Tarquinia is the Etruscan day trip that fits a cruise stop: the necropolis with its painted tombs and the city museum are close to Civitavecchia, and the organised trip from the pier lasts 6 and a half hours. Cerveteri is another great Etruscan site, but it needs a longer call. The closing day to remember is Monday, when both sites are shut.
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Tarquinia from Civitavecchia: the Etruscan UNESCO site
from €195 · rated 4.6/5 (35 reviews) at the time of writing
via Viator
What will I see in Tarquinia?
The necropolis of Monterozzi, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2004, covers a hill about 6 km long with more than 6,000 tombs. About 200 of them are painted, with scenes from the 7th to the 2nd century BC. You can enter the Tomb of the Lionesses, the Tomb of the Leopards and the Tomb of Hunting and Fishing, and an audio guide and marked paths help you find your way. The Pallottino tomb is closed for maintenance at the moment, while the main tombs and the walk across the hill stay open.
The National Archaeological Museum is in Palazzo Vitelleschi, built between 1436 and 1439 for Cardinal Giovanni Vitelleschi. It holds sarcophagi on the ground floor and, on the first floor, the grave goods, including the Winged Horses of the Ara della Regina. The second floor, with the reconstructed painted tombs, is closed for works. Allow at least 2 hours for the museum alone.
How long is the organised trip, and when am I back?
The trip from the port lasts 6 and a half hours. A shared minivan collects you at the last stop of the free port shuttle, and you go to the necropolis with the entrance ticket to the UNESCO site included. After the tombs you visit the museum and then sit down to a traditional lunch, which is included. The programme starts the return to the port at about 15:30. The group is small, up to 8 people, with an English-speaking driver and guide; the guide also speaks Italian. A professional guide inside the sites is not included.
As an example, if you meet the group at 9:00, you are back at the port around 15:30 to 16:00. If your all aboard is at 17:00 or 17:30, that leaves a comfortable margin. At the time of writing the trip is priced from €195, rated 4.60 out of 5 from 35 reviews.
Can I go to Tarquinia on my own?
You can. Tarquinia is about 18 km from Civitavecchia and the regional train takes 11 to 12 minutes. The station is about 3 km from the old centre, with city buses to the town, so the museum and the necropolis together fill the whole stay. If you have a standard call and want a simple day with a guaranteed return to the ship, the organised trip is the easier choice.
Which days are they open?
The necropolis of Monterozzi and the museum are open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 to 19:30, with the ticket office open until 18:30. Both are closed on Monday. They also close on 25 December and 1 January. If your ship calls on a Monday, Rome is the better plan: see Rome from Civitavecchia in one day.
And Cerveteri?
The Banditaccia necropolis is the other UNESCO site of the Etruscans, listed together with Tarquinia in 2004. It is one of the largest burial grounds of the ancient world, with a burial road more than 2 km long that was used from the 9th century BC. You walk among the great round tumuli, which date from the 7th century BC, past the cube tombs of the 6th century BC, and you can see the Tomb of the Reliefs, with painted stucco decorations.
Cerveteri is about 35 km from Civitavecchia. By road you take the A12 to the Cerveteri-Ladispoli exit. By train you go towards Rome as far as Marina di Cerveteri or Cerveteri-Ladispoli, then continue by bus. Because of the distance, it fits best in a longer call, or on a day with a car. The site is open from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 to 18:30, with the ticket office open until 17:30, and closed on Monday.
Which one should I choose?
If you have one standard call and love ancient history, choose Tarquinia: it is nearer and it is easy to organise from the pier. If you also want to see Cerveteri, make it part of a longer stay. For a morning in town instead, try Civitavecchia on foot, and the Civitavecchia cruise port guide explains the free shuttle that brings you back to the ship. For all options in one place, see the port page.
