I love Rome and while it’s true that “all roads lead to Rome” that also means that all roads essentially lead out of Rome. The Eternal city is a wonderful place to learn and explore, but luckily there are some amazing Rome day trips just a few miles away. A day trip from Rome can be a great way to explore more of Italy without having to pack up your bags and change lodging. These are our favorite picks!

This post about the best day trips from Rome was written by Italy travel expert Vanessa Hunt and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this website.

How to Get Out of Rome

The best way to travel around Italy is usually by train. The train system is fast and efficient and will usually get you where you need to go faster than a car will. Plus the train gives you a chance to relax and enjoy the beautiful Italian countryside out the window. If you’re visiting Rome with kids, riding a high speed train is a great option because you don’t need car seats.

You can rent a car, but just beware that you will need an international driving permit to drive in Italy. You must get this before you visit Italy. Learn about how to get your International Driving Permit for Italy.

You can learn more by reading mistakes to avoid on your trip to Italy.

Best Day Trips from Rome

Ostia Antica

This easily accessible destination is one of the best day trips from Rome. In its hay-day, it was one of the busiest and most important port cities in Italy. This ancient city has a very long and interesting history including wars, emperors, and pirates! Ostia Antica is open to the public, but many of the excavated artifacts can be found at the Museo Ostiense.

Explore the Street of Tombs, the Decumanus Maximus, Baths of Neptune, mosaics of Neptune, Agrippa Amphitrite and Forum, and the Temple of Rome and Augustus.

Getting There: Getting to Ostia Antica is really easy. Just catch the Roma-Lido train from the Roma Porta San Paolo station and it’s only 7 stops away, about 30 minutes. If you have a car, Ostia Antica is only a 30 minute drive from the center of Rome.

Tours: This half day tour of Ostia Antica will pick you up at your accommodation and you’ll have a private guide to walk you through the ancient city.

Or you can take this half day tour of Ostia Antica by train in a small group.

Tivoli

Located in the Monti Tiburtini hills, Tivoli is a beautiful mountain town with a wealth of historical sites, villas, gardens, and natural beauty. You will be able to visit two World Heritage sites only 30 kilometers from Rome. This fun day trips will take you all day.

Visit Hadrian’s Villa. Just as you may be looking to escape the bustle of Rome, the Roman Emperor Hadrian was looking for the same respite. Our first World Heritage Site stop, Hadrian’s Villa, is not just a villa, it’s more of a village. Explore the beautiful gardens and pools, ruins of palaces, temples, and libraries. This can be a relaxing activity on a nice day and a break from the crowds of the city.

Check out Villa d’Este. Our second UNESCO World Heritage Site stop is Villa d’Este. This 16th-century villa is one of the most amazing examples of Renaissance culture and architecture at its most refined. The fountains in the gardens are incredible!

Built by Pope Pius II in the 15th century, Rocca Pia is a castle, but was actually used as a prison during the 1960s. Unfortunately you can’t go in, but it’s still worth stopping by as it’s along your walk to Villa d’Este.

Getting There: The best way to get to Tivoli from Rome is just a train ride. Check routes from both Roma Tiburtina or Roma Termini. The trip should take less than an hour. From there you can take the #4 bus or a taxi (15 minutes) to Hadrian’s Villa. But from the train station, it’s only around a 15 minute (1 kilometer) walk to Villa d’Este, with

Tours: If you don’t want to worry about getting there yourself, you can take this guided tour from Rome to Villa d’Este and Hadrian’s Villa.

Orvieto

Orvieto is a relaxing day trip from Rome. This town perched on charming hill towns in Umbria features the Duomo di Orvieto, Pozzo di San Patrizio, Torre del Moro, adorable shops, and small restaurants. You can also take a tour of the ancient underground Orvieto. Orvieto is not a crazy busy tourist town, so it will be a nice break from the busyness of Rome.

Getting There: Orvieto is a 1.5-hour drive from the city center or a 1-hour train ride from Roma Tiburtina station.

Tours: Take a private walking tour of Orvieto with a local or take a guided day trip from Rome to Orvieto and Assisi for a special wine tasting experience.

