orvieto tourist card

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Orvieto City Pass

The Card allows you to visit nine of the city's monuments, offering a unique route through the city and offering price savings on individual entrance fees.  It offers discounts in many partner shops. It also allows you to travel free of charge on public transport , choosing between a round trip on the Funicular + Minibus Circular A - Circular C.

It's valid for one year from the date of issue.

Description

Orvieto City Pass (Carta Unica di Orvieto)  allows access to all of the city's museum sites enjoying skyp-the-line entrance : Cathedral and St Brizio's Chapel, Opera del Duomo Museum, National Archaeological Museum, Orvieto Underground, Pozzo della Cava, Pozzo di San Patrizio, Etruscan Museum C. Faina, Torre del Moro and the Crocifisso del Tufo Necropolis.

Meeting Points

• St Brizio's Chapel: Piazza Duomo, 26
• Opera del Duomo Museum: Piazza Duomo, Palazzo Soliano
• Pozzo di San Patrizio: Viale Sangallo
• Orvieto Underground: Piazza Duomo, 23
• Pozzo della Cava: Via della Cava, 28
• Orvieto VIE: Piazza del Popolo
• National Archaeological Museum: Piazza Duomo, Palazzo Papale
• Crocifisso del Tufo Necropolis: S.S. 71-km 1.6

Info and Timetables

Orvieto Cathedral:

• November to February: 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• March to October: 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
• April to September: 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

St Brizio's Chapel - weekdays:

• November to February: 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• March and October: 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 
• April to September: 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 

St Brizio's Chapel - Sundays and public holidays:

• November to February: 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• March and October: 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• April to September: 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. 

Sightseeing limited to 25 people at a time. For groups, it's recommended to book the visit. Visits are not permitted during liturgical services at the high altar.

Opera del Duomo Museum:

• November to February: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays.
• March and October: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays. 
• April to September: 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Information on the opening hours of the museums included in the ticket can be found at https://cartaorvieto.it/

Funicular timetable weekdays: 7.15 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. every 15' / public holidays: 8.00 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. every 15'.

How to get there

By car: Orvieto is on the A1 motorway from Milan to Rome via Florence. After exiting the motorway, a steep road winds up to the city. The approach to the city is one of the most impressive things to visit in Orvieto. Parking is available at the railway station in Orvieto Scalo (from where you can take the funicular to the city) and in Via Roma. These car parks have an agreement with all the restaurants, so you can ask for a voucher in case you have a meal there.

By train: Orvieto's small but functional railway station is located in Orvieto Scalo (at the base of the town's hill) and numerous trains pass through there daily with destinations in Florence, Chiusi and Rome. From the station it is easy to find a taxi or public bus to the city centre. On the same square is also the terminus of the funicular railway, with which one can enjoy a spectacular ride upwards.

By bus: The bus station is in Cahen Square, on the eastern edge of the city. Public buses, taxis, or a short, comfortable walk will take you to Piazza del Duomo, right in the centre of town. From the square there are frequent buses to and from Rome (every 2 hours), Viterbo, Bolsena, Perugia (every hour) and Todi (every 2 hours).

Including Museums

Opera del Duomo Museum: Papal Palaces, an extraordinary mediaeval architectural complex next to the Cathedral, display a series of works of great historical-artistic value that reflect the vastness and variety of the heritage collected and conserved by the Opera del Duomo, reaffirming its original deep bond with the city and its territory.

Orvieto VIE: A new diffuse Museum, a multimedia tourist orientation centre for the historical, architectural, food and wine, landscape and archaeological heritage of Orvieto and its territory. Open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2.30 to 4.30 p.m.

National Archaeological Museum: Located in the medieval Papal Palace, it houses finds from the surrounding necropolises. There are buccheri and Etruscan and Attic figurative ceramics and, among the bronzes, a complete set of armour consisting of helmet, cuirass, shin guards and shield. Of particular interest is the area housing the two famous painted chamber tombs from Porano. Open daily from 8.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m.

Crocifisso del Tufo Necropolis: On the northern slope of Orvieto's cliff, this is one of the major burial areas of the ancient Etruscan city. The necropolis is the result of urban planning carried out around the middle of the 6th century B.C. that respected the presence of older burials, found intact during excavations. The set of inscriptions on the architraves constitutes one of the most conspicuous records of Etruscan epigraphy. Open during daylight saving time from 10.15 a.m. to 3.45 p.m. and during summer time from 10.15 a.m. to 6.45 p.m.

C. Faina Museum: Contains one of Italy's most prestigious archaeological collections with finds from various Etruscan necropolises: buccheri, bronzes, Attic ceramics, pottery, Etruscan jewellery and, finally, the Venus of Cannicella. Routes also designed for children. Open from April to September from 9.30 am to 6 pm and from October to March from 10 am to 5 pm. Closed Mondays from November to February.

St Patrick's Well: (Pozzo di San Patrizio) An extraordinary project by Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, built starting in 1527. For info and opening hours CLICK HERE .

Pozzo della Cava: An evocative underground complex in the heart of the medieval quarter, excavated by Pope Clement VII before St. Patrick's Well. An unusual insight into the history of the city through nine caves full of Etruscan, Medieval and Renaissance archaeological finds that came to light together with the well. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Closed Mondays (except public holidays) and the second half of January. From 23 December to the Sunday after the Epiphany, Carta Unica entitles admission to the Presepe nel Pozzo.

Torre del Moro: The best 360° panorama of the city. The gaze sweeps over the horizon, spotting plovers, villages and castles and recounting the ancient power of the medieval city. The tower is perfectly oriented according to the four cardinal points and is located in the centre of the two wings of the Palazzo dei Sette. It divides the city into the four historical quarters: Serancia, Corsica, Olmo and Stella. Open in March, April, September and October from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; from May to August from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and from November to February from 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

• General conditions

Is the Orvieto Card Worth It in 2024? (Orvieto Carta Unica Review)

With its show-stopping cathedral, picturesque streets and underground city, the hilltop city of Orvieto is a worthy addition to your travel bucket list. And like many Italian cities, it has a tourist pass: the Orvieto City Pass (Orvieto Carta Unica).

But is this Orvieto card worth it? As I used this city card on my latest visit to Orvieto, this is where I can help you.

If you are spending a few days in Orvieto and can visit all of the included free attractions, you will save money with the Orvieto City Card. This is exactly what I did. However, the Orvieto Carta Unica is unlikely to be good value if you have limited time in the city.

Find out more in this Orvieto Carta Unica review.

What is the Orvieto City Pass?

The Orvieto City Pass offers free admission to nine key city attractions . In 2024, the Orvieto Card costs €25.

  There are also discounts at partner sites, including restaurants, hotels, bed & breakfasts and a few shops. You can check the current list here .   Unlike many cities that offer a bewildering array of city passes, Orvieto has just one card. This is valid for one year after you first use it.

Free Attractions with the Orvieto Card

Except for Orvieto Underground, you do not need to book these attractions ahead. You can reserve your spot at their office next to tourist information on Piazza del Duomo.

Orvieto’s unmissable cathedral is one of the best in Italy and is famous for its lacy and luminous exterior and frescoes by Luca Signorelli. 

2. Orvieto Underground

Travel back to the time of the Etruscans by taking a tour of Orvieto’s second city.

3. St. Patrick’s Well

Descend 175 feet into Pozzo di San Patrizio, a remarkable well dug in the 16 th Century.

4. Museo dell’Opera del Duomo

Comprises the Emilio Greco Collection, dedicated to the artist who designed the striking bronze doors of Orvieto Cathedral, and the Cathedral Arts Collection.

5. National Archaeological Museum

A treasure trove of ancient goodies from excavations around Orvieto.

6. Claudio Faina Museum (Museo Claudio Faina)

An extensive collection of Etruscan sculptures, coins and jewellery housed in a former nobleman’s mansion. 

7. Etruscan Necropolis (Crocifisso del Tufo)

A “city of the dead” dating from the 6th to the 5th Century BC.

8. Torre del Moro

Get 360-degree views of Orvieto and the countryside beyond from the top of this 13th-century clock tower.

9. Well of the Quarry (Pozzo della Cava)

A complex of nine caves filled with Etruscan, Medieval and Renaissance treasures.

Can the Orvieto Card Save You Money?

Like any city card, you need to do the maths to figure out if it will be good value for you.

All it takes is a quick back-of-the-envelope calculation. Scribble down how you plan to use the pass and compare its cost with the cost of individual attractions.

Maxing out your Orvieto City Pass

Individual ticket prices (all prices taken from the Orvieto Carta Unica website in March 2024)

• Total cost of individual tickets €38.30
• Cost with Orvieto City Pass €25

YOU SAVE €13.30

You will easily save money if you visit all the attractions included in the Orvieto tourist card. However, it may be a different story if you are not able, or don’t want, to max out the card.

Spending a day in Orvieto

Let’s say you are visiting Orvieto on a day trip from Rome . Time will be limited and you may have to limit yourself to a handful of attractions

Using my one-day Orvieto itinerary as an example, here are the best things to do if you have limited time in the city.

• Total cost of individual tickets €16
• Cost with Orvieto City card €25

YOU LOSE €9

Of course, there are a few caveats.

If you can squeeze in a few more attractions during your day in Orvieto you will break even. Also, if you can take advantage of the discounts offered by partner restaurants, this will result in further savings.

Where to Buy Your Orvieto City Pass

You can buy your Orvieto City Pass at the following locations:

• The Orvieto tourist offices at Piazza del Duomo and Piazza Cahen (near the funicular station)
• All participating museums and monuments in Orvieto
• Online here

The Orvieto City Card comes with a handy fold-out map listing included attractions. I recommend getting a list of up-to-date opening hours from the tourist information office.

I hope that this Orvieto City Card review helps you decide if it’s the right choice for you

Finally, if you need more help with planning your visit to Orvieto, take a look at a few of my other articles about this gorgeous city:

• How to Do a Day Trip from Rome to Orvieto by Train
• Visiting Orvieto Cathedral, Italy: 10 Things to Know Before You Go
• Wine Tasting in Orvieto, Italy: 8 Fabulous Winery Tours

Bridget Coleman is an award-winning travel blogger who is an incurable Italy addict and has travelled its length & breadth on multiple occasions. Find out more here . To get in touch, email her at [email protected]

Orvieto City Pass

Visit 9 local orvieto landmarks with one card.

