| 5 mins read
By Oliver Lynch
The Eternal City, Rome has been enticing visitors for thousands of years and continues to be one of the top tourist destinations in Europe, boasting iconic relics such as the Colosseum, the Medieval splendour of the Vatican, and food to die for. If you’ve ticked the sightseeing boxes in Rome, the region around the city offers more rewards for the intrepid or the curious wanderer.
Check out our top 10 suggestions for guided day trips from Rome.
1. Tivoli
The number one excursion from Rome is undoubtedly Tivoli. Home to the former palace of Emperor Hadrian, you’ll see beautiful waterfalls and gardens as well as winding streets lined with quaint restaurants and boutiques here. Villa Gregoriana is set among wooded grounds and is worth a visit alone.
Less than an hour away from Rome, Tivoli can be reached by bus or train. You’ll find several guided tours too – hire a private guide to make the most of your day trip from Rome.
2. Pompeii
Although it is a few hours down the coast, Pompeii can be visited as part of a day trip from Rome. This town at the foot of Mount Vesuvius was destroyed in an eruption in 79AD but has been kept intact by ashes of the volcano. There are eerie outlines of the residents’ bodies frozen in time, as well as some of the best-preserved Roman ruins to be found anywhere.
You can reach Pompeii by train in around 3 hours with a change in Naples. A guided tour is highly recommended to get the inside scoop and stay overnight in Naples to get the most out of a Pompeii tour.
3. Ostia Antica
The town of Ostia is on the train route to Fiumicino airport, but this harbour town is absolutely worth a visit. Here, you’ll find the nearest beach to Rome plus well-preserved ruins in the heart of the city including a Colosseum and marble statues. On the weekends, the beaches fill up with Romans heading for a dip in the sea. When the heat is rising, this is the place to come to cool down.
4. Sperlonga
If you’re looking for a more spectacular beach experience, then Sperlonga is the one to go for. This pretty town perched on a rock above the sea is worth exploring for the Villa of Tiberius as well as the warren of old streets and restaurants. Around an hour from Rome, the beach here is truly magnificent, and the views along the coast are incredible, especially at sunset.
5. Bracciano
If the sea isn’t your thing, then heading to Bracciano might be more suitable. Around an hour from Rome, the town of Bracciano sits on a lake of the same name. The sleepy town doesn't have much in the way of sightseeing but if you prefer to go fishing, cruising the lake in a boat, or exploring on a bike – look no further. Alternatively, enjoy an aperitif on the lake’s edge and just lose yourself in the tranquil pace of life.
There are options for adventure tours in the area, so if you do want to get active and explore the beautiful countryside take a look at the local tour options.
6. Wine Tours
Being surrounded by premium wine country means there are lots of options for wine tours from Rome. There are options to do wine tasting tours in central Rome itself, but if you really want to experience the Italian countryside and sample some of the finest wines, sign up for one of the day trips.
For a trip closer to Rome, the Frascati wine tour takes around 3-4 hours and includes exploring the region and the estate that makes this fine wine. Also, there are options for full day tours to vineyards in Tuscany, with around a 4-hour drive from Rome.
7. Food Tours
OK, this isn’t an excursion, but to really explore the heart and soul of Rome means exploring its food culture. Taking a local food tour is a fabulous way to find hidden gems, taste some classic Roman food, and see the processes for creating some of the most loved Italian dishes. Most tours last around 4 hours and cover Trastevere, an old neighbourhood of Rome and the centre of the gastro-culture in the city.
8. Florence
This spectacular city in the heart of Tuscany is another jewel in the Italian crown and one of the most visited in Italy. It takes around 3 hours to get there from Rome, so an early start is recommended to get the most out of a day trip to Firenze (as it is called in Italian). The Ponte Vecchio, the statue of David in the Galleria dell' Accademia, and the Cathedral are the must-see sights in this stunning Renaissance-era city.
If you are pressed for time, sign up for a private guided tour to optimise your schedule in Florence. Although, ideally Florence should be visited over the course of at least two days.
9. Balloon Tours
What better way to see the Eternal City than from up above? Hot air balloon tours offer a unique perspective on the landscape of the city and its surroundings. Take in the scale of Rome and the context of the ruins with an hour-long balloon ride across the skies. A magical and highly recommended way to explore Rome!
10. Go Skiing
Skiing near Rome? Absolutely… The central mountainous regions in Abruzzo and Lazio offer some great options in the winter season. Of course, it’s not like the Alpine resorts, but if you want a snow fix for a day or two, then most resorts are around 2 hours’ drive from Rome. The biggest and best one in the region is Roccaraso, with over 100 km of pistes. Never skied? Hire a local instructor or skiing guide to get to grips with the sport.
Oliver Lynch is a London based writer who travels as often as possible, usually for some kind of crazy adventure like exploring a jungle or going snowboarding.