19 Great Day Trips from Rome
Whether it’s your first time in Rome or you’re a seasoned visitor, Italy’s capital city has enough attractions to keep you busy for days or even weeks. But if you’re looking for a change of pace from the hustle and bustle of Rome, or even just want to see somewhere new, you’re in luck!
Rome is ideally situated for making day trips, both because of its central location within Italy, and for the thousands of trains and buses arriving to and departing from the city every day. There are a host of destinations all within two hours of the city and good public transportation options to get you there!
With high-speed rail connections to just about every major city in Italy, you can quickly and effortlessly get from Rome to most other large metropolitan areas. Additionally, smaller cities and towns all throughout the surrounding regions are equally well served by the Regionale and Regionale Veloce trains, as well as buses, which makes many more interesting destinations easily reachable for day trippers.
In terms of what you can see and do from Rome, there is a diverse range of options for types of day trips, with everything from beaches, big cities, medieval towns, lakes, wine country, and archaeological sites all within just a few hours.
With so many choices, where you go on a day trip from Rome will depend entirely on your interests and what you’re looking to experience. Your options are almost endless, so let’s start looking at them!
More Italy travel info:
For more info on travel in Italy, check out our comprehensive Italy travel guide and these itineraries for 7 days and 10 days.
If you could use some help planning your itinerary and finding out about unique activities and authentic places to visit, consider scheduling an Italy travel consultation.
Table of contents
Bologna
Florence
Assisi
Orvieto
Val d’Orcia
Lago di Bolsena
Viterbo
Lake Bracciano
Perugia
Santa Marinella Beach
Siena
Ninfa Gardens
Ostia Antica
Naples
Montecassino Abbey
Pompeii
Castelli Romani
Sperlonga Beach
Amalfi Coast
Which day trips we’ve chosen
In this article, we’ve included 19 possible day trips from Rome and have tried to offer a nice mix of destinations, both in terms of the types of places (nature, cities, history, etc.) and their geographic location.
You’ll see a few of the obvious heavy hitters, like Florence, Naples, and Ostia Antica, but also a fair share of lesser-known places which offer their own distinct charms and much smaller crowds.
There are many more equally worthwhile day-trip options, but trying to cover all of them in one article would just make it too difficult for you to choose. So we controlled ourselves and limited it to just 19.
We know that most visitors to Rome won’t have their own transportation, so we’ve almost exclusively included destinations that can be reached easily and relatively quickly with public transportation.
That said, having a rental car or hiring a driver-guide for certain day trips would give you a lot more freedom and open up even more possibilities, so that’s certainly a great option if you have the budget for it.
However, assuming you won’t have a car or some other form of private transportation, let’s take a look at your options!
1. Rome to Bologna
Distance from Rome: 2-2.5 hours
How to get there: Direct train
Cost of transport: 20-50 euros one-way
Best for: Foodies, nightlife, culture
With its 400,000 inhabitants, Bologna is Italy’s 7th largest city and one of its most rewarding destinations to visit. A bit off the typical tourist route, Bologna sees many fewer international visitors than cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice, allowing it to retain an authentic local flavor and a different atmosphere from more touristy destinations.
Bologna has been a prosperous city since medieval times, and this is evident in the city’s lovely architecture. Filled with Renaissance style red-brick buildings and covered porticos, Bologna’s historic center covers 350 acres, making it the second largest of its kind in all of Europe.
The historic Jewish quarter is particularly lovely, with its historic buildings and narrow, pedestrian-only streets. Strolling through and getting lost in the city’s streets is a delight in and of itself.
Bologna is also a huge university city, so it’s filled with students, both local and international. The abundance of young people contributes heavily to Bologna’s buzzing atmosphere and excellent nightlife (among the best in Italy).
If you’re not sold yet on a visit here, this is also the Capital of Emilia Romagna, which is famed for having the best cuisine in all of Italy. If eating well is something you care about, then Bologna is a must-visit, as you will be spoiled for choice with fantastic restaurants.
For a great food-focused tour with a local, we recommend getting in touch with Giulia Tamarri.
In case you’re ready to visit, below are some ideas for specific things to see and do in Bologna:
Climb the Torre degli Asinelli – almost 100 meters high, if you’re up for some cardio, scaling the tower’s 498 steps will afford you fantastic views over Bologna.
Hang out in the Piazza Maggiore – this is Bologna’s main square, right in the heart of the historic center, and it’s a fantastic place to begin your city wandering. The Basilica di San Petronio, Palazzo d’Accursio (old town hall – now a museum), and the Torre dell’Orologio (clocktower) with its excellent views, are all in the square and are well worth visiting.
Visit the Giardini Margherita Park – This excellent park sits just outside of Bologna’s historic center and is the perfect place to spend an hour or two relaxing and people watching on a sunny day.
Get lost exploring the historic center – Bologna is a super walkable city and the historic center is beautiful, so just go for a wander!
Eat, eat, eat – Bologna is justifiably renowned for its food scene, so any visit here should be at least partly focused on the food. Here are three restaurant options to get you started:
L’e Bon is a nice casual restaurant that serves up great homemade Bolognese-style tortellini.
Sfoglia Rina is one of Bologna’s most famous restaurants, and with good reason! This casual spot has been around since the 1960’s and they make fantastic homemade pastas at incredible prices. There’s always a line, so be prepared to wait.
Affumico is a French-inspired smokehouse that makes unbelievable smoked meat dishes. This is far from traditional Bolognese food, but if you’re looking for a change of pace, it’s a great option.
How to get from Rome to Bologna:
Getting to Bologna from Rome couldn’t be easier. As with most intercity travel in Italy, the train is your best option. From Rome’s Termini station, there are departures multiple times every hour, starting from 5:00 AM. As always, tickets are much cheaper when booked well in advance.
For getting back to Rome, the schedule is much the same, with multiple departures each hour from Bologna Centrale Station (the city’s main train station). The last train departs at 9:30 PM, so you’ve just got to make sure you get to the station before then.
