How to Get from Villa Adriana to Villa d'Este (in Tivoli)
Taking the bus is the easiest way to get from Villa Adriana to Villa d'Este.
Despite some initial confusion, traveling from Villa Adriana to Villa d'Este ended up being fairly straightforward.
On one of our last days in Rome, we made plans to explore the charming town of Tivoli. Lucie was really thrilled about the trip, and she didn't need to persuade me for long, since the whole area with UNESCO World Heritage sites looked pretty incredible. The only thing I worried about was how we would get from Villa Adriana (Hadrian's Villa) to Villa d'Este, the main highlights of the area.
After taking a quick look at the map, I realized that while Villa d'Este sits right in the center of Tivoli, Villa Adriana is about 4 kilometers west of it. That left us with a few choices for traveling between the two, but we honestly had no clear idea of what to expect, since the information we found was either vague or confusing.
As we were able to visit both Villa Adriana (Hadrian's Villa) and Villa d'Este during the same day, we thought we'd share how we made the trip between them in this guide. We explain the option we finally went with, but we also list the other routes we considered as backups.
Before we begin, there is one important detail to point out. We chose to see Villa Adriana first. That's why we decided to take the bus from Rome, since it stops there before reaching Tivoli, instead of the train, which goes directly to the town. It simply made more sense because Villa Adriana is the first stop on the way, and we wanted to avoid backtracking. So if you're planning a day trip to Tivoli, we suggest following this order. Don't worry, though, we'll also cover the train-first option in case you want to spend the night in Tivoli. So let's get started.
The Cotral bus goes from Rome to Villa Adriana and then continues on to Villa d'Este.
Taking the COTRAL Bus from Villa Adriana to Villa d'Este
When we bought tickets for the bus from Rome's Ponte Mammolo station to Tivoli at the tabacchi store (since the ticket machines were down), the clerk asked if we also wanted to get tickets for the Villa Adriana and Villa d'Este leg of the trip. At just €1.50 per person, we figured we'd buy them anyway, even if we didn't use them, because we weren't totally sure about being able to get tickets near Villa Adriana.
I was aware that Cotral had two routes between Rome and Tivoli, each offering a different way to reach Villa Adriana. One line stops right near it, while the other lets you off on the main road a little farther away.
At first, I planned to take the bus that stops right at Villa Adriana. But once we reached Ponte Mammolo, we saw it wouldn't arrive for another 35 minutes, so we changed plans and got on the bus that was just leaving, even though it didn't go as close to the entrance. This one came more often but stopped on the main road, Via Nazionale Tiburtina, at a stop called Via Tiburtina Via Serena. From there, we had to walk about 1.2 kilometers to Villa Adriana's entrance. For us, it was worth it since it saved at least 20 minutes, which really helped later at Villa Gregoriana.
The Cotral bus dropped us off at this stop on Via Nazionale Tiburtina.
I'm pointing out that Cotral has two stops because I had planned to take the bus from Villa Adriana to Tivoli (Villa d'Este), which, from what I understood, was supposed to stop here (the stop is named Via Villa Adriana Via Rosolina), about 300 meters from the entrance. This seemed like a solid plan since we already had tickets for the ride. If we hadn't bought them at Ponte Mammolo, we would have tried to get them at the tabacchi store nearby.
The only tricky part was figuring out the bus timetable between Villa Adriana and Villa d'Este. I looked at the Cotral website only to realize it wasn't very helpful, since while it showed departure times, clicking the details led to blank pages without information. This made it nearly impossible to confirm what time the bus actually went to Villa Adriana.
Right next to the bus stop was this sign showing that Villa Adriana is just 1.2 kilometers from here.
But since I knew the regular Cotral bus between Rome and Tivoli came every 10-15 minutes, I didn't worry too much about the schedules. If you also prefer not to stress over it, just walk back to Via Tiburtina Via Serena (where the bus dropped us off), and catch it from there. The best part of this route is that the bus runs from 6 AM to 11 PM and comes very often.
