How to Spend a Day Outside of Rome

3 hidden gems in Italy that are perfect for a day trip!

I think it goes without saying that Italy is one of the most beautiful and historic countries in the world. There are so many places to explore and destinations to discover that you’ve only ever dreamt of. Italy remains the most preserved country in the world with the highest number of 59 saved heritage sites, you should allow yourself to also take the time to reach out beyond common areas and explore surrounding areas of Rome.

I have lived in Rome for one month and have experienced more than some people have in their entire lifetime. As a student at John Cabot University, I have been taking advantage of the three-day weekends and traveling to hidden gems that are as close as a 40 -minute train ride, and you should, too.  I have visited Sperlonga, Anzio, and Castel Gandolfo all of which I have loved tremendously, and I plan on visiting many more places. In this article I will be giving you an insight to my travel experiences and some of the places that I believe everyone must visit during their time in Rome, so if you are looking for your next excursion, this article is for you!

Castel Gandolfo, Italy

I always knew I wanted to study in Rome in order to travel around to its beautiful sights whilst simultaneously getting an education, so at the end of my last class on the first Thursday of the new school year I immediately started planning what new place I would see that weekend. After researching all the interesting places in a near radius from Trastevere, I found myself on a train at 8am heading somewhere that never even crossed my mind. Castel Gandolfo: “Home of the Pope’s Garden and Villa”, and in a mere 40 minutes I was welcomed with the most breathtaking view of Lago Albano immediately upon exiting the train. After a few moments of staring in awe at this beautiful lake surrounded by rolling mountains, I walked up a steep hill until stumbling into the quaint square of Castel Gandolfo that was filled with the bustle of patrons going to their local churches, cafes, and stores all laid out in front of the Pope’s Pontifical Palace. For €10 I purchased a ticket to not only walk through the museum that was built inside the palace, but also receive a tour from one of the palace guards through the magical gardens of the villa! I had never seen such beautiful greenery, fountains, flowers, and views. And, of course, the palace itself was magical knowing that I was walking through a palace full of so much history. Every aspect of Castel Gandolfo had a surreal, almost fantasy- like, feel to it. It is the embodiment of a hidden gem near Rome that everyone should 100% go see. With personal purchases set aside, this entire trip was a total of about €20. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather spend my weekend strolling through ancient gardens and palaces than going to the movies!

Anzio, Italy

Some people might not be the biggest fan of sightseeing the way I did at Castel Gandolfo. Some might prefer a relaxing day at the beach, just like the one I had during my day trip to Anzio! Anzio, Italy is a prime example of a place to have a relaxing beach day. With its lounge chairs, colorful umbrellas, and seaside restaurants it was destined to be a memorable, relaxing, and fun-filled day. By waking up early to beat the crowds, catching a relaxing train ride with a beautiful view, and laying out your beach towel to lay in the sun you have the perfect equation for an amazing beach day on the Italian seaside in beautiful waters. Anzio definitely has a newer more modernized feel too it’s seaside and downtown streets, but I found myself falling in love with its architecture and, most of all, it's delicious frozen yogurt. For €30 I was able to have the most amazing day on a beach only 1 hour and 45 minutes from Trastevere. Just be sure to bring your sunscreen!

Sperlonga, Italy

If you are someone who enjoys both a relaxing and a historical place to spend your day on the seaside, then Sperlonga, Italy is the place for you. During my day trip here, I visited the Museum of Archeology located a 3-minute walk away from the ruins of the Villa of Tiberius. The museum had huge, intricate statues that were mesmerizing to look at. Just south of the town of Sperlonga itself is the marvelous Grotto of Tiberius which I was able to go into and look at the perfectly framed in beach of Sperlonga through its jagged rocks and delicately hanging moss. The water at Sperlonga was very refreshing and clear and the beach itself provided for a lovely walk all the way from the Grotto to the base of the mountain that the town of Sperlonga sat upon. In a 10-minute ride up the hill towards the village you were met with the most beautiful overlook of the beach and an even more stunning view of the sunset on the opposite side. Getting some gelato and watching the sunset over all the colorful, ancient, and decorative homes in Sperlonga was one of my favorite experiences I’ve had during my day trips.

There is so much to see, and I advise everyone to never pass on an opportunity to visit new places, try new food, meet new people, discover new places, experience new cultures, seek out new journeys, and create new memories. My roommates and I live by the saying “when in Rome”. When you’re in Rome, take advantage of all the amazing new places you can see, and if you don’t know where to start hopefully, I piqued your interest into what your next trip might look like.

To read more about all 3 of these destinations, you can check out my blog posts about Castel Gandolfo, Anzio, and Sperlonga!