Small-Group Tour of Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este from Rome
Rome, Italy
- 5 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Rome is full of magnificent ancient monuments, but there are even more historic gems just outside of the city. This small-group half-day tour from Rome visits the hilltown of Tivoli, home to two UNESCO-listed marvels – the 2nd-century ruins of Hadrian's Villa (Villa Adriana) and the idyllic Villa d'Este, a 16th-century palace and garden complex. Tour includes hotel pickup, entrance fees, and round-trip transport.
- 5-hour tour of Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este from Rome
- Visit two UNESCO World Heritage sites on one tour
- Explore the 2nd-century ruins of Hadrian's Villa (Villa Adriana)
- Marvel at the grand palace and magnificent gardens of Villa d'Este
- Great-value tour includes hotel pickup, entrance fees, and round-trip transport
- Small-group tour limited to 14 people ensures a personalized experience
What's Included
- Professional guide
- Driver
- Transportation
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (accommodations within the Aurelian Walls)
- Small group limited to a number of 14 people
- Entrance fees to both villas
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (outside the Aurelian Walls)
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
After being picked up from your central Rome hotel, meet your guide and small group of up to seven people in time for a 9am departure. Traveling aboard a comfortable minivan, set out on the around 30-minute journey to Tivoli, admiring the scenery as you climb through the hills of Italy’s Lazio region.
On arrival, the first stop is Hadrian’s Villa, a grand complex built by Emperor Hadrian during the 2nd century. Follow your guide around the 300-acre (120-hectare) ruins, stopping to admire highlights such as the Maritime Theater, the Piazza d'oro, the imperial Palace, and the Canopus, inspired by the wonders of Rome, Egypt, and Athens.
Next , enjoy a guided tour of Villa d'Este, built by Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este in the 16th century and renowned for its Renaissance architecture and beautiful gardens. Take a peek inside the cardinal’s rooms, admire the views from the Vialone terrace, then stroll around the gardens.
Back in Rome, your tour ends with drop-off at your hotel.
On arrival, the first stop is Hadrian’s Villa, a grand complex built by Emperor Hadrian during the 2nd century. Follow your guide around the 300-acre (120-hectare) ruins, stopping to admire highlights such as the Maritime Theater, the Piazza d'oro, the imperial Palace, and the Canopus, inspired by the wonders of Rome, Egypt, and Athens.
Next , enjoy a guided tour of Villa d'Este, built by Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este in the 16th century and renowned for its Renaissance architecture and beautiful gardens. Take a peek inside the cardinal’s rooms, admire the views from the Vialone terrace, then stroll around the gardens.
Back in Rome, your tour ends with drop-off at your hotel.
1
Villa d'Este
1 hour 15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
2
Villa Adriana
1 hour 15 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes
- Please note: Fountains at Villa D'Este can occasionally be inactive due to maintenance. In that case we can reschedule your trip changing date/time of the visit.
- Please provide your accommodation’s information at the time of booking (name, address)
- The day before we'll send a mail with exact pick up time
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.1
based on 36 reviews
Kathy_S, May 2024
Great trip and so interesting! Our tour guide changed the order of the tour to maximize the cool weather and minimize the crowds. The entire trip was amazing. Just be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes. Driver was great as well!
Response from Host, May 2024
Thank you for your review! We will be sure to tell both tour guide and driver.
Thomas_A, Sep 2023
We had no idea that Villa d'Este would be so outstanding-Our tour guide was great and very informative and we spent most of our time there; a moderately strenuous walking experience after an overnight flight from the US.
