Rome is extraordinary — but Italy surrounding it is equally so. If you're spending more than three days in the capital, escaping for a day to the surrounding region is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast, the gardens of Tivoli, ancient Ostia, and the hill towns of Lazio — all within two hours of Rome and genuinely worth the journey.
The most extraordinary archaeological site in Europe — a complete Roman city preserved by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD. Streets, houses, bakeries, taverns, temples, and the haunting plaster casts of the victims are all visible. Allow a full day; Pompeii is larger than most visitors expect. The high-speed train from Roma Termini to Naples takes 1h15; the Circumvesuviana to Pompeii Scavi a further 40 minutes.
The Villa d'Este at Tivoli (45 minutes from Roma Termini by train) contains the finest Renaissance garden in Italy — 100 fountains fed entirely by gravity from a diverted river, including the spectacular Fountain of Neptune. The view from the upper terraces over the Lazio plain towards Rome is extraordinary. Combined with Hadrian's Villa (2km away) for a full-day excursion.
The largest ancient Roman complex in Italy — built by the Emperor Hadrian between 117 and 138 AD, covering 120 hectares and containing recreations of his favourite buildings from across the empire: the Canopus (an Egyptian canal), the Island Villa (Hadrian's private retreat), and the Pecile (a copy of the Stoa Poikile in Athens). 2km from Villa d'Este; combine both in a day.
The ancient port city of Rome — Ostia Antica is comparable in scale and preservation to Pompeii but receives a fraction of the visitors. The mosaics, the multi-storey apartment buildings (insulae), the forum, the theatre, and the baths are extraordinarily well preserved. 40 minutes from Roma Porta San Paolo station on the Rome–Lido line; worth combining with a beach afternoon in Ostia Lido.
The most dramatic coastline in Italy — Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, and the lemon groves cascading down cliffs into a turquoise sea. From Rome: high-speed train to Naples (1h10), then ferry to Positano (1h30) or Amalfi (1h45). A long day from Rome but genuinely worth it. Best in May–June and September–October when the summer crowds thin.
Rome's great rival city — chaotic, magnificent, and home to the best pizza in the world (at L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele, Via Cesare Sersale 1). Naples also contains the Museo Nazionale Archeologico (the finest collection of artefacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum) and one of the most extraordinary historic centres in Europe. The high-speed train takes just 1h10.
The finest medieval hill town in Umbria — Orvieto rises dramatically on a volcanic tufa cliff above the surrounding plain, visible for 40 kilometres. The Gothic Cathedral (Duomo di Orvieto) is one of the finest medieval buildings in Italy; the Cappella di San Brizio inside contains Luca Signorelli's Last Judgment frescoes (completed 1504) that directly influenced Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel.
The papal summer residence above Lake Albano — Castel Gandolfo was the summer seat of the papacy for 400 years, and since 2016 the papal gardens and villa have been open to the public. The lake below is one of the most beautiful in Lazio, with excellent swimming in summer. The Castelli Romani area surrounding it has the best wine in the region of Rome.
