Night in Orvieto or on to Rome?

Define “ worthwhile. “

"Worthwhile" - perhaps just an individual, subjective opinion as to whether the time in Orvieto was enjoyable for you and, if so, how much time would you recommend.

Very worthwhile, and I’d vote for spending the night. I spent four nights there, and really enjoyed the evening and early morning strolls.

We spent a night and most of the next day in Orvieto in October, two months ago, before heading to Rome for a week. Will you have been to lots and lots of hill towns already, in your Tuscany stay? Will you want to see another hill town? Although we’d been to several in Tuscany/Umbria in preceding weeks, Orvieto was special.

Staying in Orvieto will allow you to have dinner, and walk after the crowds have left. And if you stick around a bit in the morning, you can see a bit more, like the interior of the cathedral, before crowds arrive. As it is, you’ll be getting to Orvieto from Chiusi in late morning, with the crowds. That is, if March visitors and October visitors have the same schedule.

In 2019 we dropped our car in Orvieto and spent the night before taking train to Rome from where we flew home. In my opinion, its worth spending the night.

Thank you all for your responses as they have been most helpful. We will be coming from stays in Siena and Montepulciano so another hill town should not be a burden :-) Now if covid will just cooperate and allow the trip to take place......

The problem with stopping in Orvieto is that it does not give you enough time to see Rome. Even with three nights in Rome it still is not enough so I say skip Orvieto.

Orvieto is great, but Rome is my favorite foreign city to visit. It is filled with amazing history and of course St. Peter's and the incomparable Sistine Chapel.
If you haven't been to Rome, GO and spend several days there.

Some of what was most worthwhile (memorable) for me in Orvietto: the 13th-14th century Cathedral, Etruscan artifacts in the archeological museum, an underground caves tour that included historical and current use of the extensive network of underground spaces, good food and local wine, walking around the old town after the tour buses leave in the late afternoon and evening, and in the morning before they arrive. The famous well was interesting but not a personal highpoint.'

If your lack of enthusiasm for Rome is because you have already been there before and were less captivated than many of us are, then spend the night in Orvietto to enjoy it more. However, if you have not been to Rome, then maybe figure out what you most want to do in Rome and whether you can fit it in. If you google 48 hours in Rome, you can find some doable itineraries providing you are able to get tickets to the sites you want most on a Sunday afternoon or a Monday. I believe private museums like the Borghese are closed on Mondays, but not the Sistine Chapel or Colliseum. As much as I recommend Orvietto, I would give it up to have at least 3 nights in Rome.

Loved Orvieto. Stayed 2 nights.

Rome needs that extra day especially if this is your time there.

Orvieto is lovely for wandering, and a special place, full of charm and beautiful sights, and more intimate experiences than you wil find in Rome. I would spend the night there. You will have the rest of Saturday to enjoy it, and have dinner in a small, nice place. And stay in a nice little B and B or small hotel, with a warm welcome and no traffic noise.

Rome is Rome, and will be there if you return to Italy. It is huge, and diverse, and amazing, but you cannot see it all in a few days, or a week (as we did), or maybe a lifetime. Pick the 1 or 2 things you really want to see there, and then plan to return if you are captivated by the place.

Here’s a link to my Trip Report in which I described my stay in Orvieto:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/report-orvieto-siena-ravenna-venezia-late-december-early-january

Orvieto is worth the visit even if you just have a day and time to eat at "Il Labirinto Di Adrino". In addition to a wonderful meal you can tour the huge undergroud of caverns that were discovered under the site when the restaurant was build. Tours are offered for $4 (which is a steal) or free with meals. Of course the food was the draw for us, never expecting such an add bonus . It would be a shame to miss if in Orvieto