Hadrian's Villa was outstanding as well and our tour guide again showed us ALL of the site with excellent descriptions. Our driver was very careful and considerate and promptly arrived at our hotel 15 minutes early with our most excellent tour guide
James_S, May 2023
While the villa was beautiful, the tour was not enjoyable. At the last minute they asked if we would be able to change the time to afternoon but we replied we had another tour. They said it was either that time or not at all and changed the time of the tour from morning to late afternoon..we had cancel another tour to make the new time...The guide was not engaging and seemed disinterested in being there. At the beginning of the tour we were informed that Hadrians villa was closed to the public for renovations so the tour would only be of the Villa d"este and possibly a medieval castle instead of Hadrian's villa.. We boarded the transportation...which arrived late and was very unprofessional .. and were then rushed at breakneck speed (over twice the posted speed limit) to the site with not a word from the guide along the way. However the driver and the guide must have been great friends as their loud conversation in Italian was nonstop the entire ride. Any questions we asked seemed to be an interruption and was answered with one or two word replies On arrival the guide proceeded to rush through the Villa d'Este with us struggling to keep up and when she got ahead she proceeded to wait impatiently intently staring at her cell phone. She then dumped us off in the city center for an hour to "shop" even though most of the shops were closed (either due to the lateness of the hour or boarded up permanently). The Medieval castle they promised is occupied and not ever available to the public...But if we wanted we could "walk over" to the fence that surrounded and blocked the view of it. We were rushed back to town and were dropped off a couple of blocks from the hotel. We completed the five hour tour in just under 3 hours. We would not have booked the tour had we known in advance that Hadrians Villa would not be available and they were not forthcoming on this point until she arrived to pick us up and it was too late to make alternate plans.
Jennifer_M, Jul 2022
This tour was one of the absolute highlights of our two weeks in Europe. Our guide and her driver were wonderful, incredibly knowledgeable and just plain fun, nice people. This was a top choice for our history major college freshman and we loved it. I knew little about the history and was overwhelmed with knowledge and appreciation at the end of the day. There were five us ages 50,45, 22, 22, 18. Perfect day - worth every dime.
Maya_Y, Dec 2021
Laura was a wonderful tour guide. She was very knowledgeable and explained the history of Villa D’Este and Rome in an engaging way. I would have given five stars for this tour; however, when we arrived at Hadrian’s Villa the staff there unfortunately did not let us enter. Otherwise, I would have given five stars. I definitely recommend Laura as a tour guide!
Stephanie_L, Jan 2020
The pick-up was on time and the travel was fine. However, the guide, while nice, knew shockingly little about the sites we visited. I had read the small section in my tour book and done a tiny bit of reading online, and she knew even less than I did. I feel like we would have been better off traveling on our own and reading the published plaques than we were spending $200 per person for a guide who could not even simple questions on the sites and who actively got us lost within them more than once, causing us to double back and walk through areas we had already seen in the rain, and missing other areas entirely. She rushed us through some areas we wanted to stop and take photos, making us trot behind her to catch up. In one area, she stopped to speak to another couple in Italian for nearly 10 minutes while we waited for her to continue while standing in the cold rain.
The actual sites we visited were lovely. but, especially having paid a premium rate for the tour, I was very disappointed with the quality of the guide and the tour as experienced.
Response from Host, Feb 2020
We’re sorry to hear that you didn’t enjoy the tour.
This tour, as well as our guide, always gets high rates, as the guide is extremely knowledgeble and specialized in art history. She’s always enthusiast to share her knowledge, that is also why she stopped for just a minute to give an information to another couple. We understand that unfortunately the raining day did not help to fully appreciate a tour that is usually very enjoyable.
chrisacton, Dec 2019
I cant recall our guides name but she was fantastic. This place is full of history and considering its age is very well preserved.
Response from Host, Dec 2019
Thank you for the 5-stars review!
We're happy you enjoyed the beautiful Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este and that our guide made sure you had a great experience.
Vacation1770, Dec 2019
My 2 adult children and I had a wonderful experience walking the grounds of both estates. Our tour guide, Julia, was wonderful, and made the experience fun and enjoyable for us.
Response from Host, Dec 2019
Thank you very much for your review!
Our guides are always very happy to hear about the positive feedback! We're glad that Julia made sure you enjoyed the wonderful villas to the fullest.
Patricia B, Nov 2019
We were driven very comfortably in a private sedan to the most beautiful and historic settings in Tivoli, Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este. Our guide, Julia, was amazing with sharing her most extensive knowledge, taking photos, and accommodating the pace to suit my seniorness. It was a most memorable day, Our driver, Leonardo, was also wonderful, which made for a great tour.
Response from Host, Nov 2019
Thank you very much for your review!
We're happy to hear that you enjoyed the visit to the beautiful Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este and that both Julia and Leonardo were helpful and considerate, making this experience even more unforgettable.
Roy_D, Oct 2019
I LOVED this tour. This trip was the highlight of our vacation. I would describe this tour as “essential.” Outstanding enthusiastic knowledgeable tour guide and careful driver. Our guide’s commentary brought everything to life. Hadrian’s Villa and Villa d’Este are absolutely gorgeous. Photos were magnificent. Our tour guide kindly took many photos of us so that we will always have nice memories of the trip. The van we rode in was spacious, new and comfortable.
