If you’re looking for the best hikes near Rome, stop for a moment and look at the options I have gathered in this travel blog post.
In case you still don’t know me well, you should know that I was born and raised in Rome and have been exploring the hiking trails around Rome for about 5 years. Besides being an escape from the chaotic metropolis, they are full of archaeological and natural beauty.
I am convinced that the most satisfying walks can be done north and east of the city. Here, you’ll find the regions locally known as Tuscia and Sabina.
The areas between Rome and Viterbo and Rome and Rieti are rich in waterfalls, lakes, lush forests, and charming villages.
There, you will also spot some of Italy’s most secret historical landmarks (have you ever heard about the winding canyons carved into the volcanic rock by human hand thousands of years ago, the Vie Cave or Hollow Roads?).
The list also includes how to discover the ghost town Antica Monterano and the famous Path of the Gods along the Amalfi Coast.
11 Best Hikes near Rome
To best deal with these hiking trails around Rome, I recommend that you equip yourself with the appropriate clothing and equipment:
- trekking shoes
- hiking sticks (optional)
- a hat
- multilayer clothes
- Minimum of 1.5-liter water and snacks
- headlamp
IMPORTANT:
If you need rescue while you are hiking near Rome, call the free emergency number 1515
1. Hike in the Veio Park
If you are familiar with the city of Rome, you surely know that it is one of the greenest metropolises in the world and that it can boast some remarkable public parks, such as the estates of Villa Ada and Villa Pamphili.
The Parco di Veio is a regional nature reserve located just outside the city, suitable for those who need to escape the traffic and the queues but don’t want to stray too far from Rome.
The Veio Park extends between the ancient Roman consular roads Flaminia and Cassia. In this reserve, it is very easy to come into contact with wildlife: cows, horses, wild boars, and even traces of wolves have been found.
The paths are mostly flat. The most fascinating paths are two, one starts from the official entrance of the park near the village of Formello, the other from the village Isola Farnese, not far from the train station “La Storta”.
Important facts about hiking in Veio Park
Veio is remembered in the history of Rome as the last Etruscan city to fall, the siege lasted 10 years. In the park, there are many vestiges of this ancient greatness.
From the temple dedicated to the deity Apollo of Veio, statues have been extracted and are now exhibited at the National Etruscan Museum of Rome.
The most impressive work, however, is the 40 km of tunnels that allowed water management, which are still viable in part.
Accessing from the town of Formello you immediately arrive at the enchanting Sorbo Valley, crossed by the Cremera River that forms waterfalls.
It is here that you will find the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sorbo, a stop along the Via Francigena, an ancient pilgrimage route that went from Canterbury to Rome.
The Sorbo Valley is the most beautiful part of Veio Park.
2. Hike in the lush Treja Valley
Here is a natural landscape you don’t expect if you are used to walking exclusively in the historical center of Rome.
The valley of the River Treja was formed after the explosion of the Sabatino Volcano. The environment is that of a lush gorge, where you can walk under the shade of thick vegetation.
In this area, you will discover the vestiges of the Faliscans, who inhabited the area more than 2000 years ago and were neighbors to the Latins and the Etruscans.
What remains of this ancient civilization are the rock tombs, which you can only access by walking in the woods.
The hiking route develops between the villages of Calcata and Mazzano Romano, which are two of the most picturesque villages near Rome, perched on cliffs of tufa, a type of rock formed by ancient volcanic lava.
Calcata is also known as the “village of artists”: it was abandoned for centuries and doomed to destruction until during the 1960s artists from all over the world moved there to pursue their art in freedom and nature.
Where to start hiking
Before you start walking, leave your car in the free parking lots just outside any of these two villages and continue on foot. From the historic centers of Calcata or Mazzano Romano, follow the signs for Treja Valley Regional Park.
Highlights of this hike:
- The Sanctuary of Monte Li Santi-Le Rote is dedicated to an unspecified female deity. Hundreds of peculiar terracotta artifacts have come to light that archaeologists have called “masks” (they are very similar to masks but there are no holes for the eyes), a selection of which can be seen at the MAVNA museum in the village of Mazzano Romano.
- The remains of the acropolis of ancient Narce, including the walls, are located on top of a cliff.
- There is more to see. The Waterfalls of Monte Gelato are called so because the water is very cold even during the hottest months and are among the easiest waterfalls to reach around Rome.
- It’s worth taking the short climb that leads to the ruins of the Church of Santa Maria to admire the village of Calcata from afar; this place also has tables where you can sit for a picnic lunch.
Suppose you do this hike from April to December on weekends. In that case, I recommend you also book a guided tour of the art installations in nature at Opera Bosco, an open-air museum just outside Calcata.