I also prepared myself to download the MooneyGo app (formerly MyCicero), which was supposed to show timetables and stops, but since it had poor reviews and I wasn't thrilled about installing yet another app just to buy a bus ticket for a 10-minute ride, I kept it as a last resort. And even though the Cotral option between Villa Adriana and Villa d'Este seemed like a safe choice, we didn't end up using it because there's another local bus that we'll talk about next.
It took under 15 minutes for us to finally reach Villa Adriana.
Taking the Local CAT 4 Bus from Villa Adriana to Villa d'Este
So after all that research and a bit of uncertainty, we ended up taking the local CAT 4X bus from Villa Adriana to Villa d'Este, simply because when we were done with the Roman ruins and walked out of the complex, it was waiting by the entrance area.
Without hesitation, and without a ticket, we jumped on. Once inside, we realized we could buy tickets directly from the driver with cash for €1.50 each. That was a nice surprise, and we were glad we didn't have to stress about it. It also meant we could throw out the Cotral tickets, but we didn't mind since this option saved us a good amount of time.
The 4x line turned out to be a small shuttle bus, but since it was just us, another tourist, and one local, it worked out fine.
I have to admit the CAT 4 bus timetable was just as confusing as Cotral's, mostly because there were several different number 4 lines. We ended up on the 4X line, a small minibus with Tivoli, Villa Adriana, and Tivoli Terme written on a sign behind the window. From what I could tell, it ran every 50-90 minutes, though the timetable showed only departure times from the terminal stations instead of arrivals at each stop, which to me would be a more logical way to display it (so I wouldn't need to add 18 minutes each time). Oddly enough, there was also a paper timetable on the bus window with the "correct" times, but they clearly didn't match those at the stops.
Here is the schedule for the 4X bus at the stop in front of Villa Adriana.
Obviously, the line 4 buses run more often, since there's also the one going to Campolimpido and another to Collenocello. So if I read the timetable correctly, the line 4 buses should pass about every 30 minutes between Villa Adriana and Villa d'Este (Tivoli) from 10 AM to 5 PM, and less often outside those hours. Also, keep in mind the bus schedule between Villa Adriana and Villa d'Este changes a bit on weekdays and weekends.
And here's the bus schedule for the regular 4 line.
Anyway, I snapped a photo of the timetable so we could make it back to the bus stop on time, but we got so absorbed in exploring the Roman ruins that we completely lost track of time. Catching the bus ended up being pure luck. It might still sound confusing, but if you're unsure, just remember the Cotral bus runs every 10–15 minutes along Via Nazionale Tiburtina for most of the day. And one last tip, make sure you validate your ticket once you get on the bus, so you don't risk a fine.
The bus stop in Tivoli was just a three-minute walk from Villa d'Este.
Once in Tivoli, we got off at Piazzale Nazioni Unite, about 250 meters from Villa d'Este. Keep in mind this is a one-way street, so if you're starting from Tivoli and want to reach Villa Adriana first, you'll need to catch the bus from Piazza Garibaldi. And if your goal is Villa Gregoriana, just stay on a little longer and get off at Piazza Massimo, the next stop. Once in Tivoli, it doesn't really matter where you get off since nearly all the stops are within an 800-meter walk of each other.
Our final tip we want to share with you is that the big Cotral bus had stops on request, meaning we had to press a button (usually found on a handrail by the exit doors) before reaching the stop where we wanted to get off. On the small 4X bus, this wasn't needed since the driver stopped in Tivoli automatically (and even called out Villa d'Este).
So after a short walk, we ended up at Villa d'Este, which was just stunning.
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Getting from Villa d'Este to Villa Adriana
As I mentioned at the start, there's also the option of arriving in Tivoli by train. It makes sense to visit Villa d'Este or Villa Gregoriana (or both) before heading to Villa Adriana since they're right in town. Or you could start with Villa Adriana and save the other two for the afternoon. Either way, getting from Villa d'Este to Villa Adriana means catching a Cotral or CAT 4 bus at Piazza Garibaldi (or Piazza Massimo if you're leaving from Villa Gregoriana).
The Cotral bus departs Tivoli from Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi at this spot.
The CAT 4 bus drops you right at Villa Adriana. Cotral stops either at Via Villa Adriana Via Rosolina, or at Via Tiburtina Via Serena, depending on the line you board. The experience is pretty much the same, with the only difference being that you're traveling in the opposite direction toward Rome. We've already explained how to get back to Tivoli, so there's no need to cover it again here.
