Lazio - April 2026 - Logistics and Itinerary

Lazio, 18th - 19th April 2026

In need of a break as we don't go on enough holidays, Mick and I booked a weekend in Lazio, an area of Italy I had not previously spent a great deal of time in. We flew to Rome, hired a car, and birded a variety of sites near the coast both north and south of the city. We probably went no further than a couple of hours in either direction, Tarquinia in the north and nearly to Punta Rossa to the south. What could we see? Tons.

I cannot recommend weekend trips highly enough. Often quite inexpensive, and no holidays required, with so little time you really set out to make the most of it, every location a new opportunity to add further sightings. Birding becomes your life, your raison d'etre, the sole aim. I like a nice sit down as much as the next person, but on a birding trip measured in hours....

Logistics

• A regular weekend in April, leaving late Friday night after work and maxing out until Sunday evening.

• Flights: Direct flight from London Heathrow to Rome. Slightly awkward flight times, arriving late and thus not getting to the hotel until 1am, but the beauty of this is that you get up on Saturday with the whole day ahead of you.

• Car Hire: Bundled with the flight, cost very little.
• Weather: Lovely. Not too hot, not too cold, blue skies and sun. Why do I suffer living in the UK?
• Accommodation: Two cheap hotels right on the coast. Had to share a bed on the first night as the desk was closed and there was no one to complain to. We survived. The second night they tried it again, but this time we could resist.
• Food: Lovely. So much food at home is just an embarrassment.
• Optics: I took my scope as well as a camera - the latter got virtually no use but it was great having the scope.

Day 0 – Friday evening flight from Heathrow landed in Rome at a little before midnight. I just about had the energy to drive south about an hour, arriving around 1am. I had previously arranged with hotel for them to leave a key out for me which we found without problem. Shattering, but we would be right next to the coastal lagoons the next morning.

Day 1 – South of Rome. Started just outside the hotel, birding one corner of the Lago di Fogliano, and then spent most of the morning exploring various other bits of this lake. Early afternoon at the Lago di Caprolace, followed by a leisurely lunch. Afternoon at La Bufalara, a series of meadows and pastures at the northern end of this lake, and the rest of the day exploring the general area before heading up and past Rome to Ladispoli.

Day 2 – North of Rome. Started at the Palida di Torre Flavia, and then up to the Saline di Tarquinia. All morning here as it is quite a lengthy walk. A few abortive stops at sites where there was no access before finishing the day at the Oasi Lipu Castel di Guido. A final birding site at Ostia near the airport was also closed! Early evening flight back to London.