How to Take a Terrific Tivoli Day Trip From Rome (Itinerary + Travel Tips)

With far-reaching views of the Italian countryside, two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, a beautiful town center, and an enviable list of things to do, Tivoli is enchanting to visit–and you can very easily take an incredible day trip to Tivoli from Rome!

Most famous for its 3 villas (which are a bit more diverse than you might imagine when hearing the word “villa”), Tivoli has been a relaxing countryside getaway for Romans since before Emperor Hadrian built his villa there–and, as the locals are happy to tell you, the town of Tivoli is actually older than Rome itself!

With its relaxed atmosphere, gorgeous views from its perch in the Sabine Hills, and history as a getaway from a crowded European capital city, Tivoli reminds me quite a bit of Sintra, Portugal–with the noted difference that Tivoli is much less crowded!

And, at right around an hour away from Rome by direct train, it’s safe to say that on top of being one of the most delightful day trips from Rome, Tivoli is one of the easiest day trips you can take from the Eternal City.

Here’s how to take the perfect Tivoli day trip from Rome independently, or alternatively, what you can expect if you book a tour!

Do you need a tour to visit Tivoli from Rome?

You definitely don’t need to book a tour to take a successful day trip to Tivoli from Rome–but certain travelers may want to.

When you take the train to Tivoli from Rome, you’ll have two of its villas (Villa d’Este and Villa Francigena) within walking distance of you, on top of the things to see in Tivoli itself.

However, Villa Adriana (also known as Hadrian’s Villa) is one of Tivoli’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and it’s not located within the town center.

To reach it, you’ll need to take a bus (either from the center of Tivoli or from Rome) and then walk there from the stop (not a big deal, but any Tivoli day trip is going to feature a lot of walking), grab a taxi, or, of course, be escorted there as part of a guided tour.

This popular day trip to Tivoli covers both of Tivoli’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites (Villa d’Este and Villa Adriana) on guided tours, simplifying your transportation concerns and offering lots of historic context about the properties as well!

As someone who enjoys organized tours on some days and exploring at my own pace on others, I’d say that there’s no wrong answer here: visiting Tivoli independently by train is completely doable, but for the right visitor, a tour can also add value.

Book your day trip to Tivoli today!

How to Travel From Rome to Tivoli (And Back)

Traveling from Rome to Tivoli by train is very simple, and even a perfect first-timers route for travelers navigating trains in Italy for the first time.

To reach Tivoli from Rome by train, you’ll take a regional train directly to the Tivoli train station, with no transfers required.

Since this is a regional train route (as opposed to a high-speed train that for example, connects different regions of Italy), the prices are fixed and quite low.

The low prices combined with the fact that there are many trains available every day means that there is no reason to book your ticket far in advance (or even in advance at all).

However, if you do book your ticket in advance, note that trains to Tivoli depart from both Roma Termini and Roma Tiburtina, so be sure you head to the right train station!

You can check the train schedule (and purchase tickets if you like) here.

Alternatively, you can take the Rome metro line B to the Ponte Mammolo Station, purchase a Cotral bus ticket to Tivoli, and get there that way.

This option can be helpful if you would like to visit Villa Adriana independently (we’ll get into that a bit more when talking about possible Tivoli day trip itineraries).

A Quick Note About the 3 Villas of Tivoli, Italy

When planning a day trip to Tivoli from Rome, there’s a good chance that you’ve heard a lot about UNESCO sites and also villas–but here’s the thing: each of Tivoli’s 3 “villas” is a wildly different kind of attraction.

Villa d’Este is a palace with intricate gardens that feature gorgeous frescoes and iconic fountains. Odds are high that you’ve seen many photos of Villa d’Este when researching Tivoli!

Villa Adriana, which is also called Hadrian’s Villa, is a nearly 300-acre Roman ruin complex that was once home to–surprise, surprise–Emperor Hadrian, along with thousands of other people working to support the emperor and his gigantic villa.

In modern terms, calling Villa Adriana a “villa” is like calling Manhattan a “small island”–technically correct, but not at all what you expect when you hear the term.

