Day Trips From Rome
 

We will be spending a week in Rome and would like to get some suggestions on some day trips that can be done from Rome. We are on somewhat of a budget, but we would like to experience as much as we can in the short amount of time that we have.

It makes for a long day, but you can travel to Pompeii to see the excavated ruins via train from Rome and tour the site on your own. You have to change trains in Naples, I think the specifics have been covered in previous postings. <BR> <BR>Ostia Antica is closer to Rome, but less impressive than Pompeii, about 1/2 hour from Rome by train. You can tour these ruins on your own as well. <BR> <BR>

I think the best day trip from Rome is Florence. It's less than two hours by train and what a scenic ride. Tons to do in Florence. Florence, honestly, is a great city to visit for a longer time, but you can hit all the highlights in a day. The marketplace and the Duomo alone are worth the train ride. After dealing with frenzied Rome, you will be amazed at how much cozier and friendlier Firenze is. Enjoy! Oh, and make sure you get first-class train tickets.

Alex: I'd suggest two others: <BR> <BR>Villa Adriana/Hadrian's Villa (a must-see), - about 45 minutes bus ride from Rome. From there you could catch the bus up to the nearby hill-town of TIVOLI to see Villa d'Este. <BR> <BR>Assisi - one of the loveliest towns in Italy! About 2 hours by train. <BR>

Orvieto! Only 45 minutes by train on the main line from Rome to Florence. Beautiful hill top city with one of the loveliest Duomo's in Italy. Wonderful gelato, Etruscan ruins, wonderful friendly people, great food. It's built on top of a volcano, I believe, and the views are unbeatable. A breath of fresh air from the hectic lifestyle in Rome.Check past posts and you will see the same accolades for Orvieto. <BR> <BR>Denise

I strongly 2nd Orvieto! Loved it 30 years ago when my friends and I discovered it by accident, and felt the same when I took my daughter there 4 years ago. In fact, we stayed in Orvieto and took the train to Rome...now that was relaxing! I'm going again in June, and plan to make Orvieto a day trip for a women's tour--great wine and ceramics! Enjoy.

Another 2nd vote for taking the train up to Florence. To make the most of your time, opt for the Eurostar (ES) which are the quickest trains between Rome & Florence (trip takes about 1 hr 40 min, one way). Also, because they're the nicest, you can travel 2nd class on an ES & be perfectly comfortable. <BR> <BR>You can check schedules online --- website for trains is: www.fs-on-line.com <BR> <BR>Although there is an 'English' option on site, you do need to enter the names of the cities as they are in Italy. <BR>For departure city, you'd enter "Roma" and for arrival city, "Firenze". <BR>

Florence is great, but I'd want to stay longer than a day there. Maybe try the "local" trains and make stops in Siene and Pisa and stay overnight in Florence. Villa Adriana is beautiful, but don't forget to see the Tivoli fountains. And if going during rush-hour the bus will take longer than 45 minutes. Pick a sunny day and leave mid-morning. I love Orvieto, too--beautiful, quiet, very friendly people (had a gestural conversation with a woman in a shop who spoke no English--she was wonderful) and great wine. Another suggestion for a bus trip (i've not taken the bus only driven)....try Ostia, port city west of Rome. Go to the ruins at Ostia Antiquia (bad spelling). Great place and not crowded at all. There's the Etruscan caves in Traquinia, too. Have fun!

Another vote for Orvieto - it's a wonderful place. If you go, take the underground tour (you can sign up for it at the tourist information office).

I agree with Steve. <BR>Villa Adriana/Hadrian's Villa is a must-see, also Villa d'Este. <BR>