Planning a trip to Rome, Italy, and are thinking about side trips? Keep scrolling for my list of the best day trips from Rome by train worth adding to your Italy itinerary!
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Planning a trip to Italy’s capital and want to add some adventure to your vacation by taking day trips from Rome by train?
Too many visitors stay glued to the historic center and don’t do any day trips outside of Rome! Yes, there are enough things to do in Rome to last a lifetime and then some (it is the eternal city, after all) but the rest of Italy has so much to offer too.
UNESCO sites, ancient ruins, charming hilltop towns, and alternative places in Italy await outside of Rome’s borders.
This guide includes all the best day trips from Rome by train so no rental car is required. Yes, you don’t have to worry about navigating through lethal Roman traffic!
Discover all the inspiration you need to take awesome Rome day trips as well as essential logistical info to get to grips with the Italian rail network too.
Want an epic Italy guide book? This is my favorite Italy itinerary and guide!
Tivoli Day Trips from Rome
Home to Hadrian’s Villa and several Roman aqueducts, visiting Tivoli is like visiting Rome with all the modern buildings stripped away. It’s one of the best day trips near Rome because you’re still close enough to see the city.
In fact, you’ll be able to appreciate the scale and majesty of Rome from Tivoli’s vantage point.
In Tivoli, you should also visit the Villa d’Este and the Aniene waterfall. For such a small place, there are lots to see and do here.
How To Get From Rome to Tivoli by Train
This day trip from Rome takes less than an hour. From Roma Termini station, take a direct Trenitalia RV train to Tivoli station. RV (Regionale Veloce) services are semi-fast regional trains so they’re affordable, you don’t have to book in advance, and they make fewer stops.
This journey can be between 35 to 55 minutes depending if the service stops at fewer stations on the route. Around 30 trains follow this route every day and ticket prices start from €2.60. Bargain!
Day Trips from Rome to Pompeii
Whilst Pompei with one ‘i’ is the modern city near Naples, Pompeii is the UNESCO World Heritage Site on the outskirts. This is the city that was trapped under thick volcanic ash when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD.
If you’re interested in archeological sites, taking a Rome to Pompeii day trip by train is a bucket list-worthy trip for you. There’s enough to see here that you could literally spend all day exploring the site and the museum.
How To Get from Rome to Pompeii by Train
From Roma Termini, hop on a direct high-speed Italo Treno service to Napoli Centrale station. This journey takes around one hour and 15 minutes and trains traveling between Rome and Naples leave two to three times an hour.
Change trains at Napoli Centrale and get a regional MET service with Trenitalia to Pompei station. This journey is only 25 minutes and over 70 trains travel this route every day. It’s a 20-minute walk from Pompei to the ancient Roman town of Pompeii.
Tickets for this entire journey start from €14. Since it includes a high-speed train, you should book in advance to avoid disappointment and more expensive last-minute prices.
Florence Day Trips from Rome
You really should spend a few days in Florence to see all the highlights. But if you’ve only got time for a quick Tuscany day trip from Rome, one day is better than nothing!
Visit Michelangelo’s David, check out the Uffizi gallery, and walk over the postcard-perfect Ponte Vecchio bridge.
How To Get from Rome to Florence by Train
From Roma Tiburtina station, hop on a high-speed, direct Trenitalia FR train to Firenze Santa Maria Novella station. FR (Frecciarossa) is a high-speed service so you should book your tickets in advance to guarantee seats on this train.
Trains travel this route every 20 minutes and the journey is less than 90 minutes. Tickets are usually around €20.
Day Trips from Rome to Frascati
Looking for an ‘off the beaten path’ day trip from Rome by train? Frascati is nestled in the Alban Hills near the ancient city of Tusculum.
Here, you’ll find the ruins of ancient Roman amphitheaters and impressive palaces like the Villa Aldobrandini.
How To Get from Rome to Frascati by Train
From Roma Termini, get a direct REG (regional) Trenitalia train to Frascati station. This journey is only around 30 minutes and there are roughly 16 services per day.
Tickets for this route can cost as little as €2.10. It’s perfect if you’re looking for budget day trips from Rome, Italy!
Venice Day Trips from Rome
If you have the stamina for an extremely long day, a Rome to Venice day trip by train is doable.
You’ll have just enough time to stroll around St Mark’s Square, visit the basilica, hop in a gondola, and sail into the Grand Canal before hopping on a train back to Rome. Get all my top Venice travel tips before you go!
How To Get from Rome to Venice by Train
From Roma Tiburtina, choose a high-speed, direct Trenitalia FR train to Stazione di Venezia Santa Lucia. Despite the speed, this journey still takes just over four hours. This is why Venice is a great idea if you’re looking for longer, weekend trips from Rome!
Nevertheless, there are roughly 49 services a day so book the first and last trains of the day in advance to maximize your time. Average ticket prices for this journey are around €40.
Santa Marinella Day Trips from Rome
Santa Marinella is perfect if you want to enjoy Rome day trips by train to the beach. There are shallow, rocky coves that are perfect for younger kids to splash around and lots of soft, yellow sand to lounge on.
How To Get from Rome to Santa Marinella by Train
From Roma Aurelia station, hop on a direct REG Trenitalia service to Santa Marinella station. The length of this journey is around 40 minutes and they leave every 30 minutes. Tickets start from €4.60.
Roma Aurelia station is a little outside of Rome’s city center. You might need to take a connecting train from Roma Termini which is much more central.
Day Trips from Rome to Orvieto
Orvieto is a city in Umbria perched on a rock cliff and easy to reach via train rides from Rome. It’s famous for the 13th-century Duomo di Orvieto cathedral, its Etruscan underground cave network, and many other archaeological sites.
