Tarquinia and Cerveteri day trip from Rome or Civitavecchia
A day trip to Tarquinia and Cerveteri from Rome or Civitavecchia: the mound tombs of the Banditaccia necropolis and the Tomb of the Reliefs at Cerveteri, then the painted tombs of the Monterozzi necropolis, the medieval towers of Tarquinia and the Etruscan treasures of the National Museum in Palazzo Vitelleschi. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Tarquinia and Cerveteri in 1 day
Day 1
Banditaccia Necropolis (Tomb of the Reliefs)
Etruscan city of the dead with streets of grassy mound tombs, including the Tomb of the Reliefs with stucco tools and weapons.
Monterozzi Necropolis (painted tombs)
Hill of Etruscan tombs whose walls are painted with banquets, dancers, games and hunting scenes, among the oldest paintings in Italy.
Historic centre of Tarquinia (Piazza Matteotti and the towers)
Medieval town of tall stone towers and churches above the coast, with Piazza Matteotti at its heart and views to the sea.
Tarquinia National Museum (Palazzo Vitelleschi)
Etruscan museum in a Renaissance palace, with sarcophagi, painted tombs moved here for safety and the terracotta Winged Horses.
Getting there
By car from Rome along the A12 or the Via Aurelia, about 45 minutes to Cerveteri and an hour and a quarter to Tarquinia; the two are about 45 minutes apart. Trains from Rome stop at Ladispoli-Cerveteri, with a local bus up to the town, and at Tarquinia on the line to Pisa. From Civitavecchia, Tarquinia is about 20 minutes by car or train.
Staying in Rome or Civitavecchia? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Tarquinia and Cerveteri
Spring and autumn are the best: mild weather for walking the open necropolises. Summer is hot and there is little shade at either site, so start early. Winter is quiet; the sites stay open but close earlier in the afternoon.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Tarquinia and Cerveteri on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Tarquinia and Cerveteri on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Tarquinia and Cerveteri on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Tarquinia and Cerveteri
- The necropolises and the Tarquinia museum are closed on Mondays; plan the day for another day of the week.
- Do Cerveteri first: the Banditaccia is large, and an early start leaves time for the painted tombs at Tarquinia in the afternoon.
- A car makes linking the two sites easy; by train the day works better for one site only.
- Wear good shoes and carry water: the Banditaccia paths are uneven, with steps down into the tombs and little shade.
- At Monterozzi the painted tombs are seen through glass from the entrance passages, to protect the colours.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Banditaccia Necropolis (Tomb of the Reliefs): Roberto Ferrari from Campogalliano (Modena), Italy, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Historic centre of Tarquinia (Piazza Matteotti and the towers): AlexanderVanLoon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Monterozzi Necropolis (painted tombs): Gleb Simonov, CC0
- Tarquinia National Museum (Palazzo Vitelleschi): AlexanderVanLoon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
