Rome?
No official fixed taxi fare is published for this run, so agree the price before you get in. The fixed-price alternative is a coach seat on Rome On Your Own: Bus Transfer from Civitavecchia at $33.
Do I need to book the train in advance?
It helps, because the station gets crowded when ships are in port. The Shore Excursion Rail Connection to Rome sells a $6 named seat on a cruise-timed departure.
Can I walk from the cruise ship to Civitavecchia station?
Ride the free port shuttle to Largo della Pace first, then walk about 20 minutes to the station, as the Port Mobility cruise guide describes.
Is there help at Civitavecchia station for travellers with reduced mobility?
Yes. A free assistance service runs on request, booked by phone at least 1 hour ahead, per the Port Mobility station guide.
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