I absolutely fell in love with the little town of Tivoli in Italy. It’s just about 30 minutes outside of Rome making it a great day trip. You will see beautiful homes, cute streets, and gorgeous gardens. It’s definitely a trip worth taking and I can’t wait to go back!
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Last year my mom and I decided to take a mother/daughter trip for my birthday. It’s definitely something I always recommend doing. Both my mom and I have been to Rome before but we were also looking for a new place we could explore (I’m always trying to see more places in this world). Which is why I was so pleased when I discovered Tivoli. It really is the best day trip from Rome!
But first a little history:
Tivoli received Roman citizenship in 90 B.C. and became a summer resort during the late republic and early empire. Emperor Augustus and poets such as Horace, Catullus and Sextus Propertius were just some of the people who would vacation here. Many wealthy Romans built villas here and created small temples.
However the town suffered during the barbarian invasions. And it wasn’t until the 10th century that the town would recover.
Today, Tivoli welcomes guests with beautiful architecture, gardens, and a rich history that still lives on.
How To Get There:
Okay, let’s discover why Tivoli is such a great day trip from Rome. Not only is it very close, but there are also quite a few options when it comes to traveling to Tivoli from Rome. You can take the bus, drive, or do what my mom and I did, and take the train. The train was so easy and was a really nice ride. Just be sure you stamp your train ticket before getting on the train. My mom and I were rushing to catch the next train and didn’t do that. So when the train conductor came on board we acted like tourists and managed to get out of a hefty fine for not validating our ticket beforehand.
The great thing about the train is that it drops you off within walking distance to the main town and two highly recommended sites. To get to the train in Rome, take the metro B line to Rome’s Tiburtina station. Then take the train to Tivoli. The trains run very frequently.
You could also take a tour to Tivoli. I’m glad we didn’t as I felt we had more time in the two sites we saw on our own but it’s definitely a great option. It’s also a nice option if you’re a solo travel like I normally am.
Here’s a great option for a day tour from Get Your Guide.
What To See:
Now you’re probably asking what can I see here to make this a worthwhile day trip from Rome? Well sit back because I’m about to amaze you with beautiful gardens, fountains, homes and even waterfalls!
#1. Villa D’Este:
Definitely check out this absolutely breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage site. The palace and beautiful gardens were laid out by Pirro Ligorio on behalf of Cardinal Ippolito II d’Este of Ferrara who after being named governor of Tivoli in 1550 wanted a palace that resembled his new status. And I think it’s fair to say he got it.
A really neat fact about this palace is the aqueduct and tunnel under the city that feeds all the fountains and is similar to the engineering of the Ancient Romans. I loved this place. And definitely check out all the fountains. The Oval Fountain and the Hundred Fountains were definitely my favorites. But they’re all beautiful. For more info including hours and ticket prices, please check out their official website.
#2. Villa Gregoriana:
This ended up being both mine and my mom’s favorite place we saw here. And the great thing is that it’s within walking distance of the town. And not too far from Villa D’Este. It’s quite a walk down and up but so incredibly worth it. It’s absolutely breathtaking and I loved the calmness I felt here.
Villa Gregoriana was created by Pope Gregory XVI in the 1830s. It’s located in the Valley of Hell – named that because of the two very steep drops. You’ll pass a giant waterfall on your way down into this grand valley. At the base of the waterfall is the Grotto of Neptune and the Grotto of the Sirens. There’s also a 1st century B.C. circular temple perched out over the cliff called the Temple of Vesta.
I loved this place so much and would go back and do this hike in a heartbeat. I do recommend comfortable shoes.
#3. Hadrian’s Villa:
We unfortunately ran out of time to visit this UNESCO World Heritage site that dates back to the 2nd century AD. It’s a little further out of town. And if you’d like to visit I recommend driving or taking a day tour from Rome. But you can also take the CAT bus n. 4 from Tivoli Station to Hadrian’s Villa stop (Villa Adriana). This was going to be the way we were going to get there but we just ran out of time. Not enough hours in the day, am I right?
The villa is enormous. And Hadrian basically ran his entire empire from here since he disliked Palatine Hill in Rome so much. Unfortunately the villa fell into despair with the fall of the Roman Empire, but it was later rediscovered in the 15th Century.
If you’d like a little back story on Hadrian, he was responsible for the famed Pantheon and Castle Sant’Angelo in Rome. He was a man possessed with wanderlust (something I can relate to all too well) and spent much of his time visiting the far lands of his empire.
Where to Eat:
The food here was also impeccable! Just another reason Tivoli is the best day trip from Rome.
