Lake country day trips from Rome

Lakes Bolsena and Trasimeno are within reach, I love Bolsena - volcanic crater lake, a castle, best gelato at Gelateria Santa Cristina.

Great to hear the trip is going well. Sorry though I can’t help with lakes near Rome ... I’m totally unfamiliar.

You can combine Frascati with Castel Gandolfo for a day trip. The latter, although not stunning, has a pleasant enough trail around part of the lake.

The two mentioned by Zoe, especially Trasimeno, are too far for the way I travel but each to her own.

Christy,

Which lakes did you have in mind? If you're thinking of the lakes in the north, those are not really practical to see as a day trip.

I was thinking I saw posts about lakes near Rome. 20 -45 minutes,maybe. Frascati sounds familiar. Open to suggestions. Thanks. Also, we are Every body loves Raymond fans.

Hey Christy - if you're thinking of lakes north of Rome, Lake Bracciano is the most comfortably reachable from Rome, with train times averaging 1hr from any of the following stations in Rome: Valle Aurelia, Roma S. Pietro (closer to the Vatican), Roma Trastevere, Roma Ostiense. Some (not all) trains depart from Roma Tiburtina and also stop at Roma Tuscolana, but none of them leave from Roma Termini. The lake has suffered greatly from last summer's drought so it's not in the best shape right now. From the train station at Bracciano you usually have a choice of taxis and infrequent shuttle buses to the actual lake shore (Bracciano doesn't really sit by the lake waters). The shuttle is much more frequent in Anguillara, also one of the towns on Lake Bracciano. In Bracciano you could visit the Odescalchi Castle (15th century).

Other choices may include Lake Bolsena, as already suggested, or Lake Trasimeno (reachable by train if you get a train to Passignano sul Trasimeno from Termini). A ferry could take you to the islands in the middle of the lake.

I too recommend Castel Gandolfo. You can tour the Papal Palace and have a nice lunch overlooking the lake. No need for a guided tour. Just take the train, go to the palace and tour on your own.

Any other ideas for a day trip?...... we know Orvieto, for one. Have already been to Pompeii so not really interested in any more ruins for this trip.. thanks for the input.