3.8 (12 reviews)

Immerse yourself in Italy's historic city of Orvieto with a single-pass ticket to all of its best museums and attractions. Explore ceramics and bronze items excavated from the area, on view at the National Archaeological Museum. Glimpse the city's spiritual history at Orvieto Cathedral. See the vast complex that winds under the ancient quarter of Orvieto at the Well of the Quarry, and explore the foreboding Crocifisso del Tufo, an Etruscan necropolis that owes its name to a crucifix engraved in the tuff inside a rock chapel. By purchasing the Single Card, you're also entitled to discounts at other attractions.

What is included?

* Cathedral of Orvieto with the Chapel of San Brizio * Museum of the Opera del Duomo * Tower of the Moor * The well of the Quarry * Faina Museum * Necropolis of the Crocifisso del Tufo * National Archaeological Museum * Orvieto Underground * The Well of San Patrizio

Where it is

Duomo of Orvieto, Piazza del Duomo

We recommend

Orvieto Travel Guide

What to see and where to stay in Orvieto, Italy

Orvieto is one of the most dramatically-situated hill towns in Italy, perched on a plateau atop huge tufa cliffs. Orvieto has a beautiful duomo (cathedral) and its monuments and museums cover millenniums of history starting with the Etruscans.

Many travelers visit Orvieto as a day trip from Rome, but this enchanting hill town offers plenty of diversion for a few days or more. It's a great stopping-off point between Rome and Florence, and highly recommended for its restaurants offering traditional Umbrian cuisine and local wines, shops selling made-in-Orvieto artisan goods, and its authentic, charming ambiance.

Orvieto Highlights

• Medieval Duomo with a stunning mosaic facade
• Underground passages
• Views from the Torre del Moro
• Saint Patrick's Well
• Etruscan sites
• Shopping for ceramics and handicrafts

Top Tourist Sights and Attractions in Orvieto

• The Medieval  Duomo , or cathedral, is one of the most impressive examples of medieval architecture in Italy. Building started in 1290 but it took almost four centuries to finish it. The cathedral's stunning facade is embellished with mosaics that glimmer in the sunlight. The Gothic style interior holds frescoes by Fra Angelico and Signorelli and beautiful wooden choir stalls.
• Underground caves and passageways dug into the tufa beneath the city have been in use since Etruscan times. During the Middle Ages, the network of passages grew larger and was used for water cisterns, cold storage and pigeon breeding. Daily tours of the Orvieto Underground  can be booked at the tourist office across from the Duomo. Self-guided tours of the private PozzodellaCava are also recommended.  
• Torre del Moro , 47 meters tall, is the highest point in the city. From the top of the tower, there are incredible views over the Umbrian valley and hills.
• Saint Patrick's Well , built in the early 16th century, is an architectural marvel. Its double spiral staircases run along the sides of the well, 62 meters deep, without meeting. Each has 248 steps and is just wide enough for pack animals to descend and then carry water back up.
• Etruscan sites  are mainly outside the historic center and include remnants of the Etruscan wall around the town, tombs and a necropolis. Two excellent archaeological museums on Piazza del Duomo hold fascinating artifacts from excavations within and nearby the city.
• Albornoz Fortress  is a Spanish castle at one end of the upper town where an Etruscan temple once stood. The original fortress was torn down and this one dates from the mid-fifteenth century.
• Lovely Via del Duomo  is lined with shops selling local Orvieto-style ceramics, as well as wine, olive oil, meats and cheeses from the vicinity. A stroll down Corso Cavour, Orvieto's main drag, reveals casual trattorias and wine bars, clothing and accessory stores, and a colorful slice of Italian life.

Orvieto Location

Orvieto is in the southwest of central Italy's Umbria region . It's about 60 miles north of Rome, just off the A1 toll road between Rome and Florence. Orvieto can be visited as a Rome day trip or on a guided day trip from Rome that includes transportation and a visit to Assisi.

Where to Stay and Eat in Orvieto

• Orvieto has several quality hotels, B&Bs and vacation rentals in all different price ranges. Recommended options include Hotel Virgilio, Hotel Palazzo Piccolomini.
• For regional cuisine, head to Trattoria del Moro, La Palomba or Grotte del Funaro, located underground in a former rope-maker's workshop.

Orvieto Transportation

Orvieto, on the Florence - Rome line, is easily reached by train. Its train station is in the lower town, connected to the upper town by a funicular. There are large covered parking areas on Via Roma and at  Campo della Fiera just outside the upper town. Elevators and escalators help transport visitors to the historic center, which is closed to non-resident traffic. A mini-bus runs through the town and stops at the major tourist sights.

Tourist Information

The tourist information office is on Piazza del Duomo , the large square in front of the cathedral. They sell the Carta Unica that includes major sites and museums as well as the bus and funicular. The card can also be bought at the railway station parking lot.

Shopping in Orvieto

Orvieto is a main center ​for majolica pottery and many shops in town sell the pottery. Other handicrafts are lace making, wrought iron work, and wood crafts. Wine, especially white, is made in the vineyards of the hills and you can taste or buy it in town.

Around Orvieto

Orvieto makes a good base for exploring southern Umbria (see Best Umbria Hill Towns ) and the neighboring region of Northern Lazio with Etruscan sites, gardens, and interesting small towns. Rome can even be visited as a day trip from Orvieto, just over an hour by train.

The 14 Best Day Trips from Rome

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How to Get From Rome to Orvieto

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17 Cool Things to Do in Orvieto, Italy (+ Travel Guide)

Etruscan ruins, opulent churches, stunning views: there are lots of incredibly cool things to do in Orvieto, Italy!

We’ve had our eye on this adorable hilltop town for a while: with its long history dating back to the Etruscans and picture-perfect setting on a cliff in Umbria, we were eager to explore its back streets, check out its Duomo (because every Italian town needs a Duomo!), and sample its delicious food.

Beyond that, though, we really had no idea what we would actually do there until we booked some train tickets and started planning our trip.

And to our surprise, it turns out that there are plenty of fun things to do in Orvieto!

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Orvieto was one of the most important cities in the region during Etruscan times, and (much) later served as a home for the pope.

With a history like that, it should come as no surprise that the Orvieto of today is an engaging and multi-faceted place to visit.

Heading to this charming piece of Umbria soon?

Here’s what to do in Orvieto, Italy.

Table of Contents

The Best Things to Do in Orvieto, Italy

About the orvieto card, getting to orvieto, italy, getting around orvieto, how long to visit orvieto, italy.

Marvel at the Orvieto Cathedral.

Orvieto’s Cathedral (usually known as the Duomo, as in most cities in Italy) has one of the most beautiful facades we have ever seen!

The carvings and mosaics on the Duomo practically demand that you plop down in the Piazza del Duomo and properly admire it for a few minutes.

Once inside, be sure to check out the Cappella di San Brizio!

While most of the interior of this Duomo is rather stark, this small chapel is absolutely magnificent–and disturbing.

The depictions of hell on the ceiling, complete with flying demons, countless acts of violence, and streams of blood, are some of the creepiest we have come across in Italy (which, frankly, is really saying something).

Check out the underground.

Did you know that there are 1200 caves under Orvieto?

Each one of them is man-made, some dating back as far as the Etruscans, and each has been put to good use.

Be sure to add a tour of the underground to your list of things to do in Orvieto!

It’s amazing to get underneath the city and learn more about the many, many uses the caves have had over the years.

Unlike most things to do in Orvieto, this one does require scheduling (slightly) in advance.

We recommend heading to the tourism office in the Piazza del Duomo when you arrive and signing up for a tour, and then structuring the rest of your time in Orvieto around that.

… And also the Pozo della Cava.

Pozo della Cava is a privately owned cave in Orvieto and is an interesting opportunity to learn more about the city’s history (their detailed, multilingual signage is impressive!).

It’s also a great place to get an up-close-and-personal look at one of Orvieto’s many wells.

Descend into St. Patrick’s Well.

While you can peer into the well at the Pozo della Cava, at St. Patrick’s Well, you can climb all the way down inside!

It’s beautiful and eerie to look up and see the perfectly cylindrical well reaching 175 feet above your head, and definitely an experience worth adding to your list of things to do in Orvieto.

Give a pigeon dish a try.

Seemingly every small village in Italy has its own local dish or food associated with it, and in Orvieto, it’s pigeon.

Pigeons were originally farmed in the caves under Orvieto, though today they’re produced in more modern facilities.

For a truly local meal, order the pigeon (in Italian, “piccione”) for lunch!

Check out Etruscan artifacts at the Museo Claudio Faina.

Claudio Faina was a private collector of Etruscan artifacts, but his collection (and the stunning palazzo it is housed in) are now open to the public.

The museum is located right across from the Duomo, so be sure to duck in for a quick look at Etruscan history in Orvieto!

Head to the Archaeological Museum.

It’s hard to imagine today, given Orvieto’s status as a charming yet tiny Italian town, but Orvieto was one of the most important cities in Etruscan culture.

In addition to the Etruscan archaeological sites in Orvieto, the Archaeological Museum offers a fantastic opportunity to view Etruscan artifacts and to learn more about Etruscan history and their way of life.

The museum will give excellent context to your visit to Orvieto, as well as the region as a whole.

View the ruins of an Etruscan necropolis.

It’s not every small town that can say they’re the home of a 2,500-year-old cemetery, but Orvieto can!

Several distinct graves–complete with inscribed family names–can still be seen at the necropolis.

… And also the ruins of the Temple of Belvedere.

This Etruscan temple was probably built to honor the god Tinia, the Etruscans’ highest god, and the remains of the temple can still be seen to this day.

Certain artifacts that have been found there can also be seen in the Museo Claudio Faina.

Soak in amazing views at the top of the Torre del Moro.

No trip to an Italian hilltop town could be complete without visiting an amazing viewpoint!

Without a doubt, climbing the Torre del Moro is one of the most memorable things to do in Orvieto.

On a clear day, you can see all across Orvieto and beyond into the Umbrian countryside, and the views are absolutely breathtaking (as is the climb, and there is no elevator option).

Stroll through the Albornoz Fortress.

Built in the Middle Ages, this castle-like fortress stands at the very edge of Orvieto.

If you arrive in town via the funicular, it’ll likely be the first thing you see in Orvieto!

Today, the fortress is mostly used as a public garden, complete with an amphitheater for performances and absolutely stunning views of the surrounding Umbrian countryside.