Travel time:
High-speed trains will get you from Rome to Bologna in 2-2.5 hours.
Cost:
Tickets for trains from Rome to Bologna cost from 20-50 euros each way.
2. Rome to Florence
Distance from Rome: 1.5 hours
How to get there: Direct train
Cost of transport: 15-50 euros one way
Best for: Renaissance glory, art
Florence is probably the most popular day trip from Rome, and with good reason! This was the heart of Italy’s renaissance, and the city is filled with beautiful buildings and artistic masterpieces. Florence is as much an open-air museum as it is a city, and as you wander the streets, you’ll have the feeling that you’ve gone back in time.
The city center is extremely walkable, so you’ll be able to do all of your exploring on foot. Getting from one end of the center to another shouldn’t take more than 40 minutes maximum, with most sights much closer together than that.
You could easily spend 3 or 4 days in Florence, but if all you’ve got is a day, here are some of the can’t-miss sights:
Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore – more commonly known just as the “Duomo”, this is Florence’s main cathedral. Both the exterior and interior are stunningly beautiful, and the view over the city from the Brunelleschi Dome is fantastic.
The Uffizi Gallery – this is one of Italy’s most visited museums, and it’s filled with masterpieces, mostly from the Renaissance.
The Galleria dell’Accademia – Most famed for housing Michelangelo’s sculpture “David”, the gallery boasts many other excellent pieces as well.
Ponte Vecchio – maybe the most famous bridge in Italy, Florence’s Ponte Vecchio spans the Arno River, connecting the two sides of the city.
Piazzale Michelangelo – after crossing over the Ponte Vecchio, it’s a short walk uphill to this square, which is Florence’s most famous viewpoint.
Those sights barely begin to scratch the surface of what Florence offers, but they should easily fill up your day. You’ll just have to come back for a second visit to see the rest of the city!
For a fabulous tour of Florence, check out our favorite local guide, Francesca.
How to get from Rome to Florence:
High-speed Frecciarossa trains from Roma Termini station to Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station start running as early as 5:00 AM and continue until about 9:30 PM. There are 2-3 trains every hour. You also have cheaper, and much slower, Regionale and Intercity trains throughout the day.
For returning from Florence to Rome, the schedule is largely the same. The trains from Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station start at about 5:00 AM and run until 10:30 PM, with 3-4 trains leaving every hour.
From both Rome and Florence, the last departure (around 10:30 PM) is always a Regionale Veloce train, which is much slower than the high-speed options, so if you plan to catch the last train, expect to be on it for a number of hours.
For detailed info on taking the train from Rome to Florence check out our guide on Rome to Florence by train.
Travel time:
High-speed Frecciarossa trains complete the trip from Rome to Florence in 1.5 hours. Slower Intercity and Regional trains can take up to 4 hours.
Cost:
Tickets cost 15-50 euros depending on train class and how far in advance you purchase.
3. Rome to Assisi
Distance from Rome: 2-3 hours
How to get there: Direct train
Cost of transport: 12 euros one-way
Best for: Religious enthusiasts, hilltop Umbria
If you’re interested in religious history, Assisi should be at the very top of your list of places to visit from Rome. This small hilltop city is the birthplace of Saint Francis of Assisi, and it continues to be an extremely important center of the Catholic world.
The main sights here are all religious focused, but the town itself is a beautiful medieval city and it makes for a pleasant place to spend a day even if religious tourism isn’t your focus.
Here are some of the main sights to check out:
Basilica di San Francesco di Assisi – one of the most important places of Christian pilgrimage in Italy, this massive structure houses gorgeous frescoes and is also where Saint Francis’ remains are interred.
La Cattedrale di San Rufino – this is the city’s cathedral and is where Saint Francis was baptized.
Basilica di Santa Chiara – the striking pink and white façade of this church is lovely and quite different from most of the other churches you’ll see here.
Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore – this was the city’s cathedral until 1063
Rocca Maggiore – built in the 1300’s, this fortress sits at the highest point in Assisi, looking out over the city.
Temple of Minerva – Originally a Roman temple built in the 1st century BC, this is now a church. The architectural style is quite noteworthy.
How to get from Rome to Assisi:
The train is your best bet for getting to Assisi from Rome, as there are Assisi bound departures from the city’s central Termini station about once per hour. The first departure is just before 6:00 AM, with subsequent ones at 6:50, 8:00, 9:30, and onward throughout the rest of the day.
The trains to Assisi are a mix of direct high-speed ones and slower, Regionale trains. The Regionale trains require a transfer along the route.
The first departure for a high-speed Frecciarossa train is at 8:00 AM. This is likely your best bet since it will have you arriving in Assisi by 10:00 AM and you won’t have to bother with changing trains.
If the 8:00 AM train isn’t convenient, you’ll likely have to take one of the slower trains and make at least one transfer. The total transit time, including transfer, for these Regionale or Regionale Veloce trains is between 2.5 and 3 hours.
You’ll likely have to get off in either Spoleto or Foligno, and then catch the next train onward to Assisi. The transfers usually line up quite well, minimizing your waiting time, but be sure to check this when purchasing your tickets.
Regardless of which train you catch, your final destination will be Assisi’s train station, which is unfortunately not right in the historic center of the city. The station is a few kilometers outside of medieval Assisi, so on arrival you’ll need to take a bus (which come straight to the station) or catch a cab into the city center. This is a short trip, so shouldn’t be much of a hassle though.
Travel time:
Depending on whether you book a direct train or one requiring a transfer, the journey from Rome to Assisi takes 2-3 hours.
Cost:
Prices vary depending on the type of train, but the average price for the train from Rome to Assisi is a little under 12 euro.
4. Rome to Orvieto
Distance from Rome: 1-1.5 hours
How to get there: Direct train
Cost of transport: 8-13 euros one-way
Best for: Medieval architecture, Etruscan history
Just a short trip north from Rome, Orvieto is one of the most lovely and pleasant hill towns in Italy. During the day, this little city of 20,000 people buzzes with activity, with a mix of tourists and locals alike.
