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Hadrian's Villa (Villa Adriana) and Villa d'Este in Tivoli

Hadrian's Villa (Villa Adriana) and Villa d'Este in Tivoli Tours

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Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este Half-Day Trip from Rome

Roma, Italy

From $106.11

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  • 4 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Get out of Rome and head to hilltop Tivoli on this fun half-day guided trip. Explore the historic town and visit Hadrian's Villa and the Villa d'Este, two UNESCO World Heritage-listed spots. With an expert guide, tour the town and its historic villas, learning about the history of the area and seeing an exciting swath of the Roman countryside.
  • Visit the town of Tivoli on a half-day trip from Rome
  • See two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in one day: Hadrian’s Villa and Villa d’Este
  • Learn about the lavish Emperor Hadrian on a tour of Hadrian’s Villa (Villa Adriana)
  • Explore Villa d’Este with your guide and admire its incredible gardens and Bernini-designed fountains
  • Enjoy round-trip transport by air-conditioned coach from Rome

What's Included

  • Local guide
  • Transport by air-conditioned coach (maximum 50 people)
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drinks
  • Pick up and drop-off

Meeting And Pickup

Meeting point

  • Via Giovanni Amendola, 32
    Via Giovanni Amendola, 32, 00185 Roma RM, Italy

    via Giovanni Amendola 32 10 15 minutes before tour departure

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Begin this half-day tour of Tivoli by getting picked up at your hotel in the center of Rome or opt to meet your guide near Rome's Termini Station. Hop on the comfortable coach for the ride. Learn about the history of Tivoli from your guide while admiring the views of the Roman countryside from the coach window. 

The first stop is Villa Adriana, also known as Hadrian's Villa, the erstwhile 2nd-century holiday home of Emperor Hadrian. Stroll among the ruins of the villa, which almost seems like more village than villa, as the place was expansive and ostentatious. See the temples and terrain, the theaters and thermal baths and learn about what daily life was like here 1,800 years ago from your guide. 

Hop back on the coach and make the short drive to Tivoli's other main attraction: the incredible Villa d'Este. This Renaissance-era palace, built in the the middle of the 16th century, was home to Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este, who at the time was also the governor of Tivoli. Stroll around the palace with your guide learning about its history, lingering in the verdant gardens and gawking at the Baroque fountains designed by none other than the master Gian Lorenzo Bernini. 

After the tour, enjoy the relaxing ride back to Rome. The tour concludes where it began  – either at your hotel or at Rome's Termini Station. You can also opt for a drop-off at Via Veneto, Piazza Barberini, Piazza Venezia or Piazza della Repubblica.

Villa d'Este

First stop here is Hadrian’s Villa (Villa Adriana), the former holiday home of Emperor Hadrian – built in the 2nd century AD. More akin to a small village than a home in today’s sense of the word, the ostentatious villa ruins are incredible to visit, with ruins of thermal baths, temples, palaces, and theaters just waiting to be explored. Head into the site with your guide, and learn about the emperor’s ancient travels – reportedly the inspiration for many of the monuments -- while walking around.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Villa Adriana

After your tour of Hadrian’s Villa, return to your coach and travel the short distance to Tivoli’s other showstopping villa – the magnificent Villa d’Este. Built in the heart of the Renaissance – around 1550 – for Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este, Tivoli’s governor, Villa d’Este was a contentious building that upset the local residents as they had to move to make way for it. Walk around the site with your guide, taking in the gardens and posing for photos in front of Bernini-designed fountains while learning about the Cardinal and his lavish life in the villa.

1 hour • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Please note: This is a Multilingual Tour
  • Tour is suitable for wheelchair users provided passenger is traveling with a companion who can assist them on and off the bus. Wheelchairs will be stored in the luggage area of the bus.
  • Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund.
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Stroller accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

about cancellations.