Stop by the Piazza della Repubblica.

Long the center of public life in Orvieto, this small piazza may not be the most picturesque, but it’s an unmissable attraction in Orvieto, Italy.

Home to the town hall to this day and once the center of the city’s religious life (until the Duomo was erected on the edge of town), it’s worth noting the Piazza della Repubblica on your list of things to see in Orvieto.

Step inside the Church of San Giovenale.

Standing proudly on the edge of Orvieto, this charming church boasts a long history.

Built in 1004 on the site of a former Etruscan temple, it has the feel of a weathered building that has seen many things come and go during its life.

The interior is still partially decorated with frescoes, so be sure to stop and take a peek inside!

… And then enjoy the nearby views.

The Church of San Giovenale stands on the edge of town… which means the nearby views are absolutely stunning.

We spent a long time blissfully admiring the countryside from one of the benches situated at this vantage point.

Other than the occasional meandering local with their baby or pup, we had the view all to ourselves!

Taste the Orvieto Classico wine.

In addition to being a town, Orvieto is also the name of the surrounding wine region!

Known primarily for its white Orvieto Classico wine, wine lovers should be sure to order a glass while exploring Orvieto.

If you have enough time, you can even head to a nearby vineyard and add a wine tasting to your list of things to do in Orvieto!

Spend hours exploring the small streets of Orvieto.

One of the best things to do in Orvieto is quite simple: wander the streets.

It’s simply not possible to get too lost here–you’ll always be a short walk away from something familiar–but it’s lots of fun to simply turn down random streets and see what turns up.

Beautiful homes, charming small businesses, quiet corners, and plenty of adorable dogs are just waiting to be found.

We loved every moment of our visit to Orvieto, but if we had to pick just a few favorites, the quiet moments spent wandering streets at random would definitely be among them.

Shop for local souvenirs.

Hoping to nab some delicious cured meats, local olive oil, wine, or truffle-infused products during your trip to Italy?

Be sure to browse the small streets of Orvieto!

Many of the shops here offer memorable local products… that frequently come with a lower price tag than those in larger, popular cities like Rome and Florence.

For 25 Euros, you can purchase the Orvieto Card , which covers 9 of the most popular things to do in Orvieto, Italy.

The Duomo, the underground, St. Patrick’s Well, and the Torre del Moro are all among the Orvieto attractions included.

Round-trip public transportation to the old town from the train station via the funicular is also included with the card.

If you’re going to be doing quite a bit of sightseeing in Orvieto, we recommend picking up the Orvieto Card as soon as you get to town–preferably before you pay for the funicular up!

The cards are sold at all participating attractions, the train station, and the tourism office across the piazza from the Duomo.

If you’re so inclined, the card can also be used for small discounts at certain local restaurants and shops.

Orvieto is easily accessible via train from both Florence (about 2.5 hours travel time each way) and Rome (about 1.5 hours travel time each way) and is an easy day trip from both cities.

You can also drive to Orvieto, which is a great option if you’re hoping to see some smaller sights and attractions along the way.

If you happen to be driving from Rome to Florence as part of an Italy road trip, Orvieto is among the best stops between the two cities!

However, you’ll need to secure parking for your car before ascending into Orvieto’s old town–you can’t drive there without a permit.

If you’d rather skip worrying about transportation, this popular day trip includes a visit to Orvieto, a wine tasting at a vineyard, and a visit to beautiful Assisi!

Book your day trip to Orvieto today!

Orvieto is tiny, and once you ride the funicular and/or escalators up into the old town, you won’t need to do anything other than walk to get around!

When visiting Orvieto, we walked directly from one side to the other in less than half an hour, and we weren’t moving particularly fast.

One day in Orvieto is plenty of time to see all the major and some of the minor sights, and for most travelers, we recommend visiting as a day trip from either Florence or Rome.

We loved having a chance to savor the best things to do in Orvieto, but you can see the best sights relatively quickly!

Unless you only want to relax in a beautiful setting (which is admittedly a wonderful way to spend a trip to Italy), anything beyond a day is overkill for Orvieto.

If you would like to spend more time there, consider also making time to explore Umbria beyond Orvieto, starting with the nearby wineries!

About Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

42 thoughts on “17 Cool Things to Do in Orvieto, Italy (+ Travel Guide)”

Orvieto is so pretty! I have never heard of this place before but it looks so charming. I love little winding streets and that cathedral is BANANAS! Also bananas? That pigeon is eaten! I guess you can’t knock it until you try it! Thanks for the tips!

Haha, right? It’s definitely not what I expected from a town in Italy, but then again, we’ve come to find there’s almost always a surprise in tiny towns like these. 😀

My husband, teenage son and I recently spent 6 days/5 nights in Orvieto. I completely agree with you that it is charming, beautiful and fascinating. The only point I would disagree with is that more than a day is overkill. After 6 days, none of us were ready to leave.

I’m glad you had such a wonderful time! Orvieto is certainly beautiful.

My hubby & I are attending a wedding in Orvieto next year. It’s also our own 20th wedding anniversary therefore we are planning on taking 2-weeks and traveling through Italy in the surrounding areas 🙂 It’s going to be our first time in Italy. Any other tips or suggestions would be amazing Kate! Thank you.

Congratulations on 20 years! That’s a wonderful accomplishment. 🙂

There’s a search bar in the top-right corner of our blog that you can use to find our suggested 2 week Italy itinerary for a first visit–it covers Rome, Cinque Terre, Florence, and Venice, and would be very easy to adapt to a wedding in Orvieto! If you’d rather stick to a close geographic region, Tuscany and Umbria alone could easily fill a trip–Siena, Montepulciano, Cortona, Florence, Assisi, Perugia, San Gimignano, and Volterra are all very close by and worth looking into!

Personally, though, I’d have to suggest broadening it a bit further and visiting at least Rome or Venice for a look at a different region of Italy.

Whatever you choose, I have no doubt it’ll be an amazing trip for you guys!

Kate; One day in Orvieto? ?WRONG!!!, Kate this advice is misdirecting people. I live in Orvieto and can assure you that all tourists who visit Orvieto for one day, leave complaining that one day is not enough. The comment we hear -without exception, is “what a shame that we are staying here for one day only”. My advice to your readers and take it from someone living here for 7 years, is that if you are coming to Orvieto one day is NOT enough, make it 2 nights, arrive early so you get to enjoy a full 3 day visit. Unless your goal is to see everything and appreciate nothing then 1/2 a day will do it. Other than that, you have done a wonderful job at describing the lovely, peaceful atmosphere of Orvieto, matching its interesting sites with the history behind it, and one more thing a typical dish Orvietano is pasta with fresh truffle yum, yum

great article with lots of ideas. we are staying outside the town in Sept. and will have a car. where can we park?

Thanks so much!

There are several places to park around town, but we recommend the Campo della Fiera parking for something easy to access and without the need to drive into the historic center (which we strongly recommend avoiding–way too easy to accidentally access a ZTL zone and end up with a ticket mailed to your address months later).

Enjoy Orvieto!

I think you have to first asses what you like to do, if you like big cities or smaller villages, churches and basilicas, if you like mountains, or scenic vistas over water or outdoor trekking, wine country, foodie towns, etc. You cannot do it all in two weeks and you are better of picking say 3 places beyond Orvieto rather than be overly ambitious. If you are in Orvieto for the wedding than I’m assuming your flying into Rome so you could arrive early and see the Rome highlights, then Orvieto, then train up to Florence (another busy place) OR if you have a car you could drive into Tuscany and see Sienna or Lucca or Pisa, or other San or Multa towns. Santa Margherita / Portofino on the coast are more upscale than Cinque Terrae but if you love hiking choose the latter. To the south of Rome Sorrento, Capri, Positano are spectacular views. Good Luck !

I agree that Orvieto is wonderful, but I completely disagree that a single day is enough time there! I studied in Orvieto for 5 months and I still feel as though there was more to do and see. The theater has great shows, the food festivals (almost weekly in the summer!) bring the rest of Umbria to the Orvietan hilltop, and the religious holidays and historical reenactments truly demonstrate the history of the city beyond even hat all the wonderful museums have to offer.

To each their own, Erin & Katy! I’m glad you love your adopted home, but most of our readers are lucky to have a couple of weeks to try to see large swaths of Italy and our advice is geared toward them.

Orvieto is beautiful, but on a short trip to Italy as opposed to a long-term expat experience like yours, I definitely stand by my advice.

Of course, for travelers looking for a quiet trip based in a small town in Italy, Orvieto sure is a lovely choice, though not my first one. 🙂

Recommendations of hotels or inns with breakfast? Thank you

I’m in Orvieto right now. I think a day is far too short unless.ypu want to be running from place to place and your happy to only to be able to say you’ve been there. After a single day, I don’t think you can say anything else about it. I spent a full hour in the Duomo alone just soaking up the ambience and the amazing art. I think you could comfortably spend 3 or 4 days here and really enjoy what it has to offer rather than rushing through.

Glad you had a great time! The Duomo is lovely, we particularly enjoyed the Cappella di San Brizio.

My daughter & I just took a day trip here from Rome on your suggestion. Thank you for sharing! We had a great time & saw most of what you suggested here. Loved the Moro Tower. We agree one day was enough though & are glad that we got to head back to Rome. We both prefer the city in general & there’s just so much we still want to see there.

So glad we could help! The Torre del Moro was one of our favorites too, love the views from up there. We were lucky enough to climb on a gorgeous fall day which also helped.

I agree, you can never run out of things to do in Rome–it’s probably my favorite city in the world and I doubt I’ll ever tire of exploring its nooks and crannies.

We hired a car and drove around Tuscany then got robbed in Varenna on Lake Como. Thieves stole all our luggage from the boot of the car a Fiat 500. We were only away 2 hours… walking down to the ferries for a ride to Bellagio. We had left it in the car because we had just checked out. Just don’t leave belongings in your hire car. Italy has thieves everywhere!

I’m so sorry that happened to you, Julie! What an awful experience.

I know this doesn’t help now, but for anyone else who happens to read this, I will say it’s considered advisable in Italy (and most places, honestly) to not have any luggage or valuables visible in the car when you leave it.

Of course being robbed isn’t the norm, but that doesn’t make it any less terrible when it does happen!

I hope the rest of your trip was much more pleasant.

