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Are you looking for a day trip out of Rome? Castelli Romani is the perfect day trip as it is a series of charming hill towns dotted around the landscape of the Colli Albani, or Alban Hills as they are also called. The Alban Hills is a volcanic landscape where two volcanoes used to lay and the craters have now resulted in two crater lakes and towns have been built on top of the crater rims. See the top things to do in Castelli Romani below.

7 must do things in Castelli Romani

1. Go on a wine tasting

Frascati, which is a little town in this area, is famous for its white wines and you can’t come to Castelli Romani without going on a wine tour. The wines that are made in Frascati are Frascati Superiore, Cannellino, and Frascati DOP and these have been made since ancient Rome. There are several vineyards scattered around Frascati that do wine tours so find one and have a wonderful time learning more about this area through a local.

2. Visit Ariccia and try the famous Porchetta

Ariccia is situated on an escarpment of tufa rock surrounded by oak forests and the only way to reach the town is to walk across the 300-meter-long Ponte Monumentale. The town is home to some baroque architecture but the one thing to do in this town is to try the famous Porchetta that originates from this town. Porchetta is a savory and moist boneless pork roast cooked over a fire for hours until the skin is really crispy. Try this amazing meat at one of the Fraschettas around town. 

Restaurant recommendations: Fraschetta Osteria Dar Vignarolo, Fraschetta Da I Fratelli

3. Visit Frascati

Frascati is the largest town of the Castelli Romani and the most visited one as well. The main sight to see there is the baroque Villa Aldobrandini and its garden which was Pope Clement VIIIs summer palace during the 17th century. Many Romans visit this town during the summer to avoid the heat of Rome and wandering around the historic alleyways and piazzas is a good way to spend your time. If you don’t have time or budget to go on a wine tasting in the area, make sure you have a glass of the famous Frascati wine in one of the Fraschettas in town. 

Restaurant recommendation: L’Osteria dell’Olmo, Cantina Simonetti, Osteria Fraschetta Trinca

4. See the viewpoint of Panorama dal Monte Cavo

There is a stunning viewpoint to check out in close proximity to Rocca di Papi. It is called Panorama dal Monte Cavo. From this viewpoint, you get a stunning view of the two volcanic lakes side by side, and on a clear day, you might also see the ocean in the background. You can drive all the way up to this viewpoint, just park your car on the side of the road.

5. Visit Castel Gandolfo

Castel Gandolfo is a village perched on a volcanic crater rim above the volcanic lake of Albano. The town got its name from the Gandolfo family, who owned the land back in the 12th century and built a castle overlooking the lake. The town is now mostly famous for Palazzo Apostolico, which has been the summer retreat for the Popes for many years. The gardens are open to the public and it draws thousands of visitors each year. The town center is very charming and the views over the Alban lake and hills are breathtaking. See my guide of things to do in Castel Gandolfo here. 

Restaurant recommendations: Ristorante Pagnanelli, Lo Spuntino, Ristorante Bucci 

6. Visit Nemi

Nemi is a must-visit in the Castelli Romani with its beautiful view of the volcanic lake of the same name. Nemi has a tiny, quaint historic center that you have to see and while you are there you can indulge in this town’s specialty – strawberries. The strawberries of Nemi are smaller than the normal ones you can find in grocery stores and they truly burst with flavor. The strawberries get their taste and shape from the volcanic soil and they are famous throughout Europe. You can find everything flavored with strawberries in this village and they also have a festival celebrating strawberries every June. 

Restaurant recommendations: Le Scalette, Ristorante La Taverna

7. Visit Rocca di Papa

Rocca di Papa is the only town left in Castelli Romani that still has its medieval structure intact. The town is dominated by an old medieval fortress from where you can get a stunning view of the valley below. On clear days, you can even see the sea! Wander around the many layers of this cute town and reminisce about how life was there in ancient Rome. 

Restaurant recommendations: Il Gusto, La Locanda nel Bosco

How to get to Castelli Romani?

Castelli Romani is situated about 20 kilometers southeast of Rome which makes it a perfect day trip destination. The best way to see Castelli Romani is by car, as you can travel at your own pace and choose exactly where you want to go. The trip takes around 30 minutes by car from the center of Rome.

If you however don’t have access to a car you can also get there by public transport. You can take the Line A metro out to the end station Anagnina and from there get a Cotral bus. Be aware that buses might not go directly to some of the smaller towns and you will need to switch buses in one of the larger towns.

There is also a small railway line that services the Castelli Romani, at least Frascati, Marino and Castel Gandolfo. The services are however not frequent so check the timetable in advance so you don’t have to sit around or accidentally get stranded somewhere. You can buy the tickets at the Termini station in Rome and my tip is to buy a return ticket right away as the ticket booths in Castelli Romani are small and often unmanned. 

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As you can understand, Castelli Romani is a wonderful area to visit and there are many fun things to do. It is the perfect stop on a road trip through Lazio. See my full itinerary for The Ultimate 2-Week Lazio Road Trip for more inspiration.

Leave a comment if you would visit Castelli Romani or not. I really like it there!

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