Il Ristorantino del Castello
What to order: a lake fish dish and a fresh pasta; ask about the tasting menu
geocalia
Day itinerary · 42.12° N · 12.23° E
Day trip to Lake Bracciano: a whole castle and a walk beside the water.
An hour from Rome, by car or on the FL3 train: Odescalchi Castle with its walls above the lake, lunch at its foot and the afternoon on the shore at Trevignano.
Leaving from
Direct flight to Roma fromBarcelona 1 h 45Alicante 2 h 15Bilbao 2 h 15Valencia 2 h 15Zaragoza 2 h 15Madrid 2 h 30Asturias 2 h 45Málaga 2 h 45Sevilla 2 h 45Fuerteventura 4 h 30
Part of Lake Bracciano
Add to my trip
Total time9 h
By car1 h each way
TicketsCastle €10 · children €8
WalkingAbout 3 h, with stairs in the castle
DifficultyEasy
Best timeMay – October
Best daySunday, with guided visit included
The plan
The day at a glance
Any part can be swapped for another without spoiling the day.
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Leave Rome 1 h by car
By car along the Cassia or the Braccianese; without a car, FL3 from San Pietro or Trastevere
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1
Odescalchi Castle in Bracciano
Rooms, armour and the wall walk · 1 h 30 · on Sundays, guided tour included at 10:30 or 12:00
- Carry on on foot
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2
Bracciano: the village and the descent to the lake
Return through the old town and the viewpoints over the lake
- 5 min on foot
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3
Il Ristorantino del Castello
Lake fish and fresh pasta on the castle square · €€ · booking
Piazza Giuseppe Mazzini, 14, 00062 Bracciano · +39 06 9980 5730
Restaurant €€Book - 15 min by car13 km
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4
Trevignano Romano and its lakeside promenade
Stroll beside the water and the Assumption viewpoint; swimming in summer
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Back home
About an hour to Rome
Approximate cost
About €20–35 per person
Adds up the activities and meals in the plan at their published prices; travel and accommodation not included.
The route
Odescalchi Castle in Bracciano
Lake Bracciano is the Romans' escape when the heat gets heavy, and one of the few day trips that can be done by train from the Vatican. This day begins at Odescalchi Castle, a Renaissance fortress visited like a house, continues with lunch at its foot and ends at Trevignano, the village with the most pleasant promenade on the lake.
The day, hour by hour
9:00 · Departure. By car, about an hour along the Cassia or the Braccianese. Without a car, FL3 regional train from San Pietro, Trastevere, Ostiense or Tiburtina to Bracciano, and fifteen minutes on foot to the castle.
10:30 · Odescalchi Castle. Admission €10, €8 for ages 6 to 12, free up to 5. Open every day; on Sunday the guided visit is included and leaves at 10:30, 12:00, 14:30 and 16:00. Frescoed rooms, armour and the wall walk with the lake below.
12:15 · The village. Walk round the old town that surrounds the castle and look out from the viewpoints.
13:00 · Lunch at Il Ristorantino del Castello. On Piazza Mazzini, beneath the towers: lake fish, fresh pasta and meat. Book and, if you go on a Tuesday, confirm that it is open.
15:00 · Trevignano Romano. Fifteen minutes by car along the lake. A walk along the shore, a climb to the viewpoint at the church of the Assumption and, in summer, a swim on the promenade beaches.
17:30 · Return. An hour by car. Without a car, stay in Bracciano in the afternoon and go down to the lakeshore instead of going to Trevignano.
With children
They love the castle: armour, towers and walls. If they like planes, swap Trevignano for the Vigna di Valle museum, with seaplanes in the hangars on the shore. At the castle, a baby carrier is better than a pushchair.
Time1 h 30
Change the route
Without a car: buy pizza by the slice at Pizzarium, in Prati, before catching the FL3; or at the Bonci counter at Termini:
Pizzarium Bonci
With children or teenagers, instead of Trevignano: seaplanes in the hangars, Tuesday to Sunday:
Historical Museum of the Italian Air Force at Vigna di Valle
To watch the sunset over the lake from the collegiate church, at the end of the day:
Anguillara Sabazia, the village on the promontory
Where to eat
Where to eat?
Lunch is half the plan: book before you set off.
Map
The stops, in order
With where to park at each one.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Getting there
By car or without one?
When to go
When to go to Lake Bracciano
All year. On Sunday the castle's guided visit is included in the ticket; in summer add a swim in the lake. On Sundays in July and August there is a lot of traffic towards the lake.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Go on a Sunday
The castle's guided visit is included in the ticket.
- 2Swimming costume in summer
The Trevignano beaches are freely accessible along much of the promenade.
If it rains
The castle and the Vigna di Valle museum can be seen just the same; leave the walk for another day.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Rome to Bracciano without a car?
On the FL3 regional train from San Pietro, Trastevere, Ostiense or Tiburtina.
How much does Bracciano castle cost?
€10; €8 for ages 6 to 12; free up to 5.
Can you swim in the lake?
Yes, in summer, at beaches and signposted areas.
Is the castle open on Mondays?
Yes, every day of the year except 25 December.
More plans like this
Other days of walking and good food
geocalia.com/en/italy/lazio/lake-bracciano/itineraries/rome-lake-bracciano-odescalchi-castle-trevignano
Prices, opening hours and times are approximate: check them before you go. Each place has its own page on Geocalia.