More specifically, they get themselves to one or more of the tiny villages, known as the Castelli Romani, clustered together in the Roman Hills. Conveniently, they are all no more than a 40-minute train or bus ride away from Rome, and the journey costs no more than a few euros by train and only €1 by metro.

A visit to any of these unique little towns makes a fabulous day trip! Here are three of our favorites:

Sampling the local vino in Frascati.

Castel Gandolfo

This beautiful little town overlooks the turquoise and picture-perfect Lake Albano and lies around 30 km from Rome. While its claim to fame is being home to the Pope’s summer residence, its real charm lies in the gorgeous little piazza which marks the town center and the swathe of little eateries which adjoin the piazza or overlook the lake. And, in case you’re feeling energetic, there are kayaks and canoes for hire.

How to Get There: Trains to Castel Gandolfo run from Termini and leave about every hour. It will take about 40 minutes to get there and a round-trip ticket will cost €3.80.

Frascati

For the Romans, this is perhaps the most popular of the Castelli Romani. There are three reasons for this: vino, vino, and vino!

Essentially, this village exists for making wine, and it is surrounded by quaint little farmhouses and rolling vineyards. The old town center is home to numerous cellars which offer wine tasting and allow you to take in your own food. Before sampling the famous and delectable local white, you can while away a few hours by visiting the regal Villa Aldobrandini and the ornate Basilica of St. Peter the Apostle.

How to Get There: The cheapest and most convenient way to get to Frascati is by bus, which leaves every 20 minutes from bus stop 6 at Anagnina (the last stop on Metro Line A). Metro tickets run €1 and cover the entire journey. Alternatively, trains leave Termini every hour, and a round-trip journey will cost €3.80.

The streets of Ariccia.

Ariccia

This fantastic little village is full of delicious food. Ariccia is famous for porchetta, thick cut pork slow roasted in fennel and herbs. One needs no other reason to come here except to go in search of this ridiculously tasty regional specialty. The best place to try porchetta is in one of the town’s many fraschettas, which also serve up other regional specialties in noisy, rustic old taverns. Otherwise, grab a panino on the street, which is almost as good!

How to Get There: Buses to Ariccia leave about every 20 minutes from Anagnina bus station. The journey takes about 30 minutes and costs the price of a metro ticket (€1).

The post Rome Day Trips: Hillside villages of the Castelli Romani appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Here are some of the best (and cheapest) ways to do just that!

Cinema

Unless you’re lucky enough to speak the local lingua, chances are you’ll be looking for a movie house that shows films in English. While there are quite a few scattered around the city, these two are the most accessible:

Metropolitan Cinema
Via del Corso, 7 (Just off Piazza del Poppolo, Metro Flaminio)

The Metropolitan (pictured, above) is a friendly, old-school little cinema that has not entirely succumbed to the Italian penchant for dubbing absolutely everything that is not a product of Italy. It shows at least two English language films at any given time, and if you go on a weekday afternoon, or Wednesdays at anytime, you’ll only pay €5.50. Otherwise, tickets are €7.50.

Warner Village Metro Cinema
Piazza della Repubblica, 44 (Metro Repubblica)

Live music and drinks at the Scholar’s Lounge.

You can’t miss this large, swanky cinema, which is the place to come if you want to see a blockbuster. However, it usually only shows one English language film at a time, so your options will be limited. Tickets are €7.50 (€5.50 for students).

Check out this useful website for programs and session times for both cinemas.

Tip: If you can speak Italian, take advantage of free films aired at “Casa del Cinema” at Villa Borghese. The films are mostly documentaries or old, obscure Italian films. For details, check out the website.

Live Music

There are plenty of pubs and bars in Rome which offer a huge variety of live music, but this is our favorite for both music and atmosphere:

Scholars Lounge Irish Pub
Via del Plebiscito, 101b (near Piazza Venezia)

The cosy and charming Scholars Lounge is host to live music almost every night from 10:30 PM. If it’s not a cover band doing the Chilli Peppers, Springsteen, or Oasis, it’s traditional Irish music, Reggae or karaoke (come on, you know you love it!). For the cost of whatever you want to drink, you can kick back with a congenial mix of locals and travelers and enjoy the vibe.

Last-minute theater tickets.

