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

Located just 30 kilometres 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 centre, nearby you'll find Villa Adriana and Villa del Este, two small estates that were once chosen as retreats by powerful figures of their time and which today house a large Roman archaeological complex (the former) and a beautiful Italian Renaissance garden with fountains (the latter) that has earned them recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Although you can do this visit on your own, I recommend joining an organised tour to Tivoli, Hadrian's Villa 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 won't have to worry about the organisation of the trip. It's all advantages! Discover all the possibilities available to you below.

The full day tours to Tivoli, Villa Adriano and Villa de l'Este from Rome are somewhat long activities that usually require at least one day of your holiday in the Italian capital**(** approximately7 to 8 hours ).

Therefore, it is a fantastic option for those travellers who have been to the Eternal City before 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 conducted 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 traveller will be picked up at their 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 entrance tickets to visit the villas, lunch at a local restaurant 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 organised tour to Tivoli, Villa Adriano and Villa de l'Este from Rome will allow you to explore in detail the centre of Tivoli, discover what Villa Adriano (an ancient tourist town dating back over 2000 years) 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.

There are also organised half-day tours to Tivoli, Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este from Rome for those travellers who have a busy 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 only takes about 4-5 hours to complete, so it is ideal for those who are short on time or for families travelling 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, 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, Hadrian's Villa and Villa de l'Este from Rome offer pick-up from selected hotels in the city, which is a very useful option as you won't have to get up so early to get to the meeting point on your own. Other tours, however, require the group to meet at a common meeting point somewhere in the centre of Rome before departing.

Otherwise, these half-day tours to Tivoli, Hadrian's Villa and Villa de l'Este from Rome have everything you need 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 travellers maximum) or a large group (around 30 travellers maximum).

They usually leave early in the morning to make the most of the day and the excursion in the Lazio region. On your return 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.

If you enjoy sightseeing the most when you travel, it is by going at your own pace and exploring the different sites along the route, then a self-guided tour of Tivoli, Villa Adriano and Villa d'Este from Rome is definitely the best way to explore this region of Lazio.

What are these tours like?

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

In other words, by taking a self-guided tour you can tailor-make the excursion to suit you. You won't have to worry about planning the logistics, as this type of activity includes transport to and from Rome, and you won't have to share it with other travellers who are not in your group.

What will you see during the activity?

You can 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.

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

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

Who wouldn't want to emulate Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck to immerse themselves for a day in the charm of Rome's surroundings. A dream you can make come true by taking a personalised tour of Tivoli, Hadrian's Villa 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 for a day's hire of the vehicle, show your international driving licence and follow your guide. A helmet, rain poncho or basic insurance is 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.

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 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 don't have much free time in Rome but don't want to miss the chance 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 don't have to share the vehicle with other travellers and you can tailor the tour to your tastes and interests.

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