Best Day Trips from Rome, Italy
Are you looking for the best day trips from Rome, Italy?
Rome is an amazing city on its own, and it’s a place I recommend no less than three full days for. But if you have extra time in Rome, you might also be interested in exploring other destinations.
Below I’ve rounded up the best day trips you can take from the Italian capital.
Here’s the thing about day trips from Rome. It’s just not a city that has a lot of easy day trips. I’m talking places you can hop on the train and reach in under an hour, and then fully explore in one day.
Other Italian cities have plenty such places, but Rome does not have as many options. Some of the most popular Rome day trips are destinations I really think you need several days for. Can you technically visit places like the Amalfi Coast, Florence, or Tuscany in just a single day from Rome? Sure.
But I wouldn’t recommend it. I think the Amalfi Coast is a separate destination entirely that needs a few days to explore. I’d also recommend at least three days in Florence, and you can spend even more time there if you want to use it as a base for taking day trips and exploring the nearby towns of Tuscany.
From Rome, these destinations are a real stretch for just a single day.
That being said, I know some people are short on time and might not be able to visit additional destinations in Italy. So I’m including these longer day trips from Rome on the list below too.
Here’s a look at the best day trips from Rome, Italy.
⭐ Short on time? These are the top tours and activities I recommend. If you book directly through a link on this page, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Stay to Wander!
Best Day Trips from Rome:
- Villa d’Este and Hadrian’s Villa day trip from Rome
- Bagnoregio, Orvieto, and Montepulciano day trip from Rome
Tivoli
Tivoli would be my top recommendation for a day trip from Rome. This is a destination I’ve personally visited on a day trip from Rome, and I think it makes for a great day spent outside the city.
This beautiful town is located one hour from Rome, and it’s been a popular retreat for Romans since ancient times. Two of the most popular places to visit in Tivoli are Villa d’Este, a 16th-century estate with lush gardens, and Hadrian’s Villa, the ruins of Emperor Hadrian’s 2nd-century vacation home.
You can get to Tivoli from Rome on the train in just under an hour. From the train station, it’s a 15-minute walk to Villa d’Este. Hadrian’s Villa is less than a 10-minute drive away. You can take a taxi or there’s a bus that will get you most of the way there (just an additional 10-minute walk to Hadrian’s Villa.)
Another option is taking a guided tour from Rome to Tivoli. This half-day tour includes transportation to and from Rome, entry tickets to both villas, and a guided tour of both villas, plus plenty of free time.
Orvieto
Another destination that you can visit pretty easily from Rome is Orvieto. This beautiful small city is located in the Umbria region of Italy, which is north of the Lazio region where Rome is located.
Orvieto has a dramatic location on a rocky cliff overlooking the surrounding countryside, and a well-preserved medieval city. You can get to Orvieto on the train from Rome in just one hour and 10 minutes. At the train station in Orvieto, there’s a funicular that will take you a few minutes up to the city center.
Another option is taking a guided tour to Orvieto. I would highly recommend this full-day tour because it combines a visit to Orvieto with two other destinations. You’ll also spend time in the incredible hilltop village of Bagnoregio, and even head into Tuscany for a wine tasting and lunch in Montepulciano.
Pompeii
If you haven’t gotten enough of the ancient ruins in Rome, Pompeii is a fascinating day trip where you can see some of the most interesting ruins in Italy. When the Mount Vesuvius volcano exploded in 79 AD, it engulfed the flourishing town of Pompeii, but much of the town was preserved by the ash.
It was discovered again over 1,500 years later, and today it has been excavated and turned into an amazing archaeological site and museum. You can get to Pompeii on your own by taking the train from Rome to Naples (one hour and 15 minutes) then changing trains to Pompeii (another 30 minutes.)
You can also take a tour to Pompeii. This full-day tour includes transportation from Rome, a guided tour in Pompeii, and lunch. This jam-packed tour combines a slightly shorter visit to Pompeii with a couple of hours of free time in Positano, one of the most beautiful towns along the Amalfi Coast.
Amalfi Coast
As I’ve already discussed above, I really think you need several days to fully experience the Amalfi Coast. There are so many beautiful towns to explore along the Amalfi Coast, plus other activities like taking a boat tour or visiting the island of Capri, that you simply can’t fit it all into a day trip from Rome.
However, if you’re short on time, you can definitely get a taste of this region on a day trip. I would recommend a tour for this rather than attempting public transportation or driving yourself.
Why? The only towns along the Amalfi Coast with train stations are Sorrento and Salerno, and getting to either will take about 2.5 hours from Rome. Then you still have to drive to reach the smaller towns. Driving along the Amalfi Coast (and in Italy in general) is not for the faint of heart so I wouldn’t do a rental car.
This full-day tour is a good way to get an overview of the Amalfi Coast. It maximizes the amount of time you spend in Positano and Amalfi, two of the most charming and beautiful towns along the coast. You’ll also get to soak in the views as you drive along the picturesque coastline between the towns.
Florence
Again, Florence is a city I really think you should spend a few days in, but if you don’t have time for that, it’s possible to accomplish quite a bit on a day trip from Rome to Florence.
The best way to do this day trip is to take the high-speed train to Florence. This takes just under 1.5 hours from Rome (compared to the well over three hours it would take if you were driving!) If you take an early-morning train and return late in the evening, you can easily have a full day in Florence.
Some of the top things to do in Florence would be visiting the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia Gallery, admiring the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, strolling across the Ponte Vecchio bridge, taking in the views from Piazzale Michelangelo, and exploring the Boboli Gardens. You’ll want to book tickets in advance for any attractions in Florence to avoid waiting in long lines or tickets selling out.
Tuscany
Finally, it’s possible to get a taste of Tuscany on a day trip from Rome. This region (which Florence is the capital of) is located north of Rome and is famous for its rolling hills, vineyards, and hilltop towns.
The best way to visit Tuscany on a day trip from Rome would be on an organized tour. This is because most Tuscan towns don’t have train stations, so it’s way too difficult and time-consuming to get there on a day trip from Rome. You can also combine multiple destinations if you do an organized tour.
For example, this full-day tour offers a great overview of Tuscany. You’ll visit two charming Tuscan towns, Montepulciano and Pienza. You’ll also enjoy an included lunch and a wine tasting.
Best Day Trips from Rome, Italy
This guide showed you the best day trips from Rome, Italy.
If I had to recommend two day trips you can easily do on your own, I’d say Tivoli and Orvieto are both good options. If at all possible, I’d recommend saving the Amalfi Coast, Florence, and Tuscany for when you have more time. But if you’re short on time, you can get a taste of these destinations on a day trip.
Enjoy your trip to Rome!
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