Does it pay to take a day trip to Assisi from Rome? We are spending a week in Rome, already have a trip to Pompeii planned. Thanks.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
Assisi is a long way to go for a day trip - about 2.5 to 3 hours each way, so you'd have to deduct 5-6 hours from your day. You're already doing a very long day trip to Pompeii - do you really want to spend all that time on a train? My suggestion is to stay in Rome - there's no shortage of amazing things to do and see, especially if it's your first time. Do a short day trip to Orvieto or Ostia Antica if you just have to get out of the city for a little break.
Posted by
Scottsdale, AZ, USA
1127 posts
You have some looong day trips planned. At least you have a week in Rome so you will have time to see Rome as well. I agree with Michael that you should think about seeing Ostia Antica instead of Pompeii. Pompeii is about 110 euro for a bus tour from Rome or about 70 euro per person for roundtrip train tickets. Ostia Antica costs only 2 euro for transport RT and takes 45 minutes. You will probably spend as much time at Pompeii as you would at Ostia Antica, just save time & money in transit.
Posted by
St. Louis
239 posts
Hi Barbara--It's hard to determine whether it pays to take a side trip. A friend of mine just returned from a week in Rome, and she took a day trip to Assisi that was the highlight of her trip. She is very interested in St. Francis and was moved by her visit. She had to give up seeing things in Rome to make the trip, but she wanted to see Assisi more than she wanted to tour the Colosseum or the Roman Forum. Assisi makes an interesting side-trip (albeit a very long day) so if seeing it is worth giving up seeing other things, decide what's most important to you and go for it. Not everyone will agree with your choice, but it's your trip.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
It's true that only you can decide if it's worth it. If you feel a special connection to Saint Francis, it might indeed be worth it. (Some people are put off by all the Franciscan kitsch everywhere, whereas others are very moved to be walking the same streets as SF did 800 years ago and visiting the basilica.) But one of the wisest things RS has said is that you should assume that you will return to Italy, so you don't have to try to do it all at one time.