Pompeii: A popular day trip from Rome
You could easily spend a lifetime in Rome and still not touch every corner. Yet even if your goal is to experience each and every hidden alleyway in Rome, step outside the city for a day trip or two. Even for stays in Rome as short as 5 nights, you could follow our 3-day Rome itinerary and then take one or two of the following Rome day trips.
Are you craving sacred monasteries, Baroque-era gardens, or vibrant Italian cityscapes? Or are you thinking “lounge on the beach”? Either way, it’s all reachable within about two hours (more or less) from Rome.
Rome Day Trips: Ostia Antica, Tivoli & Villa d’Este
Ostia Antica was ancient Rome’s port city. Today you can explore the archaeological park that stretches over an area of about 10,000 acres. You’ll walk along the streets the ancient Romans walked, and still see the grooves in the road from the carts and carriages they used. You can also see examples of excellently preserved mosaics and ancient baths, shops and temples. You can book a day tour of Ostia Antica that includes transport and a local guide, or you can reach Ostia Antica by taking the Lido di Ostia train (which you can catch at the station next to Piramide or EUR Magliana, both on the Metro B line; your local ATAC public transport ticket is valid for the entire journey).
Lido di Ostia is the seashore closest to Rome, and in the summer you can expect elbow-to-elbow sunbathers. There is a private beach at the end of the 07 bus line (once you get off the Lido di Ostia train at Cristoforo Colombo), but the majority of beaches are run by stabilimenti (bathing establishments), where you will pay a fee to get in and additional fees to rent equipment such as lounge chairs, umbrellas and changing cabins. However, if you can’t get to one of Italy’s more popular coastal areas, this is a quick and easy way to take a dip in Italian waters while keeping Rome as a home base.
Tivoli is famous for Hadrian’s Villa, where the Emperior Hadrian came to relax and where he lived out his final years until 138 AD. This magnificent villa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and you can still admire the statues and pools while wandering the spacious grounds. Villa d’Este is a stunning example of Baroque garden/landscape architecture, with impressive fountains that were designed to play with the effects of jets of water using gravity alone. Viator has a day trip to Tivoli and Villa d’Este. Or take the Metro line B to Ponte Mammolo, then the local blue Cotral bus to Tivoli, where Villa d’Este is located. Once in Tivoli, you can catch a local bus to take you to Hadrian’s Villa.
Rome Day Trips: Subiaco & Fumone
If you’d like to get more off the beaten path, consider renting a car for a day or two and taking to the road. A good one-day itinerary is to explore the Benedictine monasteries of Subiaco: San Benedetto and Santa Scolastica. Saint Benedict (480-547 AD) founded the order of Benedictine monks and was a hermit who lived in a cave carved out of the mountainside here. The remains of this cave are still visible during a visit to the upper monastery. You can also see detailed 13th-century frescoes that tell the story of the life and miracles of Benedict and his twin sister Santa Scolastica. A small group of monks still live and work here and you can purchase their medicinal teas, honeys, and digestives at two shops that they run on the premises.
For lunch, head to the little-known mountaintop town of Fumone. The name translates roughly to “big smoke,” and this fortified village was used in ancient times to send smoke signals warning Rome of advancing intruders. The town is a charming labyrinth of narrow cobblestone lanes and a good place to have lunch is at the Taverna del Barone (via del Ponte 4, tel. 0775 49655), an original medieval tavern that serves a fixed-price menu of traditional local foods including delicious handmade pasta, with servers in period dress and often accompanied by live music.
After lunch take a tour of the Castello di Fumone, Fumone’s own castle, with many a legend and ghost story to be had. The noble Longhi De Paolis family still lives in part of the castle, and it is also a working bed and breakfast, if you dare to stay overnight (Via Umberto I, 27; tel. 0775 49023).
Rome Day Trips: Florence, Naples & Pompeii
Nothing in Italy is too far from Rome. The idea that exploring Italy by train is always an idyllic journey over rolling fields of sunflowers is a bit of a myth; however, you can use Trenitalia from Rome to reach two of Italy’s most important cities in about 90 minutes. You can also book guided tours from Rome (see below). Whether you decide to go for the art lover’s capital of Florence, or pizza lover’s paradise of Naples, either of these trips is an easy excursion from Rome.
Florence (or Firenze, as the city is known in Italian) was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and therefore is a must-see on the list of most visitors to Italy. It is relatively easy to reach most of the big sights in a day trip to Florence from Rome. And you won’t want to miss the museums in Florence, from Duomo, the Accademia Gallery (home of Michelangelo’s David), the Uffizi Gallery, or perhaps start with an overview tour of the city.
Many travelers tend to overlook Naples, or actually intentionally avoid it, but they’re missing out on a unique and unforgettable experience. It is true that Naples is more chaotic and haphazard than most other Italian cities, and it’s always good advice to keep close watch on your belongings here (as in any big city). But once you get past the hustle and bustle, you’ll discover treasures like the city’s incredible Museo Archeologico (Archeological Museum, Piazza Museo 19) and the taste of what many Italians consider the only authentic pizza (try Pizzeria Lombardi a Santa Chiara,Via Benedetto Croce 54). Another easy day trip in the Naples area is Pompeii, an unbelievable walk through history.
Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s things to do in Italy, including Rome tours and Rome day trips, Florence sightseeing, attractions in Tuscany and more. If you need a place to stay, check out Rome Hotels on Planetware.com.
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