Travelling to Rome in a few weeks w/my boyfriend who is a first time visitor to Italy. We only have 4 (full) days in Rome before heading to Barcelona. Anyone have some good day trip suggestions?

MJ - Pick any from -

Florence
Assisi
Orvieto
Naples - Pompei/Herculaneum
Capri
Tivoli - Hadrian's Villa + Villa d'Este
Ostia Antica
Castel Gandolfo / Colli Albani
Spoleto
Cortona
Lake Bracciano
Lake Bolsena
Sperlonga

... to name a few

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Steve's suggestions are all great, and the only addition I'd offer is Ostia in Antica. But with only 4 days to explore all of Rome, do you really want to do a day trip out of the city?

BC

Siena, too.

thx Steve! Any experience with Umbria and Perugia?

totally agree that 4 days is not enough for Rome alone! I want him to see the beautiful countryside of Italy so a day trip close by is what I was thinking...I will check out the recommendations. Thx!!

Orvieto and Assisi are lovely daytrips,as is Ostia Antica. I agree,though, that four days will fly by in Rome, even without a daytrip.

Mugsjones,
Can I piggyback/hijack your thread?

I'm taking my sister to Rome for 5 days. She has never been to Italy, and she and her husband (who's not going on the trip) are starting a family this year. Hence our last "sister's trip" for a while (fingers crossed).

We have sentimental reasons for going to Rome; she has financial reasons for not taking a longer trip. So, knowing that Rome will probably occupy all our time, if we were to tackle a daytrip, what would be the easiest/shortest?

I love Assisi, Orvieto, Siena, etc. But I've always done overnights or longer.

Hi leely,

Orvieto and Ostia Antica are both about 1 hr by train.

Thanks so much, Ira.

Orvieto will probably be the winner because I'd like her to experience that hilltown vibe. We'll play it by ear, of course, depending on how she feels.

The Forum, the Vaticam museum, St. Peter's, the Scavi tour, the colosseum, the Pantheon, Trevi fountain, piazza navona, camp de' fiori, Borgese garden, Castel Sant Angelo, Trastevere, Spanish Steps,Capitoline Hill, catacombs, the Appian Way...
Divide that ,not including shopping, eating, etc., into 4 days and you may find that taking time away from Rome may not be best with only 4 days.
All the suggested side trips are great, but please give Rome it's do. You'll be glad you did.