Villa d’Este and Villa Adriana are both UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Villa Gregoriana is a sprawling park complex that dates to the 1800s (though it is built over the ruins of a Roman villa), and visiting it involves hiking into a valley and then back out again, while admiring waterfalls, caves, and views of Roman ruins along the way.

Villa d’Este and Villa Gregoriana are both located within central Tivoli, within walking distance of both each other and the train station.

Villa Adriana is located outside the town center, and if you’re not visiting Tivoli on an organized day trip, you’ll need to take a bus or taxi there and back.

The Best Things to Do in Tivoli on a Day Trip

While it would be very easy to simply list all the cool attractions in Tivoli here, I’ve narrowed it down as much as possible here and in the next section.

The only reasonable place to start, though, is with the 3 villas of Tivoli, which are the best things to do on a day trip to Tivoli from Rome.

Marvel at the fountains (and frescoes) of Villa d’Este.

Dating to the 16th century, Villa d’Este was commissioned by Ippolito Il d’Este, an aspiring pope, son of the Duke of Ferrara, and lover of both the arts and a lavish lifestyle.

While he never succeeded in becoming pope, he did succeed in overseeing the creation of the remarkable Villa d’Este, which is famous today for its gardens, fountains (particularly its water organ), and art.

As you stroll through Villa d’Este, you’ll start by touring the interior of the villa, which is lightly furnished but boasts its magnificent 16th-century frescoes in addition to other art exhibits that change over time, before heading out into the gardens.

The Fountain of Neptune and Fountain of the Organ are the most famous fountains in the gardens, but strolling through the gardens, in general, feels like existing in a fantastical land bursting with water and plants from all angles, with beautiful views of the countryside to top it off.

Walk through time at Villa Adriana (Hadrian’s Villa).

Indisputably the most historic and the largest of the Tivoli villas, Villa Adriana (or Hadrian’s Villa) is the 297-acre complex that was built as the summer home of Emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century.

Roughly 30 buildings make up the site, ranging from private buildings for the emperor to servants’ quarters to public spaces like a theater, plus numerous gardens.

The builders of Villa Adriana drew inspiration from Greece and Egypt, as well as Rome, and it has been considered a masterpiece for centuries.

Forgotten and left to disrepair after Hadrian passed away, the villa was rediscovered in the 15th century and went on to have an enormous influence on the next waves of architecture in Italy, especially Baroque architecture (and as you’ll notice in Rome, Baroque architecture is gorgeous, dynamic, and certainly not subtle!).

Visiting Villa Adriana is better compared to strolling through Pompeii than to visiting a palace, despite the name of “villa”.

Come prepared with sun protection, a bottle of water, and very comfortable walking shoes!

Descend into a valley at Villa Gregoriana.

Of the 3 villas of Tivoli, the Villa Gregoriana may be the most unexpected.

Essentially a deep valley overlooked by the ruins of Roman temples and the aptly named Great Waterfall, Villa Gregoriana is a place to relax, a place for a bit of a hike, and above all, it is an example of the Italian penchant for making the practical beautiful.

Villa Gregoriana as we know it was built in the 19th century primarily to protect the city of Tivoli from the waters of the Aniene River, though the location has been famous since at least Roman times (when they, too, admired the views and used the river to their advantage through hydraulic engineering).

A blend of nature and manmade structures, visiting Villa Gregoriana feels like stepping into Riverdale: there’s flowing water, grottoes, caves, and even what feels like a thick forest, all overseen by Roman temples and backed by the sound of a waterfall.

Alone among the 3 villas, Villa Gregoriana does not bear official UNESCO World Heritage Site status–but it has been submitted for consideration and is on the tentative list.

More Cool Things to See on a Day Trip to Tivoli

Depending on how you structure your Tivoli itinerary, you may have a chance to see a small slice of the town beyond just its 3 most famous attractions… and we highly recommend it!

Tivoli itself is a beautiful Italian town that offers a more laid-back atmosphere than Rome (and if you’re visiting Italy in the summer, you may also benefit from the same thing that has drawn a couple of millennia worth of Romans to Tivoli: cooler temperatures than the capital).