Response from Host, Nov 2019
Thank you very much for your review!
We're happy to hear that the ride to the locations was comfortable and that our guide helped you taking many beautiful pictures, making the experience even more unforgettable!
Jill_R, Oct 2019
loved seeing such a well-preserved and restored treasure. our guide was so informative and very pleasant, loved her!
Response from Host, Nov 2019
Thank you very much for your review!
Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este are among the most beautiful locations in Rome, and we're happy to hear that our guide made the experience even more unforgettable!
gusikoff, Oct 2019
The guide that we were lucky to have, was extraordinary in her knowledge and her presentation. Her charm and sensitivity allowed us to meet our expectations and limitations. We are senior citizens, 65+ and she adapted the tour for us to satisfy all our curiosities and interests. She was terrific.!
Response from Host, Oct 2019
Thank you so much! Our guides always try hard to exceed our customer expectations. I am so happy that you took your time to write this review, they are always very happy to receive 5 stars!!!
Philip_H, Sep 2019
There were only 4 of us on this tour and it was great. Marco the guide was friendly and knowledgeable and went at a pace that was acceptable to all four of us. They asked me to change the day of the tour as they thought that it would be very busy on the day i originally booked. This was really good advice and both venues were relatively quiet.
Response from Host, Nov 2019
Thank you for your enthusiastic comments and it makes me happy to know that you have enjoyed our Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este tour with Marco!
Cbgdent, Aug 2019
Highly recommend activity. Well paced and a great day from the busy City Centre. Our group of 6 all only had high praise : from booking to completion.
Response from Host, Dec 2019
Thank you so much for your review!
We're happy you could fully enjoy the amazing Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este, and we're sure you made some great memories.
Marco_B, Jun 2019
An amazing afternoon spent visiting Tivoli's Hadrian Villa and Villa D'Este with an informative tour guide who allowed you time to view both Villas and take photos and not be rushed
Response from Host, Jan 2020
Thank you for the 5star review!
We're glad that you had such a pleasant experience and took lots of pictures, that will sure be a great memory.
Safari33735908302, May 2019
Two adults had to sit in the front seat of the van with a console so there was no leg room. The other passengers had comfortable seating in the passenger seats in the van. We did not get a discount for having to be crammed in. The tour should provide comfortable seating for all!
Response from Host, May 2019
Dear Customer,
We are usually happy to receive bad reviews if these will help us to improve our service. It is a shame you didn’t comment our Tour or the service received but only the car seats.
On our fleet we have only new Minivans fully accessoried with leather seats. In total there are 8 comfortable and omologated seats with enough leg space room.
John E, May 2019
There were 8 people on our tour. We were contacted twice asking us to agree to change the time of our tour - the other groups had been asked 2 times and three times respectively. None of us could change and the calls were a bit tiresome.
The tour was great - the best we did in Europe. The guide was great and the location exceptional.
Response from Host, Jan 2020
Thank you for the positive review.
We’re happy to hear you enjoyed the beautiful villas and that our guide provided excellent service.
As for the change of time requests, please notice we always try to arrange the tours in a way that would be more convenient for all the customers (i.e.: during days and times when the attractions are less crowded, etc.).
Leigh R, May 2019
The trip itself was wonderful and very much enhanced by having a guide explaining details we would have missed if self guided. Got rather fed up with the admin staff from the local company
Viator contracted for this tour who kept ringing and emailing, leaving messages trying to encourage us to change the day and then the time of our visit. This trip was booked several months in advance to fit in with my travel plans.
Response from Host, Jan 2020
Thank you for the 5star review.
We’re happy to hear that our guide made sure you truly enjoyed the beautiful sites to the fullest.
As for the change of date and time requests, please notice we always try to arrange the tours in a way that would be more convenient for all the customers (i.e.: during days and times when the attractions are less crowded, etc.).
James_E, May 2019
Worth the money. The guide was great and her English very good. The sites were no where near as populated as Rome.
Response from Host, Jan 2020
Thank you for the positive review.
We’re glad you could enjoy a peaceful moment away from the hustle and bustle of the big city and that our guide provided excellent service.
