How to choose your day trip
Three things matter: journey time, season and day of the week. Trips of under an hour (Ostia, Tivoli, Castel Gandolfo) combine with a morning in Rome; those of over an hour (Orvieto, Civita di Bagnoregio) need a full day; Pompeii and Florence are long and suit a stay of four days or more. Many sites close on Mondays: see our guide to what to do in Rome on a Monday before fixing the date.
| Day trip | Journey from Rome | Transport | Closed on Monday? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ostia Antica | 30 to 45 minutes | Train from Piramide station | Yes |
| Tivoli (Hadrian's Villa, Villa d'Este) | 50 minutes to 1 h 10 | Regional train from Tiburtina, or Cotral bus | Villa d'Este: opens at 2 pm |
| Castel Gandolfo | 41 to 45 minutes | FL4 train from Termini | No (closed on Tuesday) |
| Orvieto | 1 h 15 to 1 h 30 | Direct train | No |
| Civita di Bagnoregio | About 2 h | Train to Orvieto, then Cotral bus | No |
| Pompeii | About 2 h 30 | High-speed train to Naples, then regional | No |
| Florence | 1 h 30 | High-speed train | Depends on the museums |
Ostia Antica: imperial Rome without the crowds
This is the easiest of the day trips: the Ostia Antica station is served by the urban train from Piramide station, with an ordinary transport ticket. The site is a large Roman port whose streets, baths, theatre and mosaics are well preserved. It takes three hours to visit and is quieter than the Forum. See our page on Ostia Antica: the site is closed on Mondays.
Tivoli: two villas, one day
Tivoli brings together Hadrian's Villa, a huge imperial residence of ruins and pools, and the Villa d'Este, famous for its terraced gardens and fountains. They are a few kilometres apart, linked by a local bus or a taxi. The Villae pass gives access to both sites within 72 hours. On Mondays the Villa d'Este opens only at 2 pm: start with Hadrian's Villa.
Castel Gandolfo: the lake and the popes' residence
41 to 45 minutes from Termini on the regional FL4 line, this village in the Alban Hills overlooks Lake Albano. The papal palaces can be visited, with their gardens. It is a half-day trip, pleasant in summer; the site is closed on Tuesdays. See our page on Castel Gandolfo, which gives opening days and bookings.
Orvieto: a Duomo, a well and an underground city
The Umbrian town of Orvieto is reached by direct train in 1 h 15 to 1 h 30. You see the Gothic Duomo and the San Brizio Chapel, St Patrick's Well and the underground city. The Carta Unica (€35 full price) covers the main sites. It is the best first day trip out of Rome, with very little logistics.
Civita di Bagnoregio: the hilltop village
Beyond Orvieto, Civita di Bagnoregio is a tuff village reachable only by a pedestrian bridge. Entry costs €5. Allow a full day with the train to Orvieto then the Cotral bus, or half a day by car: combine it with Orvieto to make the journey worthwhile.
Pompeii: the long day
Pompeii is the most tiring day trip, but one of the most memorable. The high-speed train to Naples then the regional train take you there in a little over two and a half hours; a direct Frecciarossa runs on Sundays. Our guide to Pompeii from Rome details the named tickets, opening hours and a plan for the day.
Florence: possible as a round trip, but intense
Florence is 1 h 30 by high-speed train, which makes a return trip in a day possible. You must book the major sites in advance and accept seeing only part of the city. Our guide to Florence from Rome offers a realistic route.
Which day trip for your stay
- Short stay (2 to 3 days): Ostia Antica, in half a day, or no day trip at all: the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill are enough to see ancient Rome.
- Stay of 4 to 5 days: one day in Tivoli or Orvieto.
- Stay of over a week: Pompeii, Florence, Civita di Bagnoregio.
- With children: Ostia, Castel Gandolfo or Tivoli, which need less travel; see our guide to Rome with children.
Practical tips
- Book tickets in advance for Pompeii (named tickets) and high-speed trains: prices rise as departure approaches.
- Avoid Mondays for state-run archaeological sites.
- Allow a margin of an hour on the way back: regional trains are sometimes late.
- Out of season, opening hours are shorter and the last entry earlier: leave in the morning.
- To plan the whole stay and its cost, see our budget for a trip to Rome and getting around Rome.
