Pope's Palace, Castel Gandolfo & Gardens by Train from Rome

Our Castel Gandolfo tour meets you first thing in the morning at Termini station to make sure you get on the right train. Once aboard, one of our friendly, energetic tour leaders will give you a brief introduction to your destination: the town of Castel Gandolfo which sits overlooking the crater lake of an extinct volcano. For 400 years, it hosted the Popes during the hot Roman summer and today we are going to see both the gardens and the Apostolic Palace that they built here.

The first stop on our Castel Gandolfo tour is the Barberini Garden, which you’ll explore on an electric train with an official Vatican audio guide. Built on the remains of Emperor Domitian’s palace, the gardens are a mix of Roman ruins and verdant terraces filled with geometric flower beds framed by Cedars, Cypress, and Holm Oaks. They were a favorite of John Paul II; be sure to look for the pool he had built here.

After the gardens, we’ll escort you to the Apostolic Palace. As you explore its interior with a Vatican audio guide, you’ll see beautiful architecture by Carlo Maderno, portraits of past Popes, and real examples of some of their most vibrant ceremonial garb.

Castel Gandolfo is one of the most beautiful towns in the region so we are giving you some free time to explore it on your own. After getting some tips and recommendations from your tour leader, you can grab some lunch, hang out in the main square, or take some pictures of the dramatic lake views.

Finally, our Castel Gandolfo tour gets you back onto the train to Rome and ensures you make it back to Termini station, hassle-free.