Villa d'Este and its fountain gardens
2 hAll ages; many stairsAll year; Mondays afternoon only
Visit · 2 h · €15 · 16th-century garden with hundreds of fountains, the Organ Fountain and the Hundred Fountains walk
From Rome45 min by car · bus or train
Minimum time1 day
TicketsVILLÆ Pass €30
Best timeApril – June · September – October
What to do
What to do in Tivoli
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Hadrian's Villa, the emperor's residence
3 hAll ages; lots of walking in the sunAll year
Visit · 3 h · 40 hectares of ruins with the Canopus, the Maritime Theatre and the baths, 5 km from the centre of Tivoli
Villa Gregoriana Park and the great Aniene waterfall
1 h 30From age 6, with good legs; not suitable for pushchairsMid-February to mid-December
Walk · 1 h 30 · €10 · Descent into the Aniene gorge, with the 120 m waterfall, caves and the Temple of Vesta above
Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Plan the trip
Tivoli, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Tivoli
From April to June and in September and October, with the Villa d'Este garden in flower and temperatures for walking round Hadrian's Villa. In summer go in first thing. Villa Gregoriana is closed from mid-December to mid-February.
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How you travel
Tivoli your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
Without a car: bus or train from Rome
Tivoli works well without a car. The centre, Villa d'Este, the acropolis and Villa Gregoriana are all walkable. The only place that is far is Hadrian's Villa, 5 km away on the plain: the Cotral buses that come from Rome along the Tiburtina stop nearby, so it is best to visit it on the way out or the way back.
60–200 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayLocanda Sibilla, on the acropolis…
- Getting aroundMetro B to Ponte Mammolo…
- Where to eatLi Somari, on Piazza Rivarola
- ServicesVILLÆ Pass for the three…
Where to stay
- Locanda Sibilla, on the acropolis, within walking distance of everything
- Grand Hotel Duca d'Este, 800 m from Tivoli Terme station
Getting around
- Metro B to Ponte Mammolo, then a Cotral bus to Tivoli
- Regional train from Roma Tiburtina
- On foot through the centre: it is fifteen minutes from Villa d'Este to the acropolis
Where to eat
- Li Somari, on Piazza Rivarola
- Sibilla, at the exit of Villa Gregoriana
Services
- VILLÆ Pass for the three entrances
- Tivoli station, across the Aniene bridge
Fly to Rome, then train or bus to Tivoli
You reach Tivoli by flying to Rome: there are direct flights to Fiumicino from Madrid, Barcelona and many other Spanish cities, and to Ciampino from several. From Rome it is about 30 km: under an hour by car, around 50 minutes on the Cotral bus from Ponte Mammolo, or by regional train. The easiest option is to stay in Rome and come for the day, or spend a night here to see both villas without rushing.
- Getting thereRome Fiumicino (FCO): Leonardo Express…
- Getting aroundHire car at the airport…
- Where to stayLocanda Sibilla, on the acropolis…
- ServicesCotral bus from Ponte Mammolo
Getting there
- Rome Fiumicino (FCO): Leonardo Express to Termini, metro B to Ponte Mammolo, then a Cotral bus to Tivoli
- Rome Ciampino (CIA): bus to Termini and the same combination
- By car from Fiumicino, via the ring road (GRA) and the A24, exit Tivoli; around an hour
Getting around
- Hire car at the airport if you want to see Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este on the same day without waiting for buses
- Cotral buses from Ponte Mammolo, stopping at Hadrian's Villa
- Regional train from Roma Tiburtina to Tivoli
Where to stay
- Locanda Sibilla, on the acropolis, with airport pick-up
- Grand Hotel Duca d'Este, in Tivoli Terme, if you arrive by car
Services
- Cotral bus from Ponte Mammolo
- Regional train Roma Tiburtina – Tivoli
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Tivoli for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
Fountains, ruins and a waterfall
Tivoli works with children if you alternate: the water of Villa d'Este, the open ruins of Hadrian's Villa, where they can run about, and the ravine of Villa Gregoriana. Two half days are better than one long one.
