Day Trips from Rome

I have just the thing for you... just got back from Italy and took the "Walks of Italy" Tuscany Day Trip from Rome. The tour is only on Thursdays so plan ahead. It was a long day (13 hours and leave at 7:30am) but it was perfect. The host and driver were amazing. We went to Montalcino and Pienza - visited a castle and winery. Lots of gorgeous scenery. For lunch we visited a farm in the Tuscan countryside and had a wonderful (vegetarian) lunch. ALL ingredients were produced on the farm - the food (and wine) was phenomenal and I am a meat lover. :) We were only there with one other couple and the guide - it was like a private tour.
Go to the website and check out the page - everything on there is how it went!! The price was a little steep but i would gladly pay that again! Lots of wine, great food, and a break from the crowds. A highlight of my trip.
PS if you join the blog you can get 10%off.

Just 4 days (from 5 nights) isn't much time in Rome, especially in wonderful May.

Is this your first trip to Rome, or have you been to Lazio previously?

Have you been to Villa d'Este? It is a perfect time to go in May.

tour is also on Mondays.

This will be our first time in Rome. We arrive early on a Tuesday & leave for Venice on Sunday. Thanks for the info so far. I really appreciate it.

Diana, I agree with Quirite - south of Rome is lovely.

but.... Orvieto is a short train ride away.

Can I suggest, as this is your first trip, you check into day trips but keep them in your back pocket. You may well find that 4 days of Rome only whets your appetite and day trips sound much better for the next time.

A day in Vatican City.
Two days in ancient Rome.
A day around the Pantheon, Campo de' Fiori, the Corso, Piazza Navona, and all the central Rome attractions

That's 4, and we haven't even made it to the Galleria Borghese, Piazza del Popolo, all the fountains, any of the churches except for the big one, none of the sculpture or art.

I'm sure you will have a wonderful trip - just don't overload yourself...

Just to second Nigel's take that you will probably find more than enough to keep you busy in Rome, since this is your first visit. If there's a place outside the city that particularly draws you, that's one thing. But unless you really don't like Rome (and while I find it hard to accept, there are such people), you won't be at a loss for ways to fill your time there.

We had 5 nights in Rome our first visit in 08 and just did another 5 nights. Our first trip, we took a day trip to Naples to see Herculaneum and Mt Vesuvius. We were so rushed thru everything else in Rome we felt like we missed so much. Back for another 5 nights last month, and tho we took our time, we still feel like we missed a lot. I contemplated doing a day trip to Orvieto when I was first planning the trip, but we took a morning and did Ostia Antica. I agree with planning a day trip, but keeping that in your back pocket so to speak. I still feel like I could go back for another 5 nights and see all new stuff!

And we used Walks of Italy for the Vatican After Hours tour and were pleased with the company, in case you are wondering about using them for a Tuscany tour...

Like Nigel, I agree that it's good to know your options but also to leave some decisions flexible. The most important sites to reserve ahead are the Vatican Museum and Villa Borghese museum.

I'll vote with the others that keeping your options flexible is a very good idea. Rome - especially for first-timers - has simply oodles to see and do: there's always another glorious church; another ancient pile with a fascinating story; another espresso or gelato to have in some wonderful little side street or out-of-the-way piazza. I've been three times and have yet to run out the delightfully new and interesting.

I also think it's a city that's best enjoyed when not at a dead run to cram it all in, and with a loose itinerary so that it can be adjusted for weather and so on. But yes, do make advance bookings for the Vatican Museums and the Borghese.

Your first day will likely be a jet-lagged blur what with getting into the city, getting to your hotel, getting checked in and acclimated so realistically, you have 4 full days of sightseeing, and those will fly by all too quickly.

Must agree with Quirite that I wouldn't recommend via del Corso for any must-do list but I know that's a personal preference.