Any suggestions on the best way to visit the Tivoli area as an independant traveller. We propose a day trip from Rome but are unsure of how to get around once their.
What attractions ase amust see in that area?

Must sees in the Tivoli area?

Well, the villa and its fabulous, fabulous gardens with all the fountains will take at least a couple of hours and then you can't miss Hadrian's Villa which is a few kilometres down the road. Hadrian's Villa will require another couple of hours at least (and that's a quick run through!).
It doesn't take much imagination to picture the sheer opulence of both the Villas for their time!

We have always travelled by public transport and have enjoyed being able to "see" everything rather than concentrate on negotiating the traffic.

How to get there by public transport is described in this site which also has other day trips from Rome and how to get there:

wrt.cit.cornell.edu/Rome_day_trips.html#Tivoli

Good luck!

hello, ember - i have only used a rental car to visit tivoli and have not encountered any problems of traffic or parking after arriving there.
the first time i went to tivoli was in 1996 - i was just checking my journal from then and this is what i wrote:
"we had lunch and planned out next route which directed us towards tivoli - a hill town with big, rich villas. one such place, villa d'este, was so wonderful. it is a huge place with beautiful, terraced gardens and 500 water fountains, all powered by gravity and the amount of ground water gathered from rain."
we wandered around the gardens for a couple of hours... it was so peaceful.
we stayed at the hotel torre san angelo, which is a castle on a hillside above tivoli. the whole area is a kodak moment... several kodak moments.

I would definately rent a car to go to Tivoli. Jus pick it up near Stanz. Termini, and get on Via Nomentana, and then follow the signs.. You can't go wrong.

You would want to have a car in Tivoli, because the Tivoli Gardens and Haidrian's villa are FAR appart. Plus there are few more attractions in Tivoli.

Villa Gregoriana, an impressive park set in a gorge with a 100m waterfall.

Temple of Vesta and Temple of the Sybil
Ponte Gregoriano.

The Waterfall.

And you might want to go to dinner/lunch at Hotel Sirene, which has a terrace view of the Waterfalls and Temple of Veste right accross. It's lighted up at night.

http://www.noble-caledonia.co.uk/information/informatio...el&catid=72&typeid=3