The Best Day Trips from Rome You Will Love

Looking for the best day trips from Rome?

Whether you want to visit Ancient Roman ruins, go wine-tasting, check out beaches, gardens, picturesque towns, or other must-see Italian cities, you are spoiled for choice!

Day Trips From Rome - Where to Go?

Living in Rome, I'm lucky to be able to visit all these places and to have visited some of them numerous times over the years.

Here are my favorite places to visit near Rome, along with my personal reasons for loving them:

• Ancient Roman Ruins near Rome
• Must-visit Italian cities from Rome
• Wine-tasting on a day trip from Rome
• Picturesque small towns you can visit from Rome
• Special gardens near Rome
• Beaches near Rome

Ancient Roman Ruins Near Rome

As much as I love Rome and all the amazing Ancient Roman ruins inside Rome, I also love how easy it is to visit Ancient Roman sites near Rome.

After all, the Roman Empire stretched all the way to what we know today as England and North Africa, so it stands to reason there are lots of sites from Ancient Rome within a short distance from the city itself.

You can go on your own or with a tour.

I recommend taking a tour of any of the below sites, just as I recommend taking tours of sites in Rome - you get to learn the history and the stories behind these ruins.

Pompeii, Ostia, and Hadrian's Villa are all vast and there is so much to see at these sites.

A good guide can really bring these ruins and their history to life.

Pompeii

Pompeii is one of the most popular day trips from Rome.

The reason I love Pompeii is that, like many similar sites, you can visit it over and over and always see something new.

I am always amazed at how much is still left for us to see, despite the devastation Pompeii endured 2,000 years ago.

In 79 CE, the Roman city of Pompeii was shocked by the devastating eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

The volcano spewed ash, hot lava and gases that plowed through the cities at its base, Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum, with such force and speed that people and animals were literally stopped in their tracks.

Today you can visit these cities, their ancient victims frozen in time.

You might even go a little further and visit Sorrento at the same time.

When to go: Year-round.

Opening hours: Open daily. Closed 1 January, 1 May, 25 December. Open 9 AM - 5 PM November - March, 9 AM - 7 PM April - October.

Tickets: 16€ full price. Free on the first Sunday of each month.

How to get there: You can take a train from Rome Termini to Naples (I recommend the fast train, just over an hour one-way). From there, take the local Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii. These go about every 15 minutes, and take about 20 minutes to get to the ruins. You can also book a R/T shuttle Rome/Pompeii. There is a non-stop train from Rome-Pompeii and back, but it only goes once a week on Sundays.

Romewise tip: While you can easily purchase tickets onsite, lines can be long and when it's hot, you won't want to stand in the queue.

Buy your tickets in advance and save time:

Ostia Antica

Ostia was once one of the most important river ports of Ancient Rome. 

In the years during and after the decline of the Roman Empire, Ostia fell into disuse and was eventually abandoned.

So it does not have the drama (and dead bodies) that you find in Pompeii.

But it is one of the best-preserved ancient Roman cities, and it's only half an hour from Rome, making it one of the easiest day trips from Rome.

I love that you can really get a sense of the layout of a real city in Ancient Rome, as everything is still pretty much in place right where it was 2,000 years ago.

When to go: Year-round.

Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday (closed Mondays, December 25, January 1 and May 1.) 8:30 AM - varied closing times. Visit the official website of Ostia Antica for more details.

How to get there: Take the blue line B metro to Piramide. From there, take the train Roma-Lido, and get off at Ostia Antica. The entrance to the ruins is about 5 minutes' walk from there.

Tickets: It's easy to purchase your tickets right at the site. There may be a short line but it moves quickly. Tickets are 18€. If you want to pre-book, you can do so on their website. The site is free for everyone on the first Sunday of ever month (unless it's one of the holiday dates above, in which case, check their website.)

Tours: Click here to book a small-group tour to Ostia Antica.

Hadrian's Villa

This site is for true Ancient Rome lovers, or perhaps for admirers of Hadrian (the guy who was responsible for the Pantheon and Castel Sant'Angelo, among other things.)