Bracciano Lake

Bracciano Lake and the medeival town of Bracciano are both beautiful getaways from Rome. In the town you can visit the 15th-century Orsini Odescalchi Castle (pictured) for a beautiful view of the lake or check out the Duomo di Santo Stefano cathedral. If you have time, visit the nearby towns of Trevignano Romano and Anguillara Sabazia.

Getting There: Lake Bracciano is about a 1 hour 10 minute train ride out of Rome or a 45 minute car ride.

Naples

Your number one goal in Naples: find pizza! Naples often gets a bad rap, but it’s a great city with a delicious history. There are some impressive castles to visit, but if you’re castled out and ready for a feast, be sure to visit the first pizzeria to make Margherita pizza, and believed to be the first pizzeria in the world. It’s still open today. The Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba is a must try! You can also try L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele, which you may recognize from the movie, Eat Pray Love. You may have to roll yourself back to Rome!

Getting There: Getting to Naples is quick, easy, and direct from Rome. From Roma Termini station take the direct short train ride to Napoli Centrale. It should only take just over an hour.

Tours: If you want to combine a day trip from Rome to Naples and the Amalfi Coast, this full day private tour is perfect. And if you would like to see Pompeii as well as Naples, this would be a good option.

Florence

This is why I love Italy. You can get from one major city to the next so quickly and easily. Even though Florence is not extremely close to Rome, Florence is only 1.5 hours away by train. If seeing ancient art and architecture in Rome just isn’t enough, head to this stunning city and see some of the most famous works of art in the world. Michelangelo’s David, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus and La Primavera, Brunelleschi’s Duomo di Firenze, Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise, Fra Angelico’s San Marco frescoes, and the lesser-known Donatello’s David, just to name a few!

You can read lots of our great info about Florence here.

Getting There: Take the Frecciarossa or Frecciargento trains from Roma Termini station to Florence. Only about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Tours: If you’re interested in Dan Brown’s book, Inferno, which is set in Italy, this Inferno Film Tour will be a fascinating experience. If you want to see Florence and take a visit to the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa, this combo tour will be a great fit.

Assisi

Assisi is a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site in Umbria famous for its impressive medieval architecture. One of my favorite day trips from Rome, it was the birthplace of the famous St. Francis, patron saint of Italy. This town, built from pink and white stone, will charm you the moment you lay eyes on it. Visit the St. Francis Basilica, the Temple of Minerva, the Roman Forum, Rocca Maggiore, and eat at one of the charming restaurants in Assisi.

Getting There: Taking a day trip from Rome to Assisi by train is easy. Take the train from Roma Termini to Santa Maria degli Angeli. The ride will take around 1 hour and 45 minutes but is worth the journey. By car, it’s about a 2.5-hour drive.

Tours: Combine two great cities with this Assisi & Orvieto day trip from Rome.

Pompeii

Many people want to see Pompeii when visiting Italy and it is definitely worth a visit! Explore what life must have been like in 79 AD when Mount Vesuvius erupted and the village of Pompeii was covered feet of volcanic ash! The entire city and many of the population were destroyed. Honestly, it’s tough to see some of the images and plasters there, but worth it on an educational level.

Getting There: Getting to Pompeii from Rome can be a bit tricky because you need to transfer to a different train station in Naples. I recommend purchasing a bus transfer for this day trip.

Tours: This bus transfer will take you directly to Pompeii from Rome and back again without having to worry about transferring trains.

Pisa

The town of Pisa gets a bad rap. I agree it’s not where I’d want to spend all my time in Italy, but the leaning tower of Pisa really is something to see. If it’s on your bucket list, take a side trip and check it off! My kids thought it was the coolest thing ever. Note: kids must be 6+ to go up the tower, something we were bummed to find out the hard way.

Getting There: You can take the train from Rome Tiburtina to Florence, then change train to Pisa. It may be a good idea to combine a quick trip to Florence with your visit to Pisa.

Tours: A small guided tour to combine visit to Florence and Pisa can be a great option.

Best Day Trips from Rome FAQ

I hope you’ve found a great day trip from Rome that will help you to get out of the city and explore just a little more Italy during your vacation! These are honestly all great options and I don’t think you could go wrong!