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Tivoli Day Trip from Rome (2024)

Hey all, trying to figure out logistics for a day trip from Rome to Tivoli using public transportation, to visit both Hadian's Villa and Villa d'Estate. Everything I'm reading is from years ago and just wanted to make sure it isn't outdated.


From my understanding I can take Metro Line B (blue line) to the Ponte Mammolo station and from there take a Cotral bus heading to Tivoli or I can take a regional train directly from Roma Termini to Tivoli. Once in Tivoli, can take a shuttle bus to Hadrian's Villa or a taxi? Unsure where this shuttle bus would be. Are both of those routes feasible or is one preferred over the other? I am unsure the frequency of any of these trains or buses. Basically would love the most simple way to do this without a car, although we may succumb to doing a 1 day rental car for this trip if it'll make our lives way easier. I like the idea of the guided tour from Rome, but all the ones I saw only provide 1.5-2 hour visits at each site which seems rather short (we generally like to take our time).

Posted by
1142 posts

Everything I'm reading is from years ago and just wanted to make sure it isn't outdated.

There have actually been a number of discussions here recently:

https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=6m&filter=Travel+Forum&query=Tivoli&utf8=%E2%9C%93

You can buy combined train/bus tickets directly from Trenitalia to either site; some of the trains depart from Tiburtina. Or you could just take the train directly into Tivoli and walk to Villa d'Este. There is regular bus service from Hadrian's Villa into the town. You might go onto Google maps and use Directions between the locations in Tivoli to scope out the local buses - there should be a link to the local bus line.

It's probably easier than it looks once you're on the ground. Tivoli is covered as a daytrip in the RS Rome guidebook.

Posted by
7843 posts

Month and year of trip?

Perhaps you saw this already:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/tivoli-day-trip-from-rome

I don't have an update for 2024. As I note, it is very hard to do both Tivoli sites in one day, because of transportation between them. I caution you not to confuse "shuttle bus" with "regularly scheduled town bus route", just in case your sources are vague. But our walk (link in the discussion linked above) to Hadrian's Villa from the bus from Rome (as opposed to from Tivoli town) was quite time consuming.

I personally have no information on the reliability of Rome to Rio, for example:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/general-europe/rome-2-rio

Posted by
136 posts

Thank you both for the input.

I’m planning on going there first Wednesday in October of this current yet (2024).

I was hoping to get both in if possible. My thought was that I would take the train to Tivoli, then either the bus (or a taxi) to Hadrian’s villa first. Go back to the town of Tivoli for lunch. Then Villa D’estate in the afternoon. Is something like that really not do-able?

Posted by
7843 posts

Thanks very much for your research. When you get back, I hope you will post some of the bus route numbers. I'm interested in how often the busses direct to Villa Adriana run, as opposed to the busses that simply run along Via Tiburtina towards Tivoli town.

Another reason to visit Hadrian's Villa first might be the additional exposure to sun and heat there. However, I remember that despite the shade trees and many fountains, Villa D'Este can be very hot on a summer day as well. As I noted in my old, linked post, Hadrian's Villa has slightly more shade and park benches than Pompeii. But it is still very much a very wide-open ancient site, with few trees than you might like.