Beyond the villas, here are some more cool things to do in Tivoli on a day trip from Rome… with the caveat that you probably won’t do them all, and will need to pick and choose (more on that in the itinerary section below).

Step inside the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Located right next door to the entrance to Villa d’Este, the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the easiest additions to your Tivoli day trip itinerary!

Rumored to have roots as deep as the 5th century (though it’s likely a bit more recent than that), the interior of the church feels simultaneously warm and cavernous, weathered and updated.

You’ll also sometimes see this church referred to by its neighborhood, Santa Croce, and it is the parish church of Santa Croce to this day.

Stop by Via Campitelli and Casa Gotica.

Located in the heart of Tivoli’s medieval center and just a hop, skip, and jump from Villa d’Este, Via Campitelli is easily one of the prettiest places to visit in Tivoli.

Lined with medieval stone homes on either side, Via Campitelli is a joy to walk down and a great way to appreciate examples of beautiful local architecture that was built by those with a bit less money than, say, Emperor Hadrian.

Don’t miss Casa Gotica with its romantic stone staircase–it looks a bit like something out of Romeo and Juliet (though admittedly less polished than the tourist-ifed Juliet’s House attraction in Verona).

Enjoy a laid-back lunch in Tivoli.

In Tivoli, you’ll find lots of options for delicious food from the region of Lazio… but at (slightly) lower prices than you’ll find in the center of Rome.

In other words, bring on the carbonara and amatriciana!

We had a tasty meal at Da Andrea, which is admittedly touristy but also extraordinarily convenient, a good value, and offered great service.

Ristorante Alfredo was heartily recommended by our bed and breakfast (which we loved) for a traditional meal, and while we didn’t get a chance to eat there, it’s on our list for next time!

Ristorante Sibilla, located at the actual Sibillia temple left by the Romans, is a local go-to recommendation for a formal meal.

For a quick bite to eat, Alice Pizza is a local chain that does great pizza by the slice (we shamelessly love their carbonara pizza, though they also offer traditional flavors).

For gelato, you can’t beat Gelateria Cactus!

Admire the ruins of the Temple of Vesta and the Temple of Sibilla.

You don’t have to have a meal at Ristorante Sibilla or visit Villa Gregoriana in order to appreciate a view of the Roman Temple of Vesta and the Temple of Sibilla!

Ponte Gregoriana offers a great view and is conveniently located near the train station, so you can squeeze in a peek even if you’re short on time and making a beeline for Villa d’Este (just be sure to add the bridge to your GPS directions to ensure you take the right route–there are a couple of options).

Stop by the Tivoli Cathedral.

Of course, no Italian town or city is complete without its main church, and the Cattedrale di San Lorenzo is Tivoli’s.

Conveniently located within a 15-minute walk of the train station and roughly in same the direction as Villa d’Este, visiting the cathedral doesn’t take much time out of a Tivoli day trip.

The interior is beautiful, though, and worth a quick look!

LPLT, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

2 Sample Tivoli Day Trip Itineraries

When it comes to visiting Tivoli for a day, there are two main itineraries that people tend to choose between: visiting Villa d’Este and Villa Adriana, therefore seeing both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, or visiting Villa d’Este and Villa Gregoriana, which allows travelers to stay within the town center.

While you certainly can squeeze in visits to all 3 villas if you’re determined to (in which case I recommend starting with Villa Adriana, followed by Villa d’Este and then Villa Gregoriana) it makes for a very rushed day.

Here are brief examples of each itinerary we recommend, assuming you’re traveling to Tivoli by train or bus (and again, purchasing tickets in advance is generally not necessary for this day trip, though organized travelers are welcome to do so).

Villa d’Este + Villa Adriana

Want to see both UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Tivoli in one day? If so, this is the Tivoli itinerary for you!

There are pros and cons to the morning vs. afternoon for each, but if you’re visiting Tivoli anytime when it’s hot outside, we recommend seeing Villa Adriana first.