The city is perched on top of a huge chunk of volcanic tuff and offers expansive vistas of the valley below it. Exploring the city on foot is by far the best way to discover it, and thankfully the beautiful historic center is mostly pedestrian-only, so you won’t be disturbed by cars buzzing by you all day. You can easily spend hours simply weaving through the city’s streets and admiring the stunning architecture.
For something really unique, make sure you leave some time to explore the underground labyrinth that Orvieto sits on top of. The city has a vast network of ancient caves and tunnels running beneath it that date back to the Etruscans, and these are open to the public. This a truly unique experience and an absolute must-do!
Here are some of the main things to do:
Visit the city’s Cathedral
Take a guided tour of the Etruscan caves
Enjoy a wine tasting of Orvieto’s Classico wine at a nearby winery
Leisurely wander the city’s medieval streets
How to get from Rome to Orvieto:
Direct trains to Orvieto depart from both of Rome’s main train stations, Termini and Tiburtina. Termini has more departures and is also more centrally located within Rome, so this is probably the easier option for most.
There are regular morning departures at 7:00 and 9:00 AM, followed by hourly departures throughout most of the afternoon and evening. On arrival to the train station, you’ll need to take the city’s escalators or funicular to reach the upper medieval part of town.
Be aware that there are a few trains throughout the day which require a transfer, so it’s easiest to make sure you book a direct train.
Travel time:
Rome to Orvieto should take 1 to 1.5 hours on the train.
Cost:
Tickets cost 8-13 euro each way.
5. Rome to the Val d’Orcia
Distance from Rome: 2 hours
How to get there: Car rental
Cost of transport: Variable - at least 50 euro.
Best for: Wine tours, stunning countryside
The Val d’Orcia, in southern Tuscany is one of Italy’s most famous wine regions. This rural valley is filled with rolling hills, vineyards, olive orchards, and charming towns, and it is an enchanting place to visit. This is the idyllic Tuscany that you’ve doubtless seen countless photos of.
Visiting wineries and exploring the countryside is the primary thing to do here, but towns like Montalcino, Pienza, and San Quirico d’Orcia also make for lovely places to visit for a few hours. If you’ll have a car for your day trip to the Val d’Orcia, you’ll be able to visit a few wineries and also hop between some of the pleasant towns mentioned above.
For a taste of Tuscany, you can’t beat the Val d’Orcia.
If you’re thinking about a wine tour while you’re in Tuscany, we always recommend spending a day with local guide and sommelier Stefano.
How to get from Rome to the Val d’Orcia:
Unfortunately, getting to the Val d’Orcia from Rome via public transportation is not an easy feat. This is a rural area filled with small towns, most of which are not terribly well served by public transportation.
If you’re willing to rent a car, this is by far the best option for making a day trip to this area. The Val d’Orcia is a beautiful valley with tons to see and do, and having a car will let you move freely between the towns, wineries, and pretty country lanes. You’ll be able to set your own schedule as well and won’t be beholden to what infrequent buses there may be between towns.
If renting a car isn’t an option for you, then you might consider heading to Montepulciano instead, which is very near to the Val d’Orcia and will offer a similarly Tuscan experience. For a complete overview on getting to Montepulciano, check out our blog post on day trips to Tuscany from Rome.
Travel time:
The drive from central from into the Val d’Orcia should take you about 2 hours.
Cost:
Car rental prices vary tremendously depending on the season. For a one-day rental, expect to pay at least 50 euro.
6. Rome to Lago di Bolsena
Distance from Rome: 3 hours
How to get there: 2 trains
Cost of transport: 8 euros one-way
Best for: Water sports, boat trips
If after a few busy days in Rome you’re ready to unwind in nature, Lake Bolsena is a perfect choice for a daytrip. Situated in northern Lazio and surrounded by lovely countryside, this is Europe’s largest volcanic lake, stretching 8 miles long and 7 miles wide.
Due to the beauty of the lake and surrounding area, this is a very popular recreation area for both locals and tourists. If you visit the lake in-season, you’ll have your choice of activities, ranging from boat trips (both public and private), windsurfing, sailing fishing, camping, and of course, swimming and relaxing.
Dotted along the outside of the lake are pretty, small towns like Montefiascone, Capodimonte, and Bolsena, all of which are pleasant to explore and have well-developed tourist facilities and plenty of good restaurants. Montefiascone is the easiest lake town to reach from Rome, but getting between it and the others once you’ve arrived isn’t too difficult.
If you want to get out onto the lake, you can join a boat cruise from either Bolsena or Capodimonte, which will take you on a nice tour and give you an up-close look at the lake’s two islands, called Bisentina and Martana.
The islands are privately owned, so although you can’t explore them, Bisentina is especially attractive and it houses dense forests, gardens, monuments, and a history dating back to the Romans and Etruscans.
How to get from Rome to Lago di Bolsena:
Getting to Lago di Bolsena from Rome is quick, easy, and incredibly worthwhile, as the lake is beautiful and offers a total change of pace from bustling Rome.
To get to the lake, you’ll need to catch a train from Rome’s Termini station, and head to Montefiascone, which is a small town next to the lake. Trains start running as early as 7:00 AM, with departures throughout the day once every two hours or so.
There are no direct trains, so depending on which train you get, you’ll need to make a transfer at either Attigliano-Bomarzo or Orte. The first leg of this journey will take about an hour, followed by another 30-minute ride on to Montefiascone.
Be sure to check the schedule carefully though, as the connecting trains don’t always line up very well with the trains from Rome. Sometimes there’s only a ten-to-fifteen-minute wait between trains, while for others you could be stuck waiting an hour or more. Just make sure to check the total travel time and plan accordingly!
Travel time:
Getting from Rome to Lago di Bolsena takes anywhere from 1.5 to 2 hours.
Cost:
Tickets cost around 8 euro each way.
