Best Things To Do In Rieti – 5 Must Do Things You Can’t Miss
This article may contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a qualifying purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Rieti is quite a small town located in the northern region of Lazio. With its position in the Reate valley, up on top of a hill and closely located to Monte Terminillo, you will for sure find some stunning views. Actually, Rieti used to be called Reate after the valley it’s situated in but has over the years changed into Rieti. Funny how language works sometimes! The town is very tranquil but is remarkable in the religious sense as there are many Franciscan sanctuaries to be found. I’m not the biggest fan of sanctuaries if they don’t offer some good views. If you are more like me, here is a list of things to do in Rieti.
5 must do things in Rieti
1. Tour the underground structures of Rieti
Few people know when walking around via Roma, the city’s main street full of beautiful shops and historic palazzos, that there is a hidden world underneath the ground. Built in the third century B.C, the roman viaduct was constructed to transfer salt to the capital of the Roman empire, Rome. To prevent the city from flooding, grandiose arches were built to raise the street level of the city and you can now tour the undergrounds that remain. This is a really cool place to explore and you will even find some noble old residences down there. Be sure to book a tour when you are in town. It is only available to book in local shops.
2. Eat local food
The restaurants in Rieti are mostly quite simple and you will find very good and affordable food in this city. Most of the restaurants mainly specialize in local cuisine, which is what I recommend you to eat. Many of the most famous Italian pasta sauces throughout the world actually originate from the region of Lazio so whatever local dish you order will surely be amazing. See my Lazio food guide to find some of the best dishes to order in the region. If you, however, want to go even deeper into the local cuisine try ordering Stracci di Antrodoco, Pasta all’Amatriciana and Pasta alla Gricia which all originated from villages in close proximity to Rieti. Read more about those dishes here.
3. Hike Monte Terminillo
Monte Termininillo is a mountain that probably every person living in Rome has conquered, either by hiking or skiing. The mountain is actually called the mountain of Rome because of the short distance and the many Romans that choose to holiday in the area. The ski resort that operates in winter has slopes of 9,4 kilometers and is good for beginners. However, the best way to experience the mountain is to hike it in the summertime. Follow the trail that is marked red and white and expect to be out around 3 hours.
4. Visit Santuario di Greccio
Rieti is home to not one, or two, but four sanctuaries, and the area is therefore called Rieti’s Holy Valley. Santuario di Greccio is, according to me who’s not religious, the most impressive one in the area and worth visiting. The sanctuary is built on a cliff and the tale goes that Saint Francis chose this spot after a child threw a firebrand at the cliff and saw it as God’s will. Explore the grounds and the impressive location for a while before hiking up the cliff to watch the views from a chapel on the top of Monte San Francesco.
5. Stroll around the city center
Rieti isn’t the biggest city but you can still spend some time walking around it, and you will easily see its charm. Stroll along the river and walk over the bridges to take in the views. Discover the old quarter that houses some traditional little shops, that sell everything from pastries to cheese and wine.
How to get to Rieti?
By public transport
Rieti has good connections with Rome both by train and bus. Trains leave several times per day and the journey takes around 2,5 hours. Cotral buses service this distance, leaving from Tiburtina Station in Rome. The journey will take approximately 1,5 hours.
By car
Visiting Rieti by car gives you more flexibility and is what I recommend you to do. You can go whenever it fits you and you can also stop by places on the way there if you’d like. The drive will take about 1 hour and 10 minutes and there are several car parks near the city. Just search parking Rieti on google and you will get a lot of suggestions.
Where to stay in Rieti?
Rieti is a beautiful little town situated in the Reate valley. If you want to spend a few days unwinding here, these are some good places to check out.
Budget:
Hotel&Ristorante Miramonti Palazzo Storico – This hotel is located in the oldest building in all of Rieti, in the heart of the beautiful old town. So if you’re looking for character, you will definitely find it here! Good food, spotless rooms and nice familiar feeling from all the staff.
Hotel Serena – Another good hotel in the center of town that has clean rooms, a terrace, and private parking. A great budget option.
Midrange:
B & B Beata Colomba – A fully equipped apartment with a stylish interior. Located in the middle of old town, there is not much more to ask for. Breakfast is included.
Rieti is quite unknown to foreigners which means it’s super authentic and the drive up there, through the Sabina hills, is incredible. I hope this post convinced you to go. You really should!
If you have some more time on your hands I really recommend you to do a road trip in the area. See my 2-Week Lazio Road Trip Itinerary for some inspiration. Top 10 Things To Do In Lazio is another post that might give you some tips as well.
Don’t forget to pin it!
