Why not cool down and relax at one of the nearby beaches? There are several beaches within an hour of Rome by public transport, and they all cost less than €10 to reach.

Related:
• Our favorite budget hotels
• Search all Rome hotels
• Our favorite free parks in Rome

The best beaches near Rome

Sun, sand and the sparkling Mediterranean offer the perfect break from Vatican lines and Colosseum tours. Here are four favorites beaches close to Rome:

Anzio

The turquoise water and golden sand beaches of Anzio are some of the prettiest near Rome, and also the cleanest, as you can tell from their Blue Flag designation. The colorful port is packed with great seafood restaurants, and the entire place holds an old fishing-town atmosphere.

You can’t go anywhere in Italy without running into something of historical significance, and Anzio is no different. It was first used as the base for Coriolanus’s rebellion against Rome, and later as a vacation spot for emperors, who built theaters and luxurious villas. More recently, and the reason it probably sounds familiar, it was where British and US forces landed in 1944 to liberate Rome from German occupation. You can visit the 77-acre American Cemetary where nearly 8,000 Americans are buried.

Getting there: Anzio is about an hour south of Rome on a regional train from Termini, and a ticket will only cost you €3.

Hotels: Search more than 100 places to stay in Anzio

Santa Marinella

A convenient and beautiful beach, Santa Marinella is only an hour north of Rome and has been a bathing resort since the days of the Roman Empire. The light sand is soft and the water is clear, and there are both free and private beaches. The small resort town also has good seafood restaurants and a few bars and shops.

Getting there: Best of all, it’s only €4.60 on the regional trains leaving from Termini, Rome’s main station.

Hotels: Search more than 50 accommodations in Santa Marinella

Ostia

Ostia Lido isn’t the most beautiful beach near Rome, but it’s the closest and does the trick when you’re in need of sand and sun. The dark sand beaches are split into public and private areas, and for about €10 on the private beaches you get a chair, umbrella, and towel. If you brought your own towel and don’t mind crowds, find yourself a spot in the free public areas.

Getting there: Take the Metro Line B from the Piramide stop in Rome, then take the Ostia-Lido train toward Cristoforo Colombo. You use the same ticket for both. You’ll get off at either the Ostia Lido Centro stop or Ostia Stella Polare.

One of the best parts of Ostia Lido is its proximity to the ancient Roman ruins at Ostia Antica. To visit, get off two stops before Ostia Lido Centro.

Related: The Roman ruins at Ostia Antica, Italy’s best kept secret.

Sperlonga

Sperlonga is the most picturesque beach near Rome, but a bit of a hike. The whitewashed town is perched on a cliff over the sea, and the clear waters of the Blue Flag beach stretch below. The charming, narrow streets hold many shops, restaurants, and cafes, and the sandy beaches are exceptionally clean. Since ancient Roman times, Sperlonga has been a holiday favorite, and you can visit the old villa of Emperor Tiberius.

Getting there: Reaching Sperlonga is a bit of a commitment, but it’s worth it. Take a regional train from Rome’s Termini station to the Fondi-Sperlonga stop, about an hour away, then take the bus from outside the station to the beach, about half an hour. You can also take a taxi from the train station.

Hotels: Browse more than 200 properties in Sperlonga

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Even though Rome is fast becoming one of the most expensive cities in Europe, there are still plenty of memorable things to do that won’t put a big strain on your budget. Here are my top ten Roman activities that cost less than €10.

1. Galleria Borghese: €8.50
Piazzale del Museo Borghese, 5
Tel.: +39 06 32 810
Web site
Open: Tuesdays- Sundays 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Located inside Rome’s “Central Park,” the Villa Borghese is a lovely museum that holds a vast collection of 17th and 18th-century artwork. Feast on masterpieces by Bernini, Caravaggio and Raphael. The villa was built for Cardinal Sciopione Borghese and is itself quite a beauty. When you’ve had enough art you can go for a passeggiata in the park. (That’s always free.)

2. Castel Sant’Angelo: €5.50
Lungotevere Castello, 50
Tel.: +39 06.6819111
Web site
Open: Tuesdays-Sundays 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m.

At first glance, the overbearing structure that looms over the Tiber River near the Vatican seems to be just another enormous castle. However, the history of Castel Sant’Angelo is more complicated than that. It was built by the emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself in 135 AD. The monument was later transformed into a fortress that guarded the Vatican and became a Papal refuge for nearly 1,000 years. Inside the castle you’ll find a spectacular showcase of battlefield weaponry, including cannons, cannon balls and dungeons, too. Not a bad deal for just €5.50!

3. Dome of St. Peter’s Basilica: €5-€7
Piazza San Pietro
Tel.: +39 06.0608
Web site
Hours: October 1 – March 31: daily, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.; April 1 – September 30: daily, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Sure, a bird’s-eye view of the Eternal City can be found from any number of rooftop terraces around town. But there’s something extra special about taking in the view from the tip-top of St. Peter’s dome. There are two ways to get up there: your feet or an elevator. For €5 you can huff and puff your way up 500 steps to the top. Or you can ride the elevator up for €7.

4. Fountain-hopping frenzy: Free

Did someone say free? One of the most amazing things about Rome for budget travelers is the amount of art, architecture and sculptures that can be admired for niente. When it comes to marvelous fountains, Rome has plenty to go around. They’re just as breathtaking by day as they are by night. Here are some of my personal favorites:

Fontana del Tritone (Triton Fountain): Located at the center of the bustling Piazza Barberini where traffic flows in and out of the Centro Storico. The fountain was designed by Bernini in 1642. Also worth checking out is the Fontana delle Api (Fountain of the Bees) nearby on Via Veneto.