To get there, you’ll want to either take the train to Tivoli and then board a Cotral bus (here’s their website) to Villa Adriana, or alternatively, take a Cotral bus directly from Rome’s Ponte Mammolo station to Villa Adriana before heading into Tivoli (this is more efficient, but requires a bit more confidence navigating Italian public transportation).

Regardless of how you get there, enjoy a thorough visit to Villa Adriana (there is a lot of walking involved, but it’s truly a remarkable place), and then take a Cotral bus back to Tivoli town, and get off at or near Piazza Garibaldi.

You’ll be able to purchase a combined ticket for both villas when you enter your first one.

From there, grab lunch and then head into Villa d’Este to enjoy the frescoes and fountains.

After visiting Villa d’Este, set your GPS to the train station and make your way there, making a point to stop at the Ponte Gregoriana for beautiful views along the way (and depending on time, any of the other interesting things to do in Tivoli that you’ll pass).

Villa d’Este + Villa Gregoriana

Don’t want to navigate buses and find yourself willing to trade seeing Villa Adriana for experiencing Villa Gregoriana and having a simpler day trip to Tivoli?

If so, this itinerary option is for you!

Both Villa d’Este and Villa Gregoriana are within a short walk (15 minutes or so) from the Tivoli train station, so you’ll be able to complete the whole day trip with only one direct train ride each way.

We recommend choosing which villa to visit first based on the weather.

Villa Gregoriana is mostly shaded, but visiting requires climbing deep into–and then back out of–a valley, so you’ll want to avoid being too hot (or too cold) if you can!

With this day trip, you’ll have a bit more time to spend in the town of Tivoli itself, and hopefully experience things like the Tivoli Cathedral, views of Rocca Pia, and the beautiful Via Campitelli between visiting the villas.

Getting Around During a Day Trip to Tivoli

Other than potentially arriving and departing via train and using a bus to get to and from Villa Adriana (or a taxi if you prefer), your day trip to Tivoli can take place entirely on foot!

Tivoli’s town center is fairly small and walkable, though fair warning that it does have some hills, too.

Technically speaking, you can walk from Villa Adriana to Tivoli and back (and some travelers have certainly done it), but we don’t recommend it. It’s a long, steep walk–you’re climbing up to a hilltop town–along fairly busy roads.

While doable in theory, it would eat up an enormous chunk of your day and feel more like walking along a road anywhere in the world than strolling through picturesque Italian streets.

Should you spend more than one day in Tivoli?

While you can absolutely see enough of Tivoli in a day to justify the trip, personally, we found ourselves constantly putting off seeing Tivoli until our next visit to Rome… and then the next after that.

I finally realized that the reason I was so reluctant to take a day trip to Tivoli was that I felt like I would have to leave stones unturned in order to do so, an impression that I confirmed for myself when we decided to spend 3 days in Tivoli in October 2024.

While deciding what “enough” time is in any given destination is realistically more a function of how long you have to travel versus how many things there are to do in a given place, I will say that I’m very glad we decided to spend a few days in Tivoli and heartily recommend it to anyone considering the same.

With more than one day in Tivoli, you can cover attractions that there aren’t time for on a day trip, like Tivoli’s thermal springs, savor the villas at a much more leisurely pace, and enjoy a quiet, peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of Rome, like so many travelers before us all.

We stayed at Il Giardino and can heartily recommend it as a bed and breakfast–the staff was wonderful, the rooms spacious and updated, and the location very quiet but only a short walk away from the center of Tivoli.

While we don’t recommend bringing a car on a day trip to Tivoli, we had one with us as we were visiting Tivoli as part of a Central Italy road trip and found that it came in handy with a longer timeline and a very early morning flight home from Rome FCO scheduled.

We left Tivoli before dawn and drove right to the airport to return our car before once again saying goodbye to Italy.

You can browse car rental prices and inclusions here.

Tips for Taking a Tivoli Day Trip From Rome.

Ideally, plan to see only two of three villas when visiting Tivoli for a day.

As tempting as it would be to try to squeeze in visits to all 3 Tivoli villas in one day, it’s better to stick with two!