Traveler Photos

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Traveler Tips

Both sites are breath taking and visit is suitable for all ages
Reviews
3.5
801 reviews
Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
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Reviews by Viator travelers.
Showing 1-10 of 801 reviews
Wonderful time with a...
Michael_W, Sep 2022
Wonderful time with a knowledgeable and friendly guide. Everything ran on time and as promised. Would recommend.
Response from Host, Sep 2022
Thank you for the positive review ,our goal is your satisfaction! Kind regards Pina GLT
Beautiful history
Lynn_W, May 2022
This was a great exploration of Ancient Rome. Having been to Rome on three separate vacations, I needed to find new adventures. This one did not disappoint. Our guide was informative and cheerful. We learned so much history. Be prepared to do some hiking on both villa sites, well worth the cardio. Beautiful all the way.
Response from Host, May 2022
Good morning! Thank you very much for your precious and kind feedback! Warm regards Pina
Beautiful Gardens
Jeanette_M, Feb 2020
Great experience very beautiful gardens great way to get away from the city. Our guide was very informative we enjoyed the trip.
Don't miss this one
lindajK176UG, Dec 2019
Villa d'Este is a magnificent garden unlike any other I have visited in England, France or Japan. So worth the trip. We visited in November and it took our breath away. Visiting in the summer would be a wonderful respite from Rome's heat. But no matter when you visit you will be struck by the engineering feat of the running water and the indescribable beauty. Hadrian's Villa is amazing in another way. This emperor's structures are all over Europe. Think Hadrian's Wall in England and his arches in Turkey and Greece. But when you visit this place you get a feeling for the scope of his thinking and possibly the underlying unhappiness he may have experienced. It would be difficult to understand this ruin without a guide. Really worth the expense.
1 traveler found this review helpful
Very nice guide, good transport
FarAway765781, Nov 2019
We enjoyed our trip to Hadrians Villa, it was very insightful. We were a bit disappointed when we arrived at Villa D'Este because we could only see parts of the gardens as the rest was blocked off because they were shooting a movie so that was a bit disappointing.
Response from Host, Nov 2019
Hello CUSTOMER, I'm sorry that you were disappointed with your experience. If you could let us know how we could improve, we would appreciate the opportunity to make it right. Thank you
1 traveler found this review helpful
Well worth it!
Extraordinary33293, Oct 2019
We really enjoyed this 1/2 day tour so close to the city but, yet, worlds away! Our guide was attentive and so knowledgeable. The gardens at Villa D’Este are amazing and not to be missed!
A must to see and enjoy!
Bruce S, Oct 2019
This was our last tour of a 2 week vacation to Italy. It was peaceful, historical and breath taking!. We had a terrific guide, Max. It was a most enjoyable day to end our vacation, less hustle and bustle. This tour topped the whole experience of the full spectrum of Italy.
Terrific Tour
Edward_B, Oct 2019
There are many great tourist attractions in Rome, but Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este Half-day Trip from Rome is definitely a tour you should not miss. These to two villias are located outside of Rome in the hills of Tivoli. Each villa has it's own special character and charm. Villa d'Este is amazing with it's water features, beautiful gardens and architecture. Hadrian's Villa provides the 2nd century ruins of a once massive estate. It is hard to imagine how this magnificent estate could be erected without the aid of machinery. You will not be disappointed in taking this tour.
Amazing
Gary_N, Oct 2019
David 'our guide' was most informative, friendly and made our visit one to remember. Our booking was at 9am and we found that no other tour was there so we had the Villa all to ourselves which meant we could appreciate the surroundings that little bit more than it would as if was busy. Our visit to the estate in Tivoli also amazing. The whole visit was magical. Highly recommend.
Happytraveller
Mary_B, Oct 2019
A lot of information was provided and two very interesting and different sites were visited on this afternoon tour. We enjoyed Villa d'Este more than Hadrian's Villa, but both sites were certainly worthwhile. We liked the fact that at the end of each tour we had time to wander on our own.
Hadrian’s Villa & Villa d’Este 1/2 day tour from Rome
Sam B, Aug 2019
Our tour guide ‘s knowledge regarding these two very different historical sites was most valuable to our tour of these two villas. In a short time he gave us valuable insight into the history of these two important historical sites and the person/ family that resided here whether in ancient or in a more recent time .
Great tour
Michele_E, Aug 2019
Our guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. The bus was very nice, and the air conditioning was welcome during the hot Roman summer!!
1 traveler found this review helpful
Worth the visit!
Antonia_Y, Aug 2019
David was a great tour guide providing information and facts well beyond just the tour! Worth the time to visit if you have a free aftrenoon in Rome
