Porto di Nettuno
The harbour at Nettuno has been a working waterfront for longer than Rome has been an empire. Today the Marina di Nettuno holds a thousand moorings — fibreglass hulls where ancient triremes once loaded supplies — and on a weekday morning the main activity is fishermen sorting lines and sailors checking rigging before the afternoon wind picks up.
The port opened in its current form on 2 August 1986, built to absorb the coastal growth that had turned this stretch of Lazio into a serious summer destination. It faces roughly south, which means the Pontine Islands sit on the horizon about 34 miles out — clear days in spring or autumn, you can count them.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who keep coming back tend to arrive by late afternoon, when the light drops behind the medieval quarter and the water goes copper. The floating dock near the control tower is the quietest place to stand and watch boats manoeuvre in. The train from Roma Ostiense takes about 70 minutes — no car needed.
The story behind Porto di Nettuno
Before there was a marina here, there was Caenon — an ancient port that served as naval arsenal and supply depot from the Latin period, destroyed in 469 BC by Roman consul Titus Numicius Priscus. The coastline passed through medieval lords, then the Colonna family from 1420, then the Borgias, then back to the Colonna, and finally to the Papal State in 1594.
The papal chapter wrote one of the port's stranger turns: between 1697 and 1700, Pope Innocent XII redirected maritime investment toward Anzio, effectively sidelining Nettuno's waterfront for centuries. The modern marina didn't arrive until 1986, inaugurated that August to serve a coast that had grown too quickly for its old infrastructure.
Good to know
The FL8 train from Roma Termini or Ostiense runs directly to Nettuno, last stop on the line, roughly 70 minutes. The port itself is open access. Late spring and early autumn offer the clearest skies without peak-summer crowds. Forte Sangallo, a short walk away, is free and closes Mondays.
Summer runs hot and dry — July and August bring the crowds along with temperatures well above 30°C. May and September are the sweet spots: warm enough to sit on the dock without a jacket, quiet enough to find a mooring or a café table without negotiating. January is genuinely cool, averaging around 8–12°C, with most of the year's rain falling in winter.
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What travellers say about Porto di Nettuno
Lovely marina where you can enjoy a quiet and relaxing walk, enjoying the nice views of the sail boats, sea or the town. We went on a weekday, the marina itself was practically empty and the promenade was not crowded at all. There are plenty of shops, gelataria and restaurants along the promenade and in the general area. If you get to Nettuno by train, the marina is only a short 10 minute walk from the Stazione di Nettuno.
Very nice marina, Marcello is the big help with reservation. Only bad addition is not allowing to bring staff by the car. Charging 15:00 euros just to bring grocery by the car. Very bad professional answer to the call.
Organized luxurious yachts/boats parking.
A very nice promenade area. It was nice to go for a walk during the evening. There is even attractions available for kids and there is an actual chips shop 🙂 . Just don't buy the fish and chips .. because it's actually octopus and chips..
Nice Port, at the time off end october it is very sillient, most Restaurants closed. Never the less we found a nice place on the Port namens Point Bar. Nice service and deliouses food. Beach side not so clean like expected.
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