I highly recommend wandering around the cute streets and then finding a place that interests you. We ate at a great cafe near the Villa D’Este and had some amazing pasta. We also grabbed gelato as you can never go a day in Italy without gelato (at least that’s my motto) ;).
Ristorante Sibilla comes highly recommended and has a beautiful view near the Villa Gregoriana. The restaurant dates back to 1720. We didn’t eat here as we were trying to keep our trip within a budget but it looks lovely! I’ll be checking it out next visit.
We headed back to Rome on the second to last train. We almost missed it as we didn’t buy our return ticket ahead of time, so I might recommend doing that just in case.
Tivoli far exceeded my expectations. Tivoli was truly a magical town and I can see why it was favored by the Ancient Romans. It’s definitely a day trip worth taking. Anywhere in Italy is usually magic. I’ve been very fortunate in being able to see many (and even living briefly) places in Italy. I hope this guide has inspired you to make Tivoli a day trip of your own from Rome. Keep being amazing lovelies!
And happy traveling! 🙂
22 COMMENTS
Rachael
4 years agoThose fountains look so tempting right now – and so cute! And the views! Wow! We are definitely going to visit Tivoli when we visit Rome next!
kitcatfilms
4 years ago AUTHORYou will love Tivoli so much!! 🙂 xx
Cassie
4 years agoWOW, now I really have travel fever! Italy has been on my bucket list for so long now, but I have not made it yet. I would absolutely love to go to Italy as soon as it is safe again, and now I know I need to plan to visit Tivoli. Your pictures add such amazing detail and feeling of wanderlust to the post. Thanks for sharing!
kitcatfilms
4 years ago AUTHORAw I’m so happy I’ve inspired you to go! It’s so magical! I have major travel fever too so I feel you. But writing helps. Hopefully we can all travel again soon! 🙂 xx
Elizabeth
4 years agoLooks like a fantastic place to go. I want to go to Rome in about a few years. Your pictures are stunning.
kitcatfilms
4 years ago AUTHORYou will LOVE Rome! It’s such a great city. I never tire of going. Hopefully we all get to go soon! 🙂 xx
Emma
4 years agoLooks absolutely stunning! Would love to go! We threw our coins in the Trevi a few years back so one day hopefully…😊
kitcatfilms
4 years ago AUTHORAw that means you will go!!! Yay! Hoping it’s soon 🙂 xx
Ariel Allen
4 years agoGreat post, truly stunning photography.
kitcatfilms
4 years ago AUTHORAw thank you so much! 🙂 xx
Cristina
4 years agoTivoli looks such a great place to visit 🙂 I didn’t know about it until I read your blog! Also, I absolutely love all your pictures.
kitcatfilms
4 years ago AUTHORIt’s definitely a bit hidden, I just found out about it a year ago! But it’s awesome for that reason, not a lot of tourists. There are some of course, but it definitely feels more like you’ve discovered something great out here. It’s truly lovely. You’ll adore it 🙂 xx
Demi
4 years agoGreat information. Thanks for sharing. We did not visit Tivoli on our last trip to Italy. But after reading your post definitely will add this to my list on our next trip:)
kitcatfilms
4 years ago AUTHORYou will love it so much!! I can’t wait to go back 🙂
Carolina
4 years agoI absolutely loved Italy, but never got to Tivoli! Now it is absolutely on my list for my next trip! Great photos!
kitcatfilms
4 years ago AUTHORYou will absolutely love it! 🙂 xx
Merry
4 years agoAbsolutely stunning! This seems a fantastic place. I love it so much. The photos that you took are really amazing! xxx
kitcatfilms
4 years ago AUTHORAw thank you so much! 🙂 xx
Savannah
4 years agoI ALMOST went here when I was in Rome 2 years ago!! After seeing this post I definitely regret not going. But, I just moved to Northern Italy so looks like I’ve got a stop to make next time I’m on my way to Rome!
kitcatfilms
4 years ago AUTHORAw I’m so happily jealous you’re living in Northern Italy! How magical! And you will absolutely love Tivoli! 🙂 xx
Chelsea Boccardo Smith
4 years agoWell, I definitely wish I had read this blog before I went to Italy last year! My husband and I just happily walked around Rome for days, not knowing anything about Tivoli! Of course, Rome was still amazing, but this place is also gorgeous. Thank you for these amazing photos. I so badly want to return!
kitcatfilms
4 years ago AUTHORRome is so lovely!! I hope you get to go back soon! Italy is always a great adventure! 🙂 xx