How To Visit Orvieto, Italy On A Budget
If I had to pick my favorite town in Italy, I’d rush to say Orvieto the moment I was asked. With nearly 3,000 years of history, this fortress sits high on the rocky cliffs over the Italian hillside. Orvieto is charming, the perfect escape from Rome & easily accessible. And if you’re backpacking Europe, it doesn’t have to be an expensive trip either! Here’s how to do visit Orvieto, Italy on a budget.
A COMPLETE GUIDE TO ORVIETO: THE HIDDEN GEM OF ITALY
1. Stay in a hostel or couch surf in Rome and just come for the day
It’s cheaper to stay in Rome where you can find hostel rooms for $10. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, try couchsurfing in the city.
However if you can swing a little extra cash, there are some other great options in Orvieto. Either way, it’s great to see the city after dark. So if you are staying in Rome, plan to come for the entire day so you can catch sunset from the hilltop.
Less expensive accommodation options in Orvieto:
(Ranging from approximately $22-$50 a night!)
2. Buy your train ticket ahead of time
A one-way ticket cost anywhere from €7.90 to €11.92 depending on when you buy. It’s cheaper if you buy in advance.
3. Take the cable car to the top
The cable car is the cheapest, easiest way to get to the top of the fortress.
It’s just a short 2 minute ride and less than €2 for a ticket.
4. Skip the restaurants and opt for a picnic with amazing views
Orvieto has no shortage of breathtaking views. If you’re scared of heights, standing near the edge may cause serious butterflies and twisting stomachs. But with inexpensive wine and groceries available at a local store, we had a great time eating outside in the sun looking over the hills below. Don’t bother packing a picnic and bringing it with you all the way from Rome. There are plenty of grocery stores in old town where you can easily buy food for a picnic for less than €10.
5. For just a few euros, you can see the best of Orvieto
Fortunately the best parts of Orvieto are easily accessible for just a very small fee. Below I’ve listed my favorite inexpensive activities.
There is a very small fee (only a few euros) for the following activities:
- The cable car to reach the hilltop
- To climb up Torre Del Moro
- St. Patrick’s Well
- Entrance inside the cathedral
- Underground cave tour
- Self guided tour of the theater
- A coffee at Enoteca Al Duomo for views of the main square
6. Skip the wine tasting, buy local wine at a grocery store
In Europe, wine is often as cheap as bottled water. Orvieto is famous for it’s wine but if you’re on a backpackers budget- buy some very inexpensive cartons at the grocery store and do your own wine tasting!
7. Skip seeing a live show and tour the theater yourself
Orvieto has a gorgeous, historic theater which still puts on productions today. If you have it in your budget to splurge for tickets, go for it! But if you’re wondering how to visit Orvieto on a budget, you can tour the theater for less than €2.
8. Window shop at artisan craft shops
Who said you had to buy anything? Aside from it’s wine, Orvieto is also known for it’s ceramics. So go wander through town and gaze at all the beautifully hand painted ceramics. There are also purse and leather shops where if you’re lucky, you might catch the shopkeepers cutting leather and making the goods right before your eyes.
9. People watch at the Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo
Grab a cup of coffee or a cheap glass of wine and go have fun people watching by this gorgeous palazzo and adjoining square. There are often buskers performing so relax and enjoy the music. There is also a market here on Thursdays and Saturdays you could walk through free of charge.
10. Incredible views & the feeling of traveling back in time cost NOTHING
You can’t put a price on the feeling of Orvieto. And it costs no money at all to wander the cobblestone streets. Truly the best part of the enchanting fortress is discovering the nearly 3,000 year old city by wandering around and soaking up the atmosphere. And with each twisting street, you’ll uncover more breathtaking views completely free of charge.
More on Italy:A COMPLETE GUIDE TO ORVIETO: THE HIDDEN GEM OF ITALY & HOW TO GET FREE GUIDED TOURS ALL OVER EUROPE
Aww I wish I had gone here while I was in Rome!!! I’ll just have to go back I guess!
The only reason I stumbled across Orvieto was because I was back in Rome for a second time and looking to get out of the city. After googling nearby day trips, we saw a photo of Orvieto and knew we had to go! So we bought a train ticket knowing nothing about it and totally fell in love! I hope you get the chance to go someday 🙂