- What works bestThe fountains of Villa d'Este…
- Where to stayGrand Hotel Duca d'Este, with…
- Where to eatLi Somari, with a children's…
- Good to knowVilla d'Este and Villa Gregoriana…
What works best
- The fountains of Villa d'Este: the Organ Fountain, the Hundred Fountains, the ponds
- The Canopus and the Maritime Theatre at Hadrian's Villa, with lots of open space
- Villa Gregoriana, from age 6: going down to the waterfall is a small adventure; family ticket €23
Where to stay
- Grand Hotel Duca d'Este, with parking and a spa
- Locanda Sibilla, with babysitting on request
Where to eat
- Li Somari, with a children's menu for celebrations
- Grand Hotel Duca d'Este, with a restaurant and bar
Good to know
- Villa d'Este and Villa Gregoriana have lots of stairs: a baby carrier is better than a pushchair
- There is almost no shade at Hadrian's Villa; bring water and a hat
What to do as a family
An emperor's villa and a ravine
Teenagers get hooked on Hadrian's Villa if they arrive knowing who Hadrian was, and on Villa Gregoriana because it is a proper descent, with steps and grottoes.
- What works bestHadrian's Villa: the Maritime Theatre…
- Where to stayLocanda Sibilla, in the centre…
- Where to eatLi Somari, fresh pasta and…
- Good to knowEU citizens aged 18 to…
What works best
- Hadrian's Villa: the Maritime Theatre, the Canopus and the baths, with the map in hand
- Villa Gregoriana: an 82 m drop to the great waterfall
- The Sanctuary of Hercules, almost empty, with its covered street
Where to stay
- Locanda Sibilla, in the centre, so they can get around on foot on their own
- Grand Hotel Duca d'Este, with a spa
Where to eat
- Li Somari, fresh pasta and roast chicken
- Sibilla, on the terrace next to the temple
Good to know
- EU citizens aged 18 to 25 pay €2 at Villa d'Este and €4 for the VILLÆ Pass
- A day with both villas is tiring: leave Villa d'Este for the afternoon
What to do with teenagers
Where to stay
Where to stay without a carif you're flying
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Locanda Sibilla
Why we like it: Five suites with antique furniture on the acropolis of Tivoli, next to the Temple of Vesta, with breakfast on terraces facing the columns.
Grand Hotel Duca d'Este
Why we like it: Four-star hotel with a 1,200 m² spa in Tivoli Terme, 6 km from Hadrian's Villa and 800 m from the station, with free parking.
Services for this trip
Where to eat
Where to eat in Tivoli
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Ristorante Sibilla
What to order: carciofi alla romana in season, agnello allo scottadito or the risotto alla pescatora, and the tiramisù
Li Somari
What to order: a fresh house pasta and the roast chicken with potatoes to share
Map
Everything on the map
The places to stay and services on the map are the ones for the way you travel. Turn on the layers you want and tap a point to see its details.
What to do
Eat
88 €Stay
Services
Nearby
Near Tivoli
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
41.93° N · 13.09° E
Subiaco
By carBy plane
41.75° N · 12.66° E
Castelli Romani
Car-freeBy carBy plane
41.89° N · 12.48° E
Rome
Car-freeBy planeBackpackingLuxury
42.21° N · 12.40° E
Calcata and the Treja Valley
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Hadrian's Villa first
It opens at 8:30 and has almost no shade: do it in the cool and leave Villa d'Este for the afternoon.
- 2Buy the VILLÆ Pass
With two villas it already pays for itself, and it's valid for 72 hours.
- 3Avoid Monday morning
Villa d'Este doesn't open until 14:00.
- 4Wear shoes with a grip
The steps at Villa d'Este and Villa Gregoriana are slippery with water.
We'd skip it
The first Sunday of the month, if you don't want queues: entry is free and half of Rome comes, along with many groups.
Tivoli is the day trip from Rome with the most heritage per kilometre: two World Heritage Sites, Villa d'Este and Hadrian's Villa, and a park with a 120-metre waterfall right in the old town. It lies about 30 km east of the capital, on the slope of the Tiburtini mountains, and you can reach it by car, bus or train in under an hour.
What can you see in Tivoli in a day?
Three things, in this order if you're going by car or by the bus that passes along the Tiburtina.
Hadrian's Villa, in the morning. It's the residence Emperor Hadrian had built between AD 118 and 138, on the plain below Tivoli: palaces, baths, libraries, a pool surrounded by statues, the Canopus, and a round island ringed with water, the Maritime Theatre. You visit about 40 hectares. It opens at 8:30 and needs about three hours.