If visiting Orvieto for two nights in September, where would be the best location to keep a rental car? Grazie

I’d double-check with your hotel just to make sure you find the best place in relation to where you’re staying, but there’s a large parking lot at the base of Orvieto next to the train station that will likely be best!

Hello – My husband and I are planning to visit in the spring with my mom. How easy is it for her to get around there? Is it one of those places where everything seems uphill? She is not in a wheelchair, but it will not be enjoyable to take longer or strenuous walks.

Once you’re up in the historic center (and there’s a funicular to help you up), Orvieto is fairly flat for an Italian hilltop town! There is undeniably quite a bit of walking involved, though, as it’s really the only practical way to get around in the center.

Thank you! That is what I was hoping for. Some of the other hilltop towns we have visited were very hilly and wouldn’t be a good fit for a visit with my mom.

Beautiful town!! My daughter heading there for 6 week study abroad program, she is very excited!!! Fun things for her to see and they have trips to Florence and Rome!!

That’s so exciting! Orvieto is a beautiful place to study abroad. 🙂

Hello! My husband and I are visiting Italy 4/20/22-5/4/22 and are arriving in Rome, staying for 4 days and we are wondering from your experience, would it be better to head up to Venice after that and work our way to Cinque Terre, Florence and Orvieto then back to Rome or to leave Rome, go to Orvieto, Florence, Cinque Terre, then Venice and take the long train back to Rome for departure the day before we depart. Any other input is welcome. Thank you so much! I am enjoying your blog and information which is so helpful! Shannon

Thanks, Shannon!

Either way can be a wonderful trip. Totally depends on your preferences, there aren’t any pitfalls I see there.

The high-speed train between Rome and Venice makes traveling between the two very doable, but make sure to book in advance (tickets can get pricey and go up in price the closer you get to travel).

Hope you guys have an amazing time–looks like a fabulous itinerary. 🙂

Enjoyed your blog about Orvieto. Planning 3 weeks in Italy this fall and want to see many small towns and avoid heavily touristy places. Any advice on how to divide and conquer the country in 3 weeks? Presently looking at Dolomites, NW (Bergamo, Barolo fav wine, Camogli) then Tuscany/Umbria (Saturnia, Anghiari,Florence, Orvieto, Civita di Bagnoregio, Ravenna), Rome (Ostia Antica), Amalfi coast(Ravello, Procida, Pompeii, Salerno), then to Puglia/Basilicata (Maratea, Matera, Sant Agata’di Puglia, Otranto, Ostuni, Ginosa. It seems that many of our wish list could be day trips from central locations in each region? Would you recommend renting a car for a trip like this or could we see most of these by train? Any advice most appreciated! Thank you!

Thanks so much, Deb!

That sounds like quite the wish list–many amazing places, but I think you’ll find that you’ll want to trim it down a bit.

Personally, with 3 weeks, I’d pick no more than 3-4 hubs to do day trips from. You could push it to 5, but if you’re day-tripping almost every day, that is going to feel like a lot of moving around and not much savoring. Some places you mention are a bit further apart than you might think (Ravenna is on the eastern side of Emilia-Romagna, for example–technically doable by train from Florence but still a lot of travel).

You’ll probably want to do a mix of rental cars and times without one, depending on what bases you choose. You’ll definitely want one in Puglia, but in the Amalfi Coast area, for example, trains + buses + taxis + ferries will be easier. And, of course, you won’t want a car for any time that you’re based in Rome or Florence.

In Tuscany (and beyond–the day trips you mention cover 4 of Italy’s 20 regions!), I’d recommend picking one base (two if one of them is Florence) and sticking to what’s within easy reach of you there. Tuscany is a fairly large region in its own right and driving between towns, parking, etc. can take up quite a bit of time. Whether you choose north, central, or southern Tuscany, though, you’ll have tons of beautiful towns at your fingertips!

Believe me, I know how hard it is to trim down where to go (we still always leave Italy with more places added to our wish list than taken off), but getting exhausted and burned out on moving isn’t fun either. 🙂

Hi Kate, we have most of our trip planned and but would love your recommendation. we are driving from Rome to Florence and I thought we’d stop in Siena but after reading your blog I’m intrigued by Orvieto. I can only stop 1 place for about 3 hours. which would you pick? Thanks! RK

Ah, that’s a hard call!

They’re both well worth visiting, but in your case, I’d opt for Orvieto.

It’s smaller, so you can see more in a few hours, and it’s also right on your route rather than a detour out of the way.

Hi Kate, Not knowing the daily rental for a Jeep (4 people and luggage) would cost, would you recommend having a car to do daily excursions from Florence? Thank you! Mara

Generally not, no! Having a car and dealing with parking in Florence is doable, but a pain. Add in the fact that you’re talking about a VERY big vehicle by Florence standards, and it’s not typically worth it.

In most cases, I’d recommend either having a car and staying outside of Florence/in the countryside if you want more of a road-trip feel, or staying in Florence and sticking with trains, buses, and organized tours for day trips.

If you have one day trip in particular that you really want to do by car from Florence, you could even consider renting a car just for that day, rather than keeping it overnight or for your whole trip.

Kate, we are driving from Rome to the Tuscan countryside and had Orvieto recommended as a good halfway stop. Do you have a lunch restaurant recommendation and is it too risky for us to stop with luggage in our car? Thanks for all the other suggestions.

Trattoria La Palomba is a great, casual lunch spot! I recommend getting there right when they open to make sure you get a spot.

As far as the luggage goes–nothing in life is zero risk, of course, but personally we feel comfortable stopping with luggage in our car in Italy as long as nothing is visible in the vehicle (this is standard best practice for parking a car in Europe–put away any phone chargers into the glove box, etc.).

Rental cars in Europe that don’t have a traditional trunk (like an SUV) tend to have a cover that pulls over the back of the trunk area, concealing any contents from sight.

Hope you guys have a great time!

I wonder if a cooking class is offered anywhere in Orvieto? We would love to visit this charming city. Nancy

I’m not familiar with any, but most Italian towns with a solid tourism presence do have at least a couple available!

If you don’t find one you like in Orvieto, we loved the one we took outside of Florence. We talk about it in the “experiences outside of Florence” section of this post: https://www.ourescapeclause.com/best-day-trips-from-florence-italy/

Hi Kate! Mind sharing with me where the first and last pictures were taken if they were specific locations? Thanks so much!

The last photo in the post (the one with the narrow building between two streets) was taken where Via della Cava and Via Malabranca meet, on the western edge of town. If you keep following Via della Cava west from there, you’ll reach the Pozzo della Cava. The *very* last photo (the graphic that has the post title on it for Pinterest) was taken from the top of the Torre del Moro.

Sadly I don’t remember the exact location of the first photo, but I know we took it on the western side of town as we wandered around, not too far from the final photo. If I remember correctly, we were headed to the overlook on the edge of town by the Chiesa di San Giovenale, but hadn’t reached it yet.

Hope you have a great time in Orvieto! 🙂

Hi. If I want to visit Orvieto but dont want to buy the 25 Euro card, can one walk to the town or what does the venicular cost? I was planning to spend a night there but as access seems to be a problem this might not be the ideal night stop? Congratulations on a wonderful site with so much info!!👏🏻👏🏻

Hi Michelle,

Funicular tickets are 2.6 Euro round-trip, and you definitely don’t have to buy the card if you don’t want to! Wandering through the town and enjoying the shops, restaurants, views, free-to-access churches, etc, is still wonderful.

If you do want to mix in a paid attraction or two, I recommend prioritizing the Torre del Moro and/or the Duomo.

Thanks so much, and hope you have a great time!

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The 10 Must-See Gems of Orvieto: Uncovering the Heart of Umbria

Perched on a rock cliff, the enchanting city of Orvieto offers a panorama of terracotta rooftops amidst the rolling green landscape of Italy’s Umbria region. With its vibrant history, charming medieval streets, and heavenly cuisine, Orvieto is a captivating blend of culture, art, nature, and gastronomy. Its hilltop location may have been originally chosen for strategic reasons, but today, it provides visitors with breathtaking vistas that add to the city’s magic.

In this medieval city, history seeps from every stone, and traditions passed down through generations are alive in every corner. From the stunning black and white striped Duomo, an architectural masterpiece that dominates the skyline, to the mysterious underground city, there is an abundance of sightseeing treasures to be discovered.

In this guide, we have curated the top 10 experiences you should not miss while in Orvieto, taking you on a journey through time and allowing you to live the authentic Italian ‘la dolce vita.’ Whether you are a history buff, a food connoisseur, a wine enthusiast, or simply a lover of beautiful landscapes, Orvieto has something to enthrall you. So, let’s embark on this unforgettable adventure and uncover the best of what Orvieto has to offer.

Absolutely, here’s a list of the top 10 things to do and see when you visit the charming hilltop town of Orvieto, Italy:

1. Duomo di Orvieto : This 14th-century cathedral is renowned for its stunning façade adorned with mosaics and sculptures, and the breathtaking frescoes inside, particularly in the San Brizio Chapel.

2. Pozzo di San Patrizio : Known as St. Patrick’s Well, this is a remarkable piece of engineering with a double spiral staircase. Descend into this fascinating well for a unique experience.

3. Orvieto Underground : Discover the network of caves, tunnels, and galleries carved into the tufa rock beneath the town, highlighting Orvieto’s Etruscan origins.

4. Torre del Moro : Climb up this 13th-century tower for panoramic views of Orvieto and the surrounding Umbrian countryside.

5. Piazza del Popolo : Spend time in this spacious square, the political and social heart of Orvieto. The surrounding buildings include the Palazzo del Popolo and the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo, both dating back to the 13th century.

6. Museo Claudio Faina e Civico : This museum houses an extensive collection of Etruscan artifacts, providing a deeper understanding of the area’s ancient history.

7. Wine Tasting at Local Vineyards : Orvieto is renowned for its white wines. Visit a local vineyard or enoteca (wine bar) to sample the regional varietals, especially Orvieto Classico.

8. Museo Emilio Greco : Visit this museum to appreciate the works of the modern sculptor and artist Emilio Greco, including his stunning bronze doors for the Duomo.

9. Take a Cooking Class : Enroll in a cooking class and learn to prepare traditional Umbrian dishes. It’s a fun, hands-on way to engage with the local culture.

10. Enjoy Local Cuisine : Orvieto’s culinary scene is rich with regional specialties like wild boar, truffles, and umbricelli pasta. Dine at local restaurants to savor the authentic flavors of Umbria.

