Lazio Travel Guide: Day Trips and Towns Beyond Rome

Last updated: September 25, 2026

Why go beyond Rome?

Most travelers see Lazio only through Rome. The rest of the region is close, far less crowded and very varied: villas and gardens to the east, hill towns and lakes to the north, wine towns in the Alban Hills and medieval towns to the southeast.

Best for: day trips from Rome, repeat visitors, small towns and food. Ideal stay: one or two day trips from Rome, or 2–3 nights in Tuscia or Ciociaria.

What to do in Lazio

Looking for quieter places like these across Italy? See hidden villages and towns in Italy.

Plan your Lazio trip

How many days?

1 day: Tivoli or the Castelli Romani from Rome. 2–3 days: Tuscia or Ciociaria from a local base. A week: Rome plus two areas of the region.

Do you need a car?

Tivoli, Frascati and Viterbo can be reached by public transport from Rome. The smaller towns of Tuscia and Ciociaria are much easier with a car or a guided tour.

When to visit?

Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons for walking hill towns. Summer is hot inland but good for the lakes and the coast.

Beyond Lazio, our best places to visit in Italy guide maps the whole country, from the lakes to Sicily.

Frequently asked questions

What is Lazio known for?

Lazio is the region around Rome. Beyond the capital it has Renaissance villas at Tivoli, hill towns and volcanic lakes in Tuscia, the wine towns of the Castelli Romani, medieval towns and abbeys in Ciociaria, and beaches on the Tyrrhenian coast.

What is the best day trip from Rome within Lazio?

Tivoli is the easiest: Villa d’Este and Hadrian’s Villa are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites and close to the city. For hill towns, choose Tuscia and Civita di Bagnoregio; for wine and lakes, the Castelli Romani.

Is Tuscia the same as Tuscany?

No. Tuscia is the northern part of Lazio, around Viterbo. It borders Tuscany and Umbria and shares their hill-town landscape, but it belongs to Lazio.

Where is Ciociaria?

Ciociaria is the area southeast of Rome, roughly the province of Frosinone. It is known for medieval towns such as Anagni and Alatri, for Montecassino Abbey and for its countryside food.

Do you need a car to explore Lazio?

Not for Tivoli, Frascati or Viterbo, which can be reached by public transport from Rome. For the smaller towns of Tuscia and Ciociaria, a car or a guided tour makes the trip much easier.