Fontana delle Naiadi (Fountain of the Naiads): My goodness what a piazza (della Repubblica)! Albeit, seeing it by day doesn’t do it justice, as the the fountain only becomes more beautiful when illuminated at night.

Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers): What makes Piazza Navona so beautiful (apart from its picturesque cafes) are the three beautiful fountains that dominate the square. My favorite is the Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi, the central and largest of the three. Designed by the great Bernini, the fountain represents the rivers of the four continents known at that time: the Nile (symbol of Africa), the Ganges (symbol of Asia), the Danube (representing Europe) and the Rio de la Plata (representing America).

Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain): The mother of all fountains, it’s also world-famous for wish-makers. Legend has it that if you toss a coin into the fountain, a return to Rome is guaranteed! It also made famous appearances for movies like Three Coins in a Fountain and Fellini’s La Dolce Vita.

5. Ostia Antica: €6.50 + two €1 bus tickets
Viale dei Romagnoli, 717
Tel.: +39 06 5635 8099
Web site
Hours: November-February, Tues-Sun 8:30 a.m-6 p.m.; March, Tues-Sun 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; April-October, Tues-Sun 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

Located just outside Rome, the Ancient town of Ostia Antica often gets overlooked. Ostia Antica is an archeological site that served as a port city for ancient Rome and is located near the modern town of Ostia. Although its founding was thought to have been in the seventh century BC, archaeological remnants “only” date it back to fourth century BC. Wander about the impressive ruins, including an amphitheater, many temples and villas.

Getting there is a simple combination of a Metro and train ride (45 minutes total). Take Metro B line to the “Piramide” stop (direction: “Laurentina”). The Piramide Metro stop is located next to the Roma Porta San Paolo train station. Make sure to follow the signs that say “Lido.” Trains leave every 15 minutes.

6. Roaming the streets of Trastevere: Free

One of the favorite Italian past times is going for a passeggiata (“easy stroll”), and what better neighborhood to stroll through than picturesque Trastevere. Get lost in the winding cobblestone alleys. Happen upon local trattorias, street cafès and wonderful churches, such as Santa Maria in Trastevere.

7. Attend a Papal Mass: Free
Web site

There’s our favorite word again! On Sundays at noon, the Pope gives a prayer (the “Angelus”) and blesses the crowd of pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square. Tickets are not required to attend this event, so if you want a good spot, be sure to arrive early. On Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. the Pope leads a blessing before a general audience; tickets are required but can be easily obtained (see Web site for details).

8. Hop on the ArcheoBus: €10
Web site

Sometimes, it’s nice to have someone do all the planning for you. For example, the ArcheoBus will drive you around town and let you hop on and hop off at major sights, including the Colosseum, the Baths of Caracalla, the Appia Antica Park, the Catacombs of San Callisto and San Sebastiano, among others. The entire loop lasts about an hour and a half and includes an audio guide in eight languages, including English. You can catch the green open-air bus from Termini train station.

9. Go for gelato: €2-€3

After going to see the Pantheon (another must-see freebie), you must indulge in one of life’s tastiest pleasures: a gelato from Giolitti (Uffici del Vicario, 40). It’s one of Rome’s oldest gelaterie and, according to me at least, it’s one of the city’s best. Nocciola (“hazelnut”) and pistacchio are my favorites. The place is always packed with tourists, but once you’ve tried their gelato, you’ll understand why. (It’s a far cry from Häagen-Dazs.)

10. Visit Ara Pacis: €7.50
Lungotevere in Augusta
Tel.: +39 06.0608
Open: Tuesday-Sunday 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Web site

One of Rome’s newest landmarks, the funky glass-and-travertine structure where the Ara Pacis (“Alter of Peace”) is held was designed by the American architect Richard Meier. Some find the structure gaudy, while others find it breathtaking. Regardless, it caused quite a stir in Rome when it opened in 2006.

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How it works

Go to an official ATAC center, which can be found around the city center (most often at Metro stations) to get your Smartcard. You then charge your card with credit (either at the station or online) enabling you to take a bike from one of many bike stations dotted around Rome. You will need to bring your passport or ID card when you join and the Smartcard will cost you €5.

Taking a bike costs €1 for every half hour and the bike must be returned to any station (not necessarily the one you took it from) within 24 hours.

Where to get a bike

Stations can be found all over the historic center, including the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, Campo De’ Fiori, Piazza Popolo, Piazza Navona and Largo Argentina. (For a full list of stations, see the ATAC Web site.) The bikes (and stations) have remained in excellent condition and, unusually for Rome, the system works well. Each station has an information panel telling you everything you need to know about using the program.

Where to go

It is worth investing in a good map (try the ATAC Metrobus Map available for €5 at any newspaper kiosk) so you can explore beyond the city center. One popular destination is the Appia Antica, which is traffic free and can take you 14 kilometers to Lake Albano (for the super-fit) or as far as an ice cream seller (for the rest of us). Or ride along the river close to Castle St Angelo, where you will find a cycle track away from the road.

Another option is taking the Ostia Lido train from Piramide Metro. You will find bike stations around Ostia, and what better way to spend a few hours than cycling down the promenade towards the tourist port and stopping at the beach for a sunbathe and a swim?

More Information

To learn more about the bikesharing program, visit the Web site or call (+33) 06 57 003.

The post Rome: How to use the city’s bike share program 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.