These are just a few highlights of the many attractions you’ll find in Orvieto, a city where centuries of history blend seamlessly with vibrant local culture.

Most popular excursions to do in Orvieto

Here are the 10 most popular excursions to do in Orvieto, ranked by popularity:

1. Rome: Assisi and Orvieto Day Tour – Discover Assisi and Orvieto on this guided full-day trip. Visit the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, see the gothic architecture of Orvieto, and more. Price: From US$ 374.29.

2. Orvieto: 2-Hour Cathedral and Underground Tour – Take your time to be amazed by the facade of Orvieto’s Cathedral, one of the most beautiful churches in the world. Learn about the spectacular Signorelli’s frescoes and feel inspired as Michelangelo did five centuries ago. Price: From US$ 129.07.

3. Orvieto & Civita di Bagnoregio Private Tour from Rome – Enjoy a scenic drive and visit of Orvieto and Civita built on top of a plateau of tufa stone. You’ll have time to walk around, visit the villages, time for pictures and lunch at local place. Price: From US$ 1021.78.

4. Orvieto: Private Walking Tour with the Cathedral of Orvieto – Enjoy a walking tour of Orvieto and let yourself be carried away by the frescos in the Cathedral of Orvieto. Follow your guide to the Pozzo di San Patrizio well and to the Torre del Moro tower. Price: From US$ 123.69.

5. Orvieto: Guided Walking Tour of Underground Orvieto – Discover the hidden jewel of the Umbrian region and its best side: under the surface. Join a small group in a guided visit to two masterpieces of the underground town: Pozzo della Cava and St. Patrick’s Well. Price: From US$ 118.31.

6. Todi: 2-Hour Private Walking Tour – The historic center of Todi reflects the wealth and prosperity of this lovely town in the Middle Ages. With this tour, you will explore the city center focusing on the famous central square closed on one side by the Cathedral of Saint Mary. Price: From US$ 209.73.

7. Orvieto & Civita di Bagnoregio: Private E-Bike Tour – Explore the countryside on the outskirts of Rome on a 14-hour bike tour of the Tiber Valley, passing the north of Lazio and the southern tip of Umbria. Cycle to the “dying” town of Civita di Bagnoreggio, see Orvieto’s magnificent cathedral, and much more. Price: From US$ 443.67.

8. Orvieto: Private Walking Tour w/ a Local – Discover more than 2,500 years of Italian history on a private, 2-hour walking tour of Orvieto. Price: From US$ 209.73.

9. Assisi and Orvieto Full-Day Excursion from Rome – Enjoy a day trip to Assisi and Orvieto from Rome. You’ll have a guided walking tour of Assisi in Umbria, learning about its Patron, St. Francis, and visiting the Convent of Santa Chiara. In the afternoon you’ll see Orvieto’s stunning Gothic cathedral. Price: From US$ 245.23.

10. From Rome: Full-Day Assisi & Orvieto Semiprivate Tour – Visit the historic center of Assisi on a full-day tour from Rome, and learn the story of its patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi. Go to the Convent of Santa Chiara and continue through the countryside of Umbria Orvieto to admire the Gothic cathedral. Price: From US$ 277.49.

Our best tips and advices for visting Orvieto

Great! Here are some of the best tips and advice for your visit to Orvieto:

1. Best Time to Visit: The best times to visit Orvieto are during spring (April to June) and autumn (September to October). The weather during these periods is generally pleasant, and the city is less crowded compared to the summer months.

2. Getting There and Around: Orvieto is well-connected by train from Rome and Florence, making it a perfect day trip. However, to fully experience the town, consider staying overnight. Once there, the town is compact and easy to navigate on foot. There is also a funicular that connects the lower town with the upper, hilltop part of Orvieto.

3. Dress Modestly: Orvieto, like many Italian towns, has several religious sites, including the stunning Duomo di Orvieto. It’s advisable to dress modestly (covering shoulders and knees) when visiting these places.

4. Try Local Cuisine: Orvieto’s cuisine is rich and varied. Be sure to try dishes like ‘umbricelli’ (hand-rolled pasta) in a truffle sauce, wild boar, and local cheeses. Also, don’t forget to enjoy Orvieto’s white wines.

5. Shop for Local Crafts: Orvieto has a strong tradition of ceramics. Look out for the colorful, hand-painted ceramics that make for great souvenirs or gifts.

6. Guided Tours: Consider taking a guided tour of the city. Local guides can provide a wealth of information about Orvieto’s history, architecture, and culture that you might miss otherwise.

7. Early Mornings and Late Evenings: These are the best times to explore the city. The soft light of the early morning or late evening makes the town particularly enchanting, and you’ll avoid the larger crowds of tourists.

8. Stay Hydrated: Especially in the summer months, temperatures can rise, so carry water with you and stay hydrated.

9. Respect the Siesta: Like much of Italy, Orvieto observes the afternoon rest period or ‘riposo’. Many shops close in the afternoon, usually from around 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, so plan your shopping or visits accordingly.

10. Purchase a Carta Unica: This tourist card gives you access to several of Orvieto’s main attractions for a single price, which can be more economical than buying individual tickets.

Remember, the charm of Orvieto lies not just in its landmarks but also in its cobbled streets, small piazzas, and the daily life of its people. So take your time to stroll around and soak up the atmosphere. Buon viaggio!

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Discover Orvieto, Italy: 6 Best Things to do

High atop a steep tufa hill in the lush Umbria region of Italy stands the enchanting town of Orvieto. Though small, the town boasts some of the most incredible sights in the area, making it a popular day trip destination from Rome . Wander through the winding cobblestone streets, and enjoy a delicious cup of coffee or local wine while taking in the views over the green surroundings. From Etruscan ruins and beautiful churches to the gorgeous vistas from up top, this stunning hilltop town holds lots to discover.  Here are all the best things to do in Orvieto, Italy .

Things to do in Orvieto, Italy

Perfectly situated on a massive limestone rock, the town of Orvieto sits high above the lush Italian landscape. With a long history dating all the way back to the Etruscans (900 – 27 BC), it has remained one of the most important strongholds throughout time.

When you approach the picture-perfect rock, you can immediately spot the Orvieto cathedral peering down onto the surrounding countryside. With nearly 3,000 years of history, this unique European town has plenty to offer, from beautifully preserved medieval architecture to underground tunnels and famous wine.

Tip: Depending on the time you visit Orvieto, the town organizes some exciting cultural events. There’s the Fotografia photography exhibition in summer or the Orvieto Winter Jazz Festival. The most famous event is the Corpus Domini celebration in June, when the streets fill with flower petals and songs.

Read more: The ultimate 2-week Italy road trip

1. Duomo di Orvieto (Orvieto Cathedral)

Orvieto is all about its grand Duomo, a breathtaking Gothic cathedral in the middle of the historic town. Somewhat reminiscent of the Duomo in Siena , the building features a huge facade covered in elaborate carvings and colorful mosaics. When the sunlight shines onto the cathedral, you can see the stunning details of the building fully come to life. 

Also read: Assisi, Italy: Best Things To Do

Make sure to make your way to the Piazza del Duomo to admire the magnificent exterior of this grand structure. You can enter the cathedral for a small fee to look at the beautiful (and strange) artworks on the inside. Especially the chapel is covered from top to bottom in different religious depictions. The stunning facade, intricate frescoes, and detailed sculptures make the Orvieto Cathedral one of the best things to do in Orvieto, Italy.

Here are all your hotel options in Orvieto.

2. St. Patrick’s Well 

Pozzo di San Patrizio, also known as St. Patrick’s well, is one of the best things to do in Orvieto. With an entire underground network carved into the rock that carries the town, this 175-feet deep (53-meter) well is one of many historical marvels. 

Hotels in Orvieto 😴

Located at the edge of the town’s center, just beside the cable car station up top, makes it the perfect starting place on your visit to Orvieto. Climb all the way down inside the cylindrical well through one of the two doorways at the top. As you descend deeper, walking the winding staircase, make sure to look at the arched windows that contribute to the surreal atmosphere. 

The well was originally built as a hiding place in case of a siege, commissioned by the escaped Roman Pope Clement VII. While imperial troops sacked neighboring Rome , Orvieto would always have an adequate water supply inside its fortress walls. 

Fun fact: Building the well was no easy task, and the construction continues to impress engineers today. Because of this, the Italians use the phrase “It’s like digging St. Patrick’s Well” when doing a challenging task.

3. Stroll the Streets

The narrow streets of the charming historic center of Orvieto are lined with colorful stone buildings and lively squares. Discover the laid-back atmosphere of the town by going for a stroll and turning down random alleys. It doesn’t matter where you go, as you’re never too far away from something familiar. Walk past beautiful family homes draped in lush flora and the castle-like Albornoz Fortress perched at the edge of town.

Also discover Perugia, the capital city of Umbria, Italy

Lots of the streets lead towards the Orvieto cathedral in the center, taking no longer than 10-15 minutes. However, it’s worth taking your time, peeking into little courtyards and local shops as you go. Here, you can also pick up authentic Italian souvenirs, from beautiful ceramics (the town’s craft) to delicious local wines or truffle-infused products. Some of the shops even have showrooms where you can watch the artisans work on their crafts!

4. Sit at One of the Many Wine Bars 

The hilltop town of Orvieto peers down onto a rich wine region bearing the same name. The area, primarily known for its white wines, predates Roman times and is one of the very best in Italy ! A trip to Orvieto would not be complete without sampling a glass of ‘Orvieto Classico’ or other delicious local wines. 

Wind down after a day full of sightseeing at one of the town’s incredible winebars, tucked between the beautiful local stores and quintessential homes. We sat down at Bottega Véra Orvieto , perfect for trying some local classics paired with a delicious cheese platter.

Tip: If you have time, consider adding a wine tasting at a local vineyard to your things to do in Orvieto. There are plenty of wineries in the area that offer tours to the cellars and through the lush vineyards.

See availability for a wine tour in Orvieto

5. Orvieto Underground

Though the historic hilltop town already has lots to marvel at, there’s much more to be discovered underground. Hidden beneath the surface, right under the buildings of Orvieto’s center, you’ll find a labyrinth of 1200 different tunnels, dating as far back as the Etruscans 2,500 years ago! 

The tunnels were accidentally discovered in the 1970s when a large opening appeared in the city center due to a landslide. Worried about potential repercussions, the people of Orvieto sent down a team to research the hole. Here, they discovered over 1000 different caves, passages, and chambers. 