3. Hike of the Necropolis and falls of Cerveteri
Here is one of the most challenging hikes you can do near Rome. The difficulty is medium, so not recommended if you’re completely out of shape!
It is also one of the best hikes in Italy, so if you have a full day to hike, just go for it!
Where to start hiking
Leave your car in the parking lot in front of the main entrance to the Etruscan Necropolis of Cerveteri. This is a UNESCO heritage site and the largest necropolis in the Mediterranean area.
The necropolis is divided into three parts. The one with mound-shaped tombs has an entrance ticket (€6) and thousands of tombs to walk through, but there are also hundreds of tombs you can visit for free along the hike. You can easily skip the paid necropolis and start hiking immediately.
Head towards the “Via degli Inferi” or Way of the Underworld, passing through the Necropolis of the Pond (both free entry).
The Way of the Underworld is what archaeologists call a hollow roa. It is a path entirely excavated through a rock wall with something similar to an ice ax.
The place’s vibe is surreal, it feels like suddenly being in a movie about archaeological mysteries.
The walls of the path have hundreds of openings that house tombs, and you can explore them with a flashlight. You can see beds carved into the rock and the remains of decorative bas-reliefs.
The tombs are spread out over two floors. It definitely takes a couple of hours to explore most of them, but it is absolutely worth it.
After visiting this secret part of the Etruscan Necropolis, you continue walking in the direction of Lake Bracciano through the woods.
You enter an uncontaminated gorge-like territory where you can admire at least 5 waterfalls, 3 of which are over 20 meters high. The loop route is about 15 km long.
The half-day version of the hike:
For an easier and way shorter version of this walk, you can leave the car in the main piazza of the small village of Castel Giuliano, 10 km from Lake Bracciano.
Walk down to the river and visit the Cascata Della Mola Fall and then hike along the stream to the Cascata dell’Ospedaletto Fall.
With the shorter version of the hike, you’ll leave out the necropolis, but you’ll still see the two most fascinating waterfalls in the region.
4. Canale Monterano Nature Reserve
The abandoned town known as “Antica Monterano”, is located in the middle of a nature reserve a few kilometers away from the village of Canale Monterano.
The ancestors of the inhabitants of Canale Monterano lived at Antica Monterano several centuries ago.
The reason for their transfer was an epidemic, followed by the pillage by the French army at the end of the 18th century.
The majestic ruins of the ghost town include 3 churches, what remains of the noble Altieri Palace, an aqueduct, two fountains by Bernini, and remains of peasant dwellings and workshops. The atmosphere is so suggestive that it has been chosen as the set of several films, including Ben Hur.
Walking around here, you can also explore ancient caves and an ancient sulfur mine. There is also a sulfur spring that colors the surrounding land yellow and the Diosilla waterfall.
The spur of volcanic rock where two rivers and dense woods border the ghost town stands.
During the summer, the reserve and the new town have medieval festivals with parades with costumes, races of strength and speed among young people, music, and stands with local delicacies.
5. Hike from Anguillara Sabazia to Lake Martignano
This is a relaxing walk that can be done in half a day and allows you to visit a hidden jewel of Lazio, Lake Martignano.
Not far from Lake Bracciano, it was also formed as a result of the explosion of the Sabatino Volcano, back in time.
On the same day, you could do this hike and then visit one of the picturesque towns overlooking Lake Bracciano like Anguillara Sabazia and Trevignano Romano.
The best time to do this walk is from May to October when you can also combine it with a refreshing swim in Lake Martignano.
Where to start hiking
Park your car at the Carrefour supermarket in Anguillara Sabazia (the town can also be reached by train, leaving from the Valle Aurelia station in Rome).
Proceed on foot along Via Della Mola Vecchia and then along Via Lago di Martignano. The difference in height is minimal. From the highest part of the route, you can see both the lakes Bracciano and Martignano.
These are two of the most beautiful lakes near Rome.
Among all the hikes near Rome I’m recommending, choose this one either if:
- it’s summer and you want to swim
- you’re hiking with the whole family and you need an easy hike
6. Pineto Regional Park
For those who need a nature experience but cannot travel from Rome, the city offers surprises.
One of the adventurous things to do in Rome is to walk in Pineto Park, which stretches in the northwestern part of the city.
It is a nature reserve in the heart of the city characterized by a picturesque valley, meadows, and pine forests.
The best time to visit is from April to June when the many species of plants in the park such as:
- Cistus
- Arborea
- Myrtle
- Wild Strawberries
- Lentisk
Other seasons are also good for hiking, but it is not recommended to come here when it rains.
Start your exploration from the trail in the Parco dei Fornaciari on Via delle Ceramiche Road.