For a list of what’s on, check out the pub’s live music schedule.

Theater

Rome has an extremely vibrant dramatic scene with scores of theaters scattered all over town. It is generally not cheap to see a performance, but it is well worth the experience, especially when there are half-price tickets available at Last Minute Teatro, situated at Via Bari, 18 (Metro Policlinico). It sells unsold tickets for performances showing that night, and if you are not too fussy about what you see, there are huge savings to be made! Open Tuesday to Saturday: 2 PM-8 PM, and Sunday: 12 PM-4 PM.

The post Rome Entertainment: Movies, music, and theater on a budget appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

Considering that Ostia Antica is only a 30-minute train ride from the center of Rome, it is truly worth a visit!

History

Highlights of the former port’s long and colorful history include its establishment by a legendary Roman King sometime around the 7th century B.C (though no-one really knows for sure), frequent raids by arson-loving, river-hopping pirates, being overtaken by numerous Roman emperors who tarted the place up in accordance with current architectural trends, being the place where Santa Monica–the patron saint of married women–died in a local pub, slowly evolving into a country retreat for idle Roman aristocrats, and eventually falling into abandonment and decay somewhere around the 9th century A.D. (Whew!)

Mosaics in the Roman baths.

Ostia Antica today

Today, Ostia Antica is a sprawling stretch of painstakingly restored ruins which, despite their age, successfully retain the essence of the city’s former complexity and grandeur.

The best thing about Ostia Antica is the fact that, apart from practically having the place to yourself, you can wander around the ruins and easily imagine what it was like to have lived in a thriving and cosmopolitan city like Ostia. You can imagine buying your fruit and vegetables at one of the many shop fronts which line the main thoroughfare. Or, marvel at the almost flawlessly preserved mosaics which formed the hot and steamy Roman baths. Why not have a go at worshiping the sun god in one of the spectacular pagan temples? (Or you could imagine what it was like trying to get a little privacy with twenty other people with you in one of the many communal latrines….)

The Castle of Julius II

Your tour guide awaits…

Once you have spent a couple of hours walking amongst and climbing over the ruins, it is worth going to have a peek at Castle of Julius II, located just across the road. The castle is situated in the gorgeous little Piazza della Rocca, in which Ostia’s inhabitants go about their daily business and several plump and friendly local cats will happily escort you around.

Getting there and getting in

Take the metro to “Piramide Station” on Line B. From there, get on the city urban line towards “Lido di Ostia.” Get off at “Ostia Antica,” cross the footbridge and follow the signs. Trains leave every half hour and the fare is covered by a €1 metro ticket.

Entry fee is €6.50 for adults over 25. Those between 18 – 25 get in for half price. If you’re under 18 or over 65, you don’t have to pay at all! Open between 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM. Closed Mondays.

Cheapo tip: The eateries in Ostia Antica aren’t fabulous, unless you are willing to pay a little more than you probably want to. So, if possible, pack your lunch!

The post Rome day trip: Ostia Antica, Italy’s best-kept secret appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.

It is actually quite hard to find a bad coffee in Rome. What is more difficult, however, is determining which is the city’s best. Ask the locals and you’ll discover that there seems to be two distinct leaders in the coffee stakes, both located remarkably close to the Pantheon in central Rome, and both just as frequently declared the home of Rome’s best espresso.

So, before you leave the Eternal City, head for the Pantheon, prepare for the rush, and lean on the bar in at least one of these places. Or “make it a double,” and lean on both bars!

Sant Eustachio – Il Caffé

Grancaffe at Sant Eustachio.

Piazza S. Eustachio, 81

It is no exaggeration to say that Il Caffé is an institution. Having been around since the days of Mussolini, this tiny café has had a loyal following for over 71 years. It has earned a virtually unmatched reputation for having the best coffee in Rome and has become a mecca for caffeine fiends from around the world, as well as an essential cultural experience even for those not attuned to the pleasures of downing espresso.

One of the specialties is the Grancaffé: a delectably powerful double espresso with a lightly whipped, sugary froth which stays in the bottom of your cup and provides a perfectly sweet ending to the espresso experience. The other is the Grancappuccino, which is equally as strong but delivers the kick in a long, hot and creamy brew. Seriously good!