Though most of the caves are privately owned, there are two open to the public for tours. Learn about the different uses of the man-made underground city as you walk through the fascinating network of tunnels. You can book a tour in advance or head to the tourism office on the Piazza del Duomo once you’re in town. This is by far one of the most unique things to do in Orvieto, Italy. 

Book an e-bike tour of Orvieto, including entrance to the underground city

Pozzo della Cava

One of the most interesting underground attractions to visit is Pozzo della Cava. This ancient cave well is over 2000 years old and originally built to provide water for the Etruscan settlement that once stood where you now find the town of Orvieto. 

With multiple levels of tunnels and rooms carved out of the tufa rock, you can descend about 118 feet (36 meters) below the surface. Dive deep into the town’s history as you walk through the tunnels. Make sure to look at the markings on the walls full of ancient inscriptions, medieval Christian symbols, and more recent graffiti. 

Pozzo della Cava is privately owned and can be visited on a guided or self-guided tour. It takes about 1 hour to make your way around the site, including a visit to a small museum full of artifacts from the well.

Book your Pozzo della Cava ticket in advance

6. Torre del Moro

Because of its high position above vineyards and the lush Umbrian countryside, there are plenty of incredible viewpoints to be found all over Orvieto. The historical clock tower Torre del Moro is the perfect place to come to for the best panoramic views. On a clear day, you can see all across Orvieto and far out over the surroundings – absolutely breathtaking!

Look at how the town’s winding streets come together at the Duomo di Orvieto. Or, watch as the summer sun shines onto the surrounding greenery, bathing everything in a golden light around sunset. You could spend hours admiring the scenery from up here. 

Climb about 236 steps to the top to reward yourself with stunning vistas. This is a popular thing to do in Orvieto and makes it a busy spot in town (there’s also a delicious gelato place in front)!

Best Cafes and Restaurants in Orvieto

Umbrian cuisine is known for its rustic dishes made of local ingredients and traditional cooking methods. From delicious appetizers to big bowls of freshly hand-made pasta, Orvieto has many restaurants that serve the best local food. Some of our favorite cafes and restaurants in Orvieto are:

• Bottega Vèra Orvieto
• Gastronomia Aronne
• FE3.0 (FEBO)

Grab a quick bite somewhere on the Piazza del Duomo or dine at one of the local trattorias tucked in the little alleys of the town. A must-try is strangozzi or umbricelli al tartufo : a pasta dish with thick noodles and an incredible sauce made of black truffles.

Where to Stay 

Though Orvieto is a popular destination for a day trip from neighboring cities, it’s worth it to spend the night in town to soak up more of its incredible atmosphere.

There are various accommodation options to choose from in Orvieto, from small hotels in the stone buildings of the historic center to agriturismo (farm stays) in the beautiful surrounding countryside. 

How to Visit Orvieto, Italy

Orvieto lies in the beautiful region of Umbria, only 1.5 hours away from Rome . Though you can easily fly into the country’s capital, it’s also possible to travel to Perugia first. Note, however, that flights have very specific times per day.

The easiest way to get to Orvieto is to drive. Renting a car and driving in Italy is an incredible experience and a great option if you’re hoping to see more of the country along the way. 

Due to its size, you can’t drive into Orvieto’s old town without a permit. Because of this, it’s best to park on the outskirts of town where there’s plenty of space ( here’s the location ). From there, you can take the funicular up to the top of the hill. 

We recommend to rent a car in Italy through Sunny Cars with free cancellation and insurance included. Book your rental car here .

You can also travel to the hilltop town via train from Florence (2.5 hours) or Rome (1.5 hours). Tickets cost between 7.90 – 12 EUR (8.50 – 12.92 USD), depending on when you purchase them. Getting them in advance is more affordable, but you can also buy tickets on the day of your trip.

Book your train tickets in advance

The train arrives at Piazzale Matteotti in Orvieto Scalo (the lower part of town), from where you can take the cable car up to the historical center. The cable car journey takes only 2 minutes and costs 1.60 EUR (1.72 USD) for a single trip. 

Visit Orvieto on a Tour

If you’d rather not take public transport, you can also join an organized tour to Orvieto . This also includes a wine tasting at a local vineyard and a visit to the beautiful town of Assisi .

See tickets and availability for a day tour to Orvieto from Rome

Getting Around

The small historical center is very walkable. In fact, it only takes 20 minutes to walk from one side to the other. Once you reach the top of the hill, you won’t need anything else than your own two feet to get around! 

Tip: You can also purchase the Orvieto Card , which covers the most popular things to do in Orvieto. Some of the sites included are the Duomo, the underground, St. Patrick’s well, and the Torre del Moro. However, a funicular round-trip to and back from the old town is also included. You can purchase the card online, at the train station, or at the tourism office on the Piazza del Duomo. 

Purchase your Orvieto Card online here

How Many Days in Orvieto?

The time you spend in the stunning town of Orvieto depends on your travel plans. If you’re on a tight schedule, one or two days is plenty of time to explore the beautiful charm and history of the center. However, if you want to spend more time immersing yourself in the local culture and incredible scenery, plan to stay for a few more days. The location and size of Orvieto make it a great destination on your road trip through Italy, too. 

Travel Insurance Don't forget a travel insurance for your Italy trip! Heymondo covers medical emergencies, theft, delays, cancellations, lost luggage, and more, with 24/7 worldwide assistance and medical chat. As a Salt in our Hair reader, we've got you 5% off! Check Heymondo here

How Much Does Orvieto Cost?

Much like the rest of Italy , the costs of visiting Orvieto depend on your choice of accommodation, food and drinks, transportation, and attractions. However, traveling the country is overall quite affordable.

Costs of Traveling in Orvieto

Travel on a budget in Orvieto, from $400 − $440 USD weekly per person, mid-range $620 − $1510 USD, and high-end from $1410 − $2210 USD. However, costs depend on factors like accommodation, transportation, and activities. We did not include flights. Check flight prices here

• Hotels: $30 − $200 USD Check available hotels
• Hostels: $20 − $40 USD Check available hostels
• Transport: $15 − $20 USD Book public transport
• Car Rental: $30 − $50 USD Book a rental car
• Food: $15 − $50 USD
• Activities: $5 − $10 USD See tickets & tours
• Travel Insurance: $2 − $6 USD Get Travel Insurance

There are many amazing budget-friendly hotels and guesthouses in and around Orvieto, and meals typically range from 10 – 15 EUR (10.77 – 16.50 USD) per person at a trattoria or pizzeria, up to around 50 EUR (53.86 USD) at a fancier restaurant.

Best Time to Visit Orvieto, Italy

Orvieto, Italy, makes a popular tourist destination in the peak season (June to August). It’s especially loved by locals who spend their vacation in the charming town or visit one of the many festivals and events during summer. The most famous event is the Corpus Domini celebration in June, when the streets are decorated with flower petals, and choir music travels through the streets.

If you prefer a more peaceful and relaxed time, visit in the shoulder seasons in April/May or September/October. During this time, there are fewer crowds and lower prices, but still plenty of the warm Umbrian sun. 

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9 Best Things To Do in Rome, Italy (3-day Guide)

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Set atop a gigantic plug of rock above fields streaked with vines, olive groves and cypress trees, Orvieto is one of Umbria’s star attractions. Its austere medieval centre is a classic of its kind, with weaving lanes, brown stone houses and cobbled piazzas, and its location between Rome and Florence ensures a constant stream of visitors. But what sets the town apart from its medieval neighbours is its breathtaking cathedral. This extraordinary vision, one of Italy's greatest Gothic churches, is stunning inside and out, with a sensational facade and frescoes that are said by some to rival Michelangelo's in the Sistine Chapel.

Leave the planning to a local expert

Experience the real Orvieto. Let a local expert handle the planning for you.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Nothing can prepare you for the visual feast that is Orvieto's soul-stirring Gothic cathedral. Dating from 1290, it sports a black-and-white banded…

Orvieto Underground

The coolest place in Orvieto (literally), this series of 440 caves (out of 1200 in the system) has been used for millennia by locals for various purposes …

Museo dell'Opera del Duomo di Orvieto

Housed in a complex of papal palaces, the Palazzi Papali, this museum showcases a fine collection of religious relics from the Duomo and paintings by…

Chiesa di San Giovenale

This tufa-brick church at the western end of town is one of Orvieto's oldest, dating from 1004. A solemn example of Romanesque-Gothic architecture, it…

Chiesa di Sant'Andrea

This 12th-century church, with its curious decagonal bell tower, presides over Piazza della Repubblica, once Orvieto's Roman forum and now a cafe-lined…

Museo Claudio Faina e Civico

Stage your own archaeological dig at this fantastic museum opposite the Duomo. It houses one of Italy's foremost collections of Etruscan finds, comprising…

Museo Archeologico Nazionale

Housed in the medieval Palazzo Papale behind the Duomo, Orvieto's archaeological museum holds plenty of interesting artefacts, some over 2500 years old…

Torre del Moro

This 47m-high tower has loomed over Orvieto's centro since the 13th century, though the clock was only added in 1866. Climb all 250 steps for sweeping 360…

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Orvieto’s city card

February 13, 2015 by Nat & Tim 14 Comments

Orvieto in winter

Here are a few highlights:

Some of the other attractions included with the City Card are:

Faina Archaeological Museum and the Civic Museo d’Arte Moderna Emilio Greco A return ticket for the funicular and local minibus.

Have you ever used a city card? Do you think they are worth the money?

Disclosure: InOrvieto were kind enough to give us two city cards to allow us to discover their city. The opinions in this post are our own.

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February 14, 2015 at 8:11 am

I want to visit Orvieto now, today, for Valentines. So many interesting things to do. We did use the City Card in Toulouse, Fr. Its a great idea.

February 16, 2015 at 3:43 pm

I think you’d really enjoy Orvieto!

February 23, 2015 at 1:52 pm

I’ve used a City Card on a couple of occasions, but as you mentioned, it can be difficult if they have a short time limit to give every attraction its due. The nativity isn’t my cup of tea, either. Seems creeptastic. LOL The vistas and the sculptures on the other hand are magnificent.

