Rome day visit, via train from cruise port
Apr 6th, 2009, 04:50 AM
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Rome day visit, via train from cruise port
I am a first time visitor to Rome. Looking for the highlights going independent. Most interested in easy accessable areas, since I do not know the language, that are easy to find from the rail depots. Have heard there is a hop on hop off bus. So would this be recommended?? Thanks for any help.
Apr 6th, 2009, 07:09 AM
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It will take at least an hour for you to reach Rome from the cruise port (Civitavecchia), probably longer. For the limited time you have, I would not do a hop on-hop off bus--you should hit the streets and get a real feel for the places the bus cannot go.
The three major areas of interest to most visitors are Vatican City (St Peters Basilica, Vatican museums which includes the Sistine Chapel), Ancient Rome (Colosseum and Forum), and the old center (Campo dei Fiori, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi fountain, Spanish Steps.
Vatican City will take more time--more lines, more distant from the others. Ancient Rome can take as much or as little time as you want. The old center is mostly about strolling from one place to another on ancient streets and alleyways no bus can use. For me, I would choose Vatican City OR Ancient Rome and combine it with the old center.
From Roma Termini train station, you could take the metro or a taxi to either the Vatican (Ottaviano station) or Ancient Rome sights (Colosseo station) and see those first. then use the remainder of your time to walk to the old center and stroll, shop, sit at a cafe.
The three major areas of interest to most visitors are Vatican City (St Peters Basilica, Vatican museums which includes the Sistine Chapel), Ancient Rome (Colosseum and Forum), and the old center (Campo dei Fiori, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi fountain, Spanish Steps.
Vatican City will take more time--more lines, more distant from the others. Ancient Rome can take as much or as little time as you want. The old center is mostly about strolling from one place to another on ancient streets and alleyways no bus can use. For me, I would choose Vatican City OR Ancient Rome and combine it with the old center.
From Roma Termini train station, you could take the metro or a taxi to either the Vatican (Ottaviano station) or Ancient Rome sights (Colosseo station) and see those first. then use the remainder of your time to walk to the old center and stroll, shop, sit at a cafe.
Apr 6th, 2009, 07:19 AM
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Many of those regional trains which start out in Civitavecchia make a stop in Vatican City before their final termination in Rome.
if you get off in VC you are about two blocks or so from St. Peters'
if you get off in VC you are about two blocks or so from St. Peters'
Apr 6th, 2009, 05:21 PM
#4
The stop Dukey is talking about is not the Vatican train station (which is for the private use of the Pope), but S. Pietro station a few blocks away. There has been talk of opening the Vatican train station for some public use, but hasn't happened yet.
Apr 6th, 2009, 05:34 PM
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BudgetQueen, you are brave. How many hours do you have for this excursion? As Ellenen observes, Civitivecchia is some distance from the city of Rome. This is not like getting off a cruise ship in the Caribbean and going off on your own. In Italy, anything can happen and it often involves delay.
In any case, enjoy the Eternal City!
In any case, enjoy the Eternal City!
Apr 7th, 2009, 11:41 AM
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BudgetQueen, you are not brave, you are simply doing what you need to given the constraints! On our brief stop in Rome via cruise in 2005 we were able to maximize our day by:
1. Taking the earliest train possible from Civitavecchia and getting off at the S. Pietro station mentioned by kybourbon; this is actually the first station in Rome, as well.
2. Obtaining advance reservations for tour of Vatican Museums. Before visiting the museum, we were able to briefly visit St. Peter's basilica and do the elevator and stairs to the top of the dome. At the conlcusion of the museum tour, we took the "group" exit from the Sistine Chapel to return to the basilica. You can now forgo the tour if you want, and book admission tickets in advance instead.
3. We were prepared to walk, and walk we did! To the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, through the Forum, and the Collosseum.
Since the ship was stopping in Livorno the next day, we chose to take an evening train to Florence and stay overnight. This way, we didn't have to worry about making it back to Civitavecchi, and we were already in Florence the next morning.
1. Taking the earliest train possible from Civitavecchia and getting off at the S. Pietro station mentioned by kybourbon; this is actually the first station in Rome, as well.
2. Obtaining advance reservations for tour of Vatican Museums. Before visiting the museum, we were able to briefly visit St. Peter's basilica and do the elevator and stairs to the top of the dome. At the conlcusion of the museum tour, we took the "group" exit from the Sistine Chapel to return to the basilica. You can now forgo the tour if you want, and book admission tickets in advance instead.
3. We were prepared to walk, and walk we did! To the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, through the Forum, and the Collosseum.
Since the ship was stopping in Livorno the next day, we chose to take an evening train to Florence and stay overnight. This way, we didn't have to worry about making it back to Civitavecchi, and we were already in Florence the next morning.
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