day trips from rome
 

we will be in Rome for 6 days in May, and though I am sure we will be plenty occupied,
I would like some options if we decide to
explore outside of the city, especially
Tivoli and Orvieto. I see on trenitalia that there are 1 hour trains from termini to Orvieto, but what is the best way to take a day trip to Tivoli? and do you have any other suggestions for day trips from Rome?

ps is Pompei a good day trip? Time frames and travel options please!

Both Tivoli and Villa Adriana (Hadrian's Villa) are terrific places to visit as day trips outside of Rome. You can get to both via the Tiburtina train station (there are numerous trains going there everyday), after arriving at the stop for Tivoli, there are local busses that drive you up the road to the Tivoli gardens, stopping in the town's piazza. You get out and walk about 50 yards to the entrance of the gardens. The whimsical fountains, airjets, and layout of the gardens make Tivoli a delightful place to visit.

Villa Adriana is back on the main road and certainly worth visiting as well. It has a more extensive lay out and there are typical Roman ruins, but it is still majestic in its state.

Ostia Antica is another nice day trip from Rome. It is similar to a Pompeii or Herculaneum, albeit on a much smaller scale and with a lot less people.

Frascati and the hills outside of Rome offer a nice respite. Frascati is home to the sparkling wine and the town itself is charming. It is cool and refreshing to be out of the heat and you can take some great pictures overlooking the city of Rome from atop the hillsides. Again, Frascati is reachable very conveniently from Roma's Termini train station with departures hourly, back and forth.

Hi D,

Pompeii is a verrrrrryy loooong day from Rome. I suggest Ostia Antica instead.

If you want to do it, take the early train from Rome TE to Naples Centrale (see www.trenitalia.com). Go to the lower level of the train station and take the Circumvesuviana commuter train to Pompei Scavi.

Guides are available at the entrance to the excavations.

Bring water and a hat.

((I))

Buses is the way to get to Tivoli. Much faster and frequent than the train, and it drops you much closer to Villa d'Este. [The train station is on the other side of the river.]

Take the Line B Metro to P. Mamolo (2nd to last stop). The blue Cotral buses terminates in the upper level (ride two flights of escalators). 1.6 Euro to Tivoli. Bus every 20 minutes, and takes about 45min to get there.

There's local bus to get from Tivoli to Hadrian's Villa. We didn't have time to do last time, so didn't ask for the bus number.