Each of the villas–especially Villa Adriana–could really make up a solid 1/3 to 1/2 day trip in their own right, and trying to see all 3 would make for a long and rushed day.

Now, that being said, can a determined traveler who is prepared to sightsee for 10-12 hours straight see all 3 villas during a day trip to Tivoli?

Of course–we just don’t think it’s the optimal way to experience a destination lends itself to being a very relaxed place.

If you want to visit Villa Adriana, plan to catch a bus or taxi.

While Villa d’Este and Villa Gregoriana are both located within Tivoli’s town center, Villa Adriana requires wheels to access.

If you’re not visiting Tivoli on an organized day trip, the most common way to reach Villa Adriana is to take the bus there and back, though taxis are also available (and will save you a bit of walking).

We personally drove to Villa Adriana, as we were visiting Tivoli as part of a larger road trip in Central Italy, but we wouldn’t recommend renting a car specifically for taking a day trip to Tivoli from Rome (generally speaking, it’s best to avoid driving in Rome if possible).

Villa Adriana and Hadrian’s Villa are the same place.

I mentioned this in passing above, but it’s a very common question and bears repeating!

Villa Adriana and Hadrian’s Villa are the same place, as named in Italian and English respectively.

Know that the town of Tivoli is lovely in its own right.

As a hilltop town with sweeping views of Lazio’s countryside, Tivoli is more than just a couple of UNESCO World Heritage Sites!

The town’s medieval core is beautiful and a fun place to meander, and the overall atmosphere of Tivoli is laid-back and relaxing–you can easily feel what has drawn a couple of millennia worth of Romans here when looking for an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Even if you can only squeeze in a short walk, it’s worth spending a bit of time appreciating the town itself on your day trip to Tivoli from Rome.

It’s likely best to skip visiting the Sanctuary of Hercules Victor on your Tivoli day trip.

At first glance, the Sanctuary of Hercules Victor–a set of Roman ruins with sweeping views that have been repurposed repeatedly over the centuries–is an interesting addition to a day trip to Tivoli.

However, while the site is interesting, it’s also out of the way, and it takes a long downhill walk/uphill climb to get there and back.

Unless you’re a huge Roman history buff, you’ll likely find that it’s not a priority with only one day in Tivoli.

(If you do head that way, though, don’t miss the Church of San Silverstre that you’ll pass along the way–the frescoes are gorgeous).

Don’t rent a car just to visit Tivoli from Rome for a day.

While tempting, it will generally be easier to opt for a taxi to Villa Adriana or book an organized day trip to Tivoli if you would like to avoid buses.

While it’s a small annoyance to navigate parking in central Tivoli during the day (though it’s a breeze at Villa Adriana), the main reason we recommend not renting a car for a day trip to Tivoli is that it’s inefficient and that driving in Rome itself is a traffic-laden pain.

If you rent a car, you’ll probably spend more time waiting in line and signing paperwork at the rental office than you would need to buy a hundred train or bus tickets!

However, if you’re leaving Rome to start a broader road trip through Italy, driving to Tivoli for a quick visit on your way out of town can be a great idea.

Shop rental cars for your trip to Italy today!

While you don’t need a tour to take a day trip to Tivoli, it can make your day easier!

Taking a day trip to Tivoli from Rome certainly isn’t a day trip that requires an organized tour–on the contrary, Tivoli is a great option if you’re looking for an independent day trip!

However, there’s also no doubt that if you want to see both Villa Adriana and Villa d’Este in one day, booking a day trip like this can make your day run much more smoothly, eliminate a lot of stress over navigating transportation, and add context to your day via guided tours of the villas.

If you’re looking for the simplest option with the most historical context provided, booking a day trip is a great option.

Book your day trip to Tivoli today!

Read More About Visiting Central Italy

If you found this guide to planning a day trip to Tivoli helpful, we’d love to help you keep planning your trip to Italy here on Our Escape Clause!

With more than a cumulative year each spent traveling in Italy and more than 100 Italy blog posts (and counting) to share, it’s safe to say we have a lot of thoughts about how to plan the perfect trip.

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