We are going to be in Rome seeing the Vatican Museum and Roman Forum before we leave for a cruise. But we need to travel via train to Civitavecchia. I understand it is anywhere from 50minutes to over an hour to get there. Where should we plan on picking up the train? I was looking at Roma Termini but saw that Ostiense may be closer to the Roman Forum and therefore closer to Civitavecchia. Anyone have any recommendations as to how we should start our day? Should we do the Vatican Museum 1st then work our way to the Forum and then to the train station? We will have bags in tow too. Help!
Posted by
Green Bay
21153 posts
The train also stops at Roma San Pietro every half hour going to Civatavechia, so you go do it reverse. My question is where will your luggage be during this time?
Posted by
Texan in CA
4415 posts
What time do you need to be at your ship?
I assume you will stay overnight in Rome the evening before? Ask the hotel (now, by email) if they will hold your bags until the time to take your train. Hopefully, your hotel is somewhere near either your Rome plans for the day or near the train station...
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16539 posts
Chrissy, it would be helpful to know when and how you're arriving in Rome to begin with? Are you arriving the same day as your plan to see the Vatican/Forum or the evening before? If you're arriving the same day, are you flying in (which airport?) and at what time is your scheduled landing?
And what time do you have to be at your ship? I'm concerned that you may be underestimating the time you'll realistically have in Rome. More information will also help us advise what to do with your luggage.
I'm also a little concerned about being some distance away from somewhere you positively MUST be at a certain time. Just as most of us always advise staying in or near the airport the night before an early flight, I would exercise some caution here lest an unforeseen event throw a wrench in the machinery.
Posted by
OP
Massachusetts
3 posts
Hi all! Thanks. We're arriving Tuesday evening. Haven't selected hotel yet. Trying to plan itinery around the hotel selection. We're to be at cruise by 5 on wed. They say that cruise leves by 7pm. Our wish list is Vatican for Sistene Chapel and roman forum. I was going to see if hotel could hold bags. Maybe tip them. Looked up at train that leaves Roma termini at 3 and gets us there by 345-4. But was trying to see if anyone knew anything about Ostinese station
Posted by
Atlanta
5196 posts
Chrissy, Personally I would not cut the timing that close. Things happen that cause delays when you least expect them. Having made that trip a number of times, I would just try to do either the Museum or the Forum, but not both, and leave Rome in the early afternoon.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16539 posts
Chrissy, I don't think Ostiense will be of any use to you, and especially not if your bags are elsewhere (no left luggage services at Ostiense). Most hotels will hold them for you at no cost.
As you're coming in the night before, I'd find accommodations close to Rome Termini. If you're coming from Fiumicino airport, the Leonardo Express trains arrive there, and it's also where Rome's metro A and B lines cross: you may want to use those for getting to the Vatican and Forum with limited time.
You may have to choose just one of the two attractions so go with whichever is the priority with the understanding that you may have to forego the other.
To see the Sistine, you MUST order tickets to the Vatican Museums in advance to avoid potentially long lines. You should do that here:
http://mv.vatican.va/3_EN/pages/MV_Home.html
Order them for the 9:00 opening hour, and take Metro line A to Cipro station: that's closest to the Museum entrance. The Sistine is at the farthest end of the museums, and a bit of a walk. Do be aware that you both must be appropriately dressed: no bare knees or shoulders.
Another option is to get tickets for "Breakfast at the Museums" which allows you in at 7:00 AM for a buffet breakfast and beginning your tour of the museums themselves at 8:00.
http://biglietteriamusei.vatican.va/musei/tickets/do?action=booking&codiceTipoVisita=175&step=2
When you're finished and depending on how much time you've spent at the Vatican, you'll need to make a decision about the Forum. It is on the other end of town, and opens 1/2 hour (8:30) before the Vatican. Order advance tickets here:
http://www.coopculture.it/en/heritage.cfm?id=4
If you're coming from the Vatican, get back on the metro, take it to Termini, switch to line B and take it to the Colosseo station; you can do that on a single ticket. When finished, take the metro back to Termini, grab your luggage from the hotel and get on a train.
You may, of course, do this in reverse - with the exception of the early Vatican breakfast.
RoninRome has instructions on getting to Civitavecchia from Termini:
http://www.roninrome.com/transportation/traveling-from-rome-to-civitavecchia
I'd agree with TC that 3:00 is cutting it too close: give yourself PLENTY of wiggle room where needing to board a ship is involved.
Posted by
Green Bay
21153 posts
All in all, you are probably best to get a hotel near Termini. Since time is tight, you may want to pay up for an early access tour of the Sistine Chapel. You can get to the Vatican quickly on the Metro from Termini. When you're done, you can go back on the Metro, changing at Termini to the other line going to the Coliseum. Walk around the Forum for an hour or two, head head back to the hotel and pick up your bags. If you check out in the morning, the hotel should hold your bags until the afternoon at no charge.
Regional trains from Termini go at 12 and 42 past the hour and take 1 hour and 1 hour 17 minutes respectively.
There is a Freccia train at 1:57 pm and goes nonstop in 40 minutes, and an Intercity train at 3:57 pm that takes 48 minutes, but that is cutting it real close.