Castelli Romani day trip from Rome
A day trip to the Castelli Romani from Rome: the old centre of Frascati and Villa Aldobrandini in the morning, the Papal Palace and Gardens of Castel Gandolfo above Lake Albano, then Palazzo Chigi and Bernini's church of Santa Maria Assunta in Ariccia, ending in Nemi above its crater lake. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Castelli Romani in 1 day
Day 1
Historic centre of Frascati (Piazza San Pietro)
The old town of Frascati round its cathedral square, with wine shops, porchetta stands and terraces looking towards Rome.
Villa Aldobrandini
Grand sixteenth-century villa above Frascati with a theatre of fountains behind it and a view over the plain to Rome.
Papal Palace and Gardens of Castel Gandolfo
The popes' summer residence above Lake Albano, with papal apartments and the formal Barberini Gardens on the remains of Domitian's villa.
Palazzo Chigi, Ariccia
Baroque palace of the Chigi family, with period rooms, Baroque paintings and a wooded park behind it.
Santa Maria Assunta, Ariccia
Round domed church by Bernini on Ariccia's main square, facing Palazzo Chigi across the square.
Historic centre of Nemi (Piazza Umberto I)
Small village on the rim of the crater above Lake Nemi, known for its wild strawberries and the view over the lake from its belvedere.
Watch: Castelli Romani
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
Regional trains from Rome Termini run to Frascati in about 30 minutes, and another line to Castel Gandolfo and Albano. Cotral buses from Anagnina metro station link Rome with the towns and the towns with each other. By car, the Castelli are about 30-40 minutes from the centre of Rome.
Staying in Rome? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Castelli Romani
Spring and autumn are the best seasons, mild and green, and cooler than Rome in summer. Nemi's strawberry festival is held in early June, and Genzano's flower carpet, the Infiorata, fills the main street in June. Marino's grape festival, the Sagra dell'Uva, is held in early October, with wine flowing from the fountains.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Castelli Romani on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Castelli Romani on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Castelli Romani on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Castelli Romani
- Book the Papal Palace and the Barberini Gardens of Castel Gandolfo ahead with the Vatican Museums; opening days vary, and Sundays are often limited.
- Palazzo Chigi in Ariccia is closed on Mondays and has limited opening times, with some rooms seen only on guided tours: check before you go.
- Stop in Ariccia for porchetta in a fraschetta, one of the simple wine taverns with cheese, salumi and local wine at shared tables.
- A car is easiest for linking the towns; regional trains from Termini reach Frascati and Castel Gandolfo, and Cotral buses connect the towns.
- Taste Frascati wine on the old town's terraces, which look back towards Rome, and end the day in Nemi with its wild strawberries.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Historic centre of Frascati (Piazza San Pietro): User R Clemens on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Historic centre of Nemi (Piazza Umberto I): User:New2022, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palazzo Chigi, Ariccia: Gino il Pio, Public domain
- Papal Palace and Gardens of Castel Gandolfo: Livioandronico2013, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Santa Maria Assunta, Ariccia: LPLT, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Villa Aldobrandini: Livioandronico2013, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
