We visited Orvieto in May on a day trip while road-tripping through Umbria and instantly fell in love with this hilltop town. We loved exploring the maze of underground tunnels and wells, wandering to the different viewpoints, and stopping at some amazing wine bars along the way. Despite its small size, there are plenty of things to do in Orvieto, Italy — here are all our favorite spots!
1. Duomo di Orvieto (Orvieto Cathedral)
Orvieto is all about its grand Duomo, a breathtaking Gothic cathedral in the middle of the historic town. It really reminded us of the Duomo in Siena, especially the facade covered in elaborate carvings and colorful mosaics.
Inside, there are beautiful and strange artworks from top to bottom — definitely worth a visit, especially as you only need to pay a small fee to enter.
Also read: Assisi, Italy: Best Things To Do
2. St. Patrick’s Well
Pozzo di San Patrizio, also known as St. Patrick’s Well, is one of the best things we did in Orvieto. This unique underground network is carved into the rock and actually supports the town. We climbed all the way down inside the cylindrical well, descending the 53-meter winding staircase — totally surreal!
The well was originally built as a hiding place in case of a siege, which definitely adds to the eeriness. We were worried about feeling claustrophobic, but it was suprisingly ok, and the whole experience only took about 30 minutes.
Note: Remember that if you go down, you must climb back up! This is quite a challenging exercise, but it was such a unique experience that we think it’s worth it. Entry fee: 6 EUR
3. Stroll the Streets
The narrow streets of the charming historic center of Orvieto are lined with colorful stone buildings and lively squares. We loved turning down random alleys and coming across ancient buildings along the way, like the cathedral or the castle-like Albornoz Fortress on the edge of town.
Peek into little courtyards and local shops selling beautiful ceramics (the town’s craft), delicious local wines, and truffle-infused products. Some of the shops even had showrooms where we could watch the artisans at work.
4. Sit at One of the Many Wine Bars
Orvieto is famous for its wine region, so our trip wouldn’t have been complete without sampling a glass of ‘Orvieto Classico’ or other delicious local wines.
There are loads of incredible wine bars to choose from, but we sat down at Bottega Véra Orvieto to try some local classics paired with a delicious cheese platter. Delicious!
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 vineyards.
5. Orvieto Underground
Climbing down into the St. Patrick’s Well definitely made us want to see more of Orvieto’s underground world. In the 1970s, a landslide caused a large opening to appear, revealing a labyrinth of 1,200 tunnels dating back 2,500 years!
There are only two caves open to the public for tours, which you can book in advance or at the tourism office on the Piazza del Duomo. Alternatively, Pozzo della Cava is one of the private caves that can be visited on a pre-booked tour, where you descend 36 meters underground through tunnels and rooms carved into tufa rock. (Book your Pozzo della Cava ticket in advance)
6. Torre del Moro
The historical clock tower, Torre del Moro, was the best viewpoint we found in Orvieto. It’s about 236 steps to the top, but wow, the view is amazing; we could see all the way across the beautiful Umbrian countryside and wine region.
It’s very popular, so it can be crowded, but the views are worth it. A ticket cost us 3,60 EUR (4,20 USD) per person. Tip: Grab a delicious gelato at the place in front of the tower ;)
Best Cafes and Restaurants in Orvieto
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. Some of our favorite cafes and restaurants in Orvieto are:
- Bottega Vèra Orvieto
- Gastronomia Aronne
- FE3.0 (FEBO)
- Dolceamaro
Where to Stay
We stayed at Borgobrufa in Brufa, a beautiful resort with a pool overlooking the countryside. From here, we took a day trip to Orvieto in our Italian rental car (1-hour drive).
That said, we think it would be worth spending one or two nights in town to soak up more of its incredible atmosphere, especially after dark, once the tourists have left.
By Car
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. Instead, we parked on the outskirts of town where there’s plenty of space (here’s the location). From there, we took 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.
By Train
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 and 12 EUR (8.50 and 12.92 USD), depending on whether you book them in advance or buy them on the day.
The train arrives at Piazzale Matteotti in Orvieto Scalo (the lower part of town), where you can take the cable car 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.
Getting Around
The small historical center is very walkable (it only took us 20 minutes to walk from one side to the other). You can also purchase the Orvieto Card, which includes sights like:
- The Duomo
- Underground tunnels
- St. Patrick’s Well
- Torre del Moro
- A funicular round-trip to and back from the old town
You can purchase the card at the train station, at the tourism office on the Piazza del Duomo, or online here
How Much Does Orvieto Cost?
We found Orvieto much more affordable than nearby Tuscany and other bigger cities in Italy. But it really depends on your choice of accommodation, food, and attractions.
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
We visited Orvieto in May, which was the ideal time; it was sunny, warm, and far more peaceful than the summer months. There are also many famous events held here, such as the Corpus Domini celebration in June, when the streets are decorated with flower petals and choir music fills the air.
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