To see the important sights in this busy European capital, maximize your time by taking a guided tour—popular options sometimes include a driver and skip-the-line tickets to the crowded Colosseum and Vatican Museums for added convenience. Expect most Rome tours and shore excursions to last a full day and cover top attractions such as the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Square and Basilica.
The Rome Civitavecchia Cruise Port terminal offers transport connections, parking facilities, bars, restaurants, and proximity to the scenic Historic Port.
The Colosseum and Vatican Museums (including the Sistine Chapel) are among the most visited attractions in Italy, so book a tour with skip-the-line tickets.
Most Roman churches, including St. Peter’s Basilica, require clothing that covers shoulders and knees to enter.
Many archaeological sites in Rome, including the Colosseum and Roman Forum, are outdoors; bring a hat and sunscreen in summer.
Even driving tours of Rome require a fair amount of walking; comfortable footwear and weather-appropriate clothing is recommended.
The city’s metro and bus systems are famously overcrowded and slow; it's almost always faster and easier to get around by private vehicle.
Rome Civitavecchia Cruise Port is an hour's train ride from Rome proper. The Civitavecchia train station is a 10-minute walk or quick shuttle ride from the port and trains run every half hour to Rome's Termini station. Shore excursions and private tours generally include port pickup and drop-off, and shuttle buses and private transfers are available for visitors heading to the city or the Fiumicino and Ciampino airports.
Most of the largest cruise lines stop at the Civitavecchia port. Italian is the most widely spoken language here, although English abounds in Rome proper. The local currency is the euro; ATMs are easy to find, and foreign exchange bureaus are located near the docks.