7. Rome to Viterbo
Distance from Rome: 1 hour and 40 minutes
How to get there: Direct train
Cost of transport: 6 euros one-way
Best for: Medieval architecture, history buffs, spa day
Beautiful historic Viterbo makes for a great change of pace from Rome. While this city in northern Lazio is most famous for its vast Papal Palace, which was a residence for popes in the 13th century and is now a museum complex, it has plenty of other attractions to keep you busy after you’ve finished touring the Palace.
Viterbo’s historic center is one of the best preserved and most extensive in Europe, and its streets are filled with beautiful Gothic and Romanesque buildings to admire. Its main square, Piazza San Lorenzo, is surrounded by lively cafes and restaurants which are often buzzing with locals.
With such fantastic architecture, simply wandering around the city with no real plan is a wonderful way to spend a few hours.
This area is also famed for its hot springs, some of which lie just outside the city walls, so once you’ve tired yourself out walking, you can head for a soak or complete spa treatment in one of the nearby hot springs.
Here are a few specific things to see and do:
Visit the hot springs
Explore the historic center on foot
Tour the museums of the Palazzo dei Papi (Papal Palace)
Admire the Cathedral of Santa Maria della Quercia
Check out Parco dei Mostri and its strange medieval sculptures
How to get from Rome to Viterbo:
Starting from Rome’s Ostiense station, there are direct trains to Viterbo once per hour, starting at 6:40 AM and running until 10:00 PM.
Some of the trains from Rome end at Viterbo’s southern Porta Romana station, whereas others continue on to the Porta Fiorentina station. Which station you arrive in is largely unimportant though, as Viterbo is small and you’ll be about a 15 minute walk from the middle of the medieval center from either station.
Tickets are a fixed price, so there’s no need to worry about buying them in advance.
Travel time:
It’ll take you an hour and 40 minutes to get to Viterbo from central Rome.
Cost:
One-way tickets to Viterbo cost 6 euro.
8. Rome to Lake Bracciano
Distance from Rome: 1.5 hours
How to get there: Direct train
Cost of transport: 4 euros one-way
Best for: Swimming, water sports
On a hot summer day in Rome, what could be more inviting than the crystal-clear waters of Lake Bracciano (Lago di Bracciano in Italian)? Just an easy train ride away from Rome, this huge volcanic lake is somehow still mostly unknown and unvisited by international tourists. If you’re looking for a day out on the water, Bracciano is the perfect day trip from Rome.
The three towns along the lake, Bracciano, Anguillara Sabazia, and Trevignano Romano all have excellent recreational facilities, with public beaches with chair and umbrella rentals, as well as plenty of vendors renting out kayaks, paddle boards, and other water sport equipment.
You can also rent a boat and get out on the lake to explore its many islands. Isola Sacra is especially worth visiting as it has some small Roman ruins to check out.
Bracciano is the biggest of the three lakeside towns, and it has a very pretty historic center which is dominated by the Orsini Odescalchi castle. Built in the 15th century atop a cliff overlooking the lake, the castle is open to visitors and is well worth a visit, especially for its excellent views.
Be sure to spend some time strolling along Bracciano’s ancient streets as well, enjoying the atmosphere and views of the lake.
How to get from Rome to Lago di Bracciano:
Starting from 5:00 AM there are regular direct trains from Rome’s Tiburtina station heading straight in to Bracciano. There are two direct trains every hour, running all day until 10:00 PM.
These trains make a few stops on their way out of Rome, so depending on where you’re staying in the city, it may be more convenient for you to catch the train at the Toscolana, Ostiense, or Trastevere stations.
On arrival to Bracciano, you’ll be right in the center of town, so you can head straight into the center on foot and then continue on to the lake.
Travel time:
The journey from Rome to Bracciano takes about 1.5 hours.
Cost:
One-way tickets from Rome to Bracciano cost a little less than 4 euros.
9. Rome to Perugia
Distance from Rome: 2.5-3 hours
How to get there: Train or bus
Cost of transport: 3-15 euros one-way
Best for: Architecture, culture, art
170 kilometers away from Rome sits Perugia, the capital city of the Umbria region. Like many cities in Umbria, Perugia is a beautiful hilltop town with an incredibly well-preserved historic center dating back to medieval times. Filled with international students attending the city’s Universitá per Stranieri (University for Foreigners), this is a lively place with a vibrant cultural scene.
If you’re only visiting for a day, you should plan to spend most of your time in the compact historic center, exploring the city’s churches, squares, museums, and pedestrian-only streets.
From the main square, Piazza IV Novembre, you can visit the lovely Gothic Cathedral of San Lorenzo and the Palazzo dei Priori, as well as go for a stroll down the shop and restaurant-lined Corso Vannucci. Be sure to check out the Rocca Paolina as well, which is a 16th century fortress that has a web of subterranean areas to explore.
Perugia is probably best known to foreign tourists as the home of chocolate company Perugina, which makes the famous Baci candies, so a fun and less traditional activity to do on a visit here is a tour of Perugina’s chocolate factory.
How to get from Rome to Perugia:
Both the bus and train are good options for getting to Perugia from Rome, so you have some choices.
For the train, you have a few direct options which will take about 2.5 hours. You’ll catch a Regionale Veloce train at Rome’s Termini station, which will take you on to Perugia without having to make any changes. This is certainly the easiest and most comfortable option.
The direct trains aren’t very frequent though, so it’s likely that you’ll wind up on a train requiring a transfer in either Terontola-Cortona or Foligno. In either case, you’ll just get off the train at those stations and then wait for your connecting train to Perugia. These trains depart about once per hour from Rome.
If you’d prefer to take the bus, FlixBus offers direct routes from Rome to Perugia. The buses depart from Rome’s Tiburtina station, and there are typically two morning departures at 6:30 and 7:30 AM.
Travel time:
Both the train and the bus make the journey from Rome to Perugia in around 2.5 hours. If you get a non-direct train, expect the trip to take 30 minutes longer.
