DESTINATIONS · UMBRIA
Plan Umbria, Italy’s green heart
Assisi, Perugia, Orvieto and the wine towns around Montefalco: hill towns with fewer crowds than Tuscany and a slower rhythm.
Why choose Umbria?
Umbria is the only region of central Italy without a coastline, and it travels like a string of hill towns. Each one is compact enough to see in half a day, so the region suits travelers who like to move slowly and stay in one base.
Best for: hill towns, religious art, food and wine, slow travel and repeat visitors to Italy. Ideal stay: 3–5 days from one base, or a day trip if you only have time for Assisi or Orvieto.
Where to go in Umbria
Perugia
The regional capital: a university city on a hill, with a medieval center and a good choice of hotels for a base.
Assisi
The town of St. Francis, with the Basilica of San Francesco and a UNESCO-listed historic center. The train station sits in the plain below the town.
Orvieto
A cathedral town on a volcanic rock, on the Rome–Florence railway, which makes it one of the easiest hill towns to reach by train.
Montefalco
A small wine town known for Sagrantino. Wineries sit outside the walls, so plan a car or a tour.
Spello, Todi and Gubbio
Smaller hill towns for a second or third day, best reached by car.
Where to sleep
Perugia works for travelers without a car; a countryside base suits drivers.
What to do in Umbria
Walk the hill towns
Start in Perugia or Assisi, then add one smaller town a day instead of racing through several.
Taste Sagrantino
Montefalco’s red wine and the region’s olive oil are the food story of Umbria.
See it from above
A hot-air balloon flight over the Assisi and Perugia countryside is the region’s signature splurge.
Looking for quieter places like these across Italy? See hidden villages and towns in Italy.
Selected Umbria experiences
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Perugia walking tour
Two options: a private guided walk priced per group of up to 15 people, and a digital self-guided route from about €6.50 (checked September 2026), the only option listed as wheelchair accessible.
Montefalco winery and olive oil mill
A winery and oil mill visit from about €68 (checked September 2026). Transport is not included and you need a car during the visit, since the vineyard is about 2 km from the meeting point.
Hot-air balloon over Assisi
Flights leave at dawn and depend on the weather, so book early in your trip to leave room for a new date. The listing excludes some recent surgery and chronic back or neck conditions.
Plan your Umbria trip
How many days?
1 day: Assisi or Orvieto. 2–3 days: Perugia and Assisi. 4–5 days: add Montefalco, Spello or Todi from a countryside base.
Do you need a car?
Not for Perugia, Assisi or Orvieto, which have rail connections. For Montefalco, the smaller hill towns and the countryside, a car makes the trip much easier.
When to visit?
Spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons for walking steep hill towns. Early fall brings the grape harvest around Montefalco. Summer can be hot inland, and winter is quiet, with shorter days.
Frequently asked questions
Is Umbria worth visiting?
Yes, especially for travelers who have already seen Florence or Rome. Umbria offers hill towns, religious art and food and wine with fewer crowds than Tuscany. Perugia, Assisi and Orvieto are the easiest places to start, and each can be seen in half a day to a day.
What is the best base in Umbria?
Perugia is the best base without a car, thanks to its hotels and connections. With a car, a countryside base between Perugia, Assisi and Montefalco lets you reach several hill towns in short drives.
Can you visit Umbria without a car?
Partly. Perugia, Assisi and Orvieto can be reached by train, although Assisi’s station is in the plain below the town. Montefalco, Spello, Todi and the countryside wineries are much easier with a car or a guided tour.
How many days do you need in Umbria?
One day is enough for Assisi or Orvieto on its own. Two to three days cover Perugia and Assisi, and four to five days let you add Montefalco and smaller towns from a single base.
Is Orvieto in Umbria or Tuscany?
Orvieto is in Umbria. It sits on the Rome–Florence railway, which makes it a popular stop or day trip for travelers moving between the two cities.
Umbria rewards a slower pace
Pick one base, see one or two hill towns a day, and leave time for lunch.