6 Castel Gandolfo Tours to Plan a Morning Around

1.Castel Gandolfo: Papal Apartments and Secret Garden Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 277 reviews · 1.5 - 2 hours · from $30Our pick

See the former papal summer residence at Castel Gandolfo, about 1.5 to 2 hours from start to finish. Your ticket covers the Papal Apartments and Secret Garden, with the Astronomical Domes available as an add-on. You explore at your own pace, without a guide or transportation included.

“La visite des appartements pontificaux et du jardin secret vaut la peine, mais l'entrée est a 12€ par personne sur les billets, quand j'ai réglé 28€ en ligne, donc un peu l'impression de m'être fait avoir”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Pontifical Villa Gardens at Castel Gandolfo Minibus

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 171 reviews · from $25

Ride an open, eco-friendly minibus through the 55-hectare Pontifical Villas gardens at Castel Gandolfo. An audio guide shares stories about the popes and the grounds built among Emperor Domitian’s ruins. You can add a visit to the Papal Palace’s Astronomical Domes or finish with porchetta and wine in town.

“The experience was terrible. We paid 44 euros for the activity and couldn’t do the activity. The instructions from the email were not clear and we just were not able to do the activity. We immediately called but this company did charge us the money.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Papal Palace and Secret Garden Ticket and Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★3.9 · 73 reviews · from $23

Visit the Papal Palace of Castel Gandolfo, Pope Urban VIII’s former summer residence, then explore Moro Garden and the Secret Garden at your own pace. The $23 ticket includes entry and an audio guide in English or Italian. You’ll need to arrange your own transportation, and the experience is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Castel Gandolfo: Kayak Food and Wine Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 49 reviews · 3 hours · from $77

From a free pickup at Rome’s Anagnina subway station, you head to Lake Albano for a guided kayak outing past submerged mill houses, papal landmarks and an old Olympic venue. The tour includes safety gear, a short paddling lesson, time at a kayak-only beach when conditions allow, and a regional food and wine stop. Guides speak English, Spanish and Italian.

“Andreas was a wonderful guide. Picking us up at the train station, loading my wheelchair (I can walk, but not far) and showing us his favorite spots on Lake Alba. After kayaking the lake my husband, late teens grandson and I enjoyed the included wine, cheese and meat platter at Castel Gandolfo (a restaurant overlooking the lake). A lovely day.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Borgo Laudato Si’ – Gardens of Villa Barberini

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 13 reviews · from $17Best value

Ride through the Gardens of Villa Barberini in an ecological vehicle, with a multilingual audio guide for the gardens, fountains, and remains of Emperor Domitian’s villa. The one-hour visit starts and ends on Via Massimo D’Azeglio. The driver speaks Italian and English. The Papal Palace is not included.

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Castel Gandolfo: Vatican Observatory experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 10 reviews · 1 hour · from $17

At the Papal Palace in Castel Gandolfo, you’ll climb a spiral staircase to the third floor, see two functioning Vatican Observatory domes, and look out over Lake Albano. The one-hour visit costs $17 per person. A guided tour and audioguide are not included, so plan to explore without a guaranteed commentary.

“Affascinante l'ambientazione, la durata un ora permette di visitare anche i giardini (extra). Gentilissimo la guida nelle spiegazioni a noi non astrofisici...”

Check availability →Read our full review