February 23, 2015 at 3:10 pm

We like city cards and have used them in many places. Orvieto looks an amazing place

February 23, 2015 at 4:48 pm

There are certainly a number of interesting things to see in Orvieto. (I admit I hadn’t heard of it until this post.) I think city cards can be a good deal in the right circumstances. You need to be planning to take in enough of the attractions to make it worth while and have enough time to do so. When my sister and I were in Barcelona, she bought one and I didn’t. She was staying longer than I was and had time to take in a couple more things. It wouldn’t have paid off for me – it did for her.

February 23, 2015 at 5:28 pm

I’ve used city cards in Lyon, Barcelona, New York and Bologna….but none had such a liberal time limit. How great not to be rushed!

February 23, 2015 at 8:41 pm

We have used city cards in several places and found them to be quite useful. Orvieto looks like it would be a good choice too.

February 24, 2015 at 3:49 pm

The Orvieto City Card sounds like a good investment. I think most of them are if you check first to see if you’re going to be visiting the places they represent.

February 26, 2015 at 4:11 am

No, I haven’t ever used these cards – Do they vary in price from city to city? You look as though you raced around and certainly made the most of yours! 🙂

March 1, 2015 at 4:41 pm

They vary in price depending on the city, this one was €20 and good for one year. Some are more expensive and are only good for a a few days. We saw everything over a period of a week which was good because there was a lot to see.

February 26, 2015 at 5:32 pm

Great photos! Orvieto looks so interesting and beautiful. Sometimes the city cards can be worth it just to skip the ticket lines at the most popular museums. One that is good for a year (and only €20) sounds good to me!

February 28, 2015 at 11:41 am

That’s one Italian city I haven’t seen. Looks as if there’s so much to see you’d need the whole year to see it all!

February 28, 2015 at 3:26 pm

I certainly think you got your money’s worth with the city card. We visited Orvieto when my daughter was abroad in Florence and loved it. Easy to manage and so many places to see. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.

March 1, 2015 at 10:06 am

City cards are a great deal and it looks like you took full advantage of all the sights you could see. We also like the audio tours because they give such great back stories and tidbits that we would miss otherwise. Orvieto look like a fabulous city to visit and it looks like you could spend days wandering around finding new sights. We’ll have to put it on our list of “can’t miss” places.

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Monuments in Orvieto

Enjoy a unique city with more than 3000 years of history!

There are numerous  monuments and attractions in Orvieto . A city that is a perfect example of an italian medieval hill town. Here are the main sights and symbols of the city, from the stunning Duomo and the St.Patrick well to other important medieval and Etruscan attractions like the Etruscan Necropolis and the Temple of Belvedere.

Moreover, you can not miss the original and important underground locations of Orvieto, natural and artificial caves, wells and tunnels digged from the etruscan period until today.

Interested in a city tour with an expert local guide? Look at the page of Orvieto guided tours

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Paul Passing Through is a travel blog designed to give you travel tips, travel recommendations and travel itineraries to help make the most of your travel time!

Orvieto: One of Italy’s Most Charming Hilltop Towns

Orvieto in Italy’s Umbria region is frequently ranked as one of the country’s top hilltop towns. After my lovely but far-too-short visit there in May 2022, I can attest that it more than deserves these accolades!

With the exception of its wonderful duomo, Orvieto doesn’t have any must-see tourist attractions, but it’s partly for that reason that Orvieto is so special. It invites you to slow down for a bit while you take in its medieval ambience and charming streets.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t still plenty of things to do! Orvieto has its duomo, the MoDo City Museum and an assortment of other smaller attractions worth seeing to fill up your time. The fairy tale hilltop town of Civita di Bagnoregio is also just a short drive away.

So, grab a vino and keep reading to see what awaits you in the town of Orvieto!

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I will earn a small commission. This occurs at no added cost to you.

Table of Contents

Civita di Bagnoregio

You’ve probably seen Civita di Bagnoregio on social media. It’s the small walled medieval town perched precariously atop a hill in the middle of a forested canyon. Civita di Bagnoregio looks more like a scene from an artist’s brush than an actual town.

A visit here is a must for many, but is it actually worth driving the 30 minutes from Orvieto?

At the very least, you should drive to the viewpoint for the view. It truly is stunning and one of the best in Italy, even if you have to go out of your way a bit to see it.

However, whether or not you should walk into Civita di Bagnoregio is a different matter.

The inside of this tiny hilltop town is adorable in the way that most hilltop towns are, perhaps even more so because of its more intimate size. It feels touristy, though, and not just because of all the tourists – of which there were many during our visit.

Civita di Bagnoregio has a population in the double digits. Because of this fact and how perfectly manicured some of it feels (there are some gorgeous flower arrangements set against the town’s dusty architecture), it felt a bit like the Disney version of a hilltop town compared to places like Volterra and Siena .

So, my recommendation is to drive in to see the viewpoint. If the bridge doesn’t seem too crowded and you have an hour to spare, head into Civita di Bagnoregio. Otherwise, Orvieto will more than satisfy your hilltop town itch!

Try to visit on a weekday early or later in the day to avoid crowds if you’re intent on visiting.

Duomo of Orvieto

Orvieto’s duomo was possibly my favorite of the many churches and cathedrals we visited during our 17-day tour of Italy. It has a grand facade and some stellar Renaissance frescoes that help it to stand apart from other cathedrals we saw.

Before you enter, take in the exquisite facade. The reliefs on each of the four pillars tell the story of the world from the Creation to the Last Judgment. Above these reliefs are gold-backed frescoes depicting various biblical scenes and characters.

Once inside, the San Brizio Chapel in the right transept is one of Italy’s top Renaissance highlights. This stunning series of frescoes takes up each upper wall of the small chapel and tells the story of the end of days (much of it is actually symbolic of political turmoil in Italy at the time). Most of the frescoes were done by Luca Signorelli from 1499 to 1504, but the chapel has some parts done by Fra Angelico 50 years earlier.

Don’t rush your time in San Brizio Chapel! The frescoes are sweeping in their scale, but they have lots of small details that make them special.

Tuscany is home to another of Italy’s most famous duomos. You can read more about it with my guide to Florence’s Piazza del Duomo .

Nighttime at the Duomo

Don’t forget to head over to Piazza del Duomo before calling it a night. Orvieto’s duomo was my favorite singular floodlit architectural marvel during my time in Italy.

On top of the hill, with all other lights turned down low, the duomo’s facade practically glows into existence against the black sky behind it. The floodlights against the cathedral make the frescoes and reliefs much more vivid than they are in daylight.

Between that and the lack of other tourists, it’s a great opportunity to admire the detail of all the art while having a moment of solitude.

Cathedral Arts Collection

Just behind the duomo is the Cathedral Arts Collection housed in the Palazzi Papali. This small art museum doesn’t have any real highlights, but its intimate setting makes for a nice detour from the crowds and heat.

While there are no highlights, that doesn’t mean that there is nothing of interest. It still has some nice statues, paintings and various other objects on display that merit your attention. In particular, I enjoyed the statues of the Madonna and Child and of St Michael standing on a dragon.

The collection also houses some original equipment used in the construction of the duomo in its bottom level.

MoDo City Museum

The Cathedral Arts Collection is one of three attractions that make up the MoDo City Museum . You may also see the museum referred to by its full name, the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo.

The two other sights you can see as part of the MoDo City Museum include the Emilio Greco Collection and the Church of Sant’Agostino. You only need to purchase one ticket for these three attractions and the duomo.

St Patrick’s Well

How often do you get a chance to walk down a deep, dank well? Well, here’s your opportunity!

St Patrick’s Well is a 175-foot deep well that tourists can descend into for a unique experience. You’ll climb down and back up 248 slick and uneven stairs. There are windows spaced evenly along the way to lean out for a glance in either direction if you’re brave enough. At the bottom of the well is a small walkway where water has pooled underneath your feet. From here, there’s a haunting view back up the well to its opening above your head.

The well was built in the mid-16th century at the request of the pope who was using Orvieto as a safe haven during an attack on Rome. Fearful that Orvieto could be besieged and with no reliable water source on top of the hill, the pope had the well built to supply water to the town.

St Patrick’s Well is also notable for its two staircases arranged in a double spiral pattern. This arrangement created a one-way system of traffic. Townsfolk and their donkeys could go into the well for water and come back up without running into anyone.

The well is a bit pricey for such a quick visit, but I think it’s worth it because of how unusual of an attraction it is. It is also very photogenic for the amateur photographers out there.

Explore Orvieto’s Medieval Streets

Besides the duomo, Orvieto doesn’t have any particular significant highlights. Sure, it has the art museum and well I mentioned above and a few other attractions I’ll talk about below, but there isn’t anything you have to do.

Rather, the reason for visiting Orvieto is to just relax and take your time wandering its romantic medieval streets. I encourage you to just get lost amid its small squares and back roads, but here are a couple walking routes I recommend.

These walks were great, but they weren’t quite my favorite in Italy. For that, it has to be my walk through Venice bright and early in the morning before anyone else was awake!

Corso Camillo Benso di Cavour

Corso Camillo Benso di Cavour is one of the main thoroughfares through Orvieto. It’s lined with a variety of small shops, cafes, gelaterias and hotels that make it nice for doing a bit of browsing. More importantly, it has lots of cute pedestrian roads intersecting it that warrant poking your head down for a quick look.

This walk can conveniently be done either to or from St Patrick’s Well. However, it is a bit of a long walk, especially in the heat of day. If possible, I recommend walking either direction and taking the city bus in the other.

Head West at Twilight

This short but picturesque walk was filled one with one romantic scene after another. The route takes you on Via Filippeschi through Piazza della Repubblica and then Via Della Cava as you approach the western edge of town.

As you walk through this part of town, you’ll feel like you are being transported back to old-world Italy. There are many small winding streets leading away from the main thoroughfare that beg to be explored, and the walk is capped by a breathtaking view of Orvieto’s rooftops with a stark church atop a hill in the distance. It’s all illuminated by a soft orange glow from the streetlights reflecting off the rock used to build Orvieto’s streets and buildings.

Of the things we did in Orvieto, this walk is the one that made me regret that we didn’t have more time here!

Other Things to do in Orvieto

Orvieto was the only town where I felt like we didn’t have enough time. We easily could have spent another day here exploring its delightful roads and some of its other tourist attractions.

Below are a few of things of the things I would have liked to do with a bit more time.

National Archaeological Museum of Orvieto

The National Archaeological Museum of Orvieto is a small museum behind the duomo with several rooms of Etruscan artifacts discovered near the city.

