In this post, I’ll reveal the 7 best towns to stay outside of Rome. I don’t blame you if you’ve decided to stay outside the Eternal City: Rome can be overwhelming with its traffic, noise, and prices. I’ve spent the last 10 years discovering the areas around the city, aiming to find the perfect place to stay (and I did find it; in fact, it’s one of the towns I discuss in the article).
I recommend staying in one of these places, depending on your needs and possibilities, such as how you’re traveling and when you’re traveling.
For those traveling in summer, I thought of Fregene, the seaside town where the famous director Fellini shot scenes from La Dolce Vita. For those who love a village absolutely off the tourist track, I recommended Mazzano or Trevignano Romano.
Those traveling by train might prefer Frascati or Tivoli.
In all these towns, you’ll find more authentic hospitality, and you’ll easily understand why many Romans have moved here.
Best places to stay outside of Rome
1. Trevignano Romano
Located along the northern shores of Lake Bracciano stands Trevignano Romano, a quaint lakeside village that became my home for two wonderful years.
My first encounter with Trevignano was during my college years: I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it’s the smallest town overlooking the pristine lake near Rome. The absence of a train station (you need to take a local bus from Anguillara) gives it a tranquility I’ve found in few other places near Rome.
But that doesn’t mean it’s “too quiet.” There are bistros, pubs, restaurants, and lively cafes. To discover them, just take a walk along the well-maintained lakeside promenade, about 1.5 km long.
From the promenade, you can also access the sandy beaches, one of which has been declared a Blue Flag Beach, one of only two in the Rome area!
I moved to Trevignano just before giving birth. My daughter and I loved the playground, watching the aquatic birds like swans, and playing with the sand in the summer. Swimming in Lake Bracciano is among the most satisfying experiences I’ve had in my life.
Whether you’re traveling with family or not, I feel confident recommending that you stay here.
In the main square, the one with the historic Caffé Ermete, there’s also a small museum with Roman Etruscan-era artifacts that you can visit for free. Climbing to the top of the hill at the foot of which the village stands, you’ll find, besides a breathtaking panorama of the lake, the remains of the medieval Orsini Fortress.
I’ll never tire of saying it: Trevignano Romano is my favorite village near Rome.
2. Bracciano
The town I talked about in the previous paragraph is certainly not the only jewel of Lake Bracciano. In second place, which is actually the first for those traveling by public transport, is the town of Bracciano.
Traveling about 40 minutes north by train from Rome, you’ll find yourself in the historic center of this village, which boasts medieval and Renaissance architecture but has much older origins.
Bracciano sits on a hill overlooking the lake, offering the most spectacular views from La Sentinella Belvedere and from the walls of Bracciano Castle.
The Castle is the historical landmark that has always fascinated me the most in this area, with about 20 rooms open to the public, original furnishings, and frescoes.
The historic center develops around the castle; it’s so pleasant to explore on foot because its alleys are closed to traffic. A must-stop we always make is at the Gelateria Il Picchio, which makes artisanal ice cream with organic ingredients: a taste to lose your head over.
And then there are the little restaurants in Via Arazzaria St., our favorite is Enjoy, which is known for its fish dishes and pastas.
Bracciano is relatively large as a town, with about 18,000 inhabitants and a quite lively shopping street in Via Principe di Napoli.
Here you’ll mostly meet locals, even during the high tourist season, which is why I recommend it as a peaceful base for visiting nearby Rome (and also because it’s easy to reach by train, the station is just a short walk from the heart of the village).
3. Fregene
In my personal repertoire of the best towns to stay outside Rome, naturally, there’s also my favorite seaside location in Lazio: Fregene.
Until the 1950s, Fregene was nothing more than a small fishing village that developed at the northern boundary of Fregene Beach, which stretches for 5 km.
Then Fellini’s cinema introduced it to all of Italy, and visits began, and in the following decades many people moved here from the nearby big city or purchased a second home here.
But Fregene, even today with its 6,000 inhabitants, always retains the atmosphere of a coastal village. What impressed me from childhood about this town, when I began to frequent it by spending summer vacations here, is the lushness and strength of its nature, sea aside.
Fregene indeed has many pine forests and tree-lined avenues, and even private houses have lush gardens, so cycling through its streets is enjoyable. Moreover, here you don’t see cases of rampant housing construction like, for example, has happened in Ostia, which is the most known sea destination near Rome (but not one of the prettiest).
A plus point that will please those traveling with children is that one of the pine forests in Fregene hosts a lovely Adventure Park with many paths for children starting from 2 years of age.
We spent a few days in Fregene recently and therefore I hasten to recommend some places where you can delight your palate:
- Madagascar for its amazing ice cream, the best I’ve tried in my life.
- Lo Spuntino for dishes based on fish
- L’Archetto for pizza.
You can reach Fregene by train from Rome in about half an hour, and then a 20-minute journey on the local bus.