Cost:
The bus from Rome to Perugia costs 3 to 15 euros each way. The train costs about 15 euro.
10. Rome to Santa Marinella Beach
Distance from Rome: 1 hour
How to get there: Direct train
Cost of transport: 5 euros one-way
Best for: Beach lounging, fresh seafood
If you’re looking for a beach day during your visit to Rome, Santa Marinella beach makes an excellent choice. While this is a bit further from Rome than Ostia or some of the other beaches that you’re likely to have come across, it is a far more pleasant place to visit. The beach is sandy, the water is clean and clear, and the crowds are far smaller than in Ostia or elsewhere nearby.
Right in the center of the town of Santa Marinella, the beach is just a short walk from the train station, which is likely where you’ll be arriving to. There are an abundance of facilities on the beach, including plenty of shops and restaurants, as well as chair/umbrella rentals and showers.
For lunch, Santa Marinella is filled with seafood restaurants where the fish is fresh and the prices much lower than what you’ll find in Rome, so a seafood lunch is a must.
There’s not much else to see or do here, but if a beach day is what you’re after, this is a great choice!
How to get from Rome to Santa Marinella Beach:
When coming from Rome, the train is your best option for getting to Santa Marinella and its lovely beach. There are direct trains up to 3 times per hour, all departing from Rome’s Termini station. The train ride is about one hour and will drop you off right in the middle of the town of Santa Marinella, from where it’s a short walk over to the beach.
Trains start running at 5:30 AM and continue until 11:30 PM.
Travel time:
Getting to Santa Marinella beach from Rome takes an easy 1 hour by train.
Cost:
A one-way ticket will cost 5 euros and is the same price whether booked in advance or purchased day-of. With no need to pre-purchase, it’s fine to just show up at the station a few minutes before your scheduled and buy your ticket on the spot.
11. Rome to Siena
Distance from Rome: 3-4 hours
How to get there: 2 trains or direct bus
Cost of transport: 3-60 euros one-way
Best for: Architecture, history lovers, authentic Tuscany
Right in the heart of central Tuscany, Siena is a stunning medieval city with a gorgeous historic center and fabulous monuments. While a day in Siena won’t possibly be enough time to see everything that this city has to offer, there’s a lot that you can still see and do if you plan well.
The expansive Piazza del Campo, Siena’s main square, is the perfect place to start your visit here. Spend some time admiring the square and the buildings that ring it, before heading into the Palazzo Pubblic and the Torre del Mangia. Start with the Torre (tower) and make your way up its 400 or so steps for the gorgeous 360 degree views over Siena.
After you’ve finished admiring the city, head back down the steps and pay a visit to the Palazzo Pubblico (the city’s town hall) to check out its civic museum which is filled with works by Sienese artists.
Next up on your to-do list is the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, also known as the Duomo di Siena. This is a truly beautiful church and you will not be disappointed! There are a few other historic buildings that you can visit right next to the Duomo and you have the option of buying combination tickets, so it’s a good idea to research these before you get to the ticket office.
There are many more churches and monuments to visit throughout the city, but if you want to get a real feel for Siena, you should spend the next few hours strolling aimlessly through the historic center.
Siena is a lovely city and giving yourself a chance to admire and enjoy it rather than rushing between sights is a great idea. Leave some time to check out the artisan shops, enjoy a leisurely meal, and sample some local wines at a wine bar (or two!).
How to get from Rome to Siena:
You have two options for getting to Siena from Rome: the bus or the train. The bus is definitely the better, and cheaper, option.
For the train, you’ll need to first catch a high-speed train from Rome’s Termini station to Florence’s Santa Maria Novella. The ride to Florence takes about 1.5 hours. Once in Florence, you’ll transfer to a Regionale or Regionale Veloce train to head on to Siena.
These regional trains to Siena will take another 1.5-2 hours, making your total travel time anywhere from 3 to 4 hours.
The bus is probably a better option if you want to save time and skip having to make a transfer. To take the bus, you’ll need to first get to Rome’s Tiburtina station, which is where all intercity buses heading north of Rome depart from.
Once at the station, there are three different companies that run the route to Siena: FlixBus, Itabus, and Marino Bus. There are departures all throughout the day, starting as early as 5:30 AM.
For a complete overview on getting to Siena from Rome, check out our blog post on day trips to Tuscany from Rome.
Travel time:
Taking the train from Rome to Siena will take you 3.5-4 hours in total. The journey by bus is 3 hours.
Cost:
Bus tickets cost 3-15 euro depending on the company you travel with and when you buy the tickets. Train tickets from Rome to Siena cost 20-60 euro depending on time of booking and type of train.
12. Rome to the Ninfa Gardens
Distance from Rome: 1 hour
How to get there: Train to bus, shuttle, or taxi
Cost of transport: 4-10 euros one-way
Best for: Peaceful city escape
The Ninfa Gardens (Giardino di Ninfa), described as among the most romantic in Europe, make for a really unique and relaxing day trip from Rome. A little under an hour south of Rome, the Gardens sit on the site of the ancient city of Ninfa, which fell into disrepair and was abandoned some time during the Middle Ages.
Purchased in the 1600s by a wealthy family, the site was turned into a garden in the 1900’s and now covers 250 acres. Designed in the English style, the grounds are filled meadows, flowers, exotic plants, crisscrossing streams, and a tranquil lake.
In many places, the plants have completely overtaken the ruins, growing up through and around them, which adds to the fairytale feel here. Only a short train ride from Rome, you’ll feel like you’re a world away!
When planning your visit here, be aware that the gardens are only open from April through November, and even then, only on specific days. Also, you can only visit on a 60-minute guided tour, and there are only two English tours each day, so be sure to check their website for their opening hours and to book your tour in advance.
How to get from Rome to the Ninfa Gardens:
The train is the quickest and easiest way to get to the Gardens of Ninfa. The closest station to the Gardens is in the town of Latina, which is reachable with direct trains from Rome’s Termini station.