1 traveler found this review helpful
Good Tour for Villa D'este but Not so good for Hadrian's Villa
Varun_S, Aug 2019
Hadrian's Villa was not worth it at all as there is nothing to see. On the other hand the Villa D'este was worth every minute. The Fountains are amazing and would recommend for sure. The tour guides were good and polite. I would recommend that if possible to skip the Hadrian's Villa and do only the Villa D'este. You will like it for sure.
1 traveler found this review helpful
Amazing!!!!
Ricardo_L, Aug 2019
Beautiful, easy to get there !! Excellent guide and place to know!!! Unforgettable !!!! Beautiful scape !
Tivoli Tour
Cruiser29831586234, Jul 2019
Great tour. Great air conditioned bus. Great guide. Highly recommend to all to do this tour in Tivoli
Great 1/2 Day Tour
judith433, Jun 2019
This is a great way to escape the Rome crowds and see something beautiful. We went first to the Villa D'Este. Our guide was excellent. The gardens of the villa are breathtaking. We then went to Hadrian's Villa. Completely different experience. It is a ruin, unlike Villa D'Este, and aomewhat of a let down. Perhaps it would be better to go to Hadrian's Villa first . It would probably be more interesting in that order.
Such a surprise
Roderick_D, May 2019
Villa d'Este. Wow, what a palace. Such opulence. This villa has been well preserved and and the work that has been undertaken to restore the once magnificent gardens is superb. The bus trip was worth it just for this. Hadrain's Villa. More like Adriano's palace. You need an imagination to envisage what this HUGE ruin would have been like, with marble everywhere, multi-story buildings, spas, etc. This place is huge. It housed 1000 people just to look after one person, and he was hardly ever there! Then when he finally got to enjoy his ediface, he died. Such is life! Yeah, the tour is worth it.
Don’t Do It
Passport58087154610, May 2019
Wow what a nightmare. Tour delayed about 30 minutes because someone staying 2 blocks away was late and they wouldn’t leave without everyone. Tour guide rushed us to one thing at gardens and one thing at Villa and spent so long spewing useless info, I learned nothing and spent the day mad I wasted my time and money. I would’ve been better off booking a trip to Tivoli and exploring myself. Tour guide would often yell at us if we had no comment to his ramblings. I will never use this company again and I advise everyone to search elsewhere.
Worst trip I've EVER paid for
Robert_W, May 2019
I took my daughter on this trip in 2015 and thought it was marvelous, so I was excited to take a friend on the same trip. THIS trip was a DISASTER. First, because we waited for 2 people who were late, this trip went out 25 minutes late. TOTALLY unacceptable. Then, because we were so late, we were constantly "rushed" by the tour guide (Antonio?) to keep up. Several people expressed the desire to go to a bathroom and he totally ignored them by saying we would get to one. However, he NEVER took the time necessary to let peope relieve themselves. My friend was one of those. All she needed was to go to the bathroom and he kept on going. She left to find a bathroom and I tried to semi keep up with the group while waiting for her to catch up. That didn't work because he was on a "mission" to get through the Tivoli and on to our next destination. Your tour guide pointed at the large fountain area and said there was an organ that played, but it wouldn't play while we were there, and moved forward. (Last time, we actually waited for the organ to play. Not here.) As I waited for my guest, the group moved on and I lost sight of them. My guest caught up and because I was familiar enough with the layout (having been there before) I could show her the garden area, including the organ area. I was surprised as we left that area that the organ music acutally started. We had moved on and didn't see it open, but it was nice to hear. Too bad your guide "rushed" us through as we had to "hurry" to get back to the bus ON TIME. As we made our way into Hadrian's Villa, again we were totally rushed. In fact, toward the end, he pointed to the area that includes the fountains and said go look around for a couple minutes and return quickly. He didn't go into ANY detail on what it was used for. Last time, the guide took us around it and explained what it was. As he called for us to return, he told us he hoped we'd liked the tour and OF COURSE tips were not included in the price. Last time we were guided further into the Villa and as I recall looked at what I remember as a library or medicaly area. THAT would have been nice. Would I use you again? NO WAY. We were jipped and shorted. I am disgusted with what happened and how this group was treated.
Response from Host, May 2019
Dear Sir Madam, We are sorry for your disappointment, usually our customers are satisfied of this tour, i'm going to see through our booking dept, and the Guide: Antonio , what happened; I hope you'll give us a chance in the future to offer you a tour of the city as our special guest, Thank you Kind regards Pina Mameli sales resp. GLT
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Product code: 2390GRET7

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