Lazio’s central location, and the fact that Rome is its regional capital, means it's a virtual shoe-in for anyone visiting Italy. Tuscany and Umbria are to the north; Abruzzo is to the east; the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Pontine Islands are to the west; and you can still reach Campania on the southern borders via the Via Appia, the ancient Roman road. Then there’s the region’s natural beauty: the Apennines with their fertile foothills offering up a cornucopia of local produce; the central plains around Rome, which have extinct volcanoes and gorgeous crater lakes, like Lake Bracciano; the lush, reclaimed marshlands of Maremma and Latina; and the picturesque Tyrrhenian Sea coastline with its many sandy beaches and pretty port towns. Because this region really does have something to offer everyone, our Gurus’ list of the best places to stay in Lazio tries to do that too, with rural, seaside and lakeside escapes, beautifully converted villas and palazzos, and a myriad of choices in Rome.
If you’re travelling as a family our recommendations for the best places to stay in Lazio include some really spacious picks around Lake Bracciano, and in Latina — all within a train journey of around an hour from the centre of Rome. Opting to stay outside the eternal city will cost you time on the days you travel in, but it might also allow your kids the beach time they need to break up the museums and city sightseeing. If you’re looking for a slightly under-the-radar Italian coastline base, you'll find it here. This is where many Romans holiday, and there’s an authentic Italian-ness about places like Ladispoli and Ponza Island.
Lazio’s cultural riches stretch beyond Rome too, from the mosaics of Ostia on the coast to the painted Etruscan tombs at Tarquinia and Cerveteri, and Hadrian’s Villa at Tivoli. There are museums, ruins, villas and palazzos that haven’t been ruined, and thousands of churches. And the best places to stay in Lazio are definitely worth considering if you like a cycling holiday or if you’re interested in a lesser visited wine region, or perhaps you just want to extend your Roman holiday...