Helmut_B, May 2019
Our guide (Mauro - I hope I spelled that correctly) was excellent. He was very passionate and a wealth of knowledge. Hadrian’s Villa was a wonderful look back into how life was almost 2000 years ago. The ruins are in good condition for their age. Villa d’Este was also great. It shows the oppulance of the Renaissance era. The gardens are fantastic. I would recommend this tour and the size of the group (6 of us) meant very personalised attention.
Response from Host, Jan 2020
Thank you for the amazing review!
The villas truly offer magnificent sightseeings and make it possible to understand and learn how life was so many years ago for our rich ancestors. Both we and Mauro are happy to receive such positive feedback!
Mi A, Jun 2018
Victoria our guide was very knowledgeable and thorough and was very good about answering our questions. I would recommend the tour and the guide to my friends.
Response from Host, Jan 2020
Thank you for the positive review.
Victoria is glad to receive such positive feedback and we’re also glad to hear that you truly enjoyed the tour!
Alexis_S, Jun 2018
We loved Hadrians Villa and Villa dEste, but our tour of maximim 7 people was overbooked for 9. Our tour guide was in the 2nd vehicle, and our driver did not speak English. Our tour guide was too focused on her phone.
Mr Robin H, Dec 2017
The tour of Hadrian's Villa was excellent as was the enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide. The tour of the Villa d'Este did not take place because the site was closed. We were disappointed. We were given to understand that this was not an unusual event and wonder why we were not given the option of changeing the date in advance rather than being confronted on the day. The guide assured us that a refund would be made. Nothing happened so I had to chase it myself directly with Viator. It refunded what I consider a miserly amount considering that the Villa d'Este was a substantial proportion of the trip. I wonder if they would have refunded anything at all if I had not struggled through their system.
David W, Dec 2017
Very informative, however when she wasnt providing tour information guide seemed to be on her mobile phone more than was necessary in my opinion.
PATRICIA O, Oct 2017
If you are a history or architectural buff, this is an absolute must. As close to Ephesus as you can get without going to Turkey. Wear your walking shoes and bring your own water
Response from Host, Jan 2020
Thank you for the 5star review!
We’re happy to hear that you enjoyed the beautiful sights so much, the villas surely are two architectural gems.
Joanne W, Jul 2017
Loved the tour and our guide was really interesting. Hadn't realised Hadrains villa was so large and the gardens and fountains were amazing at the Villa d'Este. The only issue was that we had booked for a morning tour and it got changed the day before to an afternoon. This did end up better for us as we missed the worst of the days heat however it was lucky that we had not planned anything for the afternoon.
Response from Host, Jan 2020
Thank you for the positive review.
We’re happy to hear that you enjoyed the beautiful sites to the fullest!
As for the change of date and time requests, please notice we always try to arrange the tours in a way that would be more convenient for all the customers (i.e.: during days and times when the attractions are less crowded, etc.).
Scott S, Jun 2017
Very enjoyable but a little abbreviated Both places were worthy of the visit picked up at our hotel in a comfortable vehicle. I felt the guide rushed thru and was a bit short on explanations.
Bdower68, Jun 2017
Our guide was knowledgeable and able to answer all questions we had. Direct pick up from our accommodation and great driver
The tour was able to be tailored to our needs and pace.
Villa dEste is spectacular a must see in any tour of Rome.
Response from Host, Jan 2020
Thank you for the great review!
We’re happy that our guide and driver provided excellent service and that you enjoyed the sites and learned many interesting facts.
Ann H, May 2017
Vittoria was an exceptional guide - by far the best we experienced during our Rome trip. She was highly informed, enthusiastic and friendly. Couldn't improve on the trip.
Response from Host, Jan 2020
Thank you for the 5stars review!
Vittoria is happy to receive such positive feedback and we’re glad you had such a wonderful experience in the beautiful villas.
Chandria_D, Mar 2017
Small size offered a personalized feeling. Our guide was knowledgeable and really enjoyed sharing these sights with us. The small size was perfect and allowed us to set the pace and cover more than a large group would. This tour was well worth the cost, I highly recommend this tour.
Response from Host, Jan 2020
Thank you for the amazing review!
We’re happy the guide offered excellent service and shared a lot of knowledge and insights about the beautiful villas.
From $354.86
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Small-Group Tour of Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este from Rome
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