Orvieto is one of Italy’s most beautiful hill towns. It’s just a small town, but there are plenty of interesting things to do in Orvieto. Known for its magnificent Gothic cathedral, underground caves, Etruscan history, and sweeping countryside views, this is your quintessential small Italian town.
Back in the ‘90s when we worked for Contiki, we would see Orvieto whenever we drove between Florence and Rome. And now, 30 years later, we finally had the opportunity to visit the town – we were excited!
But can you see Orvieto in one day? Well, we did! Here’s how you can hit all the highlights of the city, and enjoy some of that delicious Italian food.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Purchasing through these links supports our work and allows us to continue bringing you travel guides, like this, for free. As an Amazon Associate, we earn a commission from qualifying sales. Thank you for your support.
How to spend one day in Orvieto
If you’re just doing a day trip to Orvieto, you’ll need to catch the funicular from the car park or train station (see Practical Tips below). From the funicular station, wander through the narrow medieval streets to the town centre.
Maybe grab a coffee at one of the small cafés along the way. Remember in Italy if you stand at the bar to drink your coffee it will be cheaper than if you sit at a table.
The old town of Orvieto is still lived in, and you’ll see people going about their day, hanging washing from their windows, setting up their shops, and just living their lives.
Check out some of the restaurant menus for lunch later.
Duomo di Orvieto (Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta)
Even if you’ve seen a LOT of cathedrals in Europe, you can’t help but be impressed by the façade of the Ovieto Cathedral. We literally sat on the ground and stared at it for a good 15 minutes.
The façade is adorned with mosaics, carvings and statues, telling bible stories from the creation, through the life of Christ, and finally the Last Judgement. Nigel really enjoyed looking at some of the lower carvings which are really quite gruesome.
The inside of the cathedral is amazing, with these sculptures of the 12 Apostles, and then there’s the Chapel of San Brizio with incredible frescoes of the Apocalypse and Last Judgement which were started by Fra Angelico in 1447 and completed by Luca Signorelli between 1499-1504.
Entry to the cathedral costs €8 and you buy your ticket from the office opposite. Remember in Italy you need to have your shoulders and knees covered to enter a church, and remove your hat.
You might be wondering why a relatively small town like Orvieto has such a large, imposing cathedral.
The Miracle of Bolsena
The cathedral was built in the late 13th century after the Miracle of Bolsena. A priest travelling nearby was about to give Mass when he began doubting transubstantiation, the belief that the bread becomes the body of Christ. Suddenly, the consecrated host (the bread) began to bleed onto the altar cloth.
He brought the cloth to Orvieto where the miracle was proclaimed, and the cloth is now kept in here in a separate chapel and only displayed at certain times. We were lucky, we got to see it for ourselves. There’s a separate entry on the left side of the cathedral to see this small chapel.
Orvieto Underground Tour
The Orvieto Underground tour visits the vast cave system underneath the city. There are over 1200 caves that were dug by the Etruscans, over 2000 years ago. The caves were used for storage, olive oil production and even pigeon breeding.
You need to take a guided tour to visit the caves. The tour costs €10 per person, lasts about 45 minutes and you visit two of the 400 caves that are still accessible under the city. Videography isn’t allowed in here, but we were allowed to take photos.
We thought the tour was fascinating and it was great to hear about the history of the city from a local.
We recommend you visit the ticket office to get a ticket as soon as you arrive in Orvieto. The office opens at 10.30am and the first English tour is at 11.15am.
Lunch in Orvieto
After visiting these two places, it’s time to stop for lunch. On your Underground Tour, you’ll have learned about how in times gone past, the locals bred pigeons. These pigeons were not bred to carry messages, but rather, to eat.
Even today, pigeon (Piccione) is a local specialty. I (Sue) am vegetarian, so Nigel took one for the team, and tried the stuffed pigeon (that wasn’t actually stuffed) with garlic sauce. Nigel’s honest review? He wouldn’t eat it again!
There are a few other local dishes worth trying, including pasta with Wild Boar Ragu, and I loved the Umbrichelli (fresh home-made pasta) with Cacio e Pepe (Cheese & Pepper sauce). OK, this is more typically a dish from Rome, but I hadn’t had it there.
We ate at La Bucca di Baco restaurant, and although it seemed quite touristy, with English menus and a tout inviting us in (usually big red flags), it was the only restaurant we found serving both dishes we wanted. We were pleasantly surprised!
BONUS: If you visit this restaurant, they have an underground cave that they seat patrons in during the winter months. You can go down to have a look (especially worthwhile if you didn’t take the underground tour!)
