Rome Shore Excursions
Headed on a European cruise? Have a stop in Rome? If you are looking for the best Rome shore excursions I have you covered! I am excited to help you plan your one day in Rome itinerary!
My family of 6 recently went on an epic Europe vacation and enjoyed a week-long cruise on Royal Caribbean. Rome was our embarkation and disembarkation point.
Like so many of you, our time was limited to one day in Rome. (I have been to Italy many times before this trip, so I am very familiar with Rome.)
This was the first time to Italy for most of our kids. We wanted to show them some of the most iconic spots and treat them to some of the best food in Rome.
I am excited to share what we did and give you a few options for one-day Rome itineraries for families.
In this post, we are going to give you a few options of the best Rome shore excursions. We will also list out some example itineraries and one-day Rome tours available.
From the Colosseum to the Vatican your family will have a blast on their shore excursion in Rome.
Let’s get started helping you choose the best Rome shore excursion!
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How Far is The Port of Civitavecchia From Rome
When planning your Rome excursion it is important to note the distance from the port to the city.
The Port of Civitavecchia is located about 1 hour and 15 minutes from the center of Rome.
It can take longer if there is traffic. Keep this in mind if you are planning on exploring on your own or booking with a 3rd party tour company. Be sure to give yourself enough time to get back to the ship.
There should still be plenty of time to plan a day trip to Rome and make it back to the ship in time.
There are several ways to get from Civitavecchia Port to Rome. Public transportation is going to be the least expensive way to get to Rome. Private cars and tours will be more expensive.
Train
An express train runs two times during the morning and two times during the afternoon.
This might work for you depending on when your ship docks. These trains leave around 6 am and 7 am and return around 6:30 – 7 pm.
It is not expensive (around 6 euros).
Shuttle Bus
You will want to make sure you book some sort of transportation to Rome. Booking a shared shuttle bus is a great option. This is a little less stressful than public transportation. However, it is more expensive.
Private Transfer
You can book a private transfer to get to the city. A private transfer to/from Rome will be close to $200 per person so it might be good to look into tours that will provide transportation both ways.
Should I Book Through Cruise Line or Local Companies?
When we cruise, we do a mixture of exploring on our own, booking through Viator, and booking through the cruise line.
I like to see what tours are offered through the cruise line and then compare the prices on Viator or Getyourguide.
Booking Through the Cruise Line
Booking through the cruise line guarantees the ship will wait for you if you are delayed. It is convenient and is nicely organized.
The downside is booking through the cruise line is much more expensive.
One reason to book through the cruise line is to alleviate stress and worry. For example, I was worried when we traveled to Turkey because I had never been before, I felt more comfortable booking through the cruise line.
Italy is one of my favorite places to visit and I have been many times, so booking offsite to save a little money is fine with me.
Booking Tours Through a 3rd Party
Booking with tour companies through Viator or Getyourguide is another option. These 3rd party tours are much more affordable and offer pretty good services.
We have used Viator to book shore excursions and have had good experiences. I don’t think you will have any problem with booking a tour in Rome through them.
How Much Time Do You Have?
Many European cruises will include an itinerary that gives you enough time to explore Rome. I have seen itineraries that have a debarkation time of 11:00 pm.
If you have a full day in Rome, you will be able to see many of the iconic sites and still have enough time to get back to the port.
Rome in a Day Map
I created a map of all of the best tourist sites in Rome. If you are doing a 1 day Rome tour on your own this will let you know how far point A to B is.
Top Tourist Sites to See in Rome
- Colosseum
- Roman Forum
- Pantheon
- Castel St. Angelo
- Vatican (Sistine Chapel, St Peters Basilica)
- Trevi Fountain
- Spanish Steps
- Piazza Navona
When planning a 1 day Rome trip this map is awesome. It will help you plan a Rome one day itinerary.
You can zoom in and look at the different sites.
Let’s start by looking at what options you have when booking a Rome excursion.
1. Private Tours
I am all about the private tours. We have a family of 6, so it made sense to book a car and explore. My kids did not want to walk everywhere.
My friend did Rome last year with her family of 8 and said booking a private tour of Rome was the best thing they did during their entire cruise.
It is really nice to book a tour of Rome and cater it to what you want to see.
Booking a Private Tour From the Port to Rome
One thing my family really wanted to do was explore the Colosseum.
