10 Best Day Trip From Rome, Italy: Explore The Beauty Beyond The Capital

Are you looking for some ideas for a day trip from Rome? I have been to Rome a number of times, and I’m going to share with you the possible day trip destinations from the Eternal City. These destinations are roughly a few hours away from the capital via various modes of transportation including bullet trains.

Everyone is aware of how wonderful Rome is. If evidence were needed, the list of top things to do in the Italian capital serves as it. Even the most ardent Romans will acknowledge that the city can occasionally become a bit chaotic, and spending time outside the city can be healthy for the heart, body, and mind. What are the best day trips from Rome, then, it must be asked with this in mind.

Although there are many more that could be included, we’ll concentrate on the top five. What comes next is a stunning mix of cosmopolitan cities with vibrant cultures and serene hilltop wonders, with romantic restaurants, real history, and plenty of wine waiting all along the way. We agree that the best day trips from Rome celebrate both the north and the south.

Read more: Best Things to Do in Rome, Italy for First Time Visitors

Here is the Best Day Trip from Rome, Italy:

1. Pescara 

The same-named Italian province in the Abruzzo region, which is dispersed along the Adriatic coast, has Pescara as its capital city. Numerous Italians made the city their preferred vacation destination because of the city’s snow-white sand beaches, clear turquoise water, and ease of swimming.

Due to its thriving nightlife and abundance of architectural landmarks, Pescara is well known. The San Setteo Cathedral, constructed in the Italian Renaissance style, and the 17th-century Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows frequently draw visitors’ attention.

The famous author G. D’Annunzio’s home, which is hidden behind walls in the former Caserma neighborhood, is the city’s pride. If you visit the city beach, you can see the Pineta d’Avalos pine grove and charming villas built in the early 20th century in the liberty style. Additionally, from the Ponte del Mare bridge, one can take in a breathtaking view of Pescara.

If you take public transportation from Rome, it will take you 3-4 hours to get here; if you drive, it will take you 2 hours. I wrote another article about the best things to do in Pescara, I encourage you to read it to know more about this Adriatic coastal city.

Read more: Best Things To Do In Abruzzo, Italy

2. Ostia Antica 

One of the best day trips from Rome is to Ostia Antica, an ancient settlement only 30 km away. This ancient city, which once had 100,000 residents, served as Rome’s main port and a significant hub for trade.

The Decumanus Maximus, a 1 km long street, runs alongside Ostia Antica’s ruins. The Capitolium, the city’s largest temple, and the Hercules temple stand out among the numerous significant temple ruins that can be found along this street.

Other interesting sights include the lovely mosaic-adorned public baths known as Termi Nettuno and the taverns where locals drank wine. The amphitheater, also known as Agrippa’s Theater, is the main attraction in Ostia Antica. Up to 4,000 spectators could once watch theatrical performances there.

One of the great things about Ostia Antica is that it’s easily accessible from Rome by public transport. Depending on what station you’re gonna take, it would take you 35 minutes to 1 hour for public transportation and 30 minutes if you use a private car. 

3. Pompeii 

One of the most well-liked day trips from Rome is to the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. Anyone who is interested in history and archaeological sites must visit it. During the Mount Vesuvius eruption in AD 79, which completely destroyed Pompeii and claimed the lives of about 2000 of its residents, the ancient city was buried under 4-6 meters of volcanic ash and pumice.

The ruins of the ancient city’s structures and even its inhabitants are still visible today if you walk around it. The bodies of the people of Pompeii were dismembered and left with holes in the solidified volcanic mass, which allowed the archaeologists to fill these holes with liquid plaster to make plaster replicas of the victims.

These plasters have revealed the appearance of the locals in their final moments. People who were holding their children tightly in their arms, in fetal positions, people who were visibly in pain, and even dogs and cats, were examples of this. Although it is heartbreaking and terrifying to see, it was also fascinating to learn what it was like to be there when the eruption occurred.

The journey takes around two hours from Rome to Pompeii via a bullet train. Now, if you are going to use a private car, it would take 2 to 3 hours worth of traveling.

4. Naples

Take a train from Rome to Naples and discover its beauty and strong energy. Naples has improved its reputation recently and is now worth a visit on its own, despite the fact that most travelers pass through this seaside city en route to Pompeii. Naples is a city that fulfills the body and the soul. It is home to magnificent architectural wonders like the Cappella Sansevero and Castel dell-Ovo, vibrant street life, and some of Italy’s most renowned food.

Before having a Margherita at one of the many pizzerias along Via dei Tribunali, start by exploring Spaccanapoli and the meandering lanes of the Decumani. When you’re ready to see Mount Vesuvius from across the Bay of Naples, move on over to the Piazza del Plebiscito, which is the city’s focal point.

