How to Get From Rome to Orvieto

Orvieto is a stunning medieval hill town in Umbria dramatically perched on a tufa ridge. It's known for its beautiful 14th-century cathedral with a mosaic facade. Orvieto is about 60 miles north of Rome. Frequent trains run between them taking a little over an hour, making Orvieto an easy day trip from Rome.

Regional trains between Rome and Orvieto take only about 10 minutes longer than IC or frecce trains but the faster trains cost about twice as much. Trains depart from Roma Termini station (the main train station) but Regional trains also depart from Roma Tiburtina. Currently, the first Rome to Orvieto train departs at 6:03 and the last is at 23:00.

You can check the current Rome to Orvieto schedules and ticket prices on the Trenitalia website or at the train station. If you want to pay in US dollars, you can buy train tickets online from Select Italy. Regional train tickets do not need to be bought in advance but if you buy them at the station, you'll need to validate your ticket.

Orvieto's old town is up the hill from the train station. A funicular railway near the station connects the lower town to the upper town, just outside the medieval center of Orvieto. A mini-bus runs through town but the best way to see the sights in town is by walking.

Book this guided tour to Orvieto and Assisi that includes pick-up in Rome, transportation, a stop for lunch in the countryside near Lake Trasimeno between your tours of Orvieto and Assisi, and a local guide.

The best way to explore Umbria is by car, especially if you want to visit any off the beaten path towns. To drive to Orvieto from Rome, take the A1 Autostrada (toll road). Take the Orvieto exit and follow signs to Orvieto, then to Campo della Fiera where there's a large covered parking lot. Elevators and escalators connect the parking lot and lower town to the historic center above (you cannot drive into the center without a permit). You can also take the train to Orvieto and pick up your rental car there.

• Hotel Corso is a well-rated 3-star hotel in the historical center close to the funicular railway
• Sant'Angelo Bed and Breakfast has 3 rooms and a shared living room, right by the cathedral

Orvieto makes a good base for exploring the nearby hill towns in Umbria and Northern Lazio either by car or public transportation. Orvieto also makes a convenient stopover if you're traveling between Rome and Florence or northern Italy.