We booked our tickets ahead of time. I think most tours do not include tickets so you might have to do this as well.
Your tickets are digital and timed so you will need to pay attention to when you can enter.
Being able to view the Colosseum was a highlight and I think one of the most iconic things you can do in Rome.
Book the Colosseum
I would book your tickets ahead of time. If you opt to not go on a private tour don’t worry the colosseum is an adventure you can do on your own.
It is nice to have a guide but if you just want to explore it on your own that works.
The Roman Forum is located near the Colosseum. It is also ancient ruins just like the Colosseum. The Roman Forum is one of the most important archeologist sites in the World.
It really gives you a glimpse to the past. Some of the temples are intact and others are simple ruins from the past.
We really enjoyed exploring the Roman Forum. In the summer time it is extremely hot! You will want to make sure you wear lots of sun screen, a hat and maybe even an umbrella.
Roman Forum Tours
There are many tours that cater to all circumstances, from family tours to Archeology tours.
These tours typically include the Colosseum. If you have the time it is nice to explore both areas!
4. Rome Food Tour
I know, I know, there is so much food on a cruise why would I want to do a food tour. Well, Italy has some of the best food in the world.
It is so amazing. A food tour will give you a cultural experience unlike anything else. If you are a foodie and want to experience an amazing variety, a food tour is for you.
Rome Food Tours
There are two types of food tours in Rome. One is having a guide take you to the best restaurants and stores to try the different foods.
The other type of food tour is a cooking class. You can learn how to make different dishes. This is a great way to spend a day in Rome!
One thing I recommend is talking to friends and family before you go. Find out what others have tried and liked!
We had a lot of recommendations for places to try and they did not disappoint. You do not necessarily have to do a food tour to enjoy the food while on your Rome excursion.
We decided to try a restaurant and gelato shop on our own. My kids loved trying the pizza and pasta. The gelato was pretty good too. Although my mint gelato actually had leaves in it, which I didn’t love!
Trevi Fountain
The Trevi Fountain is one of the most popular sites in Rome. It will be crowded!
One thing I love about the fountain is not only is it beautiful but the sculptures tell a story. On one said you will see the King Aggripa and the romans who are thirsty and fatigued from battle. A young girl appears and shows them where they can get water. The king wanted to thank the girl but she disapeared. On the other side it is the king approving plans for the new aquaduct in her honor.
In the center is the god of the seas, Oceanus. The tritons represent the temperament of the seas.
Make A Wish
It is very beautiful. But what attracts so many people to this beautiful fountain? Love and Safety!
1 coin will grant you safe return from Rome
2 coins will grant you safe return and you will fall in love
3 coins will grant you safe return, fall in love, and get married.
Here is something funny I learned. The fountain typically earns 3000 Euros a day. Many tourists do not realize they are throwing in 1 or 2 Euro coins.
Pantheon
The Pantheon is one of the best-preserved buildings from Ancient Rome. It was used as a Romand Temple but later converted into a Catholic church.
Why is it so popular?
Well to this day it is one of the largest unreinforced open concrete domes. The Oculus is an impressive site to see.
It also displays some ancient architecture and interior designs.
Tours of the Pantheon
If you decide not to do a guided tour from the port but still really want to see the Pantheon you can book a guided tour just of the Pantheon. This tour will include your ticket.
Vatican
The Vatican is huge. It is actually a city within Rome. This is where the Pope resides.
The most famous and historical sites you will want to see are the Sistine Chapel, and St. Peter’s Basilica.
Summer and holidays can be extremely busy. It is best to book ahead of time and get a skip-the-line ticket. when we went the first time the line wait was over 2 hours.
The Sistine Chapel is where you will find the gorgeous paint……
St. Peters Bacillica is where you will fine……..
Castel St. Angelo
If you have been to Rome before and want to see something different the Castel St. Angelo might be a good choice.
I have been told that if this is your first trip this is not the best place to start.
Castel St. Angelo is a beautiful castle and another ancient Roman building that has withstood time.
Other Religious Sites
One of the top things we wanted to do is visit the Rome Temple for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
This is our church and a beautiful Temple and visitor center have been built. We loved spending time exploring the grounds and learning about the different apostles during Christ time on earth. It was very cool.
Ready to Book Your Rome Shore Excursions?
Hopefully, you know how to spend a day in Rome and will be able to plan the best Rome excursion and create a one day in Rome itinerary!
