Planning a day trip from Rome and considering Tivoli? You’re in the right place!😍 There are many incredible day trips one can take from Rome, such as Florence and Naples, but a Tivoli day trip is one you shouldn’t skip.
Just 50 minutes by car from the city of Rome, Tivoli is a small town that sits atop a hill and dates back to 1215 B.C. — making it over four centuries older than Rome itself!🤯
Tivoli is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Villa D’Este, which was a blueprint for European Gardens, and Villa Adriana, an archeological site that dates back to between 117 and 138 A.D.
Without further ado, here’s how to spend the perfect day trip to Tivoli from Rome!👇
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Tivoli in a Day: Best Things to Do, Eat, and Local Insights
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Morning Commute to Tivoli
Just 45 minutes from Rome, Tivoli is an easy day trip—no matter how you get there. You can go by car, train, or book this top-rated guided tour.
I break down all the transport options at the end of the post so you can dive straight into the good stuff: the perfect Tivoli day trip itinerary.
🚗 Important Tip: If you’re driving, make sure to watch for Limited Traffic Zones—Zona Traffico Limitato in Italian. I was with my family, and our GPS tried to route us through one. We saw the signs just in time. Set your GPS to avoid ZTLs, especially around the historic center, to avoid getting fined.
Visit Villa d’Este (Closed on Monday Mornings)
- Hours: Mon 2-7:45 PM / Tue–Sun 8:45 AM –7:45 PM (last entry 6:45 p.m.)
- Note: Closing hours may vary by season or during holidays. Double-check the official website before your visit.
- Admission: €15 full price (+€2 for online reservation) ; free for EU citizens under 18; combo ticket with Villa Adriana available
Built in the 16th century for Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is famous for its breathtaking and influential Renaissance gardens, and impressive fountains.
The architecture of the Villa is also beautiful, with nearly every wall and ceiling covered in detailed frescoes. That said, nothing can come close to the mesmerizing and enchanting beauty of the gardens.
In this garden there are 50 fountains of all different styles, from elegant and grand to mystical. For example, one is the Fountain of the 100 Fountains. Another fountain has a hydraulic organ and plays music every two hours starting at 10:30 AM until 4:30 PM.
As you exit the villa’s building to enter the gardens, there’s a small bar inside for water, coffee, and snacks – should you need anything.
💸 Note on Booking Tickets: If you book regular tickets online, the fee is 17 euros due to an up-charge of 2 euros for reserving in advance. There’s lots of opportunities for reduced prices and free entry – so check out this page before booking!
VILLAE added a 5 euro booking fee to GetYourGuide, unlike Villa Gregoriana which keeps the same price all around. For regular entry tickets, I’d recommend to book with GYG only if you want to keep all your tickets on one platform and don’t mind the (unusual) higher booking fee.
Lunch in Tivoli’s Historic Center
After your visit, head into Tivoli’s charming town. Here you will find all sorts of restaurants and cafes lined up along cobbled streets and old buildings. I highly recommend Ristorante il Ciocco, my personal favorite restaurant in Tivoli.
They consistently serve high-quality dishes and are knowledgeable about celiac disease—making it a safe pick for gluten-free or celiac travelers!
The restaurant sits on the edge of Villa Gregoriana’s gorge, offering the most breathtaking views over the park’s nature, and its waterfalls.
My favorite dishes (which I can’t recommend enough) are their Tagliata di Manzo (steak) with Rucola and Parmigiano, and their gluten-free dessert, Ricotta e Pere – a hazelnut cake with a filling of ricotta cheese and pears.😋
I strongly advise making a reservation here to be safe!
Explore Villa Adriana (Hadrian’s Villa) or Villa Gregoriana
Because you only have one day in Tivoli, I recommend picking between either Villa Adriana or Villa Gregoriana instead of trying to visit both.
Why? Because both of these places need roughly 2 hours and you don’t want to rush these visits. These sites deserve to be thoroughly admired and enjoyed.
Hadrian’s Villa
- Hours: Daily 8:15 AM – 6:15 PM
- Note: Closing hours may vary by season or during holidays. Double-check the official website before your visit.
- Admission: €12 full price (+€2 for online reservation); combo ticket with Villa d’Este available
Villa Adriana, built between 118 and 138 A.D. by Emperor Hadrian, is now a vast archaeological site filled with impressive ruins. (VILLAE)
As you walk around Villa Adriana you will see everything from ancient ruins of the Maritime Theatre, to libraries, thermal baths, a museum full of artifacts, and beyond.
This site is a mainly-flat, outdoor site place to walk around, and an average visit here lasts 2 hours. Due to this, it’s highly recommended to wear comfy clothes and bring sun protection depending on when you visit.
If you’re going to visit Villa Adriana, you might as well book both tickets to Villa Adriana and Villa d’Este together, the VILLAE Pass. As mentioned earlier, this platform (the official website) adds a booking fee of 2 euros online, and 5 euros on GetYourGuide.
GetYourGuide tickets in this case is slightly more expensive, and I recommend it only for having all your trip’s tickets in one place. Before booking your tickets, make sure to check out the opportunities for free and reduced tickets!
