Castelli Romani
A short trip south-east of Rome for Frascati wine, lakeside walks and the papal summer grounds at Castel Gandolfo.
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The Castelli Romani are a group of towns in the Metropolitan City of Rome, a short distance south-east of the city at the foot of the Alban Hills. The hills sit on the former crater of an extinct volcano, and the two main lakes, Albano and Nemi, fill volcanic craters. The towns grow on fertile volcanic soil that has supported farming, especially wine, since ancient times. The area works well as a day trip from Rome, reached by public transport or by car on the major roads; check local bus and rail timetables before setting out.
Roman nobles came here in antiquity for the cooler summers, and the Popes still keep their summer residence at Castel Gandolfo on Lake Albano. Frascati and Grottaferrata have 17th-century villas, and the ruins of Tusculum near Monte Porzio Catone include a Roman theatre and forum. Frascati and Marino DOC wines are the local draw, and Ariccia is known for its fraschette, informal wine-and-food taverns.
Castelli Romani in five
- Take the regional train to FrascatiFrascati has its own line from Roma Termini, and the ride takes roughly half an hour on an ordinary regional ticket. No rail pass is needed for it.
- Pick two towns, not fiveThe towns are linked by local buses, not by a single line, and each is small. Frascati with Castel Gandolfo, or Nemi with Ariccia, fills a day with room for lunch.Rome travel guide
- Order the local specialtiesFrascati white wine and Ariccia's porchetta are the classics. Lunch in a fraschetta, a simple wine tavern, is the traditional way to taste both.
- Check the Castel Gandolfo palace daysThe papal palace and gardens open to visitors on set days, and papal events can change them. Check the official Vatican booking page before you travel.
- Skip the car if you plan to taste wineHill roads are narrow, parking is tight and ZTL zones guard old centers. Trains and COTRAL buses cover the main towns for far less hassle.
Things to do in Castelli Romani
See all attractions in Castelli Romani
Need to know
- Airport
- Rome Ciampino (CIA) is closest; Fiumicino (FCO) via Rome
- Getting there
- Regional train from Roma Termini to Frascati; buses onward
- Getting around
- Local buses between towns; towns are walkable
- Best base
- Rome for most; one night in Frascati or Castel Gandolfo
- Time needed
- Half a day to a full day
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh11°Low5°Cool, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°Cool, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°MildMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 113 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Spring walksAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring walks
- MayRain15 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Warm, greenMayRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 127 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JuneClear7 rainy daysHigh28°Low19°WarmJuneClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- JulyClear5 rainy daysHigh32°Low21°HotJulyClear
Good
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 26 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot
- AugustClear8 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh31°Low22°Hot, busyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 22°
- Precipitation
- 44 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, busy
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh26°Low18°Grape harvestSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 109 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Grape harvest
- OctoberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh22°Low14°Mild, wine fairsOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 117 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, wine fairs
- NovemberRain15 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°RainNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 175 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain
- DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Cool, quietDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 131 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
Average daily high and low in Castelli Romani, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Castelli Romani
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
14
- Feels like
- 11°
- Humidity
- 66%
- Wind
- 16 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Castelli Romani
10:19 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today16°8°100%Monday: Rain. High 16°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue20°11°8%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Wed19°11°10%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Thu18°10°45%Thursday: Rain. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 45%.
- Fri14°13°43%Friday: Rain. High 14°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 43%.
- Sat18°10°39%Saturday: Thunderstorms. High 18°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 39%.
- Sun18°8°35%Sunday: Fog. High 18°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 35%.
Updated 07:24 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Frascatiabout 30 min by train from RomeWine taverns, a villa garden and a gateway to the hills.
- Castel Gandolfo and Lake Albanoabout 1 hour by train and busA hill town above a crater lake, with the papal palace.
- Nemiabout 1–1.5 hours by train and busA small lakeside town known for strawberries and a quiet shore.
Before you go to Castelli Romani
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Rules for Castelli Romani, checked
- Most non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check entry rules on the Italian visa site before you book.Source
- Some antiques and cultural objects need an export licence to leave the EU. Check with the Italian Ministry of Culture before you buy.
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
- Cover shoulders and knees before entering churches, including the cathedral in Frascati.
Plan around Castelli Romani
Regions, rail, entry rules and money
Read the guideRomeThe city these hills sit behind
Read the guideWhere to stay in RomeBases compared by area and budget
Read the guideLazioThe wider region around Rome
Read the guideOrvietoCliff-top town an hour or so north
Read the guideItaly by train off-peakA rail route that avoids the crowds
Read the guideCastelli Romani FAQ
Are the Castelli Romani worth visiting?
Yes, for a slow day outside Rome with wine, cool air and lake views. They are not a place for a long trip, and the sights are modest compared with the capital.
How do you get to the Castelli Romani from Rome?
Take a regional train from Roma Termini to Frascati, then buses to other towns. Cars are an option, but parking and ZTL rules in old centers cost patience.
Which Castelli Romani town is best for a first visit?
Frascati for the easiest train and the wine, Castel Gandolfo for the lake and the palace. Pair them if you start early and use buses between them.
Can you do the Castelli Romani without a car?
Yes. Trains reach Frascati and a few other towns, and COTRAL buses connect the rest. Timetables thin out in the evening and on Sundays, so plan the return before lunch.
When is the best time to visit the Castelli Romani?
Spring and autumn, when the air is cool and the vineyards are green or harvested. August is hot in Rome but pleasant on the hills, though restaurants may close for the holiday.