Day trips on train from Rome

My daughter and I took the express train to Florence in AM about 8-8:30. We got in about 10Am. Be sure that it the train that takes 1 1/2 hours. there are both express trains and locals. We spent the day in FLorence and came home the same day. REserve you tickets for the museums for exact times and it makes it easy to plan the day.

My wife and I have been to Rome twice and till have not seen all the sights. You might want to consider just taking in Rome this first time around and truly take your time and enjoy the sights, way too many for even 4 days. Enjoy.

Florence is very do-able for a day trip. You might also consider seeing some wonderful smaller hilltop towns.

Orvieto is wonderful...and you can probably bus it to Assisi or Cortona for the day too.

When you get in, check the train schedules for outbound and return times to Rome.

I think your idea is perfect for seeing more of Italy!
you might also consider finding a one day bike tour (if they are still running that late in the year!)
Try www.cicloposse.com - email them and see if they have any tours going. they are based in Pienza and can arrange a private tour, or a self guided tour for a day or two! If you are active - you'll LOVE biking in Italy!

Rome is great, but it's a big city. We've done 2 one day trips there - but I'm going again in November with my kid...we plan to see Rome, but also get up to Florence and out of town.

go to http://www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html and you can look up train schedules.

You may also be interested in the book "Daytrips Italy" by Steinbicker. Take a look at a sample of the book at http://tinyurl.com/3avkyl

Venice is out of the question ---- way too far !!! Ostia Anitica makes for a very easy day trip from Rome. A very underrated site. And you can catch St Peters Outside the Wall on the way back.

I've done Pompeii as a day-trip from Rome.