Torre del Moro (Clock Tower)
After lunch it’s time to check out the rooftops and views of Umbria from the top of the Torre del Moro. The entry ticket to the Clock Tower is €3.80. There are 240 steps to the top, but you can cheat (I did) and take an elevator to the first floor, saving you 70 steps.
After you come down from the tower, spend some more time wandering around the small cobbled alleyways, exploring artisan workshops, stores selling regional specialties (and souvenirs), perhaps grab a gelato or sit in a peaceful piazza watching the world go by.
St Patrick’s Well
The last stop on our one day Orvieto Itinerary is St Patrick’s Well as it’s right near the funicular station.
St Patrick’s well was built in the 16th century, when Pope Clement 7th fled to Orvieto after the sack of Rome. There’s no water source on the top of the hill, so this well was dug 53m deep to provide water in case of siege.
It’s famous for it’s double helix staircase, one set for going down, the other for going up. There are 70 windows cut into the shaft providing light. The well is considered one of the master engineering feats of the Renaissance.
There are 248 steps going down to the bottom of the well, and because of the helix design, you need to go all the way down in and come back up in order to exit! It’s a pretty cool experience though, and we enjoyed peering down into the well through the windows.
Orvieto Card
Of course, there are plenty more things to see in Orvieto, and you’re only limited by the time you have available. If you’re planning to spend more than one day in Orvieto, you might consider buying the Orvieto Card, which gives you entry into 9 attractions, including the four we have mentioned here.
You can purchase the card for €35 in the tourist information office, or you can skip the line and buy your card online before you arrive. Buying online will cost you €37.
The Orvieto Card includes entrance to:
1. Orvieto Cathedral, the San Brinzio Chapel
2. Opera del Duomo Museum
3. National Archaeological Museum
4. C. Faina Etruscan Museum
5. Necropolis
6. Orvieto Underground with guided visit
7. Pozzo della Cava
8. Saint Patrick’s Well
9. Torre del Moro
Practical tips for spending one day in Orvieto
How to get to Orvieto
Orvieto is located in Umbria, close to the border with Lazio, and almost half way between Florence and Rome. It’s just off the main A1 motorway that runs north-south down the length of Italy.
By Car or Campervan
Take the A1 from Rome or Florence and exit at Orvieto.
By train
You can catch a train to Orvieto from either Rome Termini or Florence Santa Maria Novella stations. The train will take around 1:30 from Rome or 2 hours from Florence. Check timetables and book your train tickets here.
Where to park in Orvieto
If you’ve only got one day in Orvieto, you’ll need good central parking. Perhaps you’re driving a rental car between Florence and Rome and want to stop off in Orvieto for the day. Or, maybe you’re like us and touring around Italy by campervan or motorhome, and you need somewhere to leave the van.
The good news is that there is a large carpark right below the city, and right next to the funicular to the top of the hill where the old town and all the Orvieto attractions are located.
You can leave your campervan here and pay €2 per hour, or €14 for 8 hours. There is a fresh water refill and grey water dump point here also. You can even stay overnight in your campervan here if you wish.
Catching the Funicular
Once you have parked, you’ll need to take the funicular to the top of the hill. If you’ve arrived by train, the funicular station is right near the main Orvieto train station.
The funicular costs €1.30 for a single ride and it takes about 5 minutes. Try to get a spot at the front – there’s no driver!
FAQs
Is one day in Orvieto enough?
We arrived at the funicular around 930am and left Orvieto around 4pm. We didn’t feel rushed, and we did feel like we had a good look around the town and saw everything we wanted to. (And we were filming for our YouTube channel, which always means we need to allow extra time everywhere).
When is the best time to visit Orvieto?
We would say spring or autumn would be the best time to see Orvieto. That way you’ll miss the huge summer crowds, and the hot weather.
Can you visit Orvieto on a day trip from Rome?
Yes! Orvieto makes a great day trip from Rome. You can be in Orvieto in just over an hour if you’re travelling by train, and to drive will take you around 2 hours (depending on whereabouts in Rome you’re leaving from).
If you’d rather join an organised tour, there are plenty to choose from!
Watch our Orvieto in One Day Travel Vlog
As we are road-tripping around Europe in our campervan, we produce weekly travel vlogs highlighting the places we visit and giving you a peek behind the scenes of what its really like to travel full time in a campervan.
You can watch our Orvieto Vlog, and maybe check out some more of our Italy videos too!
Where to next?
If you’re heading south, don’t miss our suggestions for the best things to do in Rome.
Found this Orvieto Travel Guide helpful? Please Contact Us if you have any questions about it.
Why not Buy us a Coffee to say thanks.