Orvieto

A cliff-top town in Umbria with a Romanesque-Gothic cathedral, Etruscan tombs and a regional train from Rome of about an hour and a half.

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Orvieto is a hill town in the Province of Terni, in southwestern Umbria. It stands on the flat top of a large volcanic tuff butte, with near-vertical cliffs and defensive walls of the same stone. The name comes from the Latin Urbs vetus, meaning old city, used in contrast to a new Volsinii the Romans founded on another site. The hill is identified with Etruscan Volsinii, one of the twelve Etruscan city-states, and the Belvedere Temple is the best-preserved Etruscan monument in the town.

The cathedral's foundation stone was laid in 1290, and from 1310 the Sienese architect Lorenzo Maitani directed the works. Its Cappella di San Brizio holds Luca Signorelli's Last Judgment frescoes, painted 1499 to 1502. Saint Patrick's Well, 62 metres deep, was commissioned by Pope Clement VII after the 1527 Sack of Rome to secure water in sieges. From Rome the regional train takes about an hour and a half, so a day trip works, but an overnight stay leaves time for the Etruscan sites and underground cellars. Try the local white wine and truffle pasta.

Orvieto in five

Go to the cathedral firstThe facade and the interior frescoes are the headline, and the chapel with the Last Judgment frescoes is the big draw. Check the official site for opening hours and ticket rules, which can differ by section.
Book the underground tourThe tunnels and caves can be entered only on a guided visit, in small groups. Check the official site for tour times and languages, and reserve in busy periods.
Take the funicular up from the stationA funicular and a connecting bus link the train station to the old town. Check the operator's site for times, and allow extra time with bags.
Use the Rome train for a day tripTrains from Rome Termini take about 1 to 1.5 hours depending on the service. Leave early, and check the last train back before you linger over dinner.Rome travel guide
Stay one night for the quiet eveningDay trippers leave by late afternoon, and the lanes turn calm at dusk. A night lets you taste local white wine without a train deadline.

Things to do in Orvieto

See all attractions in Orvieto

Church · OrvietoOrvieto CathedralPhotography inside is discouraged out of respect for the worship space. Keep cameras away and speak quietly.

Landmark · OrvietoTorre del Moro

a small village on a cliff surrounded by trees

Garden · OrvietoOrto di San Giovenale

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to OrvietoPut the places you like in Orvieto on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Airport: Rome Fiumicino (FCO), about 2 hours with a train change
Getting there: Train from Rome Termini in about 1–1.5 hours
Getting around: Funicular, minibus and walking in the old town
Best base: Inside the old town, near the cathedral
Time needed: 1 day; 2 with the cellars and a countryside drive

Weather by month

Rainy days
Days with storms

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh10°Low3°Cold, quiet
FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Cold, quiet
MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low5°Spring
AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh18°Low8°Mild, green
MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Warm, flowers
JuneClear7 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh28°Low16°Warm
JulyClear4 rainy daysHigh32°Low19°Hot
AugustClear6 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh32°Low20°Hot, busy
SeptemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh26°Low16°Harvest
OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Autumn color
NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Wet, quiet
DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh11°Low5°Cold, lights

Average daily high and low in Orvieto, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Right now in Orvieto

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 6°
Humidity: 75%
Wind: 33 km/h
Chance of rain: 58%

Orvieto

09:38 PM

Monday, November 2

GMT+1

Today14°7°58%Monday: Rain. High 14°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 58%.
Tue16°8°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed16°7°10%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 10%.
Thu17°6°8%Thursday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 8%.
Fri12°9°37%Friday: Rain. High 12°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 37%.
Sat15°8°31%Saturday: Fog. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 31%.
Sun16°8°14%Sunday: Fog. High 16°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 14%.

Updated 05:12 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 0.8961 EUR

Amount

Converted to

EUR · Euro

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Orvieto

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Coming up

Siena, ItalyPalio di SienaJul 2, 2027 · Read the event guide

Every year

Jun–JulFestival dei Due MondiSpoleto, a day trip
Jun–SepSaracen JoustArezzo, a day trip
JulUmbria Jazz FestivalPerugia, a day trip

Day trips by train

Before you go to Orvieto

Trains from RomeRegional and Intercity servicesRead the guide

Underground and cathedral ticketsGuided and timed entriesBook timed entry

eSIM for ItalyTrain times, tour bookings on the goRead the guide

Travel insurance for ItalyCover for rail disruption on a day tripRead the guide

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Rules for Orvieto, checked

Italy is in the Schengen area, so entry follows Schengen rules. Check whether you need a visa on the Italian foreign ministry site before you book.Source
Declare cash above the EU threshold when entering or leaving the EU. Check the rules with the Italian customs agency (Agenzia delle Dogane) before you travel.
Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
Restaurants often add a coperto (cover charge) per person, and tipping is not required. Check the bill before you leave a tip.

Plan around Orvieto

Assisi

A pilgrim town with a vast basilica

Read the guide Perugia

Umbria's hill capital

Read the guide Lago Trasimeno

Umbria's lake and castle towns

Read the guide Montepulciano

Tuscan wine across the border

Read the guide All of Italy

Cities, coasts, lakes and the Alps

Read the guide Italy by train off-peak

Slow routes and quiet days

Read the guide

Orvieto FAQ

Is Orvieto worth visiting?

Yes, and the cathedral alone justifies the trip. It also has caves, a hill-town setting and local white wine, and the train from Rome is easy. Give it a day or an overnight.

Can you visit Orvieto as a day trip from Rome?

Yes. Trains take about 1 to 1.5 hours each way. Leave early to see the cathedral and the underground tour, and check the last train back to Rome.

How do you get from the station to Orvieto?

A funicular and connecting bus link the train station to the old town. Allow extra time with luggage, and check the timetable on the day.

Do I need to book the underground tour?

Yes if you want a specific time, because visits are guided and in small groups. Check the official site for current schedules and languages, and book ahead in busy periods.

Orvieto or Assisi: which should I choose?

Orvieto for a cathedral, caves and wine and an easy train from Rome; Assisi for a pilgrim town and the basilica. They are a short trip apart, so they pair well on a loop through Umbria.