How To Get from Rome to Orvieto by Train
From Roma Tiburtina station, take a direct RV Trenitalia to Orvieto station. This journey is just over an hour and there are around 20 services a day. Tickets start from €7.90.
Orvieto station is a 40-minute walk outside of the historic center so you might need to hop in a taxi if that’s a little too far.
Assisi Day Trips from Rome
The Birthplace of the famous Saint Francis of Assisi, this is another hill town in Umbria and one of the top excursions from Rome if you’re interested in Italy’s religious history.
The Basilica of Saint Francis houses a stone sarcophagus with the saint’s remains and there are beautiful frescoes painted on the walls too.
How To Get from Rome to Assisi by Train
From Roma Tiburtina station, get a direct IC Trenitalia service to Assisi. IC (InterCity) trains are high-speed trains that you must book in advance. This train journey takes just under two hours and roughly 18 services every day. Tickets start from €9.90.
Day Trips from Rome to Pisa
Pisa is a great alternative to Florence if you want to enjoy Tuscany day trips in Italy from Rome. Plus, it’s much easier to see the highlights of Pisa in one day.
Take funny photos with the famous Leaning Tower and explore the city’s lesser-known attractions too.
How To Get from Rome to Pisa by Train
From Roma Tiburtina, hop on a direct FA Trenitalia service to Pisa. FA (Frecciargento) services are high-speed trains and you should book them in advance to avoid disappointment. To be honest, there is not much difference between Trenitalia’s FR, FA, and IC trains aside from their names.
The length of this train journey is just over two hours and there are around 38 services a day. Ticket prices for this service are usually around €25.
Naples Day Trips from Rome
Famous for being loud and unpretentious, Naples is best explored in small doses which makes it a perfect one-day trip from Rome.
Your only goal when you visit Naples is to consume all the pizza you can and avoid getting knocked down by mopeds!
How To Get from Rome to Naples by Train
From Roma Termini, get a direct high-speed Italo Treno service to Napoli Centrale station. This journey takes around one hour and 15 minutes and trains traveling between Rome and Naples leave two to three times an hour.
Book your ticket in advance as you need seat reservations to travel on these trains. Ticket prices are usually around €12 for this journey.
Day Trips from Rome to Cerveteri
One of the closer day trips outside Rome, Cerveteri is known for its ancient, pre-Roman necropolis. The results of many archaeological investigations in this area are now on display in the National Museum of Cerveteri.
How To Get from Rome to Cerveteri by Train
From Roma Aurelia, take a direct REG Trenitalia train to Ladispoli – Cerveteri station. This train only takes around 25 minutes and they run every 40 minutes. Tickets start at around €3 so it’s perfect if you are looking for quick and easy train trips from Rome.
Terni Day Trips from Rome
Near the Lazio border, one of the best day trips from Rome you could take is to the Umbrian city of Terni on the banks of the Nera River.
Though it’s nowhere near as big as Rome, it’s still a generously-sized city with lots of museums, churches, and piazzas to explore.
How To Get from Rome to Terni by Train
There are both REG and IC services by Trenitalia to Terni. As you’d expect, regional services are cheaper and you don’t need to book ahead but they stop at more stations and take longer. Intercity services are quicker, often a little more expensive, and you do need to book ahead.
Choose whichever service is best for you!
Either way, both direct services depart from Roma Tiburtina station and head to Terni station. This journey is less than an hour and there are around 24 services a day. The average ticket price for this train journey is around €10.
Rome Day Trips FAQs
Train tickets in Rome, Italy can be purchased in several ways. You can buy them online through the Trenitalia or Italo websites, at the train station from the ticket counter or from automated ticket machines, or through travel agencies. The ticket machines and counters usually have instructions in English and accept credit/debit cards as well as cash. If buying at the station, it’s recommended to arrive early to allow enough time for purchasing tickets, especially during peak travel times.
High-speed trains in Italy, such as Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, and Frecciabianca, are faster and more expensive than regional trains, but offer more amenities such as comfortable seating, air conditioning, and sometimes a dining car. Regional trains are slower, make more stops, and are generally cheaper than high-speed trains. They often have basic seating with no reservations required, making them a more flexible option for shorter journeys.
Yes, you can use a credit card to buy train tickets in Rome, Italy. Most train stations have automated ticket machines where you can purchase your tickets using a credit or debit card. You can also buy tickets online through the Trenitalia or Italo websites using a credit card. It is recommended to have a chip and pin credit card for use in Italy as some machines may not accept magnetic stripe cards.
Train schedules in Rome, Italy are generally reliable, but delays can occur. It is always a good idea to check the schedule ahead of time and plan for some flexibility in case of unexpected delays or changes. Additionally, it is recommended to allow plenty of time for connections, especially if traveling during peak travel times or holidays.
In Rome, train platforms are usually listed on the departure boards found in the main hall of the train station. You can also check the information screens for any updates or changes to the platform number. The platform number is typically assigned a few minutes before departure, so it’s important to keep an eye on the boards and screens for any last-minute changes. If you’re unsure or need assistance, you can always ask one of the station attendants or staff members for help.
I suggest arriving at the train station at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time for regional and intercity trains, and at least 1 hour before for high-speed trains. This allows enough time for security checks and to locate your train platform. However, it’s always best to check with the specific train company or station for their recommended arrival time.
Day Trips from Rome by Train Wrap-Up
With so many amazing possible day trips by train from Rome, it would be a shame to not explore another beautiful part of Italy by staying in one place. You can do it without checking in and out of accommodations and lugging your bags from city to city, too.
Take a chance on one of these suggestions for a fun day trip out of Rome and have an even more unforgettable time living la dolce vita!