21 of the best day trips from Rome, Italy by train

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. After arriving in Milan from Rome, you might find a day is not enough. 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 to Tuscany 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. Learn more about how to get from Rome to Cinque Terra by train.

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 from Rome to Sorrento by train. 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.

Discover more day trips from top European cities by train:

Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Matteo Colombo. Image Location: Cinque Terre, Italy

To roam from Rome: the best day trips by train from Italy's Eternal City