Best day trips from Rome by train

‘When in Rome’ is just one of those irresistible expressions. When to get out of Rome doesn’t really have the same ring to it, though. Yet getting out of Rome is definitely something that anyone who's spent a lot of time there knows all about. Rome is ravishing, but it’s all-consuming and sometimes you need to take a break from it. What a lot of people don’t know is that it’s really easy to explore beyond the colossal capital, with plenty of Rome day trips by train on its doorstep. From coasts to cradles of culture, vineyards to hilltop hideaways, there are cities near Rome like Florence or Frascati which would be silly to snub. Our day trips from Rome by train start off in the Lazio region, which is where the capital is located, and then spread their wings to Tuscany, Campania and Umbria. All roads do indeed lead to Rome, but many railroads lead out of it too.

Ladispoli and Cerveteri

For a hauntingly beautiful glimpse back in time, head to Cerveteri in the Lazio region. Home to the Necropoli di Banditaccia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Italy’s greatest Etruscan treasures, these ancient tombs are the only remaining traces of the former Estruscan city. Venture down one of many trails to the 400 tombs of this ancient civilisation, some dating back to 9 BCE. Other highlights include the Etruscan Museum (Museo Nazionale Cerite), which is located in Ruspoli Castle. There’s also plenty of other life going on in a town that’s famous for its necropolis, so you can raise a toast at some lovely spots in Cervereri’s medieval centre. To get there, you take a quick train to Ladispoli, where there’s a quick 10 mins bus to the UNESCO sites. And Ladispoli is a coastal town too, so you can have a cooling off swim after all those dusty sites. 

Getting there: Travel from Rome to Ladispoli-Cerveteri station in 38 mins.

Frascati

You can access several wine-rich towns near Rome by train, but Frascati is a favourite. Just 20km south of Rome, and still in the Lazio region, it’s perfectly poised on a hilltop surrounded by the Albani Hills. Frascati is the prettiest of small towns, and one of one of several historic hill towns close to the capital which are given the umbrella term of Castelli Romani. Once a summer playground for noble Romans, Frascati is now known for being a peaceful, green refuge from the city. It’s also famed for its villas, viticulture and laid back lifestyle where sipping a cold white Frascati in the Piazza San Pietro, feels like living the dream. When in Rome (or near it anyway.) You can also reward yourself with a cold one after a hike to Monte Tuscolo in Parco Regionale dei Castelli Romani and back, which takes around 2 hrs and is accessible from the town centre.

Getting there: Travel from Rome to Frascati in 30 mins. 

Tivoli

The hilltop town of Tivoli is a true treat for the eyes, and must have always been so, as it was also a summer retreat for ancient Romans. A small, lusciously green town in the Sabine Hills, it’s home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites. For archeological treasures, visit Villa Adriana, the ruins of Hadrian’s sprawling country estate. For eye-boggling botanics, don’t miss the 16th-century Villa d’Este and its surrounding gardens. With fountains, grottos and cascades, the villa’s gardens are not only one of the first and finest examples of a giardino delle meraviglie (garden of wonder), they are also considered one of the most impressive Renaissance gardens in the world.

Getting there: Travel from Rome to Tivoli in 50 mins.

Santa Marinella and Santa Severa

You can get to two charming beach towns near Rome by train, if you want a Mediterranean cool-down. Rome is rarely associated with the Med, but it’s actually only 35 mins away. Santa Marinella beach is only 5 mins walk from the station, and is also still a small working fishing port, so there’s no shortage of seafood restaurants either. With that Italian vintage-chic feel about it, this charming seaside town gets busy in July and August so get here early (trains start as early as 06:30) so that you can bag your spot. Make sure to set aside some euros too to pay for a beach umbrella and bed (lettino). If you want a free spot you have to head to the sides of the beach. 

Another beach option is Santa Marinella’s neighbour, Santa Severa, which also has a station just before Santa Marinella. It also has a 14th-century castle on the beach because, well, this is Italy. 

Accommodation is also cheaper here than in central Rome, so you can combine sea and sightseeing perfectly. And with direct trains from Rome costing around €5, it’s a breeze. 

Getting there: Travel from Rome to Santa Marinella in 40 mins and Santa Severa in 35 mins. 

Florence

Firenze, to use its poetic Italian name, is one of the closest cities to Rome by train, and what a neighbour to have. A fellow capital city, albeit the capital of Tuscany, the city that’s otherwise known as the Cradle of the Renaissance oozes romance and beauty. Florence’s wealth of art and architecture will fill a day of sightseeing, and then some. From the minute you emerge from Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station, (aka Firenze SMN), which is a 1930s modernist building, you see the iconic church after which it is named. For the rest of the day, you can pick and choose between 15th and 16th century-palazzi, fresco-adorned churches and museums bursting with masterpieces. Florence is breathtaking in every way, so it’s unsurprising that the entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For a grand finale to your trip, walk up the 2km path from Ponte Vecchio to Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset, for dazzling panoramic views of the city dappled in every shade of pink and amber.

Getting there: Travel from Rome to Florence in around 1 hr 35 mins. 

Naples

There are plenty of direct trains from Rome to Campania, where its capital Naples is a coastal city with attitude. The city’s intense blend of modernity and history both clashes and weaves together in an energetic frenzy quite unlike any other European city. You either love it or hate it, but you definitely have to try it, because it’s like entering through an Italian portal into a different time. A time where men still play card games in medieval piazzas, and pizza havens are hidden beneath crumbling porticos. A time where women still drop buckets down from their apartment windows in the heart of the Centro Storico, or Old Centre, as a quick way to get their shopping sent back up. 

To escape the crowds, you can sit and ponder the world in the cloisters of Santa Chiara Monastery, or enjoy the sea breeze walking down the Lungomare promenade before heading back to Piazza Bellini for a glass of Aglianico. Or at one of Naples’ incredible restaurants. And if all of that’s not enough, Naples is also the perfect springboard to visit the glamorous Amalfi Coast and Pompeii. Although if you head to Pompeii, you’ll definitely need another day, making it one of our perfect weekend trips from Rome by train. 

Getting there: Travel to Naples in as little as 1 hr 10 mins, travelling on the high-speed Frecciarossa direct train from Rome. 

Terni

Terni is in Umbria, about 100km north of Rome, and famous for its 19th-century industrial boom. Today it’s known more for ruins than rivets, with a Roman amphitheatre as one of its highlights. Romantics head to Basilica San Valentino, where the remains of St. Valentine are housed, while nature lovers head to Parco Fluviale del Nera, a green haven where the spectacular Marmore Falls (Cascata delle Marmore) take centre stage. Which, fun fact, is the tallest man-made waterfall in the world at 165m and was originally built by the Romans. Showing that the city’s industrial past goes way back before the 19th century really. If you want to go to the falls, the best railway station is Marmore, which is another 15 mins from Terni. Also, as the falls are man-made, water is only released at certain times of day, so check the website for details, where you can book your ticket to avoid queues. Another tip is to time your visit to Terni for Cantamaggio, their spring festival at the end of April, for plenty of community fun. 

Getting there: Travel from Rome to Terni in 1 hr. 

You may also enjoy reading our blogs on Top cities in Italy to visit by train, Tuscan trips by train and Italy's most scenic train journeys.

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