Top 5 excursions to Tivoli, Hadrian's Villa and Villa de l'Este from Rome

Discover the magic of Tivoli. Book your excursion from Rome now and immerse yourself in the history of Hadrian's Villa and the gardens of Villa d'Este.

Top 5 excursions to Tivoli, Hadrian's Villa and Villa de l'Este from Rome

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More about: Top 5 excursions to Tivoli, Hadrian's Villa and Villa de l'Este from Rome

Located just 30 kilometers from the Italian capital, the town of Tivoli is one of the best things to do in Rome.

In addition to visiting its beautiful historic center, nearby are located Villa Adriana and Villa del Este, two small estates that were once chosen as a place of retreat by powerful figures of their time and currently house a large Roman archaeological complex (the first) and a beautiful Italian Renaissance garden with fountains (the second) that has earned them the recognition of World Heritage Site by Unesco.

Although you can do this visit on your own, I recommend joining an organized tour to Tivoli, Villa Adriano and Villa de l'Este from Rome because they are very entertaining, you will be accompanied by a local guide who knows a lot about this visit and you will not have to worry about the organization of the trip. They are all advantages! Discover all the possibilities at your fingertips below.

1. Full day tour to Tivoli, Hadrian's Villa and Villa de l'Este from Rome

Visiting Hadrian's Villa| ©Angel de los Rios
Visiting Hadrian's Villa| ©Angel de los Rios

The full day tours to Tivoli, Villa Adriano and Villa de l'Este from Rome are a bit long activities that usually require at least one day of your vacation in the Italian capital**(** about7 to 8 hours ).

Therefore, it is a fantastic option for those travelers who have already been to the Eternal City and want to broaden their horizons by visiting other parts of the country or for those who are looking for things to do in Rome for 5 days because they plan to spend a lot of time in the city.

What are these tours like?

Generally, these tours are by bus with a transfer to and from Rome at the original starting point. Depending on whether it is a private tour or not, the traveler will be picked up at his or her hotel or will have to meet the rest of the group at a central point in the city to depart to the destination.

In addition, these tours usually include tickets to visit the villas, lunch at a restaurant in the area or the services of a local guide, whose stories and anecdotes will help you get the most out of this fun excursion.

What will you see during the activity?

This organized tour to Tivoli, Villa Adriano and Villa de l'Este from Rome will allow you to explore in detail the center of Tivoli, discover what Villa Adriano (an ancient resort town over 2,000 years ago) and Villa de l'Este (a former Benedictine convent that Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este converted into a Renaissance palace and decorated with beautiful gardens, fountains and waterfalls) were like.

Book a tour to Villa d'Este and Villa Adriana

2. Half day tour to Tivoli, Villa Adriano and Villa d'Este from Rome if you are short of time

View of Villa d'Este| ©Joe Shlabotnik
View of Villa d'Este| ©Joe Shlabotnik

There are also half-day organized tours to Tivoli, Villa Adriano and Villa d'Este from Rome for those travelers who are on a tight schedule during their stay in Rome but do not want to forgo the opportunity to take an excursion outside the city to see other sights.

This type of express tour usually takes only about 4-5 hours to complete, so it is ideal for those who are short on time or for families traveling to Rome with children who want to take an excursion outside of Rome that won't take too much time.

What are these tours like?

Typically, the half-day tours are also done by bus with a transfer to and from Rome to the original starting point, usually.

Some of these express tours to Tivoli, Villa Adriano and Villa de l'Este from Rome offer pick-up from selected hotels in the city, which is a very useful option as you will not have to get up so early to get to the meeting point by your own means. Other tours, however, require the group to meet at a common meeting point somewhere in central Rome before departing.

Otherwise, these half-day tours to Tivoli, Hadrian's Villa and Villa de l'Este from Rome have it all for you to enjoy a little adventure doing something different during your stay in the Italian capital. Either as part of a small group (up to 7 travelers maximum) or a large group (around 30 travelers maximum).

They usually depart early in the morning to make the most of the day and the excursion in the Lazio region. On the way back you will have the whole afternoon ahead of you to have an aperitivo in Rome or enjoy the best views of the city at sunset.