The site is enormous and there is a lot of ground to cover.

It's also not easy to get to on your own.

The best suggestion I have for visiting Hadrian's Villa is by car or with a tour.

Tours normally include the Tivoli Gardens in the Villa D'Este (below), also.

When to go: The site is open year-round. It's closed on May 1, December 25 and January 1.

Opening hours: 9 AM - various closing times vary according to the season. Visit CoopCulture for details.

How to get there: The best way to get to Hadrian's Villa is by car or on a tour. If you want to come on your own, take the Metro blue line B to Ponte Mammolo. From there get a Cotral bus in the direction of Via Prenestina. Ask the driver when to get off. You will still have to walk over a kilometer. Getting back can be complicated, as the bus schedules do not seem to be precise or consistent.

Tickets: Full price 12€. Under 18 (everyone) - free. Some reductions apply (See CoopCulture for details.)

Tours: Click here to book a day trip tour to Hadrian's Villa and Villa D'Este.

Must-visit Italian cities near Rome

Many visitors to Italy want to see more than they have time for.

This is understandable.

After all, we have more UNESCO heritage sites here than anyplace else in the world.

And with limited vacation time, it can sometimes make sense to visit some nearby cities as day trips from Rome, even if they all merit a longer visit.

Florence

Florence is only 1.5 hours from Rome by train, making it one of the easiest day trips from Rome.

Even though Florence offers a wealth of things to see and do, it's also relatively small compared to Rome, and you can certainly see a lot in one day. 

When to go: Year-round. Like Rome, Florence will be less crowded (but darker and colder) in the winter months.

And like Rome, Florence swelters in the heat of July and August.

How to get there: The fast train is the easiest way to get go round-trip Rome-Florence. 

Tours: An organized tour is a great way to take the hassle out of planning, and make sure you see the highlights.

• Click here to book a full day round-trip day trip to Florence from Rome.
• Click here to book a local tour once you are in Florence.
• If you just want to book tickets to the Uffizi or Accademia (to see Michelangelo's David), visit Tiqets.

Naples

Naples is even closer to Rome than Florence, only an hour away by fast train.

For many, visiting Naples means just stopping there to get to Capri, Sorrento or Pompeii.

But I love Naples and think it warrants a visit all on its own.

And it makes for a great day trip!

I recommend coming to Naples with a tour, or having a plan for the day so you get the most out of it.

Click here to explore things to see and do in Naples.

Click here to visit our site, Napleswise.

When to go: Year-round. Naples gets pretty crowded in December, because a lot of Italians come from all over to soak up the Christmas ambiance here, in particular the street where all the Nativity Scene objects are made and sold, Via San Gregorio Armeno.

How to get there: Take the fast train from Rome to Naples. Do not drive!

Tours: Most Naples day trips from Rome include Pompeii. If you only want to visit Naples, and you want a tour, take the train down, and book a local tour in Naples.

Venice

Is Venice an easy day trip from Rome?

Not at all.

But I get this question a lot, and it IS doable. 

The fast train takes about 3.5 hours to get from Rome to Venice, so a day trip means 7 hours of travel time.

I've never taken a day trip to Venice from Rome, but my pal Gillian has, and here's how she did it.

When to go: The quietest time is in winter (except for the Christmas and New Year holidays, and, of course, Carnival.) Venice can be really cold in winter, because it's right on the water. Most of the rest of the year is high season in Venice. Expect crowds.

How to get there: Take the fast train from Rome to Venice. I strongly urge you not to consider driving.

Tickets: If you want to see a specific museum or show, it's a good idea to purchase tickets in advance.

Tours: You can book a day trip to/from Rome, or book a local tour for when you arrive.

Bologna

Bologna is one of my favorite under-rated day trips from Rome.

It's only 2 hours by train from Rome, so it's easy to get to.

And it's a lovely place to just walk around.

But there's so much more that makes it worth visiting!

