How to Plan the Perfect Day Trip to Nettuno from Rome
This year, from what I can remember, it got real hot in Rome way earlier than last year. While I’m usually pretty good with heat, I even bought an emergency fan to keep on my desk because I was simply melting away in my room. Temperatures of 39 degrees really put the dying in studying, you know?
But of course, there is a solution for everything, and from Rome you can easily take the train for a day trip to the coast. This time I went to explore Nettuno, a beautiful coastal town close to Anzio, where I went last time.
In this blog post, I will tell you everything about why Nettuno is the perfect day trip from Rome, how to get there in a budget-friendly way by train, and how to spend your day in Nettuno.
Why Nettuno is the perfect day trip from Rome
Nettuno is a charming coastal town about 60 kilometres south of Rome, on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is one train stop further than Anzio and perfect for a day trip to the beach. While it is a great summer destination, the historical centre of Nettuno with its picturesque streets and nice restaurants also makes it a fun place to visit in other seasons. Beaches like Ostia are closer to Rome, but they tend to be more tourist-heavy. If you are looking for a calmer, more local beach experience, I can definitely recommend Nettuno.
For the history lovers, the town of Nettuno was established in the 5th century BC as ancient Antium. The area became popular with emperors and elites, which is extra obvious in the town of Anzio, where you can still see remains of the villa of Emperor Nero. In modern history, Nettuno and Anzio are most famous for being the landing location of the Allies in 1944.
How to visit Nettuno from Rome?
Getting to Nettuno from Rome is super easy and budget-friendly. There are direct trains from Roma Termini to Nettuno that take around an hour and 10 minutes to reach their destination. A regional train ticket costs only three euros and sixty cents, and you’ll pay the same for the return trip. Trains leave about every hour, so you’ve got plenty of flexibility to plan your day!
You can buy your train tickets easily through the Trenitalia app. You can pay with a credit card, PayPal, Google Pay, Satispay, Amazon Pay, or an online bank transfer. After payment, your ticket will be visible in the app and also sent to your email. If the app doesn’t work for you, there are plenty of ticket machines at Roma Termini station.
Like I mentioned above, one stop before Nettuno you can find Anzio, which is also worth visiting. If you're up for it, you could even combine both towns in one day. But if you have more time, you can also take it slow and plan a full day trip for each.
How to spend your day in Nettuno
Have a beach day
This one might speak for itself, but when visiting Nettuno you cannot miss the beach. Even in winter it is a really nice spot for just a walk, and if you want you can even walk all the way to Anzio in around 45 minutes.
What I love about visiting the beach at Nettuno is that from the train station it is just a 10 minute walk before you can go lie down in the sand. There is actually a lot of public beach area available in Nettuno, so you have no problem finding a comfortable spot for your beach supplies. Of course, if you want, there are also private beaches where you can rent a bed, umbrellas, etc.
Explore the Medieval Borgo
One of my favourite parts of Nettuno is its medieval borgo. This part of the town was built around the 10th century as a defence against Saracen raids, and it is still incredibly well preserved. As soon as you walk there, it feels like you are stepping into a different time. The streets are narrow and made of cobblestones, with little archways, stone buildings, and laundry hanging between windows. It is the perfect place to wander without a plan. You will find cute cafes, restaurants and small shops hidden in the alleys, and it is also a great spot to escape the sun for a while. The borgo is right next to the sea and the harbour, so you can easily explore it before or after your beach time.
Enjoy the harbour of Nettuno
The harbour of Nettuno is right next to the medieval borgo, and you can easily access it through the steps that connect the harbour with the centre. Personally, I love watching boats and fishermen at work, so I definitely recommend walking past the harbour when you're there. It is not a very big harbour, but when the weather is nice, it just has this relaxing atmosphere that I really love. From here, you also get a great view of the old walls of the medieval borgo.
Visit the Sanctuary of Santa Maria Goretti
If you are visiting Nettuno, the Sanctuary of Santa Maria Goretti is definitely worth a stop. It is one of the main landmarks in the town and is dedicated to the young saint Maria Goretti, who is actually buried there. The sanctuary is a pilgrimage destination, visited by thousands of faithful every year. When I was there, I was not really dressed appropriately, so I did not go inside, but even from the outside you can admire its beautiful architecture. Even if you are not religious, it is an interesting place to visit and a good way to learn a bit more about the town’s history.
Visit Forte Sangallo
Very visible from the beach, you will find the impressive Forte Sangallo. It was built between 1501 and 1503 by Antonio da Sangallo to protect the coast, from pirate attacks for example. These days, you can find different things inside the fortress, such as the Museum of the Allied Landing, the Antiquarium, as well as conferences and art exhibitions. From what I could find on the official website, entrance is free of charge during the designated opening hours.
Conclusion
As you can probably tell from this post, I really enjoyed Nettuno and see it as a great budget-friendly day trip destination from Rome. Of course, my preference would be a summer trip so I can include a great dive, but its monuments and historic centre make it an all-season destination.
Since I’ve been to both towns now, I can finally make up my mind. For the beach, Anzio is the more special destination, with the remnants of Nero’s villa and the caves right there on the shore. But when it comes to the town centre, Nettuno definitely stood out to me with its medieval borgo.
I hope I’ve inspired you to visit either of these towns, and if I missed anything, I’m always open to getting inspired myself!
