With its heady mix of ancient ruins, baroque palaces, and piazzas buzzing with street life, Rome is one of Europe’s most captivating cities. But its seemingly infinite “must-see” sights and relentless pace can take their toll on even the most enthusiastic of visitors.
If you’re in Italy’s capital city for a long visit and need a respite to recharge your batteries, here are a few suggestions for easy weekend trips from Rome—accessible by train or road trip—that will have you returning to Caput Mundi relaxed and ready to explore.
Clifftop Orvieto wows with its majestic cathedral that towers over the town (and the surrounding valley floor), making it a popular day trip from Rome. But this medieval gem offers more than just a theatrical historic center.
The outlying hills have been famous for their vineyards for centuries, and it’s easy to pair a day of sightseeing in town with a second day dedicated to wine tastings in the cellars scattered at the foot of the cliff. The hamlet of Cività di Bagnoregio, which is on its way to earning UNESCO World Heritage Site status, is also just 30 minutes from Orvieto, so round out your weekend with a stop at this remote outpost connected to the outside world by a single pedestrian bridge.
Instead of heading inland from Rome, take to the seas to visit the timeless island of Ponza just off the Tyrrhenian coast. The largest island of the Pontine archipelago, this tiny crescent of brush-covered cliffs was once inhabited by just a few fishing families, but today is a popular day-trip destination from Rome.
As night falls and most visitors leave, however, those lucky enough to be staying overnight can experience its quieter, more authentic side. In addition to classic boat tours around the island, the island offers winery visits and fishing excursions to tiny neighboring Palmarola.
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The forested slopes and volcanic lakes of the Alban Hills southeast of Rome surround more than a dozen small towns and picturesque villages known as the Castelli Romani. Romans have been retreating from the chaos of the city to unwind in these calmer, cooler confines since ancient times and the area still fills with weekenders from spring through fall to this day.
sipping wine in Frascati, checking out the Pope’s summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, and kayaking through the placid waters of Lake Albano. Or, if you're really pressed for time, you could even make this a day trip from Rome. You can easily reach the area by public transportation, or you can rent a car and take a mini road trip for a quick getaway from the Eternal City
Just north of Rome and across the border into Tuscany lies an area known as La Maremma, home to what many consider some of the most beautiful beaches in the region. The headliner here is Mount Argentario, an “almost island” connected to the mainland by three narrow fingers of land.
A paradise for divers who flock here to explore along the craggy coastline, this area is also known for its pristine coves and Ortobello lagoon, a wildlife refuge that teems with migrating birds. Meanwhile, the island’s two sleepy villages, Porto Santo Stefano and Porto Ercole, come to life during the summer months.
You don’t need to travel as far as Tuscany for a beach break, however. When temperatures soar in Rome, Romans head to Santa Marinella for a weekend of sun and fun on the seaside. This sandy stretch is a favorite both for its crystalline water and its easy access—you can be there in just an hour by regional train.
Rent a sunbed and umbrella from one of the stabilimenti balneari (beach clubs) and unplug Italian style, abandoning your waterfront post only to dine on fresh seafood at the restaurants along the promenade. If you want to inject a bit of culture into your beachy weekend excusion from Rome, visit the Santa Severa Castle in the neighboring town.
hits the sweet spot of easy access from Rome yet surprisingly few tourists. This volcanic lake is ringed by pretty medieval villages such as Bracciano, Anguillara, and Trevignano where you can stroll or bike along the waterfront promenades and feast on freshwater fish. The lake is also known for its , the backdrop to a number of celebrity nuptials. Meanwhile, the lake itself offers great swimming, sailing, and water sports and the surrounding countryside is peppered with [ to explore.
Lake Bracciano hits the sweet spot of easy access from Rome yet surprisingly few tourists. This volcanic lake is ringed by pretty medieval villages such as Bracciano, Anguillara, and Trevignano where you can stroll or bike along the waterfront promenades and feast on freshwater fish.
The lake is also known for its 15th-century Orsini-Odescalchi Castle, the backdrop to a number of celebrity nuptials. Meanwhile, the lake itself offers great swimming, sailing, and water sports and the surrounding countryside is peppered with ancient Etruscan sites to explore.
Romans have been “taking the waters” in the forested hills south of the city since the time of the emperors, so this is a longstanding Italian weekend retreat. And the mineral-rich spring water that bubbles up from beneath the mountains here is bottled and sold across Italy today.
The medieval town of Fiuggi is synonymous with that mineral water, and the valley surrounding its hilltop perch is ideal for a spa weekend within striking distance of Rome. Drink the curative waters, bliss out with massages and mud baths, and release your stress with a cycling excursion around Lake Caterno or along a scenic former rail line.
Italy’s capital may be rich in ancient Roman sites, but the area just north of the city known as Tuscia contains necropolises, roadways, and other remains of a civilization that predates Rome: the Etruscans.
Spend a weekend exploring the ancient Etruscan tombs in the Necropolises of Cerveteri and Tarquinia, some decorated with paintings dating from the 7th century BC, and the Vie Cave roads outside Pitigliano. The historic towns of Viterbo and Tuscania are also worth a visit, and, when you’re ready for a break from culture, Lake Bolsena beckons with clear waters and pretty lakeshore towns.