Trains depart for Latina starting as early as 6:00 AM, with up to 4 departures each hour. The travel time is between 30-40 minutes, depending on whether you catch a Regionale or Intercity train (the intercity is slightly quicker).
From Latina the Gardens are still about 5 kilometers away, so once you arrive to the train station you’ll need to either hail a cab, catch a bus, or book a spot on a shuttle bus in order to get to the entrance to the Gardens.
The public bus departs every two hours and only runs on days when the Gardens are open to visitors, so be sure to double check the schedule here. Tickets should be around 3 euros.
In case the public bus’ timetable isn’t convenient, a private shuttle bus is another option. The route is run by a company called Coop Il Sentiero, and they should have departures from the Latina station at 9:30 AM, 10:25 AM, 11:25 AM, and 12:50 PM. It’s best to call ahead and reserve your seats so that you’re guaranteed to get a spot.
Travel time:
Getting from central Rome to the Ninfa Gardens takes about 1 hour. You’ll spend 40 minutes on the train from Rome to Latina and then another 15 minutes by either bus or taxi to the gardens.
Cost:
The trip from Rome to the Ninfa Gardens costs 4 to 10 euros with public transport.
13. Rome to Ostia Antica
Distance from Rome: 40 minutes
How to get there: Subway to train
Cost of transport: 3 euros one-way
Best for: History lovers, Roman ruins
If you’re interested in Roman ruins, Ostia Antica is a must-visit. This extensive complex is only about an hour from central Rome and easily rivals Pompeii in many ways. Ostia was the most important port of Ancient Rome, but when Rome fell the port was abandoned. Over time, it was engulfed by mud and eventually it became buried and forgotten.
Having now been extensively uncovered, these ruins present one of the best examples of an ancient Roman town anywhere in Italy. Extremely well-preserved (thanks to the mud it was buried in!), you can walk down ancient cobbled streets and see shops, multi-story apartment buildings, theaters, temples, bathhouses, and more.
With so much to see, plan to spend at least 2-3 hours exploring the ruins and marveling at this fantastic monument to ancient Rome. If you’re looking to delve deeper into the history of this ancient Roman port, connect with local guide Fulvia Rossi.
How to get from Rome to Ostia Antica:
Getting to Ostia Antica is pretty quick and easy: depending on where you’re leaving from in Rome, you’ll want to either take a bus or the metro to the Piramide metro stop where you can then switch to a commuter train that will bring you the rest of the way to Ostia.
Piramide is on Rome’s metro line B, so if you’re anywhere near Termini station or the Colosseum stop, you’ll just hop on the metro and head straight there. From other parts of Rome, it may make more sense to take a bus to get to Piramide.
From Piramide, you’ll transfer to the local commuter train line - Roma Lido - which runs directly to Ostia Antica station. The commuter train station, called Roma Ostiense, is not actually part of the Piramide station, but the tracks are adjacent to the metro line, so you’ll just walk across and hop straight onto the commuter train when it comes. Once on the train, it’s a 20-minute ride to the Ostia Antica stop.
When you arrive at Ostia Antica station, you’ll need to walk 5 minutes to the entrance of the ruins. There’s excellent signage pointing the way, so just follow the instructions.
Travel time:
Getting from central Rome to Ostia Antica is an easy 30-40 minutes by subway and train.
Cost:
3 euro each way
14. Rome to Naples
Distance from Rome: 1 hour
How to get there: Direct train
Cost of transport: 15-60 euros one-way
Best for: Urban explorers, foodies
Despite being Italy’s third-largest city, Naples is often overlooked in favor of other cities like Florence, Venice, Milan, or almost anywhere else. Pilloried by many tourists as be dirty, chaotic, and even unsafe, lots of people will tell you to skip Naples. Doing so would be a mistake though!
While Naples may be chaotic, it’s also one of the liveliest and most culturally interesting cities in all of Italy. As long as you come prepared for a cacophony of sounds, smells, and yes, traffic, a visit here is enlightening and rewarding on many levels.
In the historic center, you’ll find multiple palaces and castles, as well as stately squares lined by churches and historic buildings. A walk along Via Spaccanapoli, a narrow street that splits the historic center in two and passes through many of the city’s main squares and sights is the perfect way to get your bearings and knock out a lot of sightseeing in one go.
All while traveling along this street you’ll be able to visit the Piazza del Gesu Nuovo, the Palazzo Venezia, Piazza S. Domenico Maggiore, and the Duomo of Naples. Tons of little side streets branch off from Spaccanapoli, so you can also wander down any one of them that catches your eye.
After a busy day of sightseeing, Naples will also reward you with hearty, delicious food. The city is most famous for its pizza, but it also offers fantastic seafood as well as great street eats, so come hungry and be prepared to feast.
If you make it to Naples, you’ll be well rewarded!
For a great tour of this gloriously chaotic city, consider reaching out to Salerno-based local guide Roberto.
How to get from Rome to Naples:
The easiest way to get from Rome to Naples is hands down by train. You have options of varying speed, and cost, but the most comfortable and quickest option is to take a direct high-speed train from Roma Termini station directly to Napoli Centrale station. You won’t need to make any transfers and the journey takes just over an hour.
Trains to Naples start as early as 5:00 AM and run until about 10:30 PM. There are anywhere from 4-8 departures each hour, so you can really just show up any time and catch the next train.
For more detailed info on getting to Naples, check out our guide on Rome to Naples by train.
Travel time:
Getting from Rome to Naples takes a mere 1 hour on the high-speed Frecciarossa or Italo trains
Cost:
Depending on how far in advance you buy your tickets, a one-way journey will cost anywhere from 15-60 euros.
