I escaped the crowds of tourists in Rome by taking a cheap day trip to a dreamy lakeside town just an hour away
Timothy Moore
- When my husband and I took a trip to Rome, we wanted a less-touristy Italian adventure.
- At the suggestion of a tour guide in Rome, we took a train to a smaller town called Bracciano.
- We explored the Bracciano Castle and relaxed on the beach without having to deal with any crowds.
During a 25-day trip to Italy, my husband and I spent six nights in Rome.
By the end of our time in the city, I would've done almost anything to escape the crowds.
Luckily, our tour guide for the Vatican told us about the less-populated lakeside town of Bracciano, just an hour's train ride away.
For our last full day in Rome, we packed a bag, hopped on a train, and got outside the city limits to explore something a little slower-paced.
Timothy Moore
Bracciano, which shares its name with the lake, is close to several other small towns you can explore.
For a day trip, though, I recommend just sticking with one town.
It was easy to take the train from Rome to Bracciano (we spent about $15 for two round-trip tickets), explore the town, relax by the water, and return to our hotel.
Timothy Moore
The main attraction in Bracciano seemed to be a well-preserved historic castle.
Our train dropped us off about an hour before the castle opened.
To kill some time, we went to a café and sat at tables overlooking the town square and the castle. We enjoyed pastries and cappuccinos and people watched.
This town is much less touristy than Rome, so we mostly saw Italians going to work, running errands, and walking their dogs.
Timothy Moore
Exploring the Bracciano Castle, or Castello Odescalchi di Bracciano, was a welcome change from the guided tours in Rome.
Rather than ushering past all the highlights with a group of 20-plus people, we got to take our time in each castle area while listening to a free English audio guide.
We visited on a weekday at the end of the summer season and were the only people in the castle for most of our two-hour visit.
Timothy Moore
We climbed ramparts and saw gorgeous views of the lake during our time at Bracciano Castle.
We stopped for pictures and enjoyed the nice breeze.
Timothy Moore
After exploring the ramparts, as well as the castle's armory, kitchen, and courtyard, we saw some of the interior rooms curated with furniture, weapons, and artwork from the castle's history.
Timothy Moore
After a few hours in the castle, my husband and I took a lunch break and headed toward the lake.
The walk from the city center and castle to the lakeside took about 20 minutes.
The castle and the town are technically up on a hill, so I recommend wearing shoes with a good grip for the descent to the water.
All the private beaches with boat rentals were closed for the end of the summer, but there were plenty of public shores for us to relax on.
Timothy Moore
We got an excellent water-view spot and pulled out our books, which we didn't have much time to enjoy back in busy Rome.
We didn't end up swimming in the lake, but my husband snuck in a nap by the water.
I sat on the beach and watched people swim far out into the water, teenagers canoodle on the beach, and an older woman curse at her phone in Italian while waiting at a bus stop.
We finally felt immersed in Italian culture, far from other tourists.
Timothy Moore
Though it was the end of summer, a few restaurants were open on the lake.
We grabbed a table on the water, shared a bottle of wine, and ate some of the most delicious desserts of the entire trip.
I ordered a lemon sorbet, and my husband stuck with his tried-and-true tiramisu.
We then hiked back up to the city, which I found to be a much tougher climb, and boarded our return train to Rome.
Having escaped the crowds of the Eternal City for a day, we felt refreshed and ready to dive back into our hectic travels.
This story was originally published on January 13, 2024, and most recently updated on December 27, 2024.
