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How to get to Viterbo from Rome
When to travel to Viterbo
Viterbo is a charming, historic town located north of Rome. If you are tired of the bustle of the Italian capital and want to escape for a day or two to a quiet, cozy and amazingly beautiful place, then you should definitely choose Viterbo. Framed by wonderful natural landscapes, Viterbo will captivate you with its architectural style and landscape design. It is believed that Viterbo has preserved a huge number of attractions that have survived to these days in almost untouched condition. Viterbo is one of the best options for an excursion holiday of one or two days from Rome.
Viterbo is an amazing place to visit at any time of the year. Local climate is quite mild here, even during winter time, that is why you can come and walk around whenever you want. Attractions of Viterbo are open all year round, and tourists can observe them regardless of the period of time they come. Viterbo is a fantastic destination from Rome and it suits best for 1- or 2-days trip (or maybe even more, if you want to try local mineral baths).
How to get to Viterbo
Where do you fly to get to Viterbo? You can get to Viterbo from Rome. Closest international airport is located exactly there. Flights land here from all over the world. There are both direct and connecting flights to Rome. The current flight timetable can be checked via specialized online services such as Aviasales and others.
How to get to Viterbo from Rome
By public transport: The town is located 80 km from Rome. You can get to it by train or by renting a car. Trains to Viterbo run 2-3 times per hour throughout the day. Trains in Rome mainly depart from Roma Ostiense station, but can also depart from Termini or Tiburtina, so pay attention to the departure point when buying tickets. In Viterbo, trains arrive at the Viterbo Porta Fiorentina station. The travel time is approximately 1 hour 45 minutes. The routes are direct and do not require making changes. You can check the current train timetable and purchase tickets in advance at the Raileurope booking service.
By rented car: It is also not difficult to get to Viterbo on your own by car. Renting a car in Rome is a very popular option among tourists, because in this way you can visit not only Viterbo, but also other towns in the surroundings of Rome, as well as go to the sea resorts located nearby. Rome and Viterbo are connected with highway No. SP1. The journey time is approximately 1 hour 20 minutes (see on the map). You can book the desired class of car in advance via various online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc. In order to rent a car in Rome, you need to have a passport, an international driving license and a bank card to pay for services. You can find rental points both in Rome and at the arrival airport.
Where to stay in Viterbo
Most often, tourists come to Viterbo for one day on a sightseeing tour, but there are also those who prefer to stay in the town longer and the reason for this is the thermal complexes for which Viterbo is famous for. The most popular types of accommodation in Viterbo are bed and breakfasts, apartments and vacation homes. Guest houses and standard hotels are a little less in demand, but they are also available.
The local pricing policy for housing here is quite affordable. When choosing a place to stay, it is recommended to pay attention to the location of a particular hotel/apartment, because the main attractions and baths are located in the historical center of the town. If you choose to live outside the center of the town, you will have picturesque views, but you will have to get to the center by car or by public transport.
Among the apartments, the following accommodation options get consistently positive reviews from tourists:
- Antica Dimora San Pellegrino (duplex apartment with beautiful views; free parking; free Wi-Fi; suitable for the whole family);
- Apartment La Rocca (apartment with balcony; free parking and free Wi-Fi; fully equipped kitchen);
- La Suite del Borgo Casa Vacanze (one-bedroom apartment in the historical center with beautiful views; free parking; free Wi-Fi);
As for hotels, there are also many options that have good reviews. These include, in particular:
- B&B La Lanterna (rooms of various sizes; breakfast included in the price; location is close to the center; free parking and free Wi-Fi);
- B&B A Piazza del Gesu (the hotel is located in a historical building and has free private parking; offers breakfast included in the price and provides free Wi-Fi);
- La Suite del Borgo (rooms of various sizes; location is in historical center; excellent breakfasts; free Wi-Fi; free parking);
- Viterbo Antica (rooms and apartments of various capacities; location is in the medieval district of San Pellegrino; parking provided; breakfast included; free Wi-Fi).
What to see in Viterbo
Viterbo is equally famous for its historical attractions, thermal springs, and the most beautiful natural landscapes in the surrounding area. Viterbo is a real little “gem” of the Lazio region and one of the most interesting travel destinations from Rome. It is recommended to start exploring the town from its historical center.
In Viterbo this is the medieval quarter of San Pellegrino, where amazing architectural monuments have been preserved in an almost untouched, unaltered form. Viterbo also safely passed through a series of wars and natural disasters, which allowed the medieval quarter to remain in its authentic form. Arches, vaults, towers, stairs, fountains – all these sites only frame the main historical monuments of the town, such as the Palace of Dei Papi, the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, the palaces of Dei Priori and Del Podesta and much more.
Having bypassed the historical center, go for a walk to Villa Lante, which can easily compete with the famous Villa D’Este in Tivoli. Here you can stroll through the amazing landscaped garden, see medieval fountains and sculptures, be amazed at the engineering and architectural ideas, and the countless bronze statues, balustrades and other objects of art that gracefully decorate the Renaissance gardens of Villa Lante.
Baths of Viterbo
Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the Viterbo thermal springs. In particular, the Terme dei Papi thermal complex and the Bagnaccio Thermal Park are worth visiting. The thermal complex of Terme dei Papi is open in Viterbo all year round, and its entire territory is divided into a thermal area and a spa area. In the thermal area you will find a huge thermal pool and a natural cave (grotto) with springs whose temperature reaches 58 degrees; in the spa area you will be offered a variety of treatments, including mud therapy, massage, facials, etc.
- The thermal complex is open daily from 9 am to 7 pm (closed on Tuesday).
- The cost of visiting the pool is 12 euros for an adult; a ticket to the grotto costs 13.5 euros; care treatments are paid separately.
The Bagnaccio thermal park is located in the surroundings of Viterbo, a few kilometers north of the historical center. This is an open-air park with natural pools, each of which has underground healing springs.
- The park is open in summer every day from 7 am; admission is free.
- The park has 5 swimming pools of various properties, locker rooms, a botanical garden, parking, food area, etc.
While in Viterbo, do not ignore the beautiful and inspiring countryside of the region. Around Viterbo are the picturesque Chima Mountains, and a few kilometers from the town is Lake Bolsena. Both natural attractions deserve the attention of travelers and all nature lovers. Thus, unique beech forests and groves are considered to be a feature of the Chima Mountains, and Lake Bolsena is of volcanic origin and formed in the crater of an ancient volcano.
In general, we can say that Viterbo, despite its miniature size, is definitely worth visiting, since there is a large concentration of historical monuments, amazing natural landscapes, and even healing thermal springs that will help you to relax and feel better.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Italy, do not forget to take out a travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerged medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase an insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Helena
The author is Julia Mam
Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more…