15. Rome to Montecassino Abbey
Distance from Rome: 1.5 hours by car, 2 to 2.5 hours by train and bus
How to get there: Rental car, train to bus
Cost of transport: 10 euros one-way
Best for: Religious enthusiasts, WW2 buffs
Founded by Saint Benedict in 529 and built on the ruins of a Roman temple, Montecassino Abbey is one of the oldest abbeys in Europe. It has been sacked, destroyed, and rebuilt multiple times over the course of its history. It was most recently almost completely destroyed during World War 2, during the infamous battle of Monte Cassino.
Fully rebuilt following the war, this huge structure, is now a monastery and active pilgrimage site. Visitors to the abbey can tour the cloisters, the basilica, and the onsite museum which is filled with roman ruins, mosaics, coins, and an excellent collection of religious items.
Perched on top of a mountain in southern Lazio, the Abbey affords sweeping panoramic views of the surrounding countryside, and a visit here will surely be memorable.
How to get from Rome to Montecassino Abbey:
For getting to Montecassino Abbey from Rome, your best option is definitely to rent a car. The Abbey is not easily reached by public transportation, so relying on the train to get you here will be a bit of a hassle and add a fair deal of travel time.
If you don’t mind renting a car, this is a very pleasant way to visit the Abbey and the 140-kilometer ride should be an easy 1.5 hours. Having the car will also give you the freedom to make some stops along the way, visiting interesting places like Frascati, Castel Gandolfo, or any number of other pleasant towns and sites.
If you’re not up for renting a car, you can still reach Monteccasino Abbey from Rome via the train, but it will just be a longer journey.
There are direct trains between Rome’s Termini station and the town of Cassino. and the train ride lasts 1.5 to 2 hours. From the Cassino train station, the abbey is still about a 20-minute drive though, so on arrival you’ll need to catch a bus or taxi to take you the rest of the way. The taxi should cost around 20 euros, whereas a one-way bus ticket is 1-2 euros.
There are trains starting from 6:00 AM, with up to three departures each hour throughout the day, until 10:00 PM.
To cut down on travel time, your best bet is to catch either the 07:42 or 8:00 AM trains from Termini station in Rome, which will have you arriving in Cassino by 9:47. You’ll then be able to catch a 9:55 bus to take you the remaining 20 minutes on to the Abbey, making the total travel time just over two hours.
Travel time:
By car Rome to Montecassino Abbey is a straight 1.5 hour shot. If you opt for the train and then a taxi or the bus, it’ll take you 2-2.5 hours.
Cost:
Between the train and bus, getting from Rome to Montecassino Abbey should cost about 10 euros each way. If you decide to take a taxi from the train station in Cassino, it’ll cost you about 30 euro each way.
16. Rome to Pompeii
Distance from Rome: 2 hours
How to get there: 2 trains
Cost of transport: 15-60 euros one-way
Best for: History lovers
If you can only visit one set of Roman ruins, Pompeii makes a pretty good choice. Easily reachable from Rome, and ideal for combining with some sightseeing in Naples, a visit to Pompeii is a great way to spend a day.
Pompeii was a flourishing resort city during Roman times, until Mount Vesuvius exploded in 79 AD and buried the entire city under volcanic ash. The ash preserved the city remarkably well, which has given us a unique look at what life was like in the ancient Roman empire.
The ruins are quite extensive, so plan to spend anywhere from 2-4 hours here. While Pompeii can be visited on your own, the onsite signage is seriously lacking, so if you aren’t a Roman history buff, you’ll be missing out on a lot if you explore independently.
To really appreciate the history and to make the most of your visit, its best to go with a guide. For a private tour, we always recommend Roberto, our favorite local guide in the area who also happens to be an archeologist!
How to get from Rome to Pompeii:
Getting from Rome to Pompeii is surprisingly quick and easy, and as usual, your best option is to take the train. There are no direct trains between Rome and Pompeii though, so you’ll have to first get to Naples, and then make a transfer there to head on to Pompeii.
As we explained above, there are direct trains traveling between Rome’s Termini station and Naples’ Napoli Centrale station starting as early as 5:00 AM and running until about 10:30 PM. There are anywhere from 4-8 departures each hour, so you have plenty of options.
Once you arrive in Naples, you’ll need to transfer to another train on the Circumvesuviana line. The train station for the Circumvesuviana is called Piazza Garibaldi and it’s just a short walk from Napoli Centrali. You’ll need to cross a walkway and then head down the stairs/escalators to find the tracks.
From Piazza Garibaldi station to Pompeii there are up to three trains per hour, starting from 6:00 AM until 10:00 PM. The train ride from Naples to Pompeii is 40 minutes. There are a few different stations named Pompeii, so be sure to get off at the Pompeii Scavi – Villa Dei Misteri stop.
Travel time:
Getting from Rome to Pompeii takes just about 2 hours after factoring in waiting time between your train connection. It’s just over an hour to Naples and then another 40 minutes on to Pompeii.
Cost:
Tickets from Rome to Naples cost about 15 to 60 euros depending on what type of train you book and how far in advance you purchase your tickets. The Circumvesuviana train from Naples to Pompeii costs 3 euro.
17. Rome to the Castelli Romani
Distance from Rome: 40 minutes
How to get there: Direct train
Cost of transport: 2 euros one-way
Best for: Lake views, local travelers, foodies
The Castelli Romani are a collection of towns in the hills around Lake Albano, so this is not just one location and there’s not one way to get to each town. The two most famous towns are Frascati and Castel Gandolfo. They are lovely little places, each often with their own local delicacies like the porchetta of Frascati.
Castel Gandolfo served for centuries as the summer residence of the Pope and the estate is now an interesting museum. Each town is small and compact, so they make for easy exploring on foot. You typically have gorgeous views of the lakes and surrounding hills and some towns even have lake beaches for anyone searching for a heat-busting dip.
There are direct trains from Rome’s Termini station to many of these towns, so getting to them is really quite easy.
How to get from Rome to Castelli Romani:
Direct trains for Castel Gandolfo depart from Rome’s Termini station starting as early as 6:00 AM and run until about 10:00 PM.
