slcmama

I am tempted to take a tour to Villa D'Este and Hadrian's Villa to save time and energy. However, I thought maybe it wouldn't be so bad to take the train or bus if there are taxis waiting around to ferry people between these two sites (as opposed to waiting for a bus or walking). We are planning to do this on Sunday, March 27, in the afternoon, and will have visited the Colosseum and Forum in the morning, so that is why I am interested in saving energy. I read that the half day tours are rushed and time is wasted in pickups (anyone take the Viator tour?). Another, expensive option, is to hire a car and driver. I would like to save money but the most important thing is to get in this sidetrip. Any guidance would be most appreciated.

RJD

Hadrian's Villa is a long way from the center of Tivoli. A decent tour of the extensive grounds takes as much as half a day. With the Vila D'Este you will need a full day.

franco

The problem how to move between Villa D'Este and Villa Adriana is in fact inexistent since you're not going to move - as RJD said, in an afternoon, you can visit only one of the two villas, so you'll have to decide which one is more important to you.

PalenQ

Well no ideally this is a full day's trip but if you only have a half-day go for it - just seeing Hadrian's Villa is the thing, not to look under every stone - I spent max about two hours there and saw everything I wanted. And the Villa d'Este's gardens are compact - can't fathom spending more than an hour or so in these compact confines - and yes a taxi between them - I'd take the bus first to Tivoli town where Villa d'Este is then taxi to Hadrian's Villa on the way back to Rome - then hop a bus right from the ruins back to Rome - to a metro stop on the west side of town.

Buses are faster I believe than taking a train to Tivoli - I took a train there and bus back - the train takes a very ciruclar route and as regional trains go moves really slowly.

Go for it and no need for a tour. Check the hours at Hadrian's Villa - if it is open to say 7pm you'll have loads of time and also beat the midday heat in summer.

Better to see each for a few hours then to not see one or the other IME - both are amazing remarkable sites.

PalenQ

Well no ideally this is a full day's trip but if you only have a half-day go for it - just seeing Hadrian's Villa is the thing, not to look under every stone - I spent max about two hours there and saw everything I wanted. And the Villa d'Este's gardens are compact - can't fathom spending more than an hour or so in these compact confines - and yes a taxi between them - I'd take the bus first to Tivoli town where Villa d'Este is then taxi to Hadrian's Villa on the way back to Rome - then hop a bus right from the ruins back to Rome - to a metro stop on the west side of town.

Buses are faster I believe than taking a train to Tivoli - I took a train there and bus back - the train takes a very ciruclar route and as regional trains go moves really slowly.

Go for it and no need for a tour. Check the hours at Hadrian's Villa - if it is open to say 7pm you'll have loads of time and also beat the midday heat in summer.

Better to see each for a few hours then to not see one or the other IME - both are amazing remarkable sites.

slcmama

Thank you all--I think I have found a solution in the form of a private tour that will get us to both efficiently in a car. I want my son to see so much--I saw all this as a college student and I guess I just had so much more leisure back then! I want him to see the highlights, and then he can always go back later in life for a more in-depth look.

I do appreciate your insights!