The highlight of the museum is the Golini tombs. These reconstructed tombs feature original frescoes depicting an Etruscan banquet.

Well of the Quarry

If you enjoyed St Patrick’s Well, you might enjoy the Well of the Quarry , too. This privately owned attraction takes you under the city to explore a series of Etruscan-era tunnels and rooms carved into the cliff.

Etruscan Necropolis

The Etruscan Necropolis is a grouping of Etruscan tombs from the 6th to 3rd centuries B.C. For a small fee, you can walk along the streets that create a grid network through the necropolis.

The tombs are unadorned, as any decoration or artifact has long since been removed to Orvieto’s various museums. Rather, the appeal of a visit is more so to experience the atmosphere of walking through this Etruscan city of the dead.

The Etruscan Necropolis is found at the base of the cliff that Orvieto sits upon. You can see the necropolis from the Rupe if you don’t want to make the trip but still want to see this ancient cemetery.

Walks on the Rupe

Encircling Orvieto on the cliffside just below town, the Rupe is a nice spot to get away from the crowds for some exercise and fine views of the Umbrian countryside.

The Rupe has five different access points from town, and it has a total distance of 3 miles. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes as some sections are steep or on loose terrain.

Where to Stay in Orvieto

We stayed in B&B La Magnolia during our brief time in Orvieto. La Magnolia has a combination of smaller rooms and apartments. The apartments are a little larger with a living area and kitchenette included. We were upgraded to an apartment for our stay. While we didn’t use the kitchenette, I would recommend one of these units if you have a longer time in Orvieto and want to prepare meals.

The hotel has a lot of nice decorative touches to make it feel like a cozy place to stay, but the highlight is its location. It’s just a 3-minute walk from the hotel’s door to the duomo!

You can even see the duomo over La Magnolia’s terra cotta roof by climbing the hotel’s many steps to the top unit for a nice photo op. If you’re lucky, you might see the resident cat seeking refuge up there, too!

La Magnolia has a breakfast included in your rate. Unfortunately, we had to leave Orvieto early the next morning to catch a train to Pompei, so I can’t speak to its quality.

Where to Eat in Orvieto

Il malandrino bistrot.

We stumbled upon il Malandarino Bistrot by mere convenience more than anything else. It was near where we needed to be, and it looked cute. With our two boxes checked, we sat down in their delightful outdoor patio for lunch.

Unfortunately, I can’t tell you what we had because I didn’t write it down or take any photos, but both of our pasta dishes were quite good and cost effective for a cafe we just picked at random.

Right up the road from il Malandrino is a convenient laundromat. You can grab a delicious meal and some cheap Orvieto wine while you wait for your clothes to be done.

Trattoria la Grotta

Trattoria la Grotta was recommended to us by the owner of B&B La Magnolia. It did not disappoint! We had many great meals in Italy, and this was one of the best.

Trattoria la Grotta is one of those excellent restaurants in Italy that make you feel more connected with the country than any tourist attraction possibly can. It has masterfully crafted regional food and wine, and it’s all served in a lovingly designed space that feels both rustic and modern at the same time.

For our meal, we had guinea fowl, tagliolini with duck ragu and pappardelle with wild boar. Every single bite was perfect! It was also shockingly inexpensive considering the quality of everything we had.

Getting to Orvieto

Getting up to and back out of Orvieto can be a bit of a process. Drivers can park below the cliff by the train station for free and then take the nearby funicular into the old town center. For those arriving by train, you would also take the funicular. The other option for drivers is a pay parking lot on the other side of the cliff with elevators to take you to town. Orvieto also has parking in town if you’re comfortable driving through Italy’s narrow city streets.

If you take the funicular into town, Orvieto has a bus that is timed with the funicular’s arrival to shuttle tourists to the duomo. Your funicular ticket covers the shuttle fare.

Keep in mind the funicular only runs from 7:15 to 8:30. If you are arriving outside of those hours, there is a bus you can take to get into or out of Orvieto.

More Resources for Planning Your Trip to Italy

Here are some of the other itineraries I’ve written to help you plan your dream trip to Italy!

• Campania (Pompeii and Herculaneum)
• Cinque Terre

And don’t forget to check out some of my  tips and thoughts  when it comes to planning a trip to Italy.

Resources to Book Your Trip to Orvieto

Whether you’re looking for tours, hotels or flights, here are some tools to help get you started planning your trip to Orvieto!

Look for activities and tours offered through GetYourGuide or Viator !

Still can’t find what you’re looking for? Check out my travel essentials pages for more of my recommendations.

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12 comments.

Hi Paul, great summary of this area, just like your other posts! I love the photos of the small streets. It’s amazing how different lighting changes the ambiance. The Civita di Bagnoregio looks lovely. A great place to wander.

paulpassingthrough

I found that to especially be true in Italy where you had old buildings made with the rock they have. They just capture the moonlight and streetlights so well. They practically glow!

I have not seen a painted fresco on a Cathedral like the one in Orvieto, It is superb and so colourdul. The inside frescos would have me staring at them for hours. Such detail and intricacy that I would want to understand every one of those scenes. I know of Orvieto only by its famous wine – it was my favourite wine in my earlier days and it still brings back the memories with just one sip. Those pedestrianised streets look so well maintained and atmospheric, especially from thos nightime pics you took. Clearly there s a lot more to Orvieto than its wine …. and the accomodation and eatery tips are so helpful too.

The wine is pretty good, too! You’re absolutely spot on about the frescoes in the duomo. The one I detailed was just so captivating. I definitely looked it for way longer than my wife liked haha

Peggy Zipperer

I have a fascination with the hilltop towns so I love this post. For you to say Orvieto’s duomo was your favorite singular floodlit architectural marvel is really saying something! And St. Patrick’s Welll looks fascinating. Marking this on my list for the next trip to Italy!

Maybe some of it was the wine, but sitting outside of the duomo at night by myself was a great experience. Just staring up at the artwork on its facade and imagining the millions of people over the years who have done the same thing.

Lyn (aka Jazz)

wow, I really missed a spectacular town. It is going on the list for my next Italian trip (and there is always a next Italian trip!). I am especially fascinated with Civita di Bagnoregio, which I learned about from your post.

Happy Travels!

I’m always dreaming about my next trip to Italy! I hope you enjoy Orvieto as much as I did. I’d love to get back there and just really take my time over the course of a couple days.

Molly | Transatlantic Notes

And now I need a vacation in a hilltop town, haha! This was lovely to read, especially as it’s within an area of the world I particulalry love and have fond memories of visting when I was teenager. Lovely post!

So much to love here. Did you ever visit Orvieto? I really want to go back myself to take it in over the course of a couple days.

So great, love these small Italian places. Great way to unwind and enjoy local life.

So much history and they’re all so proud in their towns. It shows in how pretty they all are.

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Renato Prosciutto in Italy

Rome, Venice, Florence and small town Italy.

Practical information Orvieto

On this page you will find all kinds of practical information about Orvieto . Where to find the Tourist Office, where to park, how to reach the city by car or public transport and how to use the bus and funiculare.

Railway station Orvieto

Orvieto itself consists of two parts. Orvieto Centro is the historical part of the city, which is located on the rock itself and where almost all the sights of the city can be seen. Orvieto Scalo is located at the foot of the rock. It is here that the city’s train station is, from where you can take the funicular to the old town. The square in front of the station is the Piazza Matteotti and here you will also find a bus stop for both local and long distance buses and a taxi rank (where, however, you will hardly ever find a taxi). If you are only in town for a day, you can leave your luggage at the Baggage Office in Piazza della Pace.

Public transport within Orvieto

From the station you can take the bus to the centre of the city. The last stop is the central Piazza della Repubblica . You can also take the funiculare up first and then the bus.

Buses from and to Orvieto

From Orvieto, there are direct buses to other interesting towns like Viterbo and Civita di Bagnoregio . The stop of the company Cotral that provides this connection is at the Piazza Matteotti. The frequency is quite low and you should therefore plan your day trip well in advance. On Sundays there are almost no buses at all. For cities within the Umbria region, you can contact Busitalia – Sita Nord. This company provides connections with Amelia, Terni and Todi, among others.

Trains from and to Orvieto

Orvieto is on the regional train line between Rome and Florence . The journey from Rome takes about one and a half hours, from Florence about two hours.

Parking Orvieto

There is a large free parking area in the Piazza della Pace, which is located below the Piazza Matteotti. The historic centre of Orvieto is largely forbidden to cars (except for residents). Apart from at the Piazza della Pace car park, there are two more places where you can park your car, although there is a charge for this. The Parcheggio Boario-Campo della Fiera is located at the foot of the cliff, along Via della Segharia on the southwest side of the city. Walking up from this street you will reach the Porta Maggiore city gate, which gives access to medieval Orvieto. There are also lifts (until midnight) and escalators (until 9pm) that lead to the centre. The second is in Via Roma, in the eastern part of the centre.

By car to Orvieto

The main streets leading to the gates of Orvieto are the Strada delle Conce, which goes up to the Porta Romana and along the Porta Maggiore, and the SS71, which leads to Piazza Cahen on the eastern side of the city. From Rome as well as from Florence one can follow the Autostrada del Sole, which passes by the city. The Orvieto exit is less than 5 kilometres from the city.

Tourist information Orvieto

The central tourist office of Orvieto (IAT) is located opposite the cathedral in Piazza del Duomo. It is open Monday to Friday from 08.15 to 13.50 and from 16.00 to 19.00. On Saturdays and Sundays and bank holidays it is open from 10.00 to 13.00 and from 15.00 to 18.00. Telephone: +39 0763341772. You will be given free maps of the city, with useful information on the back. You can also buy the Carta Orvieto Unica here, which is especially recommended for families. To the left of the tourist office is another office, where you can get tickets for the very interesting Orvieto Underground tour. There is a second tourist office in Piazza Cahen, which is only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 to 18:00.

All about Orvieto

2 thoughts on “ practical information orvieto ”.

Hello, Pardon me, I only have English. I am trying to book a train from Orvieto to Firenze. The trenitalia site only offers a booking that includes a bus ticket from Orvieto Centro to the train station. I am not departing from Orvieto Centro, but will take a taxi from a hotel to the train station. Do you know if I must book the ticket that includes the bus? Thank you, grazie,

Hello Diana, just choose “Orvieto” as your departure station instead of “Orvieto centro” and you should get the option without the bus. Regards, Rene.

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