Rome wasn’t built in a day…
…probably because Ancient Roman architects had a pretty full schedule constructing other iconic cities across the Empire. Seriously, take one trip across Italy’s extensive railway network and you’ll go from new-favorite-city to new-favorite-city.
The art, the architecture, the amazing food: there’s so much more of Italy to explore beyond the Eternal City that visiting Rome alone just isn’t enough.
Take advantage of speedy rail routes from Roma Termini railway station and add the best day trips from Rome by train to your Italian itinerary.
Image Credit: Getty Images, seng chye teo. Image Location: Venice, Italy
Venice
Closest stations: Venezia Santa Lucia | Venezia Mestre
Roma Termini to Venezia Mestre: from 3h 26m
Ride a gondola through the Grand Canal and spend a full day in the museums of St. Mark’s Square. There’s no shame in only hitting the “tourist” sites in this floating city; Venice is simply magnificent and your obligatory photo on the Rialto Bridge will be one you longingly look at for decades to come. Traveling from Rome to Venice by train also offers scenic views of the Italian countryside along the way.
Milan
Closest stations: Milano Centrale | Milano Porta Garibaldi
Roma Termini to Milano Centrale: from 2h 52m
There’s way more to Milan than Milan Fashion Week; you can spend your entire visit just eating your way through the city and popping into an art gallery in between meals. We’re in no way pressuring you to extend your day trip, but Milan is also a great launch point for day trips, like catching the train to Lake Como.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Pablo Charlón. Image Location: Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy
Florence
Closest stations: Firenze Santa Maria Novella | Rifredi | Campo di Marte
Roma Termini to Firenze Santa Maria Novella: from 1h 32m
Florence has retained as much as possible from the days of the Renaissance down to the smallest details. You’ll appreciate this city’s art, architecture, and accessibility (including for budget travelers), with most items on your itinerary within walking distance of the train station. The journey from Rome to Florence by train promises a delightful blend of Tuscan countryside and picturesque towns through the heart of Italy.
Pisa
Closest stations: Pisa Centrale | Pisa San Rossore
Roma Termini to Pisa Centrale: from 2h 17m
You can spend all day watching people take hilariously creative photos with the Leaning Tower of Pisa. You do you, but keep in mind that there are other buildings to train your camera on at Lungarni di Pisa, Piazza dei Cavalieri, and Giardino Scotto. Pisa also has a stand-out selection of museums that you can lean on if you’re trying to fill an afternoon.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Peter Zelei Images. Image Location: San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy
Tuscany
Closest stations: San Vincenzo | Figline Valdarno | Montecarlo-San Salvatore
Roma Termini to Orbetello-Monte Argentario (Tuscany’s southern edge): from 1h 41m
Tuscany is the fifth-largest region by area in Italy, and it’s got way more to offer than just one city. Size-wise, exploring Tuscany is about the same as exploring New Jersey. Florence, Pisa, Arezzo, Siena, San Gimignano — they’re all within Tuscany’s borders. If you’re going to Under the Tuscan Sun your trip, go to Cortona. For Chianti wine, go to Greve in Chianti. Not every village in Tuscany has a train station, so you may need to look at cheap bus tickets to nab the exact day trip from Rome you desire.
Cinque Terre
Closest station: La Spezia Centrale
Roma Termini to La Spezia Centrale: from 3h 2m
Cinque Terre is a section of the Italian Riviera with five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. Each is chill in its own charming way, as is the UNESCO World Heritage Site Cinque Terre National Park. As far as day trips from Rome go, the Cinque Terre Express train ticket is one of the cheapest you can buy.
Image Credit: Getty Images, FilippoBacci. Image Location: Naples, Italy
Naples
Closest stations: Napoli Centrale | Napoli Gianturco | Napoli Piazza Cavour | Napoli Montesanto
Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale: from 1h 2m
Technically, there are three train stations within Napoli Centrale (and we talk all about them here). Once you get to the city, it’s Neapolitan pizza time. Grab a pie then stuff your visit with stops at Villa Comunale, Castel Nuovo, and the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. Got even more time on your hands? See our guide to the top things to do in Naples.
Pompeii
Closest station: Pompei
Roma Termini to Pompei: from 1h 46m
In less than two hours, you can go from the archaeological museums of Ancient Rome to Ancient Pompeii — how can you resist such low-hanging fruit? Pompeii is an easy day trip from Rome, passing by Mount Vesuvius, and taking you to the ruins you’ve long read about.
Image Credit: Getty Images, © Marco Bottigelli. Image Location: Positano, Amalfi Coast, Italy
Amalfi Coast
Closest station: Vietri sul Mare-Amalfi
Roma Termini to Vietri sul Mare-Amalfi: from 1h 37m
Getting to the Amalfi Coast from Rome is a choose-your-own-adventure style day trip because the Amalfi Coast doesn’t have a train line running through it. You’ll need a bus or car to get into the villages. If you’ve got reservations at Hotel Poseidon in Positano, head to Sorrento station. If you’ve got tickets to the Ravello Festival, book your train to Vietri sul Mare-Amalfi.
Santa Marinella
Closest station: Santa Marinella
Roma Termini to Santa Marinella: from 54m
A little sunshine on the coast is a great way to break up museum hopping and ruin wandering. Leave at 8 a.m. and you can be back in Rome by 2 p.m. with 3 hours of sunbathing under your belt.