Book a tour to Villa d'Este and Villa Adriana

3. Self-guided tour to Tivoli, Villa Adriano and Villa de l'Este from Rome at your own pace

Little Tivoli| ©Retaggio
Little Tivoli| ©Retaggio

If when it comes to traveling, the way you most enjoy sightseeing is by going at your own pace and exploring the different sites that are part of the route, there is no doubt that doing a self-guided tour to Tivoli, Villa Adriano and Villa d'Este from Rome is how you will have the best time exploring this region of Lazio.

What are these tours like?

For independent travelers this is the best option because it combines the advantages of an organized tour with those of a self-guided visit.

That is, by taking a self-guided tour you will be able to tailor the excursion to your needs. You won't have to worry about planning the logistics, as this type of activity includes transportation to and from Rome, and you won't have to share it with other travelers who are not in your group.

What will you see during the activity?

You will be able to comfortably choose the departure time that suits you best and once at your destination you will have free time to spend as you wish seeing the ruins of Hadrian's Villa and the picturesque Villa d'Este at your own pace.

Being a self-guided tour, this activity does not include the services of a guide so to have some idea of what you will see during the excursion, I recommend reading a little about the city of Tivoli, Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este beforehand. With some knowledge you will get more out of the experience!

4. Vespa tour to Tivoli, Villa Adriano and Villa de l'Este from Rome

Touring on a Vespa| ©Samy Mitha
Touring on a Vespa| ©Samy Mitha

The Vespa is one of the most famous symbols of Italian culture because of its numerous appearances in movies and on Italian postcards. A scooter elevated to icon status by films such as "Roman Holiday" and before which no tourist is indifferent.

Who would not want to emulate Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck to immerse themselves for a day in the charm of the surroundings of Rome. A dream that you can make come true by taking a customized tour to Tivoli, Villa Adriano and Villa de l'Este on a Vespa!

What are these tours like?

These Vespa tours are designed for you to be the passenger on the scooter, so that the driver will take you to each of the sites along the route in comfort.

However, if you wish to drive the Vespa yourself, it is also possible to do so! All you have to do is pay a one-day rental fee, show your international driver's license and follow your guide. A helmet, rain poncho and basic insurance are usually included in the tour.

You can also rent your own scooter and embark on an exciting adventure through the province of Rome where you can see the beautiful scenery of the hills and countryside surrounding the capital on your way to Tivoli.

Rent a scooter in Rome

5. Private tour to Tivoli, Villa Adriano and Villa de l'Este from Rome for a personalized experience

Exploring Hadrian's Villa| ©Sebastià Giralt
Exploring Hadrian's Villa| ©Sebastià Giralt

If you have had enough of the hustle and bustle and crowds of the streets of Rome and you feel like doing something different like an out-of-town excursion that is quiet and not crowded, then I recommend taking a private tour to Tivoli, Villa Adriano and Villa de l'Este from Rome.

What are these tours like?

Normally, these types of private tours are express tours. That is, they do not take a full day but can be done in half a day (5 to 6 hours), which is great if you do not have much free time in Rome but do not want to miss the opportunity to broaden your horizons and experiences by taking a trip to the outskirts of the city.

These tours are private and involve only your group, so you won't have to share the vehicle with other travelers and you can tailor the excursion to your tastes and interests.

Being, therefore, a personalized experience, the price tends to be somewhat higher compared to other tours to Tivoli, Villa Adriano and Villa de l'Este from Rome but it is worth it if during the activity you are looking for that extra exclusivity and comfort, as most of these tours usually include the transfer to and from the hotel and a local guide who will accompany only you during the excursion.

Book a tour to Villa d'Este and Villa Adriana

Reviews from other travellers

4.4
· 59 Reviews
  • Y
    Y. M.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    The excursion to Tivoli with guided visits to Villa d'Este and Villa Adriana was an unforgettable experience, although I think they could improve by better organising the times at each site.
  • S
    S. H.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    The excursion to Tivoli was amazing, Villa d'Este and Villa Adriana are simply spectacular, highly recommended!
  • U
    U. X.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    I loved visiting these historical places, I felt like I was travelling back in time. The guide was very knowledgeable, I learned a lot about ancient Rome.
  • F
    F. C.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The excursion to Tivoli was the best, the villas are a dream. Guides know a lot, worth every euro.
  • J
    J. E.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    The excursion to the villas was a unique experience, although I think it would benefit from more free time to explore.