Many people consider the region of Emilia-Romagna (where Bologna is) to be THE food capital of Italy (parma ham, Parmesan cheese, Baslamic vineger, tortellini, etc.)

As much as I love Roman food, I have to agree - I could die and go to heaven eating my way through Bologna.

Bologna may not be one of the most famous or popular places to visit as a day trip from Rome, but if you want something different, I highly recommend it.

You can pop up for the day, stroll under the beautiful porticoes, visit some churches, eat some life-changing pasta, climb the Asinelli tower, and come back to Rome.

When to go: Winter is quietest but even year-round it's  generally less busy than some of Italy's other art cities.

How to get there: Take the fast train from Rome to Bologna. I strongly urge you not to consider driving.

Tickets: If you want to see a specific museum or show, it's a good idea to purchase tickets in advance.

Tours: You can book a day trip to/from Rome, or book a local tour for when you arrive.

Disclosure: If you make a purchase through a link on this page, I may receive a small commission - at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my site!

Where to go wine-tasting on a Day Trip from Rome

You can certainly go wine-tasting IN Rome.

But if you want to make a day of it and get out to the countryside, there are lots of options, from staying in the Lazio region (where Rome is), to visiting Umbria or Tuscany, home to some excellent Italian wines.

Tuscany

The most popular wine-tasting day trips from Rome are to Tuscany.

The region of Tuscany is just north-west of Lazio (Rome's region), and it's pretty easy to get to.

When to go: Wine tasting day trips from Rome to Tuscany typically go from March through November. The wineries function in winter, but there is less demand and so tours don't tend to run then.

How to get there: You could go by car, train or on a guided tour. If you go by train, you should pick a place where you know you can go wine-tasting, like Montepulciano.

Tours: The easiest way to take any wine tasting day trips from Rome to Tuscany is with an organized tour.

Frascati

Frascati is only half hour from Rome, but it's like entering another world.

A world of peace, quiet, elegance, and rolling hilltops . . . and wine.

The ancient Romans knew what they were doing when they built their summer homes here to beat the heat. 

When to go: Year-round. Frascati is a town where people live so it's always visitable. Wineries, however, may have limited hours and limited tours in low season (winter.)

How to get there: It's simple to take the train from Rome right to Frascati. Regional trains leave from Termini, cost about 2€, and take 30 minutes one way.

What to do: If you don't want to book an organized tour from Rome, check out this fantastic Frascati website by my pal Michelle Smith, who's lived in Frascati for years. She has a wealth of wine experiences listed on her site.

Tours: One of the things that makes Frascati one of the best day trips from Rome for wine-tasting is that you can even do this in half a day. Book a half-day wine-tasting and lunch tour from Rome to Frascati.

Picturesque small towns you can visit from Rome

Sometimes it's nice to get out of Rome to visit a smaller town or city, to experience a different vibe.

Rome is blessed in its proximity to other wonderful places to visit, not just the biggies like Pompeii and Florence.

Orvieto

Orvieto is one of the loveliest day trips from Rome.

An Etruscan era settlement turned into a medieval fortress and hideaway for Popes escaping sieges and sacks of Rome, this sweet Umbrian town makes a wonderful place to spend a fascinating day away from the hustle and bustle of the Eternal City.

When to go: Year-round. The duomo (cathedral), the most important landmark in Orvieto, is open from November to February 7.30-13.00; March and October 7.30-18.30; From April to September 7.30-19.30.

How to get there: You can easily travel between Orvieto and Rome via train. There are no fast trains, only regional or intercity. Tickets run between 7-18€ one way. It's about 1 - 1.5 hrs away.

Tours: You can go on your own, and book a local tour. Or, you can book a day-trip tour from Rome. Some of these tours also include Assisi (below):

Assisi

I adore the Umbrian town of Assisi.

The birthplace of Saint Francis, it's got a magical, hushed feeling about it.

Sitting high on a hill (as most Umbrian towns do, since in medieval times this was the best way to spot your enemies approaching), you get stunning views of the valleys below, whether from the church or a restaurant or just from walking through the narrow winding streets.

