Things to do in Lazio
Welcome to Lazio
Lazio offers much more than just the showstopping city of Rome. Travelers venture out of Italy’s capital to explore Etruscan ruins in Cerveteri and Tarquinia, the ancient Roman city of Ostia Antica, Hadrian’s Villa and Villa d’Este in Tivoli, the volcanic lakes of Bracciano and Bolsena, and the Castelli Romani’s hill towns and wineries. The Tyrhennian coastline to the west is lined with friendly resort towns for beach breaks while the Apennine peaks to the east is crisscrossed with high-altitude hiking and biking trails.
5-Star activities in Lazio
Top 5 attractions in Lazio
Montecassino Abbey (Abbazia di Montecassino)
Lake Bracciano (Lago di Bracciano)
Villa Gregoriana Park (Parco Villa Gregoriana)
Popes’ Palace (Palazzo dei Papi)
Trevignano Romano
Explore Lazio by interest
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All about Lazio
When to visit
Lazio is largely rural—with the notable exception of Rome, of course. The area is at its most beautiful in spring and fall, but summer is the busy season, as these wooded hills offer an easy escape from the oppressive heat of the capital city. Some visitors come for the International Festival of the Villas of Tusculum or for the area’s many summer food and wine events, but most are just looking to cool off in the countryside’s parks and volcanic lakes.
Getting around
Trains and buses run from Rome to many of the most popular destinations in the surrounding countryside. There are direct routes to Castel Gandolfo, Tivoli, Frascati, and Lake Bracciano; you’ll need to rent a car or book a private transfer to reach more remote highlights, including Bagnoregio, Montecassino Abbey, and Tarquinia. For a jaunt to Lazio’s Pontine Islands, take the train to Formia and hop a ferry to Ponza or Ventotene.
Traveler tips
Just half an hour south of Rome, the hilltop town of Ariccia is a mecca for knowledgeable gourmands. The city is famous for its porchetta, whole roast pig that is boned and stuffed with an aromatic mix of garlic, rosemary, salt, and pepper. There is a celebration dedicated to this pork delicacy, the Sagra della Porchetta, the first weekend of September, which includes music, dancing, markets, and (of course) towering porchetta sandwiches served on traditional rosetta buns.