SteveS
Traveller
5 comments
Posted 7 years ago
I plan to board a cruise in Genoa on April 19. I am flying to Rome on April 14 and plan to tour Rome before going to Genoa. Can you tell me what is the best transportation to Genoa? Is there a night train taking me from Rome to Genoa? Where to board the train? How long will take from Rome to Genoa? Thanks.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi!
There is a night train from Rome to Genoa, however since its route is Salerno - Torino its timings for Rome to Genoa are far from ideal: [ux]https://rail.cc/en/night-train/salerno-turin-icn-796/251[/ux]
Instead, I recommend taking one of the direct express trains running along the coastal line via Grosseto - Pisa - La Spezia. If booked in advance there are very reasonably priced "Super Economy" and "Economy" fares available. I recommend booking via [ux]https://rail.shop/omio/Roma/Genova[/ux]
The railway line runs along the Mediterranean coast for most of its lenght providing some fine views. Depending on how much time you want to spend in Rome you might also think about making an intermediate stop for instance at Cinque Terre: [ux]https://rail.cc/blog/cinque-terre/[/ux]
Flo 8)
SteveS
Traveller
5 comments
Hi Flo,
Thank you very much for your help. I was told my ship, MSC Fantasia, will be moored at Stazioni Maritime pier in Genoa. Do you know how to go from train terminal to this ship pier? Also, can you recommend the place to stay in Rome? We will be at Rome between April 14 to April 18 in Rome and board the ship on April 19 by train. This is our first time in Rome. We plan to see most popular places, such as Vatican, the museum, Colosseum, St. Peter\'s Basilica, etc. We hope to find a place to all these places. How far the airport from the city? Thanks.
Steve
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Stazione Marittima is just a few metres away from Piazza Principe station (one of the two major stations in Genova, all long distance trains stop here; the other one being Brignole station which is one stop before Piazza Principe when coming from Rome): [ux]https://rail.cc/en/genoa/genoa-piazza-principe-railway-station/l3164[/ux]
You can see Stazione Marittima on the map - it is just south of Piazza Principe station on the Ponte dei Mille.
There are lots and lots of Hotels in the area around Stazione Termini, the central station of Rome. Have a look at [ux]https://rail.shop/bookingcom[/ux]
You may also look for hotels in the neighbourhood of Trastevere or Pigneto; however if you stay around Termini you are close to the station and have good connections by public transport to the city or can just simply walk.
Santa Maria Maggiore is just a few minutes away and from there you will reach Colosseum, Forum Romanum and Palatin in just ten minutes or so on foot.
I have always been staying in hostels or cheap hotels around Stazione Termini since I spend the entire day exploring the city. ;)
Check out Ristorante/Pizzeria di Andrea in Via dei Mille 34/36 just behind Termini station, best pizza in Rome...
Basically you can just walk and never have to use public transport; however to get to/from Vatican quickly it can be handy to use the metro.
There are two airports, Fiumicino and Ciampino; however I suspect you will arrive at Fiumicino/Leonardo da Vinci airport. Quickest option is by train with Leonardo Express directly to Roma Termini.
SteveS
Traveller
5 comments
Thank you a million for the tips.
I have 4 to 5 days in Rome area before riding the train to Genoa. While in Rome, should I purchase a local tour package or just tour by myself? I was told some high interesting places, such as Vatican, St Peter\'s Basilica, the museum, and Coliseum may required pre-appointment, otherwise, we will be wasting a lot time on the line. Do you know how to buy those tickets in advance or buy local tour package so we do not have to wait on line? I was told we can buy some day packages, but the above places are excluded from those package. Thanks again.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
You will be in Rome during the Easter weekend, the most important festival of the Roman Catholic Church so the city will be buzzing and there might be limitations of visiting the Vatican/St Peters/Vatican Museums due to masses being held inside and in front of St Peters.
Regarding Colosseum and Forum Romanum it definitely makes sense to pre-buy your tickets to avoid waiting in line.
Apart from that; I most enjoy just walking around the city, exploring some alleys and streets off the main tourist paths..there is a lot to see without paying for entrance fees and waiting in line for tickets.
I dont know of a particular page/shop where to buy any packages...but I can only recommend to look up the official websites of each monument for pricing and opening times.
SteveS
Traveller
5 comments
Dear Flo,
Thank you very much for your help. We are not aware that we are visiting Rome during the Easter weekend. Due to limit time we are in Rome, we tried to buy guided tour that can skip the line. But we noticed all guided tours were blocked during that 10 days. I was told Vatican will open during the Easter free. Is this true? We do like to visit it and the St Peter\'s Brasilia, the museum, and the Sistine Chapel. Do you have any suggestions? If we wait on the line, how long we expect to see them? If we skip that Sunday and buy the ticket the next day or day before without guided tour, what is the waiting time? We like to visit Colosseum, the guided tour ticket is available. I looked at the web site, but I am not sure how to buy the ticket. Any suggestion?
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Tickets for Colosseum are available online here: [ux]http://www.coopculture.it/en/colosseo-e-shop.cfm[/ux] It seems as there are no restrictions during Easter: [ux]http://www.coopculture.it/en/the-colosseum.cfm#[/ux]
Opening times for Vatican Museum including Sistine Chapel: [ux]http://www.museivaticani.va/content/dam/museivaticani/pdf/utilities/calendario_musei.pdf[/ux]
Tickets, including skip the line tickets: [ux]http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/visita-i-musei/scegli-la-visita.html[/ux]
On Easter Sunday there will be a mass and blessing in St Peters Square in front of the cathedral with _lots_ of people; schedule: [ux]http://www.vatican.va/various/prefettura/en/udienze_en.html[/ux]
SteveS
Traveller
5 comments
I will arrive Rome in April 14 and leaving Rome on April 18 and stay overnight in Genoa to get onto the cruise on April 19 just to play it safe. While in Rome, I have already bought the guided tour to visit Vatican, Vatican Museum, St Peter\'s Basilica on April 15. I understand April 16 is Easter. There may be a lot of people on the street especially near Vatican. What you suggest we do on April 16? We have already bought guided tour on April 17 to visit Coliseum, Roman Forum, and Palatine Hill. Should we buy hop on hop off bus ticket? Should we buy 48 hours or 72 hours ticket. We will be staying in hotel and B&B places near Vatican. Please advise. Thanks.
SteveS
Traveller
5 comments
Last time you recommend us to buy the above train ticket and recommend to stop at Cinque Terre. If we do this, how long to tour Cinque Terre? Will there is another train to take us to Genoa so we can assure to get onto our cruise the next day? Thanks.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Easter Sunday (April 16) is the most important holiday, however there will be celebrations the full weekend from Thursday until Monday. I\'d suggest to simply explore Rome on foot. Walk to the Gianicolo hill besides the Vatican to get a nice view over the city; continue to the old workers district of Trastevere, then explore the old town on the other bank of the Tiber river.
On the Cinque Terre (five places/cities) there are stations for each single village. Some long distance trains stop at Monterosso, the city furthest north, however none of the trains from Rome stops there. So, you have to travel to La Spezia, which is just to the south of the Cinque Terre, and take one of the frequent regional trains to continue to the Cinque Terre. To continue to Genova you can directly travel with one of the frequent regional trains.