My husband and I are going to Rome (first time to Italy) for one week in early February. I'm debating whether we should do one daytrip and if so whether to go to Pompeii, Ostia Antica or Florence. We're mid 40s and both love art history so I'm tempted by Florence but Pompeii is also very intriguing--I'd appreciate any input, thanks.

I tbink there's plenty to do (and to walk !!) in Rome for a week. But if you still want to do a day trip...I would choose to have a taste of Florence and you will be willing to come back again soon

Pompeii is unbelievable, but get a guide.

Thanks for your opinions. Originally I thought we'd stay in Rome the entire time (obviously there's more than enough to see) but now I'm wavering--maybe we'll plan on Pompeii but since we don't have to book in advance we can make our minds up once we're there--

hi outwest,

I would say that once you've had your first trip to Italy, you will be returing ASAP, like most of us!

So, Pompeii would be part of a good southern Italy trip on it's own. Florence maybe combined with Tuscany and CT, or another trip including Venice.

How about at trip out to Ostia Antica or Tivoli? On my last trip, I did a day out of Rome to Tivoli and it was an absolute treat! Really enjoyed seeing Villa Adriana (Hadrian's villa), park like setting uncrowded. Also, Villa d'Este was a total surprise and the fountains a delight! Highly recommend.

Buon viaggio!

Since it's your first trip to Italy and you have only one week, I'd spend as much time in Rome as possible, taking that side trip to Ostia Antica, which is truly a wonderful place. You çan get there easily on public transportation, and you don't need a guide if you have a decent guidebook and pick up the explanatory materials at the entrance.

We haven't even gone yet and I already want to go back! I've decided that Florence sounds too fantastic to squeeze into a daytrip. I'm still waffling about Pompeii but it probably does make sense to stick closer to Rome if we decide to do a day out--way too much to see in too little time!

Don't worry outwest, you'll be back!

I've visited bella Italia 3 times (so far) for at total of 9 weeks, but still have at least 3 more trips in my head that are to totally new areas, plus all the time I still want to spend in Rome!

A week in Rome is wonderful and I would stay put there for the entire week.

However, since it's your first visit to Italy, and you apparently only have this one week, a day trip to Florence would give you a good look at another of Italy's beautiful cities.

Going to Florence from Rome, on the Eurostar (get second class, reserved seats once you are in Rome, either at the station or at a travel agency) is easy and only takes 90 minutes.

You will have plenty of time to see some of the highlights of this lovely city that holds some of the worlds most incredible renaissance art.

Going to Pompeii takes much longer and is a bit more complicated.

Don't worry. If this is your first trip, you will be back.
So save Pompeii for another day.

I would have to agree that Pompeii is not the ideal day trip from Rome. As others have mentioned, it is a bit complicated and a bit far for a day trip, in my opinion.

I do however, highly recommend both the Tivoli and Ostia Antica suggestions. Both are conveniently accessible, and both are well worth seeing. It is certainly true that a week could be spent entirely in Rome, but if you even intend to return in the future, you can certainly afford a day trip.

I would agree that Florence is also a very easily accessible destination as the train ride itself is an hour each way and the the stations are centrally located in each city. However, for me the question would be if you could see enough of the city in one day without feeling as though you missed too many of the great attractions it has to offer. It's a marvelous city, just too much for one day if you want to see all or most of it at once. Even if you hit all the major sites, the Uffizi Gallery, the Academia, the Duomo, I would bet that you may end up feeling as though you wished you had another day to really get to know the feel of the city, perhaps see a few of the lesser known sites that would really round out a nice trip to Florence. If you expect to return to Italy for another trip, I'd wait on Florence and give it the time it deserves next time. If this might be your last trip to Italy, then I would have to suggest that you seize the opportunity to Florence, even if you don't see as much of it as you would like.

Hi There,
My husband and I spent about 8 days in Rome last February and absolutely loved it!! We did decide to take two day trips, one to Florence and one to Venice.
We really enjoyed both of them and found them very "doable".
It was windier and chillier in Florence so dress warmly if you go!

Yikes! Every time I think I've decided on something I read another answer that makes me change my mind--I was just rereading my Blue Guide on Ostia Antica and thought it sounded great but now I'm retempted by Florence--