Best Way to See Tivoli Gardens in Rome
 

We are in the stage of finalizing any plans for our trip to Italy that need to be done ahead of time. We are planning to be flexible for alot of it, but some need to be reserved. My question is - what is the best way to do Tivoli Gardens? When my husband went there many years ago they just took a bus out there and wandered aroung on their own. That is appealing since it means we can play it by ear regarding which day we go to the gardens. On the other hand, if there is a benefit to having a driver take us out (there are 5 of us so we could hire a car and driver), then we are open to doing that. If you have recommendations on a company or driver to use, we would appreciate that also.

Don't forget that Hadrian's Villa, just a few miles from Tivoli's Villa d'Este gardens is also a great great site - one of the finest Roman archaelogical sites anywhere - buses serve both but if you got the mega-bucks for a private driver it would make visitng both much easier. Can also take a train to Tivoli - then bus from near the Villa d'Este to Hadrian's Villa and bus from there back to Rome.

Hello jcasale, just to let you know...my SIL & DD were in Rome the month of June due to SIL's parents hospitilizations. He was shocked regarding the traffic to Tivoli (where one parent was hospitalized). He was born and raised in Rome but first time he had been back in 7 something years. My daughter said getting back and forth to Tivoli (they were staying in the family house in NE Rome) was a nightmare. Just wanted to pass this on for what it is worth. Have a wonderful time in Italy!!

Here is a little blurb from Rick Steves' site:

Getting to Tivoli
The town of Tivoli, with Villa d'Este in its center, is about 2.5 miles from Hadrian's Villa ("Villa Adriana" in Italian). The Tourist Information office is on Largo Garibaldi near the bus stop (closed Mon, tel. 0774-311-249).

Tivoli is famous, but a pain to reach. From Rome, take a Metro/bus combination. Ride Metro line B to Ponte Mammolo, then take the local blue LILA/Cotral bus (every 10 min, direction: Tivoli). For Hadrian's Villa, take the bus labeled autostrada (2/hr, confirm destination with driver), which will drop you 300 yards from the gate; the other, non-autostrada bus leaves you a half-mile hike from the villa. Both buses continue to Tivoli.

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I am going to do this daytrip (hopefully) in a few weeks and will post accurate info if you wish (if that isn't too late for your trip).

We took a bus tour there from Rome-it made it a very easy trip. It was a half day trip and we visited both Hadrian's villa and Villa D'Este. We had enough time to wander around on our own after the guided tours.

I can't imagine why this is such a problem. It's probably been 10 years since I did this, but we took a regular bus from Rome direct to Tivoli -- no change. After visiting the gardens and finding a nice place for lunch, we took a bus from the center of the town of Tivoli to Hadrian's Villa for an hour or two, then another bus back to the center of Rome. It was easy then. You mean it's more difficult now?

Hello Patrick, I think that is the easiest way to get from Rome to Tivoli. That is what I would do. My SIL & DD couldn't because of course they were not tourist, they had to get to the hospital everyday.

LoveItaly --????? I'm talking about taking regular public buses -- not tourist busses. Why couldn't they take those?

Tivoli Gardens and Hadrian's Villa can get crowdedduring tourist season. When I went, non tourist season, there were not that many people and it was very nice.

With 5 people, do not take any of the arranged tours. That would be $250+. A public bus would be the least expensive, but if you toured the Villa, you would still have to get to Tivoli.

A private driver would cost a lot more, but would be a lot more convenient. Or combine buses and taxis.

Hi Patrick, guess I didn't explain properly, I am sorry. I agree with you, the public bus is the best way to get to Tivoli. Want I meant to convey is that my SIL & DD could not do this has they were not going to Tivoli to sightsee, they went there everyday to see my SIL's parent that was in a hospital, taking the public bus for them was not possible.

I agree with you 100%... the public bus would be the easiest and certainly the less expensive way to get from Rome to Tivoli. Take care, and next time I will try to communicate better. Best wishes to you.

OK Patrick, let me try this message one more time, LOL. I do need to edit my post obviously.

<i>What</i> I meant to convey is this. My SIL and DD could not utilize the public bus from Rome to Tivoli as the public bus did not get them within walking distance of the hospital where my SIL's parent was hospitalized.

For a tourist, utilizing the public bus from Rome to Tivoli is a very good suggestion IMHO. Take care!

Like Patreek i took the bus to Hadrian's Villa from Tivoli (after taking the train to Tivoli, which takes a circuitous route that probably takes longer than the bus) but i wouldn't say the bus from Hadrian's Villa to Rome was snafu-free - there is a bus stop right at the villa but i guess i was later in the day and service had stopped at the bus stop right at the villa and i remember a not so pleasant walk along a main road to get to the bus stop that would take me back to Rome - i had trouble getting info at the villa exactly where the bus would stop. But at certain times at least buses do stop right at the villa - ascertain that when entering and check schedules as the bus i recall was not all that frequent. But the Villa d'Este water gardens and Hadrian's Villa were both fantastic.

IMO you can get there using all the methods described above. I think the only big advantage to hiring a private car and driver would be their (possible) ability to wait for you as long as you wanted them to. This might also be a faster way to get there and back and I suppose you simply have to ask yourself if it is worth the extra money.

Thanks for all of the feedback. We will try to ask ourselves the questions you have posed and decide.

Chicago_Heather, we still have plenty of time before we leave, so I'd love to hear how you did with the trip out there.

Is it better to take the metro and then the train to Tivoli (to see Villa d'Este or take the metro and the bus? I have heard the traffic can be very bad so it sounds like the train would be better, but I have read the bus stop at Tivoli is much closer to the Villa than the train station. Thanks.

I was there two weeks ago. The public bus from Rome to Tivoli/Villa D'Este took over 2 hours - to go all of, what? - fewer than 15 miles? The traffic was unbelievable. But the garden was exquisite in the sunshine. The bus from the piazza in Tivoli to Villa Adriana was quick and easy.

ttt

j,

When I did it 3 yrs ago on my own, I took the Metro B to Ponte Mammolo, then the bus to Tivoli. When the bus stopped in the lower part of town several other tourists got off and I followed. We ended up with the long walk to Hadrian's Villa, but it wasn't bad.

Then took the local (orange) bus (from the main street we had walked along) to Tivoli and the locals told me when to exit.

LOVED the Villa d'Este gardens and fountains. It was a highlight and well worth the trip.

Took about 1 hr. 30 min. one way. I didn't find it too difficult.

If you can afford the luxury of a private driver for your grop, good for you. It would be more convenient.

julia1, where did you get the bus in Rome? And do you know which number?