Frascati is another very popular town to visit, and getting there from Rome is much the same as Castel Gandolfo. Trains depart from Termini beginning in the early morning and run once per hour throughout the day.
Travel time:
Rome to Frascati is about 30 minutes on the train. Rome to Castel Gandolfo takes 40-50 minutes.
Cost:
One-way tickets from Rome to both Frascati and Castel Gandolfo cost 2 euro.
18. Rome to Sperlonga Beach
Distance from Rome: 1.5 hours
How to get there: Train to bus
Cost of transport: 8.50 euros one-way
Best for: Cooling off at the beach with locals
Sitting between Rome and Naples, Sperlonga beach is a little slice of paradise that’s the perfect escape when you’re tired of the big city. This is a lovely and expansive sandy beach with clear water and gentle waves perfect for swimming.
There are plenty of facilities lining the beach, with stabilimenti (beach clubs) offering beach loungers and umbrellas for a fee. Few foreign visitors come here, so expect to be mingling mostly with Romans and Neapolitans out for a day at the shore.
Once you’ve had enough of the beach, you can easily spend an hour or two just exploring the lovely whitewashed medieval village of Sperlonga. The “centro storico” (historic center) of town more closely resembles a village in the Greek Islands than a typical Italian town, so the architecture will be very different from what you’ve seen elsewhere.
If you find yourself with extra time and are looking for something else to do, Sperlonga also boasts roman ruins. The Roman emperor Tiberius had a holiday home here, which was accidentally discovered in the 1950s. The remains of the Villa di Tiberio aren’t super impressive, but the tickets are inexpensive, and the connected museum has some pretty fantastic artifacts.
Whenever you get hungry, just pick a restaurant that looks good and give it a try. You’re well off the traditional tourist trail here, so you won’t need to be on the lookout for tourist traps catering to international visitors. And since Sperlonga is on the sea, definitely try the seafood.
How to get from Rome to Sperlonga Beach:
There’s no public transportation that goes directly to the town of Sperlonga from Rome, but trains do go to nearby Fondi, which has a bus to take you on to Sperlonga. For getting from Rome to Fondi, there are 1-2 trains per hour starting from 6:00 AM and going until about 11:00 PM.
Fondi is about 15 kilometers away from Sperlonga, so once you arrive at the train station, you’ll need to catch the bus or call a cab to take you the rest of the way. If taking the bus, the route from Fondi to Sperlonga is run by a private bus company called Piazzoli. You can buy tickets for the bus at the Fondi train station and you can see their timetables here.
Travel time:
The train ride from Rome to Fondi is an hour and the bus from Fondi to the beach is about another 30 minutes. In total between the train and the bus, the trip takes a little over 1.5 hours.
Cost:
One-way train tickets from Rome to Fondi cost 7 euro. The bus from Fondi to Sperlonga costs 1.50 euro. So, your total cost to get to Sperlonga beach from Rome is 8.50 euro each way.
19. Rome to the Amalfi Coast
Distance from Rome: 3 hours
How to get there: 2 trains and a local bus
Cost of transport: 23-70 euros one-way
Best for: Stunning views
The Amalfi Coast is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful areas in all of Italy, and you could easily spend a few days to a week exploring the region’s towns, beaches, and islands. If you only have time for a day trip and you have your heart set on a visit here, it’s certainly doable, but be prepared for a very long day.
Coming from Rome, cliffside Positano is the first town that you’ll come across. With its pastel-colored buildings and sweeping views, this is one of the most beautiful towns on the Amalfi Coast and it offers a gorgeous introduction to the region.
From here, you can head on to Praiano, another cliffside town with a great public beach, Furore and it’s Fiordo di Furore beach, or the lovely small town of Amalfi. The Duomo di Amalfi is the main attraction here, but the town itself is a pleasant place to go for a stroll as well.
For a slightly different experience, a visit to Ravello is also a fantastic choice. Sitting high in the hills above the coast, Ravello offers panoramic views and less crowds than its neighboring towns. There are two beautiful villas to explore here, you can visit the town’s Duomo, and spend some time people watching in the main square.
If you enjoy bouncing between towns, there are plenty more to visit, like Minori, Maori, Cetara, Vietri sul Mare, etc., all along the road to Salerno.
While the Amalfi Coast can be visited as a day trip from Rome, this will end up being a very long day, with a lot of time spent traveling. With that said, if you’ve got your heart set on seeing the Amalfi Coast and don’t have time to stay for a few days, below are instructions for how to visit it as a day trip.
How to get from Rome to the Amalfi Coast:
If you plan to do the whole journey via public transportation, you’ll need to make 2 transfers, one in Naples, and the other in Sorrento.
From Rome’s Termini station, you’ll first catch a high-speed train direct to Naples’ Napoli Centrale station. There, you’ll make the short walk over to the Piazza Garibaldi station, where you can catch a Circumvesuviana train on to Sorrento
For the last leg of your journey on to the coast, you’ll need to catch a SITA bus from Sorrento, heading in the direction of Salerno, and which will make stops at many of the towns along the Amalfi Coast.
SITA buses run constantly throughout the day, starting in the early morning and running until relatively late in the evening, so there are lots of options leaving from and returning to Sorrento.
Each of these connecting routes has departures all throughout the day, from early morning until late evening, so to make the trip worthwhile, you can spend a very full day in the Amalfi Coast and head back to Rome late in the evening.
If public transport sounds like too much of a hassle, a good option is to take the high-speed train to Naples and then hire a driver from there. Our favorite local driver-guide is Sorrento resident Marco.
Travel time:
In terms of travel time, the train from Rome to Naples should take about an hour, the train from Naples to Sorrento is another hour, and the bus from Sorrento to Positano will take one more hour. In total, you’re looking at 3 hours of travel time, plus however long you need to wait between each connection.
Cost:
The train from Rome to Naples (one way) will cost you from 15 to 60 euros, the train from Naples to Sorrento 5 euros, and the bus from Sorrento another 2-3 euros.
Explore with Francesca!