Villa Gregoriana
- Hours: Daily 9:30 –6 PM. (9 AM opening in summer time)
- Note: Closing hours may vary by month, season or during holidays. Double-check the official website before your visit.
- Admission: €10 full price; Reduced for ages 6-18 and Students 25 and under. Find here all the other ticket reductions.
Villa Gregoriana, on the other hand, is more of a gorge you walk/hike around. This “villa” is famous for its waterfalls, natural caves, ancient ruins and beautiful trails.
With an average visit usually lasting 1.5 – 2 hours, Villa Gregoriana perfect for travelers who enjoy scenic nature walks and light hiking.
Book your tickets for Villa Gregoriana here!👇
Should I visit Villa Adriana or Villa Gregoriana?
These two villas couldn’t be more different from each other, so the one you pick will depend on your personal preferences.
Villa Adriana is an archeological site, making it the perfect place for history lovers. The site is mainly flat, also making it perfect for those who might have mobility difficulties, or want a physically-easier visit.
Villa Gregoriana, on the other hand, is more of a park than a villa – it’s a gorge full of nature, including some ancient ruins, waterfalls, and natural caves. This is the perfect place for nature lovers who enjoy hiking!
Walk around the Historic Town
How cool is it that this town is almost 500 years older than Rome?🤯
For this portion of the itinerary, my tip is to let yourself get lost, wander aimlessly, and simply focus on admiring the historic beauty that surrounds you.
One spot I particularly enjoy walking through is [add street name or hotel] and take in the views of the enchanting bridge, Ponte Gregoriano. This is right next to the Ristorante il Ciocco and a short walk from Villa d’Este.
Return to Rome
Once you feel you’re done visiting Tivoli, make your way back to Rome!
If you’re driving, you’ll want to take Rome’s traffic into consideration – which is usually highest between 4:45 and 6:45 PM.
Because all three villas take about 2 hours each to visit, with this itinerary you can expect to be in Tivoli for a maximum of 7 hours: 4 hours visiting 2 villas, 2-3 hours between lunch and visiting the town.
Tivoli Day Trip FAQ & Trip Planning Tips
Is Tivoli worth a day trip from Rome?
Tivoli is absolutely worth a day trip from Rome! The town itself is quiet, but its historical depth and natural beauty make it an unforgettable escape from Rome.
How to get from Rome to Tivoli
There are three ways to reach Tivoli from Rome: car, train, or guided tour.
All of these options are great, but their pros and cons are what will help you decide which option fits your needs the best.
In terms of freedom, a rental car will be your best option and the train will come close second. By not going on a guided tour, you’ll have to plan everything yourself, but you’ll also have the freedom to follow this itinerary and stay as long or as short in Tivoli or its different attractions.
Price wise, the Trenitalia regional trains are less than 5 euros and the commute, if you leave from Termini, can be as short as 37 minutes. Sounds like your favorite option? Book your train here!👇
In terms of convenience, this best-rated guided tour allows you to fully “sit back” as the price and experience includes all the entry tickets, full-guided tour, and commute from Rome to Tivoli as well Villa d’Este to Villa Adriana. This tour does not include Villa Gregoriana.
Book your tickets before they sell out!👇
How long do you need in Tivoli?
A day trip to Tivoli can be as long or as short as you like. I personally recommend at least 5 hours, which will be enough time to visit Villa d’Este, see the town, and have lunch.
If you follow this itinerary and add either Villa Gregoriana or Hadrian’s villa, you will need about 8 hours as all of these main attractions have an average visit duration of 2 hours.
Note: When thinking about time, remember that Hadrian’s Villa is roughly 30 minutes from Villa d’Este by bus and 7 minutes by car or taxi. Villa Gregoriana is just a 10 minute walk.
Can you visit Villa d’Este without staying in Tivoli?
Yes! If you come to Tivoli and only plan on visiting Villa d’Este, you’ll be there for half a day or less.
How much time do you need at Villa d’Este?
The average visit to Villa d’Este lasts between 1.5 to 2 hours. This obviously changes depending on your pace, but I would plan for 2 hours max – it’s a true wonder, and you’ll want to take your time to soak in all the beauty surrounding you.
What is the Best Time to Visit Tivoli?
The best time to visit Tivoli is in the morning, because you will have the full day ahead of you, allowing you to explore the city and its attractions on a slower, “deeper” pace – rather than having to rush from one place to the next, before closing hours.
Morning visits are also usually better in terms of crowds and weather.
Want more help with your travels? Check out my Posts!
- One Day in Rome: The Perfect Itinerary with Hidden Gems
- 3 Days in Rome Itinerary with Hidden Gems and Local Tips
- 28 Best and Unusual Things to Do in Rome | Local’s Guide
- 25 Best HIDDEN GEMS of Rome That You Cannot Miss
- Day Trip to Florence from Rome: Everything You Need to Know
- Rome’s Food: All the Must-Eats
- 16 Best Restaurants in a Gluten Free Rome: A Celiac’s Guide
- Visiting Rome in December: All You Need to Know
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