Villa d'Este, in the afternoon. The palace of a Renaissance cardinal and a terraced garden with hundreds of fountains that run without pumps, powered only by the fall of the water. Two hours.
Villa Gregoriana, if you have the legs left and it's the season. A trail that drops into the Aniene gorge to the great waterfall and climbs the other side to the temples of Vesta and the Sibyl. An hour and a half, with many steps.
With all three, the day is full. If you only have half a day, choose: Villa d'Este if you like gardens, Hadrian's Villa if you like the history of Rome.
How do you get there from Rome?
By car, on the A24 motorway to the Tivoli exit or along Via Tiburtina: about 45 minutes from the centre, depending on traffic. Hadrian's Villa has parking next to the entrance. In Tivoli, park in the paid car parks in the centre and don't drive into the old town.
By bus, from Ponte Mammolo metro station, on line B, Cotral buses leave for Tivoli, about 50 minutes' journey. Those that go along Via Tiburtina stop at the Hadrian's Villa junction. Buy your ticket before boarding.
By train, regional trains leave Roma Tiburtina for Tivoli station, on the other side of the Aniene bridge, ten minutes' walk from the acropolis. For Hadrian's Villa the train is no use: you have to combine it with a local bus or a taxi.
From Spain, you fly to Rome Fiumicino or Ciampino. The usual thing is to sleep in Rome and come for the day; if you want to do the two villas without rushing, sleep one night in Tivoli.
How much do the tickets cost?
Villa d'Este costs €15 and Hadrian's Villa has its own ticket. If you're going to see both, buy the VILLÆ Pass: €30, valid for 72 hours, with Villa d'Este, Hadrian's Villa and the Sanctuary of Hercules Victor. EU citizens aged 18 to 25 pay €2 per site and €4 for the pass. The three state sites are free on the first Sunday of every month, on 25 April, 2 June and 4 November; on those days there are many more people. Villa Gregoriana belongs to the FAI and is paid separately: €10, €3 for ages 6 to 18.
What are the opening hours?
Hadrian's Villa opens every day at 8:30. Villa d'Este too, except on Mondays, when it opens at 14:00. In winter you can enter until 15:30 at Hadrian's Villa and until 16:00 at Villa d'Este; in summer, until 18:00 and 18:45. Villa Gregoriana closes from mid-December to mid-February and in November lets you in until 15:30. All three close on 25 December and 1 January.
Where to eat and sleep?
In the centre, Li Somari serves Lazio trattoria cooking on Piazza Rivarola and has a Michelin Bib Gourmand; from Tuesday to Thursday it opens only in the evening. The Sibilla, next to the Temple of Vesta, is the classic terrace, at the exit of Villa Gregoriana. For sleeping, the Locanda Sibilla has five suites on the acropolis, and the Grand Hotel Duca d'Este, in Tivoli Terme, has a spa and free parking, 6 km from Hadrian's Villa.
How does it fit into a trip to Rome?
It's the best excursion for a change of pace after two or three days of the Colosseum and the Vatican: hill air, gardens and water. It combines with Rome in the same week and, on another day, with Ostia Antica, on the other side of the city, or with Orvieto, by train towards the north.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can you see Villa d'Este and Hadrian's Villa in one day?
Yes. Hadrian's Villa in the morning, about three hours, and Villa d'Este in the afternoon, about two. Between the two there are 5 km: car, bus or taxi.
How do I get from Rome to Tivoli without a car?
On metro line B to Ponte Mammolo and a Cotral bus, about 50 minutes, or by regional train from Roma Tiburtina.
How much does the joint ticket cost?
The VILLÆ Pass costs €30 and is valid for 72 hours for Villa d'Este, Hadrian's Villa and the Sanctuary of Hercules Victor.
Which day is free?
The first Sunday of every month, and also 25 April, 2 June and 4 November.
Can you go with a pushchair?
To Hadrian's Villa, yes, with patience on the dirt paths. At Villa d'Este and Villa Gregoriana there are many steps: a baby carrier is better.
Is Villa d'Este open on Mondays?
Yes, but only in the afternoon, from 14:00.