You should spend some time in the Archaeological Museum of Naples, which includes historic artifacts and mosaics discovered at Pompeii, as well as the tiled cloister of Chiostro Santa Chiara. During sweltering summer days, take refuge underground with a tour of the Catacombs of San Gennaro and learn more about this interesting city’s distinctive side.

Naple is accessible from Rome by public transport. It would take you 1 hour and 20 minutes to 2 hours for public transportation. If you are going to travel by private car, it would be 2 hours to 3 hours and 20 minutes.

5. Caserta – Caserta Royal Palace 

Luigi Vanvitelli, one of the greatest Italian architects of the 18th century, created the Caserta Royal Palace and Park, north of Naples, in accordance with the wishes of Charles of Bourbon III. It combines elements from Versailles, Rome, and Tuscany.

Caserta is regarded as an innovative and successful example of Italian Baroque architecture. The garden’s pools, fountains, and cascades cover 11 acres and extend as far as the eye can see thanks to a “telescope effect” alignment.

Explore the Caserta gardens and travel the network of basins and fountains from the palace to a waterfall in the forest. One of the estate’s highlights, the English Garden, has a lake and decorations that resemble ancient ruins. It is located past the playhouse that resembles a castle and the pond where pretend naval battles take place.

By bicycle or horse-drawn carriage, you can see as much of this vast and stunning area as you can. The grounds are so stunning that they have served as the backdrop for blockbuster movies like Star Wars and Mission Impossible.

It is accessible from Rome by public transport which would take 1 to 2 hours. For a private car escapade, it would take you 2 to 3 hours. 

6. Tivoli – Hadrian’s Villa

Hadrian, the Roman emperor, sought solace from the hectic political life in Rome in the second century AD. Hadrian’s Villa was constructed in Tivoli, which he selected as the location of his retreat and is located about 30 kilometers from the capital.

It turned out that it was so expertly constructed that Hadrian decided he liked it better than Rome and made it his official residence, ruling the empire from here in his final years.

It expanded in size and grandeur as a result of its significance. More than just a house, Hadrian’s Villa was actually a small city.

The ruins of palaces, temples, barracks, and libraries can still be seen today. There are also gardens, swimming pools, and resting areas because it was ultimately a tranquil and serene setting. These days, visiting this World Heritage Site and thoroughly exploring it takes a few hours. It is dispersed across several interconnected areas.

Even though much of it is in ruins, you can still easily imagine how beautiful and lavish it must have once been. I would advise you to go to the Villa d’Este as well while you are in Tivoli. Another World Heritage Site and a prominent landmark of the town is this opulent villa from the sixteenth century.

Tivoli’s famous villas and gardens are easily accessible via a combo of trains and buses from Rome, and it would take you approximately 1 hour. On the other hand, if you are going to use a private car, it would only take you 35 minutes. 

7. Florence 

Despite being nearly 300 km to the north of Rome, Florence is easily accessible by day trip. You’ll have plenty of time thanks to the brief train ride to explore Florence’s fascinating historic center. Visit the well-known David statue in the Galleria dell’Accademia museum first thing in the morning.

After that, spend some time admiring the numerous exquisite Renaissance structures before going to the Duomo di Firenze, Florence’s well-known cathedral. Later, get some amazing Tuscan pizzas at Pizzeria Dante on the River Arno’s southern bank.

On your way back into the city center, be sure to pass by the well-known Ponte Vecchio Bridge. You could even extend your day trip and go to the Leaning Tower of Pisa if you only want to see the main Florence attractions quickly.

You can travel independently from Rome to Florence by purchasing high-speed train tickets (ideally well in advance of your trip, as prices do tend to increase the closer you get to your departure date). You would need about 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete this. Now, if you were to drive yourself, it would take you three to four hours.

8. Orvieto 

Consider the Umbrian hill town of Orvieto, a charming little town bursting with history and fantastic architecture, if you’re looking for enjoyable day trips from Rome. It commands commanding views of the Umbrian countryside below from its high perch atop a tufa rock. The magnificent Duomo di Orvieto will astound you with its opulent interior and glitzy exterior. Your first stop in Orvieto ought to be there.

Then ascend to the Torre del Moro’s summit for stunning rooftop views. Even though it was cloudy and raining when we went, the views still astounded us. Visit the engineering marvel Pozzo di San Patrizio. Mules going up and down the well never had to cross each other because of the double helix construction. Ingenious!

Discover the maze of caves and tunnels constructed by inhabitants dating all the way back to Etruscan times by taking the Orvieto Underground guided tour. After taking in Orvieto’s top attractions, take some time to simply stroll through the town’s streets and admire the architecture, snap pictures of charming doorways, and peruse the ceramics shops.