4. Tivoli
One of my favorite destinations for a day trip from Rome in the intermediate seasons is Tivoli, which is situated on a hill about half an hour east by train from Rome.
If you are traveling by public transport, mark this town because, in this case too, the train station is just a few steps from the historic center, making it easily accessible.
Tivoli is also one of the most popular tourist destinations near Rome, and the reason is soon told. Those who come here do so to visit one or all of the 3 stunning historic villas:
- Villa d’Este
- Villa Gregoriana
- Villa Adriana
It’s really difficult for me to choose the most beautiful; they are unique and incredible from a historical and naturalistic point of view. Villa d’Este amazes with its Renaissance gardens, panoramic views of the countryside, and the frescoes of its stately palace. Villa Adriana is the monumental country residence of Roman Emperor Hadrian. Villa Gregoriana, commissioned by a pope, creates crazy water features with the Aniene River, one of the two rivers that later cross Rome.
Anyway, you won’t find crowds of tourists here: we are still outside Rome, and it’s not Pompeii (but it’s just as satisfying and much more convenient to reach.)
As if that weren’t enough, Tivoli also has the advantage of having a thermal spring that feeds the Aquae Albule Spa, in the lower part of the town (Tivoli-Bagni train stop.)
The only advice I would give you is to find accommodation in the historic center and not in the surroundings of Tivoli, which, hosting many travertine marble quarries, are not as beautiful.
5. Mazzano Romano
Now I present another gem, a town near Rome but truly off-the-beaten-path. I recommend this town to those who travel by car and want to stop in the region for a longer period.
Mazzano Romano is located in the area that locals call Tuscia, a territory rich in green woods and gorges, where the Treja River flows in a protected nature reserve.
The town is hidden from the road that leads there and rises on a spur of rock overlooking dense woods. The historic center is very quiet, only a loop road crosses it. You access it by passing under a picturesque medieval archway, where occasionally Anna opens her shop with bags and clothes made from recycled materials. Taking the road that climbs to the right, you arrive at Piazza Antisà, where you find the remains of the Renaissance church that collapsed in the early 20th century, a unique view that opens onto the panoramas of the Treja Valley.
If you decide to stay nearby, bring hiking shoes, because the walks in the valley below the town are wonderful and will let you discover the immense biodiversity of this territory. The best time for hiking here is spring, when the forest is filled with flowers.
The surroundings of Mazzano Romano hide other treasures, such as the town of Nepi and the artists’ village of Calcata Vecchia.
From Mazzano, you can reach Rome via the Cassia Bis road: I recommend getting to the Cesano station by car and then continuing with the city train that takes you to Rome in about 50 minutes for €2.
6. Viterbo
Among the places I love most north of Rome is Viterbo, where I go several times a year because there is always a good reason to visit. First among them is the quest for wellness: here are the best thermal baths near Rome, so if you need to rejuvenate, I recommend heading this way.
The most popular thermal pool spa is Terme dei Papi, while the most distinctive, free-access spa is Piscine Carletti.
Although you have to take a local bus to get from downtown to the thermal baths, getting to Viterbo’s historic center is just a short walk from the train station.
You can reach Viterbo with about an hour’s journey from Rome.
The richness of the historic center surprises me every time I visit. Intact medieval walls surround it. Access it through one of the ancient portals that open through the walls. If you love history, and Viterbo has a very ancient history, first visit the Etruscan Archaeological Museum, one of the most important in Italy.
Then take a tour of the medieval quarter, whose architecture is remarkably well preserved, known as the “San Pellegrino quarter.” Among its most worthy sights is Piazza San Lorenzo, where the magnificent and austere medieval cathedral and the Palace of the Popes overlook. Viterbo in fact hosted the papacy for about 60 years in the 13th century. The architecture of Piazza San Pellegrino will make you think you have stepped back into the Middle Ages.
Viterbo’s restaurants are another good reason to visit. Intimate, devoid of “tourists,” they offer genuine food at reasonable prices. We often go to refresh ourselves at Labirinto, which makes supreme pizza and has outdoor tables in the lovely setting of the Piazza del Gesù. When we feel like sitting in a romantic place, however, we go to eat at the Giardino del Papero.
7. Frascati
The town of Frascati is located about 20 miles southeast of Rome. I have known it since childhood because, of all the towns near Rome, it is the most famous. Locals love it especially because of the presence of “fraschette.” Fraschette is a kind of osteria where they eat local dishes such as pasta or meat main courses, porchetta (a Roman street food made from pork), and wine.
Speaking of wine, in Frascati you will find “vino dei castelli,” or wine from the Castelli Romani region, the area in which Frascati is located. This area, because of its natural richness, is under the protection of the Castelli Romani Regional Park Authority.
Among the park’s natural attractions are Lake Albano and Lake Nemi. Among the historical ones, there are definitely the numerous noble villas from the Renaissance and Baroque periods.
Those of us who visit Frascati by public transportation will easily reach Villa Torlonia, which is part of Frascati’s public gardens.
