Best day trips from Rome
 

I will be in Rome for 10 days in June. I want to take several day trips while I am there. I definitely plan to go to Pompeii (again) but what other trips would be at the top of your list? There are always the same ones listed in every guidebook. Do you have a favorite or a personal favorite that most miss? I was also thinking of the town from "Everybody Loves Raymond" - Anguillara. I like the idea of seeing a coastal area for one day but maybe Anguillara is too touristy since the show was on television.

We did Assisi as a daytrip but really wished we had spent the night there - it was doable in a day but not a slowtravel experience.

Have you been to Hadrian's Villa (Tivoli) or Ostia Antica? Both are great day trips. The Appian Way is also a unique and interesting experience.

I second Tivoli for both Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este ( http://www.villadestetivoli.info/indexe.htm )

During an 8 day trip to Rome last year our family was only willing to leave the city for a half day trip to Ostia Antica. It is much closer/easier than Pompeii, but you would probably not want to do both

Orvieto is another popular, easy day trip.

I had planned a trip to Tarquinia because of its Etruscan history. I would still like to go but as I said we could not tear ourselves away from Rome
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarquinia

We enjoyed our day trip to Nettuno very much. It is on the coast about an hour by train from Rome.

If you mean the lakeside town of Anguillara Sabazio, in Lazio, just north of Rome, I don't think you will find it full of Raymond viewers. Maybe Italian hoiday makers in high season, but you are pretty safe there from American tourists.

Look at Rome on the map and imagine to plan your day trips in the three available directions: North, South, East.
In North I suggest Tuscia,
in South I suggest Castelli Romani and Monti Lepini,
in East I suggest Sabina, Valle del Tevere and Valle dell'Aniene.
Feel free to e-mail me if you want my reports focused on these six areas close to Rome. I wrote it in Italian but I can try to translate it in English and you will forgive my mistakes.


Vincenzo

Hi Sewitall - Lots of options - you're spoilt for choice :)

Pick any from:

Florence
Assisi
Orvieto
Tivoli (Hadrian's Villa, Villa d'Este (fountain gardens)
Ostia Antica
Pompeii/Herculaneum/Vesuvius
Naples
Capri
Amalfi Coast/ Positano
Sorrento
Castel Gandolfo/ Lake Albano/ Colli Albani
Spoleto
Cortona
Lake Bracciano
Anzio
Montecassino
Caserta
Viterbo
Tarquinia
Subiaco
Lake Bolsena
Sperlonga

... to name a few.

Steve

I also visited Assisi as a day trip from Rome the last time I was there. It was worth it, but, as Suec1 stated, I also wished I'd spent the night. The town and its views are gorgeous, but I must admit that it was a long day. I left Rome at a round 8.30 and arrived at Assisi at around 11. You must take a train and then a bus.

Castellanese.

There are apparently two ways to get to Villa d'Este in Tivoli...take the metro to the train station, a train to Tivoli, and then a short bus to the center of Tivoli, or take the metro and then a bus to the center of Tivoli...any recommendations on which is the better way to go? Thanks
PS Any postivie experiences with the Roma card--anyone buy it online?

On a day trip from Rome, we took the train towards Ostia Antica and got off at St Paul's Outside the Walls church. I can't remember the stop but it was so easy, along the way and obvious, as I recall. St Paul's is one of my favorite churches (and, believe me, I've seen dozens of churches in Europe) and I hardly see it mentioned.

You can then walk back to the train station (all short walking distances) and get to Ostia Antica. An excellent day out.

My next recommendation would be Orvieto. Excellent town with a great church, many shops and restaurants.

Another vote for Ostia Antica. We were in Rome just last week, and enjoyed an afternoon at the ruins of Ostia Antica very much. So much to see, and not many other people around.

Plus, if you pick up the local train near the pyramid, you can first wander through the Trastevere. If you do, be sure to stop at Volpetti's for sandwiches and snacks!

Marigny: I will keep Volpetti's in mind. We have an apartment in Trastevere not far from the Ponte Sisto so it will be easy. What is the pyramid? I have been to Ostia before and loved it so it is definitely on my list. I plan on going again so my daughter can experience it also. Actually, I fell off a step in the forum and injured my wrist because I was trying to protect my camera as I fell.

Several years ago we visited Orvieto as a day trip from Rome.

We found ourselves remembering the town and talking about it so often that we went back last month and spent two nights.

Orvieto did not disappoint us. We had time to wander the streets, go in and out of the cathedral at will, and visit the shops.

So I definitely recommend a day trip (at least).

When we left Orvieto last month, we went to Assisi for three nights. I can't imagine that a day trip would offer anywhere near the great experience of at least one night there!

Have a wonderful trip.

Byrd

The pyramid of Caius Cestius is described in this link:
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/rome/A20690.html

It is at the edge of Testaccio right near a Metro stop. You can reach it from Trastevere by taking the #23 bus

Most people stay at least a few nights in Florence, but I think if Rome is your only stop in Italy, Florence is a great day trip. It is a 90 minute train ride with many departures and arrivals. Make sure you have reservations for the Academia (The David) and the Uffizi. It was a great day and not terribly long for us. We arrived at 9:30 and were back in Rome by 9:00 that evening. Florence is not a town I personally enjoy staying in (I have 2x) and I realize I may not be with the crowd on that opinion, but for a day trip it was perfect.