Rome and Orvieto are connected by frequent trains. The alternative is to take a fast train, which travels in about 50 minutes. Local trains travel in about 90 minutes. After that, you must board a local bus. A trip by public transportation would take between 1 and 2 hours in total. It would take between one and two hours if you used a private vehicle.

9. Enjoy the National Parks 

Rome is among the greenest cities in all of Europe thanks to its renowned seven hills and numerous villa parks. Any passeggiata in the Eternal City will undoubtedly feature gorgeous umbrella pines, shady spots beneath palm trees, and buildings covered in cascading ivy. Rome is a beautiful city with a wonderful blend of nature, culture, history, and beauty; be sure to visit some of the city’s parks and gardens.

Majella

The Majella, known as the “Mother Mountain,” is a never-ending source of natural beauty and human history in Abruzzo’s traditions, history, literature, and poetry. Shepherds’ huts, lone churches, monasteries, and inscriptions can be found almost everywhere in the mountain, at all elevations.

Pause for a moment to reflect on a very odd aspect of the Majella landscape: the abundance of ancient hermitages and monasteries, many of which rise on high rocks like eagle’s nests. Famous monks and hermits spent most of their lives there centuries ago, including Pietro Angelieri from Molise, who would later be elected a Pope and become Saint Pietro Celestino.

Gran Sasso 

Film and television productions frequently use the breathtaking Gran Sasso mountains, the highest of the Apennine peaks, and the Campo Imperatore, a vast, high mountain plateau sometimes referred to as Italy’s “little Tibet.”

Currently, the region is a part of the 1992-founded National Park of the Gran Sasso and Laga, which is the second-largest in Italy and has mountains that are all more than 2000 meters high. Mussolini was held captive in a hotel in 1943 before being rescued by the Germans. The hotel is located in the shadow of the Corno Grande, the highest peak in the Gran Sasso. An extremely valuable heritage of flora and fauna can be found on the Campo Imperatore plateau, which is located in the center of the Gran Sasso group at an average elevation of 1800 meters above sea level.

Riserva Naturale Orientata Monte Velino 

The Abruzzo towns of Magliano de’ Marsi and Massa d’Albe (AQ) are home to the oriented nature reserve known as Monte Velino. In a region where attempts to create a number of protected areas have been made since the mid-1960s, the reserve was established with Ministerial Decree No. 427 of July 21, 1987.

Gentian, marsican iris, narcissus, red lily, rare peonies, viola eugeniae, and various species of orchids are just a few of the plants and flowers that are typical of the protected area. The Oasi del Cervo project, started in the 1990s to promote the repopulation of the deer throughout the Sirente-Velino park chain, is one of the initiatives related to the reintroduction and protection of fauna species. Visit this place; it’s worthwhile.

Parco Naturale Regionale di Bracciano Martignano 

Lazio’s regional natural park of Bracciano-Martignano was created as a protected natural area in 1999. Between the provinces of Rome and Viterbo, the park occupies a space of about 202 km2. Lake Bracciano and Lake Martignano are located within the park’s boundaries, along with three SCI areas and a UNESCO site.

The chestnut tree, which was likely introduced by the Romans, is the most common tree in the woodlands that cover the hills, but there are also woods of magnificent high-trunk beech trees, such as those in Oriolo and on Mt. Termine. Of course, the areas near lakes have the richest environments. While Martignano’s lake is the only body of water among the fields, the charming towns of Trevignano, Bracciano, and Anguillara Sabazia are situated on either side of Bracciano Lake.

10. Enjoy Wine tours in Tuscany

Can you think of a more idyllic activity than wine tasting in Tuscany? Spend a day away from the bustle of Rome sipping wine in the Tuscan countryside, trading in city views for vineyard vistas, and making a few stops in picturesque hilltop towns.

You should probably reserve a guided tour if you want to travel from Rome to Tuscany for a day of wine tasting and vineyard exploration. They’ll take care of your transportation, and you won’t have to worry about how much alcohol you consume (and Tuscan wineries tend to pour generously). Even if you don’t typically like taking organized tours, think about making an exception in this case.

Although Tuscany is a region not to be missed, it is a good idea to delegate the planning for a day trip due to its size and proximity to Rome. The best-known wines from Tuscany include Chianti, Brunello di Montepulciano (made in southern Tuscany, reachable from Rome! ), and the renowned Super Tuscans from the Bolgheri region.

There are ten notable wine regions in all of Tuscany, and while you can’t visit them all in a single day from Rome, you can definitely get a good start.

If you use a private vehicle to travel here from Rome, it will take you between three and four hours; if you take public transportation, it will take you about two hours.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Everything Zany

Travel Blog

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