10 of the Top Day Trips from Rome

Whether or not you’re a history buff, the impressive Etruscan Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia are among the best one-day trips from Rome. These UNESCO World Heritage sites sit northwest of the Italian capital near the Lazio coastline and are known for their thousands of tombs hinting at Etruscan life as early as the 7th century BC. Tour Tarquinia’s famous painted burial sites, walk around Cerveteri’s city-like maze of tombs, or see both necropolises on a guided day trip from Rome with round-trip transportation included.

As long as your first stop in Naples is a café to sip some of the city’s notoriously strong espresso, a day trip to this cultural capital is entirely doable from Rome—it's just over an hour away by high-speed train. Naples walking tours give you an overview of the city’s highlights, from the Veiled Christ sculpture in Sansevero Chapel to the UNESCO–listed historic center’s street food and underground ruins, in just a few hours. To really do the journey justice, book a tour that allows you to see both Naples and Pompeii from Rome, or add on a tour of the nearby Royal Palace of Caserta (Reggia di Caserta).

It’s not hard to see why the Castelli Romani—a cluster of municipalities about 45 minutes southeast of Rome—have long been a favorite getaway for popes and emperors. From lakeside hikes to world-class wines and splendid fortresses built hundreds of years ago, these 17 villages offer something for everyone and are best explored on guided day trips from Rome. Highlights include the vineyards and villas of Frascati and the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo, which has magnificent papal residences and gardens overlooking Lake Albano.

Though it’s in an entirely different region—Umbria instead of Rome’s Lazio—Orvieto is one of the top day trips near Rome. Take a 1.5-hour train and a quick funicular ride up to this clifftop town, known for its massive, mosaic-covered Orvieto Cathedral. Sightseeing tours take you both above and below ground to explore the city’s medieval Old Town and Etruscan tunnels, while private tours often include round-trip transport from Rome and additional visits to nearby hill towns such as Civita di Bagnoreggio.

Whether it’s the height of summer or a sunny day in winter, one of the best day trips from Rome is the seaside town of Santa Marinella. Less than an hour away by train, the city’s soft sand, sparkling water, and fresh seafood restaurants rank it among the nicest beach towns in Italy. Bring a towel to lay out on the public stretches of sand, or take your pick among the many beach clubs offering sun chairs for rent and lunch with a view.

Related: The Best Beaches in Italy to Visit This Summer

Straight out of a storybook, Sermoneta has medieval origins and the towering 13th-century Caetani Castle to prove it. A 40-minute train from Rome to Latina, then a quick bus ride, gets you to this walled hill town overlooking the Lazio countryside. Book a Sermoneta tour that shows you the town’s extraordinarily preserved medieval architecture, from cathedrals to abbeys, before heading to the nearby Garden of Ninfa. This idyllic English garden—replete with streams, waterfalls, and 1,300 plant species that include everything from wisteria to cherry trees—has enchanted writers, such as Virginia Woolf and Truman Capote.

Gaeta, a seaside city about two hours south of Rome, is known not only for its sapphire waters and sandy beaches, but also for the centuries-old sights set atop its rocky bluffs. Put on your hiking shoes to explore the Montagna Spaccata, the “Split Mountain” with a dramatic seafront staircase leading down to an 11th-century chapel and the Grotto del Turco. Spend the afternoon lounging on the unspoiled Serapo Beach or embarking on a boat tour that shows you Gaeta’s landmark Angevin Aragonese Castle from the water.

Step more than 2,000 years back in time by visiting Ancient Ostia, a once-thriving Roman trade center dating back to the 4th century BC. Guided Ostia day trips help you navigate the half-hour train ride southwest from Rome, then show you the archaeological site’s well preserved baths, frescoed apartment buildings, and Square of the Guilds featuring the ruins of dozens of shops and offices. For the most detailed, customized look at daily life in this old commercial center, book a private Ancient Ostia tour with an archaeologist guide.

Thanks to the vastly different, equally worthwhile Hadrian’s Villa (Villa Adriana) and Villa d’Este, the ancient town of Tivoli makes for one of the most scenic day trips from Rome. Start at Hadrian’s Villa, where the 1st-century emperor ruled Rome from his sprawling residence about 19 miles (30 kilometers) outside the capital. Although most of the complex is in ruins, visiting with an archaeologist will help you make sense of the baths, palaces, and temples that remain. Book a two-part Tivoli tour that also includes Villa d’Este, known for its fanciful fountains that represent Renaissance gardens at their finest.

An hour northwest of Rome, Lake Bracciano is the place to swim, sail, and explore the medieval villages surrounding the volcanic lake. The town of Bracciano has waterfront hiking trails and the Odescalchi Castle—a Renaissance fortress displaying 16th-century weaponry, frescoes, and sumptuous rooms—while the quieter villages of Trevignano Romano and Anguillara Sabazia are ideal for meandering along cobblestone lanes and lounging by the lakeshore. See all three towns on a full-day Lake Bracciano tour from Rome.