7. Mount Circeo trail
This trail affords wonderful scenery on the Tyrrhenian coast south of Rome. Mount Circeo is a limestone formation just over 500 meters high and completely surrounded by plains.
It provides breathtaking views throughout the walk. The place is said to have been inhabited in ancient times by mythical figures, such as the goddess Venus and the sorceress Circe (who challenged Ulysses in Homer’s Odyssey). On the top of the mountain stand the ruins of a temple.
The surrounding plain is the Pianura Pontina or Agro Pontino, an area that was almost completely marshy until the 1920s when reclamation by Mussolini took place. The walk area is part of the Mount Circeo National Park, which is rich in biodiversity. The terrain is karst and full of fascinating and mysterious caves, in one of which the skull of a Neanderthal man was found (Guattari Cave).
Nearby are some of the longest and most beautiful beaches near Rome, such as Sabaudia Beach. There are two trails to the highest peak or Picco di Circe, No. 750 and No. 751. The 751 is longer but also less strenuous.
CAUTION: Both trails have some very exposed sections of medium-high difficulty. You have to help yourself with your hands at times. I recommend this hike for experienced hikers. It is important to carry more than one bottle of water. Not recommended for families with children.
Trail starting from Torre Paola
To take the shorter trail, start from Torre Paola by taking a dirt road (trail 751). After about 500 meters turn right when you encounter a red and yellow arrow drawn on the trunk of a tree, continuing on trail No. 750 to the top.
Trail “delle crocette” (less strenuous):
Start from the Belvedere delle Crocette viewpoint or the San Felice Circeo Cemetery. Follow this path until you take Trail No. 750, which leads to the summit via a steep and difficult climb.
8. Path of the gods
This popular hike of about 4 hours allows you to admire the Amalfi Coast and Capri the whole way. Starting from Bomerano (a hamlet of Agerola) and arriving at Nocelle, you walk slightly downhill.
The Path of the Gods has two types of environments: one where vegetation is sparse and grassy, with pastures, and one of dense Mediterranean scrub. The best time to do this walk is late spring or early fall. The walk is not suitable for children or those who suffer from vertigo; there are quite exposed sections.
If you want to do it in the summer, bring essentials to shelter from the sun and consider whether to descend the 300 steps to the beautiful Arienzo Beach, which you will find along the way. Nocelle is located in the upper part of Positano; you can reach the historic center of Positano from Nocelle by walking down 1,500 steps. On the way back you can take the bus back to the starting point of the walk.
TIPS: If you travel by car, leave your car in Agerola. If you travel by train, instead, reach Amalfi first and then Agerola by bus.
In Agerola, shop for a picnic lunch: mozzarella fiordilatte cheese and focaccia are among the local specialties.
9. Hike on the Simbruini Mountains
The Simbruini Mountains Natural Park is the perfect place to discover the beauty of the mountains near Rome.
The park is located 80 km east of the city.
Here you will have the opportunity to walk in the snow in winter, cool off in summer and enjoy the foliage colors in autumn.
There are hiking trails of various levels of difficulty suitable for everyone, from beginners to experts, that start from Campo dell’Osso.
If you are traveling with children, you will have a great time here, even if you don’t ski.
At Campo dell’Osso in Livata, there is in fact the Family Park where you can rent sleds for €15 per day, and the “Fun Bob.”
Also at Campo dell’Osso, which is a good starting point for exploring the park, there are two restaurants where you can stop and eat:
- Il Capriolo
- Il Cristallo di Neve
It is recommended to reserve a table!
Trails lead to the summit of Mount Livata (1350 mt) and Mount Autore (1855 mt).
Among the animals that inhabit these mountains are:
- Deer
- Wild boars
- Roe deer
- Wolves
- Weasels
- Porcupines
- Wild cats
- Golden eagles
The park has many rest areas with tables where you can eat a picnic lunch in the open air.
Another attraction of the Simbruini Mountains is the town of Subiaco.
Here there are two important medieval monasteries that you can visit, that of St. Benedict and of St. Scolastica.
The Monastery of St. Benedict is particularly fascinating because it is built on the rock face of a mountain.
If you are passing through, it is also worth visiting the Laghetto di San Benedetto, a small lake that forms at the place where the Aniene River cascades in a waterfall.
The lake area can be accessed by paying a €2.50 ticket; the fee-based access was established to limit the influx of visitors to the pristine natural area.
Conclusion
These I have listed are just some of the countless possibilities for hikes near Rome that this incredible land has to offer.
If you’re interested in hiking near Rome Italy and you are not an expert hiker, consider a half-day hike or make sure to hike with a partner.
In case you are hiking around Rome and need rescue, or in case you want to report a fire or environmental crime, call the single emergency number 1515
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