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!
This list of day trips from Rome by train was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
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 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 World Heritage Sites, ancient ruins, charming hilltop towns and medieval streets, and alternative places in Italy await outside Rome’s borders.
This guide includes all the best day trips from Rome by train, so no rental car is required. You don’t have to worry about navigating through lethal Roman traffic!
Discover all the inspiration you need to take fantastic Rome day trips, as well as essential logistical info to get to grips with the Italian rail network.
Many of these destinations are just a short train ride away, making them perfect for families who want a fun day without the hassle of long travel times.
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.
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, including wandering through the stunning gardens of Villa d’Este, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its beautiful fountains and intricate landscaping.
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 and 55 minutes, depending on whether the service stops at fewer stations on the route. Around 30 trains follow this route daily, 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 city 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. There’s enough to see here that you could literally spend all day exploring the site and the museum.
Walking through ancient Rome at Pompeii gives you a rare chance to see the daily life of Romans frozen in time, with streets, homes, and shops still standing after nearly two millennia.
How To Get from Rome to Pompeii by Train
From Roma Termini, hop on a direct high-speed Italo Treno service to Napoli Centrale train 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 train station. This journey is only 25 minutes long, 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, visit the Uffizi gallery, and take a leisurely stroll over the postcard-perfect Ponte Vecchio bridge. Wander through the medieval streets and soak in the Renaissance charm that Florence is famous for.
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, depending on how soon you book your tickets and if it’s the peak season.
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. The town is also famous for its local wine, and a visit wouldn’t be complete without joining a wine tasting at one of the traditional family-run vineyards.
Frascati offers a leisurely stroll through charming piazzas and historic streets, making it a lovely place for families to explore. It’s a destination that perfectly blends history, culture, and the laid-back lifestyle of the Italian countryside.
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 30 minutes long and roughly 16 services daily.
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!
Wandering through the medieval streets and alongside picturesque canals offers a completely different vibe compared to Rome.
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 many 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 but can be significantly more expensive, especially when booked closer to the travel date or during peak seasons.
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.
Take a leisurely stroll along the promenade, enjoy seaside dining, or simply relax by the water. Santa Marinella is a lovely place for a family beach day, especially during warmer months.
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. This journey lasts 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 short train rides from Rome. It’s famous for its 13th-century Duomo di Orvieto cathedral, 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, with around 20 daily services. Tickets start from €7.90.
Orvieto station is a 40-minute walk outside the historic center, so you might need to hop in a taxi if that’s too far. There is also a funicular that goes from the train station to the city center.
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 beautiful frescoes are also painted on the walls.
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 you must book in advance. This train journey takes under two hours and roughly 18 services daily. Tickets start from €9.90.
Day Trips from Rome to Pisa
Pisa is an excellent 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. Check out my tips for visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa with kids!
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; 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.
This train journey lasts just over two hours, with around 38 daily services. 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, making 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. They tend to go higher, especially when booked closer to the travel date or during peak seasons.
Day Trips from Rome to Cerveteri
One of the closer day trips just outside Rome, Cerveteri is known for its ancient, pre-Roman necropolis. The Banditaccia Necropolis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering visitors a deep dive into Etruscan history.
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 runs 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 many museums, churches, and piazzas to explore. Terni is also the gateway to the Marmore Falls, one of the tallest man-made waterfalls in Europe, surrounded by stunning gardens and lush walking trails.
A visit to Terni offers a peaceful escape into the Italian countryside while still delivering plenty of history and natural beauty.
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
In Rome, Italy, you can buy train tickets online via Trenitalia or Italo, at station ticket counters or machines, or through travel agencies. Machines and counters offer English instructions and accept cash or cards. Arrive early when purchasing at the station, especially during peak times.
High-speed trains in Italy, like Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, and Frecciabianca, are faster, pricier, and offer more amenities. They feature comfortable seating, air conditioning, and sometimes a dining car. Regional trains are slower, cheaper, and make more stops. They offer basic seating, no reservations, and greater flexibility for short trips.
Yes, you can use a credit card to buy train tickets in Rome. Most stations have machines accepting credit or debit cards. You can also purchase tickets online via Trenitalia or Italo websites. I recommend a chip-and-pin credit card, as some machines reject magnetic stripe cards.
Train schedules in Rome are generally reliable, but delays can happen. Check schedules in advance and plan for flexibility. Allow extra time for connections, especially during peak hours or holidays.
In Rome, train platforms are listed on departure boards in the station’s main hall. Check information screens for updates or changes. Platforms are often assigned minutes before departure, so monitor the boards closely. If unsure, ask station attendants for help.
Arrive at least 30 minutes early for regional and intercity trains and 1 hour early for high-speed trains. This allows time for security checks and finding your platform. Check with the train company or station for exact recommendations.
Day Trips from Rome by Train Wrap-Up
With so many amazing possible day trips by train from Rome, it would be a shame not to 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.
Whether it’s wandering the medieval streets of Assisi, enjoying a wine tasting in Frascati, or strolling through the stunning gardens of Tivoli, there’s something for everyone. Families can easily take a short train ride to a beach in Santa Marinella or explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Pompeii and Cerveteri.
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! The nearby Italian countryside, charming picturesque towns, and historical gems are all within easy reach by local train — making these destinations truly worth visiting.
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