Rome and Day Trips

I’m also interested to see what people suggest. Currently, we’re booked on RS My Way Italy but have also done all the major sites in Rome. Have you toured the Domus Aurea? It was only open for tours on weekends because it is a working archeological site, but we thought it was outstanding. We stayed in Trastevere near St. Maria in Trastevere, which put us right in the heart of the neighborhood and we loved it. There is a different vibe in the evening than during the day. It was also so easy to grab a tram into the area where the Colosseum and Victor Emmanuel are.

If we stick with this tour,( we are wait-listed for Sicily), I’m looking at a day trip to Monte Cassino, or Ostia Antica and then the Appian Way, Castel Gondolfo and Galleria Doria Pamphilj. We were in Rome in 2019, so the major sites are pretty fresh in our minds and some we visited for a second time then, so I’m on a hunt for something new.

I highly recommend Ostia Antica.

There's plenty of choices for you! The Appian Way is a great experience on a few levels: catacombs, scenery. I like taking the bus out and walking back at least as far as the Quo Vadis church. Meander around Trastevere, there's plenty to discover there. Have you been to Orvieto? The Tivoli gardens are beautiful. Ostia Antica is a powerful experience - get off the pathway and there's some amazing frescos and mosaics to discover. These are just off the top of my head - I'm interested in what others will come up with!

Ostia Antica if you haven't been there. Borghese Gallery if you haven't been there. National Museum (by the train station) if you haven't been there. Ara Pacis if you haven't been there. Church of St. Clemente (built above a Mithras temple, near the Colloseum) if you haven't been there.

In Rome:
Catacombs of Priscilla. There’s a walled in park across the road. Find an open gate and enjoy a picnic after seeing the catacombs.

The Coppede Quarter. An untouristy neighborhood with interesting architecture. https://www.italybeyondtheobvious.com/art-deco-in-rome

Janiculum Hill above the Travestere neighborhood. The Doria Pamphilj Park for a great view of Rome. Another spot to stroll and absorb being in Rome.

I think Orvieto is a perfect daytrip from Rome. We did it in March 2017. Left our apartment at Campo de' Fiori about 9AM, took the bus to Termini station, where we took a 70-minute train to the Umbrian hilltown, arriving just before noon. Took the funicular up to the plateau, walked around a bit, then through our local friends they steered us to a tiny no-named trattoria that specialized in homemade fettuccine with shards of cinghiale (wild boar). Tremendous.

From there, we wound around the narrow cobblestoned walkways, stopping at various shops, then spending the proper amount of time at the phenomenal Orvieto Cathedral, possibly my favorite in all of Italy. Finally, we walked over to the overlook to the valley below, which was spectacular.

Caught the 5PM train back to Rome, and by 7:00 we were back at the Campo, not really tired but ready for dinner. We plan to reproduce this trip with friends next April.

A day trip to Ostia Antica was recommended to us by several guides associated with RS. We had a beautifully sunny and warm early October day there and really enjoyed it. We spent time investigating and understanding it first. While not a day trip we were glad we were able to take a tour of the upper level of the Colosseum - again we had a beautiful see-for-miles sunny view at the top! Rome Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini provides a really interesting multimedia presentation of the excavation: https://www.palazzovalentini.it/domus-romane/index-en.html#info

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/hadrian-s-villa-annoyances-and-directions#top

We haven't biked the Appia Antica but we have trekked a long section of it: our best day in Rome so far; lots to see along the way! Here's the website if you haven't found it yet:

https://www.parcoappiaantica.it

You can download guides in English from this page: the first one on the list is the most useful for walking (or biking) the road.

https://www.parcoappiaantica.it/home/risorse-e-utilita/download/category/1-flyer

In the roughly Testaccio/Ripa/San Saba/Celio area (as labeled on google maps), you could combine these, if you haven't done them already:
Cimitero Acattolico:
http://www.cemeteryrome.it/about/about.html

Basilica Santa Sabina, Giardino degli Aranci + the keyhole in the gate of the Priory of Malta; all on the Aventine.
https://www.turismoroma.it/en/places/basilica-saint-sabina-allaventino
https://www.romabbella.com/en/places-to-visit-in-rome/alternative/garden-of-oranges/

Terme di Caracalla:
https://www.coopculture.it/en/heritage.cfm?id=6

Basilica Santo Stefano Rotondo:
https://www.cgu.it/it/santo-stefano-rotondo/
General background in English: https://www.teggelaar.com/en/rome-day-3-continuation-11/
Summer hours: The church is open from the last Sunday in March to the Saturday before the last Sunday in October with the following hours (daylight saving time):
From Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 – 13:00 and 15:30 – 18:30
Closed Mondays

Winter hours: The church is open from the last Sunday in October to the Saturday preceding the last Sunday in March with the following hours (solar time):
Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 17:00
Closed Mondays

Basilica San Giovanni in Laterano:
https://www.turismoroma.it/en/places/basilica-st-john-lateran

Basilica San Clemente:
https://www.turismoroma.it/en/node/849

In addition to the good suggestions above:
If you like museums and ancient civilizations: the Etruscan Museum; and/or, if you've been to the major sights you undoubtedly have visited the Vatican Museum/Sistine Chapel, but that museum is vast, incredibly full of great art and ancient artifacts, and no one can see it all in one or even several visits. It actually is "off the beaten path" to visit again, but spend your time in the many lesser visited but highly rewarding galleries away from the well worn path to the Sistine Chapel that leads through the Raphael Rooms, etc.
If you have any interest in World War II history: The "Museo Storico della Liberazione" is in the former Gestapo headquarters, and is small but very well done in explaining this especially painful period in Rome's history. This is something unique in Rome compared to the usual baroque, ancient Rome, churches, fine art trail. It's near the basilica of San Giovanni Laterani so can easily be combined with a visit to that.
Pick a couple of the smaller, less visited churches whose descriptions in the RS guidebook are most appealing (for age, architectural style, particularly good artwork, etc.), and visit those and explore their surrounding neighborhoods. San Clemente, mentioned above, is especially good.
Of course all these suggestions are pre-pandemic and you'll need to check opening status.

This caught my eye a few months ago.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/ancient-roman-villa-discovered-underneath-apartment-complex-180976004/

If you like Gardens, this is one of the best in Italy.

https://www.gardenvisit.com/gardens/villa_deste

Villa d’este is a fabulous water and sculpture garden a bus ride away. It is a little past Hadrian ruins. You get to walk through the villa. The garden is built on a hill so all the fountains and water features are gravity fed. I also vote for a day trip to Orvieto or Ostia Antica. You have a choice of a hill town, large extravagant gardens or ancient ruins. Other options described are also good. We try to mix up our days activities-architecture, church, art, outdoors away from the city, music, and of course all kinds of food. You notice I left out shopping. LOL

In Testaccio be sure to go to this market. They have everything! http://www.mercatoditestaccio.it/