🚆Trainline tip: Cruise passengers, listen up. Cittavecchia is a 6m train ride north of Santa Marinella, making it a worthwhile visit on your Rome port day.
Image Credit: Getty Images, AleksandarGeorgiev. Image Location: Villa d’Este, Tivoli, Italy
Tivoli
Closest station: Tivoli
Roma Termini to Tivoli: from 34m
Just over half an hour, and for less than $3, you can get from Rome to Tivoli. The garden of Villa d’Este is a must-visit for any fan of The Lizzie McGuire Movie. You’ve got your spoil of art and architecture here, too: Sanctuary of Hercules Victor, Rocca Pia, and Museum Mauro Macera, among others.
Orvieto
Closest station: Orvieto
Roma Termini to Orvieto: from 1h 3m
In Orvieto you’ll find medieval streets on top of underground caves. It’s one of those small medieval cities you might not have heard of but you won’t be able to stop talking about once you’ve visited, particularly because of its impressive Duomo that rivals the one in Florence.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Peter Zelei Images. Image Location: Assisi, Italy
Assisi
Closest station: Assisi
Roma Termini to Assisi: from 1h 57m
The bad news is that the Assisi train station is a few miles from the town itself; the good news is that the Basilica di San Francesco d’Assisi has been a pilgrimage site for centuries, so traveling between the town and the train tracks isn’t too tough.
Sorrento
Closest station: Sorrento
Roma Termini to Sorrento: from 4h 15m by bus
If you want life to give you lemons, head to Sorrento. From cute lemon-themed souvenirs to one-too-many glasses of limoncello liqueur, you won’t regret the sweet bliss of staring off at the sunset over the Bay of Naples.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Matteo Colombo. Image Location: Polignano a mare, Apulia, Italy
Puglia
Closest stations: Foggia | Bari Centrale | Lecce (città)
Roma Termini to Puglia: from 2h 50m to 5h 24m
The heel of the boot, Puglia runs from just above Foggia to just below Lecce, so not every part is within a practical day trip’s distance from Rome. The best beaches in Puglia are reason enough to visit the northern coast, but Puglia’s interior also has a countryside charm that will have you filling its hotels.
Ostia Antica
Closest station: Ostia Antica
Roma Porta San Paolo to Ostia Antica: from 25m
Not far from Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport, Ostia Antica is one of Rome’s zones, so while technically not a day trip from Rome, it is a great short haul to one of Rome’s lesser visited archaeological sites. And it’s easy to do so via the Roma-Lido railway line.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Photo Beto. Image Location: Viterbro, Italy
Tuscia
Closest station: Viterbo Porta Romana
Roma Termini to Viterbo Porta Roma: from 1h 33m
Tuscia is a historical region of Italy that touches Umbria, Lazio, and — you guessed it — Tuscany. It dates back to the Etruscan civilization, so expect to see a blend of their fingerprints alongside Ancient Roman touches. Hot springs in Saturnia and catacombs in Nepi are among the draws. Viterbo, home to Tuscia University and the National Etruscan Museum, is a good place to begin a visit to this Italian area that stays on the hush-hush.
Cerveteri
Closest station: Ladispoli-Cerveteri
Roma Termini to Ladispoli-Cerveteri: from 33m
Who needs Rome when there’s something more ancient close by? Within the historical Tuscia region, Cerveteri is one of the Etruscan civilization’s most significant locations. Take the train out of the Eternal City and make your way to Cerveteri’s archaeological sites, museums, and the Necropolis of Banditaccia.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Freeartist. Image Location: Castelli Romani, Italy
Castelli Romani
Closest stations: Marino Laziale | Castel Gandolfo | Villetta | Albano Laziale
Roma Termini to Marino Laziale: from 27m
Volcanic lakes, dazzling castles, and fantastic wine. One of those reasons alone is reason enough to take the short train ride from Rome to Castelli Romani. All three, plus hikes around Parco dei Castelli Romani, make it a must for those who need a break from Rome’s crowded city.
Calcata
Closest station: La Storta-Formello
Roma Tiburtina to La Storta-Formello: from 47m
The towns of Calcata Vecchia and Calcata Nuova are a mere 31 miles from the center of Rome, but to get there via public transport, you’ll need to take the train to La Storta then let the bus do the rest. Creatives, this place is worth the trek. It’s a hilltop town that’s more of an artists’ community than a tourist attraction.
Monti Simbruini
Closest stations: Compre San Vincenzo
Roma Termini to Compre San Vincenzo: from 2h 48m
Straddling the line between the Abruzzo and Lazio regions, the Regional Park of the Monti Simbruini doesn’t have a train running up to its peaks. You’ll need a little help from a bus, taxi, or new friend to get from the train station to the trailheads, so consider the extra minutes of rest as preparation for the hike.
The best day trips from Rome by train are a ticket away
Did we miss a day trip from Rome that you’ve dreamt of since you first cracked a history book?
Allow us to repent with cheap train tickets from the tip of the Alps to the heel of the boot and everywhere in between, conveniently on the Trainline app.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Matteo Colombo. Image Location: Cinque Terre, Italy