Hello fellow travellers. I am so close to achieving my goal of visiting all 20 regions of Italy. I am only missing Sardegna, which I hope to do next year, and Molise. I have actually driven along the coast of Molise from Bari to Vasto, but perhaps I cannot officially say I visited a place in Molise.

Most likely, I will be traveling by train from Rome to either Isernia or Campobasso, whichever place can afford the best options for public transport along with the most interesting things to do and see in a few days. I know having a car is preferable in these area but let's see what ideas you all might have.

I have been to the Sibillini Mountain area (Sulmona, Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Assergi) before, so perhaps something a little different would be preferable.

Thank you!

Maybe my TR may be helpful: Undiscovered Italy: Abruzzo & Molise (and some Lazio), May 2025

I suppose you know that in summer Ryanair has direct flights from Alghero (Sardinia) to Pescara (not daily).
IMO Termoli is a must. Boats to Tremiti Islands (Apulia, however) start from there.
https://www.italia.it/en/molise

You need a car. Understand most of the local transit is for workers or school kids. It's not really going to take you to tourist stops.

Also if you change your mind and decide to rent after arriving you'll likely need to drive manual.

Take the bus. In general it's often better. If you're flying into FCO I think the buses from the airport to Campobasso via Isernia have restarted. Might be one going to Termoli.

If your schedule doesn't match you need to take the bus from Tiburtina. If the FL1 is running take that at the airport to Tiburtina train station. Walk across the street to the bus station

If you don't want mountains you're going to the beach. Those are the two options. Mountains / hills or the beach.

If you have a car the drive near Isernia gets you above 1000 metres. Some great views.

While legally Isernia and Campobasso are two provinces inside the same region the history is different. Western part has historic ties with Lazio and Campania to the south. The SE corner to Puglia. The NE corner to Abruzzo.

I'm not sure what you can do without a car. Hop from Isneria to Campobasso to Termoli? Just seeing the city centres. I guess.

Maybe you'll get lucky and catch the bagpipes

Oh Yes! I already read Day 1 - it's fantastic. Thank you. I spent a week travelling through Marche in 2017. I based myself in two main places: Servigliano and visited Ascoli Piceno and other hills towns around there. Unfortunately, I didn't go to Gran Sasso which required an elaborate itinerary in 2023 to take that in. Then I based myself in Urbania from where I went to Urbino, the grottoes, more hill towns and San Marino. Finally, spent a night in Senigallia before heading to Ravenna. Beautiful area. I look forward to reading the rest but already Viterbo sounds amazing.

Thank you for posting on Fodors, If you want the best and safest public transport route to Molise, Italy go throught Isernia, and regarding the palces to explore, it depends on where you plan on staying.