In my opinion, Assisi deserves at least a full day.

It's a little farther than some of the other day trips from Rome, but if you take a tour, you often combine this with a visit to Orvieto (above), making it logistically easier (even if you then get only a brief overview of Assisi.)

When to go: You can visit Assisi year-round. The basilica is open daily. For specific hours and events, visit their website.

How to get there: Take the train from Rome to Assisi. About 2 hours one way.

Tours: If you go on your own, you can book a local tour in Assisi. Or, you can book a day trip from Rome to Assisi.

ANZIO and NEttuno

One of the most moving day trips from Rome is a visit to Anzio/Nettuno. 

At least, as an American, I find it moving and emotional.

In WWII, the allies landed on Anzio beach.

It was one of the most important and one of the bloodiest battles of the war.

Today, Nettuno (so next-door to Anzio it's almost like a neighborhood even if it's actually a different town), is home to the American Cemetery for war dead.

It's a beautiful, peaceful place, and can be a meaningful visit for those with relatives who fought in the war.

Or for anyone really.

You can also opt to book a full-day r/t day tour from Rome.

When to go: The cemetery is open to the public daily from 9am to 5pm, non-stop, except on December 25 and January 1. 

How to get there: Take the train from Rome to Nettuno (about an hour.) Walk about 15 minutes to the cemetery from there.

Tours: I have found one company, or rather one person who specializes in battlefield tours, Dr Danila Bracaglia. Otherwise, If you go on your own, once you are in the cemetery, there will be someone on site who will proudly show you around (free).

Bracciano

Bracciano is a small town on a lake, only about 20 miles north of Rome. 

It's popular among Romans and tourists alike, for the quiet pretty lake, and for the very well-preserved medieval castle that you can visit, Castello Orsini-Odescalchi.

Bracciano makes for a lovely day trip or even half-day trip from Rome.

When to go: You can visit Bracciano year-round, but it's most pleasant in the spring-through-fall months.

How to get there: Take the train from Rome to Bracciano. It's about 1 hour away.

Tours:  Take a private full-day trip from Rome to the towns around the Bracciano lake, which includes a visit to the castle, lunch, and some other towns to boot. The Odeschalchi castle also makes for an excellent shore excursion. Book a half-day lunch+castle visit day trip to Bracciano from Civitavecchia.

Cinque Terre

I have been surprised over the years to hear many people say they'd like to take a day trip from Rome to Cinque Terre.

This seemed just impossible to me. It's far and not easy to get there.

But if you really want to do it, it is possible.

When to go: You can visit Cinque Terre year-round. In low season (late November - early March), you will find limited services.

How to get there: If you really want to try to get to Cinque Terre on your own as a day trip from Rome, you'll need to study the train schedules. First you need to take a train to La Spezia. From there, you'll have to get a local train or bus to one of the towns you want to visit.

Tours: There are currently no tours that take you to Cinque Terre from Rome as a day trip. For other Cinque Terre day trips and tours, click here.

Day trips from Rome - Where to see special gardens

We have some beautiful gardens in Rome.

But just outside of Rome are some unique, specially curated gardens that are a must for anyone who loves extraordinary landscaping, or for anyone looking for some greener, quieter day trips from Rome.

Tivoli

When people think of visiting Tivoli, it's usually to visit the Villa D'Este, a Renaissance nobleman's villa with one of the most stunning gardens in Italy. 

A UNESCO world heritage site, Villa D'Este and the gardens are just one of the wonderful things you can visit on a day trip to the town of Tivoli from Rome.

There is also the villa Gregoriana, and, if you are up for a delightful and not too-expensive meal, a lunch at the centuries old restaurant, Sibilla.

And, if you want to include the Villa Adriana (Hadrian's Villa), you can try for that too, although it's a bit out of the town and harder to get to.

When to go: While you can visit Villa D'Este year-round, it's most magical when the plants and flowers are in full bloom. The villa is closed Mondays, January 1st, May 1st, and December 25th.  If Monday is a holiday, the monument will remain open and the weekly closure will then be delayed until the following business day.  

