10 Best Road Trips Near Rome

Anzio is a delightful coastal town to visit, where you'll find historically-prominent attractions and a beach. The city can be traced back to the time of ancient Rome, when it was known as Antium, though the modern iteration of Anzio is better known for its role in World War II as a staging point for the Allied landing in Italy.

When you visit this town, you'll find numerous historical sites to explore, from ancient ruins to war cemeteries. Of course, you can also see several beaches since it's a coastal location. Local restaurants take advantage of being seaside by offering delicious fresh seafood. It's all located about 32 miles south of Rome.

Ostia Antica is a remarkably well-preserved historical site that lets you explore the ruins of an ancient Roman port city. When you visit this city, you'll feel as if you're stepping back in time, as it is often considered to be the likely first Colonia of Rome.

The ruins of this city date back thousands of years, with the oldest visible buildings being from the 3rd century BCE. You can also see the Capitolium, which was the temple of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. While not as old as the Castrum, this temple is still old enough to be before the adoption of Christianity in Rome. It's all located about 50 minutes to the southwest of Rome.

Tivoli is a relatively small town set just outside of Rome, where you'll find historical architecture and brilliant natural features. Among the historic buildings, you can visit the Villa Adriana, a massive complex created for Emperor Hadrian that's still well preserved despite being nearly 2,000 years old.

Many villas and estates here boast remarkable natural features, and gardens are often opened to visitors. Of course, some of the most iconic have their own waterfalls, like what you'll find in Via dell Cascatelle. You can get to it all by heading east from Rome for just over half an hour.

Bracciano is a small village next to a delightful lake, complete with charming streets and scenic views the whole family can enjoy. The lake is the star of the show here, with plenty to enjoy, from the beach to boating activities on the water that adults and kids alike can enjoy.

When it comes to the town itself, you'll find plenty to see, with a historic castle and ancient streets dating back centuries. The small alleys are delightful, and the town is best explored on foot. Plus, it's where you'll find scenic views of the lake and the surrounding areas. It's about 25 miles northwest of Rome.

The Castelli Romani is a collection of towns around the countryside in Rome where you can take in the natural features of the Lazio region among historical splendour. When you venture to these towns, you'll be able to visit locations like Lanuvio and Genzano di Roma, which have numerous legendary sites.

Many of the towns are situated among splendid natural features. Albano Laziale, for example, is located within scenic hills and is set by a majestic lake you can explore. On the other hand, Marino features sprawling vineyards with all the wine you could want. They're all located under an hour's drive from Rome.

Cerveteri is an ancient city with a history dating back thousands of years that you can explore after a short road trip. This city was most prominently known as Caisra by the Etruscans when it was one of the largest in the Etruscan League during its height more than 2,500 years ago.

When you visit this archaeological site, you'll find numerous remnants of the ancient city, including the Necropolis of the Banditaccia, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. You'll see many tombs here with the characteristic mound. It's all located a little less than an hour to the northwest of Rome.

San Felice Circeo is a coastal town on the Mediterranean where you'll find long flat beaches, a national park and plenty of restaurants and cafes. The beaches tend to be among the most popular attractions thanks to how quiet they are compared to a lot of other beaches along the Italian coast in Lazio.

Inside the town itself, you'll find yourself hidden away from the hustle and bustle of cities like Rome, but there's still plenty to do. Restaurants are among the most popular, with local seafood being especially stunning, utilising ingredients caught just offshore. It's located about an hour and a half south of Rome, just past Sabaudia.

The Gardens of Ninfa let you enjoy a pristine green space designed by Lelia Caetani that sports vibrant colours and natural splendour. The gardens are relatively recent, with work beginning in the early 20th century, but it was Lelia who really let the natural growth shine as it drapes over the historic ruins.

When you visit these gardens, you'll feel a sense of awe as centuries-old remnants of towers are covered in green and purple with colourful plants growing steadily throughout the old stone. It's located south-east of Rome, nearly 80 kilometres away.

Viterbo is an iconic town with a rich history and natural thermal springs that have drawn in Romans and more from around the country for centuries. The city is valuable to the papacy, as it was the seat of the entire organisation for 20 years during the 13th century.

When you visit the city today, you'll find plenty of historic buildings to explore, many of which are related to the Roman papacy or are simply impressive churches. Of course, you'll want to stop by the thermal springs for a new kind of relaxation. It's all located about an hour north of Rome.

Orvieto is a delightful hilltop town where you can explore various attractions, including churches, natural viewpoints and an underground city. The final push of your road trip will have you ascending quite a bit, but once you reach this town on top of the hill, you can take in the scenic viewpoints found in just about every direction.

The duomo here is particularly grand, with many travelling just to see it. Of course, you won't want to miss out on the underground city originally built by the Etruscans. It's all located about 80 miles north of Rome, just under 2 hours away.