Here's the bus 4 schedule from Villa d'Este to Villa Adriana.
Of course, you can return to Rome by train or Cotral bus, but another option is to break the trip into two days and spend the night in Tivoli. Al Palazzetto and Palazzo Santori are among the popular places to stay, both situated in the heart of town.
Close to Villa Adriana are Hotel Cristallo Relais, and Villa Adriana Hotel. Each is roughly 1.5 kilometers from the site, making them easy to reach on foot.
Walking from Villa Adriana to Villa d'Este
Because we love hiking, and the two attractions are only about 4 kilometers apart, I thought that if the bus option failed, we could still walk from Villa Adriana to Villa d'Este. While that normally would make a good backup idea, I wasn't very eager about it for a few basic reasons.
The first issue was that the roughly four-kilometer path had an elevation gain of 170 meters, which meant we'd be walking uphill the whole time. Out of all the problems, this was the smallest, but it was still something I had to consider since it would make the walk more tiring.
Another thing that bothered me was that this stretch of Tivoli's countryside didn't really have proper hiking paths. After leaving the built-up area of town, we'd be stuck walking along rural roads connecting the two sites. Even though I thought traffic would be lighter, the roads were narrow with no sidewalks, making the walk harder if we ran into cars.
From Villa Adriana, we could see the town of Tivoli on the hill to the right.
The shortest route I could find was Via Delle Piagge, which was 3.1 kilometers. But the navigation didn’t offer this route, because at the T-section with Via Nazionale Tiburtina (the SS 5 road used by buses and traffic), there's a guard rail and no official crosswalk.
Oddly enough, the navigation suggested walking from Via Delle Piagge to Strata del Tartaro, connected by a 150-meter stretch of Via Nazionale Tiburtina with no sidewalks and heavy traffic. I dropped that idea right away, since there were safer options available.
The last route I checked was through Strata di Pisoni, which at 3.9 kilometers was the longest, about the same as Strata del Tartaro. Still, I thought it was the better of the two since it passed Santuario di Ercole Vincitore, the third site included in the combo pass with Villa Adriana and Villa d'Este.
The final and biggest drawback was that the entire walk would be on scorching asphalt with little to no shade. And since this was right after noon, when the sun is most intense, it would have been tough. On top of that, I had planned at least three hours for Villa Adriana, and being ancient ruins, the site itself is also very exposed, so we'd have spent even more time under the sun.
And with temperatures in early September hitting over 30 Celsius even in the shade, I didn't want us spending more time in the sun, especially because we still had a full afternoon ahead with plenty to explore in Tivoli after Villa Adriana. So I left the walk as a backup plan and felt relieved we didn't have to endure it this time.
Our Tip: Since we spent most of the day in the sun, we packed a good sunscreen, plenty of water, and a head cover for this trip.
Taking a Guided Tour to Villa Adriana and Villa d'Este
If you're a regular reader of our blog, you know we usually prefer exploring on our own, and Villa Adriana wasn't an exception. I knew there was an option to take a tour to Tivoli, which would make things easier, but we wanted to handle this adventure ourselves. That said, if you're worried about making the trip alone, you can always take a guided tour that makes everything a lot smoother.
Exploring Villa Adriana on our own was really easy.
For example, this popular Villa Adriana and Villa d'Este tour includes both sites on its itinerary, and it's still fairly affordable. Another plus is that you get to visit both with a guide. While both villas have plenty of information available, and a guide wasn't as necessary as at some other sites, it was definitely harder to gather all the details on our own, not to mention planning the trip itself.
Getting from Villa Adriana to Villa d'Este by Car
Obviously local buses are not the only way to get between Villa Adriana and Villa d'Este. You can rent a car in Rome and drive to both sites. Villa Adriana has a large designated parking lot. For Villa d'Este, we left the car at the paid Parcheggio Piazza Massimo (Villa Gregoriana).
There's also the option to take a taxi between the two places, but we didn't see any waiting at Villa Adriana when we were there. Obviously, getting a taxi in Tivoli should not be a problem.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
