You have landed in Rome (FCO, Aeroporto Leonardo da Vinci), cleared customs & immigration, collected your baggage, and have stepped outside the terminal building. Where are you?
If you stand with your back to the building,

To your right about 4 kilometeres (2 miles)is the Mediterranean Sea.

Rome is to your left about 32 kilometers (27 miles.)

Behind you about 64 kilometers (40 miles) is Civitavecchia (the port of Rome.)

From Rome to Civitavecchia, the travel time is somewhere between 45 and 90 minutes depending upon traffic (and many other factors too numerous to list here - you are in Italy, after all.) FCO to Rome Termini is yet another 35 minutes.

Rome to Civitavecchia Map
Click for large image

FCO to Rome Map
Click for large image

If you are taking a taxi, hotel shuttle, limo, or bus transfer you are in the right general area. Whether your destination is Rome or Civitavecchia, you are in the right location.

If you are taking the metro or Leonardo Express (train to Termini in central Rome) then you are on the wrong level. You need to go back inside and up three levels to find the walkway over to the train station. Look for a sign like the one pictured at the right. Follow the signs with the train icon. You will reach a point where there is an escalator going up; there is an elevator a short distance to the right.

FCO Exit Signs
Click for large image

The Leonardo Express is a non-stop, one class, train service to Rome Termini (the central train station.) The trip is about 30 minutes and the trains leave about every half hour. Cost is 11 euro and children under 12 are free. One very good thing to note: “The Leonardo Express service is always guaranteed. In the event of a strike, services will be provided by buses.”

Once you reach the train platform you will find the ticket office (to your right), an exchange, and a snack bar. If you are traveling on to Civitavecchia by train (even if it is a few days away), it is a good idea to buy those tickets at the same time you buy tickets for the Leonardo Express. (exception: if you are traveling 1cl on another date)

There are not any trains that go directly from the airport to Civitavecchia.

Once you purchase your ticket, you must validate it (get a time stamp) it in one of the yellow machines along the platform. Failure to do so is equivilant to traveling without a ticket and can result in heavy fines. (If you find a machine that does not appear to work, simply move to another machine.)

Ticket Validation Machine

If you have not read my article on Italian Train Basics, I would strongly suggest that you click here and do so now.

When you reach Roma Termini you will be on platform 24. If you are on a regional train, it will probably be departing on track 25+, which will be to your left. (It is a considerable distance down to the left.) However, I learned long ago that there is no such thing a a general rule in Italy. So have one in your party turn right and walk towards the terminal building and check the departure board. Enroute to the remote tracks you will pass a WC and there is a snack bar at the remote location. If you are on an IC or IC+, your train will most probably depart from tracks 1-23.

Traveling to Civitavecchia from Rome on the train is not difficult. In fact, traveling by train can save you a lot of money. Keep in mind that a large percentage of the Italian people travel by train every single day. You do have some choices to make; express type or commuter, first or second class?

The faster trains (express type) are the InterCity trains (IC or IC+.) These trains have both first class and second class cars. Most of them have a restaurant car that is located between the first class and second class cars. Second class cars have two seats on either side of the aisle while first class has two on one side and one on the other. First class seats are wider, have more legroom and more luggage storage behind the seats. Cost for 2cl is 8.5 euro, 1 cl is 11 euro. Children 4-12 are approximately ˝ the adult fares. Travel time from Rome to Civitavecchia is about 45 minutes. Since IC trains travel beyond Civitavecchia, your stop will be a mere 2 minutes!

The regional trains are basically two types. The ones that terminate in Civitavecchia and the ones that don't. In either case, most are 2^nd class only. Some of those that terminate there stop at binario uno (track one) and you will have no stairs to go down and/or up when you arrive. Unfortunately there is no way to tell from the Trenitalia schedules which ones these are.

NOT all regional trains terminate in Civitavecchia!

The other type of regional train is the one that continues on North after a brief (2 minute) stop in Civitavecchia. These trains generally are both first and second class. Cost on the regional trains is 4.5 euro for 2cl, 7 euro for 1cl. Children 4-12 are about ˝ of the adult fares. Travel time depends on the number of stops made, but is generally 1hr 15min to 1hr 25min.

If you are on a train that does not terminate in Civitavecchia you want to pre-stage your luggage befoe arrival. About 5-6 minutes before your scheduled arrival time, start staging your luggage near the door (don’t block the corridor.) When the train arrives, one person hops off and starts catching the bags as they are handed (tossed) down. If your train is continuing on, you have 2-3 minutes to get everything off the train. It is important that you keep an eye on the bags at all times as this is a time that bags could suddenly develop ‘legs’. Be alert and aware and you should have no problems.

Click for large image

The photo on the left provides an overview of the port at Civitavecchia. From the sheer size, you can see why they do not allow people to walk to their ships. Your goal, from the train station, is the shuttle bus stop at the NE corner of the old fort (near the center.) It is not a difficult walk, even when it is hot.

As you walk out the front of the train station, the port is to your right. Your first inclination will be to go straight, go down the stairs, cross the street, and go to the right along the sidewalk. DO NOT DO THAT! Turn to your right and walk along the edge of the parking lot (behind the parked cars.) It is smooth pavement and walking is easier.

There are numerous stores and shops along the way. If you choose to visit any, do not leave your luggage unattended. At or near the point where the main road appears to make a right turn, you want to cross the street and continue walking towards the old fort. You'll know that you are there when you see traffic crossing in front of you. At the port entrance you will see traffic gates. Cross to the right side and go through the gate/guard house. When you reach the bottom of the small incline, turn left and cross the street, turn left again and you will be at the covered shuttle bus stops. There may be numerous ships in port so be certain that the bus you take has the name of your ship on it.

Click on images for a large image

This link will take you to a page of assorted pictures of Civitavecchia.

This document is © Copyright 2007-2008, FTroute.com, All rights reserved. Permission to print/copy for your own use is granted.
This document may not be digitally reproduced, in whole or in part. Links to this document are permitted.