How to get there: It's easy to get to the town of Tivoli and from there, to the villa. You can take a bus or train r/t from Tiburtina station in Rome. About 50 minutes.

Tours: Most tours that go as day trips from Rome to Tivoli include the Villa d'Este and also Hadrian's Villa. You may also be interested in a more in-depth tour of just the gardens at Tivoli.

Ninfa

Not far from Rome, the Gardens of Ninfa are an oasis of beauty and peace.

Once a Roman settlement, then a medieval village, the gardens today are almost bursting with plants and flowers from all over the world, in what they call "organized chaos."

The ruins, the walkways, and the extraordinary and surprising beauty of this mix of species living in harmony all create an almost magical, hushed ambiance that seems to be another world away from Rome.

I've been in spring and summer, and both seasons are wonderful and offer different experiences, since the flowers are different.

When to go: The Gardens of Ninfa are one of the most difficult day trips from Rome to organize. They are open on weekends only from April through November, but from July, they are only open once a month. You need to book long in advance as they limit the number of visitors, to protect the delicate environment.

How to get there: If you go on your own, take the train from Rome to Latina. From the Latina station, you can take a taxi (5 minutes), or a shuttle bus. The schedule is on their website.

Tickets: If you go on your own, you'll need to reserve tickets long in advance. 12€ for adults. Here is the official website. Whether you book on your own or through a tour company (below), you have to visit the gardens with a guide. It takes a little over an hour.

Papal Gardens at Castel Gandolfo

You can easily visit the Papal palace and gardens at Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's summer residence, only half an hour from Rome by train.

You can go on your own or take a tour from Rome.

Visit my dedicated page about the Pope's summer residence at Lake Albano near Rome.

Beaches near Rome

Rome is only about half an hour from the sea, and there are plenty of beaches within easy reach.

Some are farther than others and easier to get to if you have a car (Sperlonga, Sabaudia), or if you book a tour (Capri.)

Ostia

Ostia is the closet beach to Rome, only about half an hour by train.

When to go: You can go to the beach at Ostia any time of year. There are always one or two restaurants open on the beach even in winter. 

How to get there: The easiest way to get to Ostia is by train. Take the metro B to piramide, and then change to the train going to Ostia (it's the same ticket as the metro, so you don't have to buy a new ticket.) Get off at Ostia Lido Centro. Ostia is the easiest of the beach day trips from Rome.

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Here's how I took a day trip to Santa Marinella beach in winter:

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Capri

If you want a special beach day trip from Rome, head to magical Capri.

Capri is really best enjoyed as an overnight visit, but it IS doable in a day.

My pal Gillian is a Capri expert. She goes to Capri often, and here's her post about 36 hours there. You can adjust for your day trip!

When to go: You can visit the island of Capri year-round. But October and mid-March, there are limited services available. This includes hotels, restaurants and even transport to/from the island.

How to get there: Take the high-speed train to Naples. From there, get a taxi to the dock. From there, you can take several different boats, from a high-speed hydrofoil to a slightly slower and larger ferry. Travel times between Naples and Capri are between 50-90 minutes depending on the boat you take. Or, you can take a speedboat and get there super fast!

Tours: Consider taking a full-day tour from Rome to Capri that takes the guessing about train + ferry schedules out of the picture.

Ponza

Want another option for beach day trips from Rome? I look to my friend Gillian as the expert on island day trips from Rome.

Check out Ponza!

It's a small island group pretty close to Rome. You can have a relaxing quiet trip and cool off to boot!

When to go: As with any beach trip, you can visit year-round but expect limited services and things open in winter. And of course it is not beach weather until summer, but you can still go and enjoy the scenery.

How to get there: According to my pal Gillian, there are some limited options leaving from Rome. I suggest an easy tour instead:

Tours: There is a full-day tour to Ponza from Rome, which is the easiest way to go especially if you are on vacation and have limited time to deal with train and ferry schedules.

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