4 Beautiful Lake Towns Near Rome for a Perfect Day Trip

I would say I am a classic Virgo, meaning I really love making lists. In the past, I have already written about five beautiful beaches near Rome that you can visit on a day trip, but there are also some stunning lakes around the city. During my time in Rome, I have made several day trips to these lakes, and now I thought it was a good idea to put them all together in one clear list of places to go.

These lake towns are perfect for day trips in both winter and summer, and with this article, I hope to inspire you to visit them soon.

Bracciano

First on the list is the beautiful Bracciano, a town named after its volcanic lake, Lago di Bracciano. The town has a rich history, and one of its main attractions is the Orsini Odescalchi Castle, a medieval fortress dating back to the fifteenth century, which is really worth a visit. Bracciano also has a charming historic centre, filled with cute restaurants and small shops, so even in winter it makes for a perfect little getaway from the city.

If you visit Bracciano in summer, it is good to keep in mind that the town itself is located on a hill. While this offers amazing views, it also means that walking down to the lake can take a bit of time. I do think it is doable, but it might not be your cup of tea if it is thirty five degrees outside.

Getting from Rome to Bracciano is easy and very budget friendly. I usually take the train from Roma Tiburtina station, mainly for two reasons: I live nearby, and from Tiburtina there is a direct train to Bracciano that gets you there in less than an hour and a half. You can also depart from Termini, but then you need to change trains, which I personally like to avoid. Trains leave from both stations roughly every hour, and sometimes even every half hour. A one way train ticket costs only €3.60, which makes this day trip very student budget proof.

If you want to read more about what to do in Bracciano during your day trip, or if you want some more detailed information about taking the train, I can highly recommend my Bracciano article, where I wrote a more extensive report about my day there.

Anguillara Sabazia

While Bracciano lies on a hill, you can find Anguillara Sabazia directly on Lake Bracciano. Anguillara Sabazia is a small town about thirty kilometres from Rome, and to me it feels a little more intimate and romantic than Bracciano. The entrance to the historic centre through Porta Maggiore is beautiful, and I am also a big fan of the promenade right next to the lake.

Since Anguillara Sabazia is located directly on the lake, you can easily access the beach. Because Lake Bracciano is a volcanic lake, the sand has a beautiful black colour, which makes the whole experience even more memorable.

A day trip to Anguillara Sabazia is a little different from the others on my blog, simply because I think this town is best explored by car. While it is absolutely possible to visit by public transport, it does require a bit more effort. Especially if you are not very familiar with public transport in Italy, I think Anguillara Sabazia is easier and more enjoyable to explore by car.

If you want to read more about how to get to this picturesque town or learn a bit more about its history, feel free to check out the article I wrote about my day trip there.

Castel Gandolfo

With the next one, we move to a different lake, namely Lake Albano, to the south west of Rome. Here you will find Castel Gandolfo, which also happens to be my most recent day trip, meaning I am still very much in love.

Like Bracciano, Castel Gandolfo is built on a hilltop, which means you get stunning views over the lake. This small town is most famous for the Palazzo Pontificio, or in English the Apostolic Palace and its gardens. The palace has served as the summer residence and holiday retreat for most popes since the seventeenth century and is really worth a visit.

What I love so much about Castel Gandolfo is that it truly has a little bit of everything, from charming shops to history and nature. It also helps that it is a very accessible town from Rome. There are direct trains from Roma Termini to Castel Gandolfo that take around forty five minutes. A regional train ticket costs two euros and ten cents, and you will pay the same price for the return trip. Trains leave every hour, giving you plenty of flexibility to plan your day. A perfect budget friendly day trip, if you ask me.

I recently visited Castel Gandolfo and wrote an extensive day trip guide about it, so if you are looking for more things to do and must visit spots, I can highly recommend checking that article out as well.

Nemi

Last but definitely not least is Nemi, a village overlooking Lake Nemi, also known as the “strawberry town” of Lazio. Every year, the town hosts the Sagra della Fragola (Strawberry Festival) between May and June, and I am still dying to try the famous strawberry cake. Lago di Nemi is very close to Lake Albano, but it is a bit smaller in size. Nemi itself is also a pretty tiny town, but that is exactly part of its charm.

Nemi has a rich history, which is connected to magical energy. The largest temple complex in Italy was built here and dedicated to Diana, goddess of the moon and the hunt. Despite being so close to Rome, the area feels very untamed, and I love the nature here.

Personally, Nemi holds a very special place in my heart, and that requires a little story time. When I had just arrived in Rome, I had a few days before school started. I saw a beautiful photo of Nemi on someone’s Instagram story and immediately thought to myself, I have to visit this place. Armed with way too little information, I took off to Roma Anagnina and from there took the bus to Genzano, which is the closest bus stop to Nemi from Rome.

Once I arrived in Genzano, instead of taking another bus to Nemi, I decided it would be a good idea to walk. This resulted in an hour long hike through a slightly obscure nature park, completely alone, with no one around, no water, thirty degree heat, and wearing a very questionable outfit for hiking. On the way back, I also decided to walk again, because by then there were no buses anymore. I took what I thought was the safer route, next to the main road, which also took about an hour. So while I absolutely love Nemi, please do not be like me and just take the bus.

To reach Nemi by bus, go to the Anagnina metro stop in Rome. From there, take a CoTral bus towards Genzano. Once in Genzano, change buses and take the one marked Nemi. You can buy multiple bus tickets at Anagnina metro station, or use the CoTral app. I personally use the app, where you can also validate your ticket by entering the code that is displayed inside every CoTral bus. Just keep in mind that Rome public transport passes do not include CoTral buses, only ATAC buses.

Conclusion

I hope that with this list of four beautiful lake towns close to Rome, I could inspire you to plan an amazing day trip. If you have already visited any of them, let me know which one is your favourite. And if you have suggestions for my next day trip, my comments are always open. Sending much love,

Juliëtte