Be warned though: if you choose to have your coffee at the tables in the delightful little piazza, you’ll pay almost twice the price. So, save a few euros and do what the locals do: stand, lean, and shoot it down!

Getting there: Piazza S. Eustachio is on the south-western side of the Pantheon. From behind the Pantheon, follow Via della Pallombella west until you wander into the piazza. For more information, visit http://www.santeustachioilcaffe.it/.

Tazza D’Oro – La Casa del Caffé

La Casa del Caffé – Tazza D’Oro.

Via Degli Orfani, 84

This place, literally named “Cup of Gold”, unabashedly declares itself to have the best coffee in town, and only those who frequent Sant Eustachio are likely to disagree.

Standing on a charming little corner in front of the Pantheon, the Tazza D’Oro has been around since 1946 and is still going strong. In addition to serving a potent, smooth shot of caffeine goodness, which is guaranteed to keep you primed for a full day of sight-seeing, Tazza D’Oro offers good deals for lunch and dinner, and serves up decent pizzas and salads for a remarkably reasonable price.

Getting there: Tazza D’Oro is on the north-eastern side of the Pantheon. From Piazza Dell Rotonda, which is directly in front of the Pantheon, head east along Via Dei Pastini. You can’t miss it.
For more information: www.tazzadorocoffeeshop.com.

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Here are three absolute gems that are less than 10 minutes from Termini Station. All of these spots offer authenticity at the right price, with a three-course meal, wine, and coffee coming in at around €20.

Pizzeria Dal Bersagliere
Via Gino Capponi 16

Great dining on Via Appia Nuova.

The fabulous little Pizzeria Dal Bersagliere in Furio Camillo is apparently — if you look at the photo above the cash register — good enough for James Bond. Sean Connery used to come here, it seems, and we can understand why! The restaurant offers an extensive menu including pasta, meats, and salads, but the real reason to come here is the pizza!

They offer a huge range of ridiculously light and flavoursome pizzas starting from €5. The appetizers like the crumbed risotto balls filled with deliciously melted and gooey cheese are not to be missed either. The house wine is dangerously palatable and the outdoor seating arrangement makes for a very noisy and friendly night out. The place is heaving by 10 pm.

Getting there: Take metro line A to Furio Camillo. Take the Via C. Baronio exit and walk along Via Appia Nuova (pictured, right) for about 200 m. Turn left onto Via Gino Capponi and follow the delicious aroma emanating from behind the small florist stand. Open daily 7 pm – midnight. (More info on the restaurant’s Facebook page.)

Antico Casale
Ponte Lungo

Oh, Rome, this is how you should be! Antico Casale is a wonderful little place in Ponte Lungo is about as authentic as you can get. Complete with red and white checked tablecloths and an intimate, rustic atmosphere, this great find is an extremely popular choice amongst locals.

Highlights include the delectable pastas, starting at €7, and exquisite seafood, all served by friendly and helpful staff. Only the dessert outdoes the pasta at this place, with the Tartufo Bianco absolutely to die for!

Getting there: Take metro line A to Ponte Lungo and take the Piazza Ponte Lungo exit. Walk 150 metres along Via Appia Nuova and take the second right over the bridge into Piazza Camillo Finocchiaro Aprile. The restaurant is tucked behind a little florist in Appia Circonvallazione. Closed Mondays.

Al Peperoncino
Via Ostiense 369/375

Pasta Al Peperoncino.

Ask any local in San Paolo where you can find a great meal and they will almost certainly direct you to the huge, and hugely popular, Pizzeria and Bisteccheria Al Peperoncino (pictured at top and right). This restaurant is packed most nights, and you probably won’t find another tourist in sight!

With pizzas from €3, steak cooked to perfection and glorious seafood pasta, it is little wonder that this is THE place to eat for San Paolo’s locals. The creamy espresso and complimentary strawberry liqueur don’t do any harm either. Open dinner and lunch.

Getting here: Take metro line B to San Paolo. Take the Via Ostiense exit. Turn left onto Via Ostiense and walk about 200m. You can’t miss it. (For more info, visit the restaurant’s website.)

The post Rome Cheap Eats: Dine like a local at these affordable restaurants appeared first on EuroCheapo's Budget Travel Blog.