5 Days in Umbria - where to be based for day trips

Trains in Umbria are pretty much the regional ones, fairly slow and not always convenient. As for great places: Orvieto, Perugia, Assisi, Spoletto. All have good highways to access.

Hertz has an office directly out the front door of the Orvieto train station. Travel through the region would be much easier with an automobile.. The roads are good and well marked, if a little crooked. It's a 70 minute train ride up to Orvieto from the Rome Termini.

re having a car, I'm a little concerned about parking since we'll probably stay in a town (stayed in the country in Tuscany once and taking day trips with the car was perfect). if we were to stay in the old town parts of Perugia or Spoleto, should I be concerned about parking a car?

Also, since I posted my original, we've gotten advice to split our stays between Perugia and Spoleto for variety and easier access for those day trips. Do others here agree?

We spent two marvelous weeks in beautiful Spello using it as a base to explore Umbria. We easily visited Assisi, visible across the valley, Montefalco, Bevagna, Perugia, Lake Trasimeno, Monte de Lago and more.
Spello has many excellent restaurants and a solid local population in town.
There are several free parking lots surrounding the town. We used the one on top as it was nearest to our rental house. We would return there happily.
There is a book written by an American, Michele Damiani, “Bel Canto, a Year in the Beautiful Center”, the story of her family’s year living in Spello.
We enjoyed a day in Perugia but it would be a hassle getting in and out of the hill top city to see other towns. It is high up, parking is in the hillside, escalators to go up but not down. I do not agree at all with using Perugia as a base. And it also has those dreaded ZTLs! Hassles.
We went to Spoleto but were turned off by the congested built up area surrounding it.
You really do need a car in this area. We rented at FCO and drove up to Spello. I never saw a train come into the small station. There were a few local taxis. There are several very nice looking hotels in town. For only five days, stay in one place the whole time. We loved Umbria, much less crowded and touristed than Tuscany.

You may want to check out the cooking classes at Ala Madonna del Piato near Assisi. It gets rave reviews. Also, there is an agriturismo in the location if you’re interested.

Perugia was interesting city for a day trip, but I would choose to stay elsewhere in Umbria. There's nothing wrong with Perugia--but smaller cities such as Spello and Assisi (and I'm sure others) seem more enjoyable for those hours when you just want to walk, explore, find a local restaurant with delicious food, and enjoy Italy.

I also would recommend a car in this area. There are many interesting towns to explore, but I think it would be a challenge if depending only on trains. We were in Italy in late March, so I don't know how the traffic we experienced (very little!) compares to October. We had no problem finding parking in Gubbio, Montefalco, or Spello. There is an Avis office at the Perugia train station; the agent let us leave the car parked in their lot while we explored Perugia.

You should have a car, unless you like to wait around a lot. I live in Perugia, and it's a cool place to be. But I agree it can be complicated to base yourself if you don't know the ins and outs with a car. You can leave the car on the outskirts and take the Minimetrò up to the historic center but that means a €3 round trip. I'm all for Spello, a gem of a town. I like Orvieto itself but it's on the other side of the region from most of the attractions. Try to wander out into the countryside, it's beautiful and green. This spring brought tons of rain and the greenery is intense right now.,

Thanks for the replies! Very helpful.

I'm convinced we need a car... with that in mind, what about this suggestion from a friend who was in Umbria a couple years ago...

Spend 2 nights without a car in the old town part of Perugia (arrive on train from Rome, enjoy the town, the museum, etc.), then get a car, leave town, tour through a few towns for a day and land in Spoleto (for 3 more nights) from which to base remainder of day trips with the car (and see Spoleto, too)

Thoughts?

In 2017 we spent 5 nights in Spello (during Infiorate di Spello). I highly recommend a stay in this beautiful village. We rented our car in Rome, drove to Spello and easily day tripped to all of the nearby towns.

Zaj, I like your friends suggestion about waiting on the rental car.

I have been researching for a week in Umbria. Probably to do in 2021.

Thinking of a night or two in Orvieto, then moving on to Perugia for a couple of days, then to Assisi or Spoleto. Also visiting Spello and Gubbio.

We would prefer to do Italy by rail and avoid the car rental.
I have driven in Italy before, back in the 80s and 90s, but now most people seem to come back from Italy that rent cars with at least one very expensive traffic ticket.

I rent in Orvieto and stay at an Agriturismo in the area. We stay within sight of Civita di Bagnoregio. It's wonderful.
The roads are fine. I have never had a problem with parking, ZTL's or tickets. We come and go as we please where we please. In this area a car provides you with opportunities to explore. If we are in a hurry to get from one place to another we use the Autostrada. In other areas we use the normal public transportation...but here, get a car at the Orvieto train station and enjoy exploring.

We stayed at a hotel/resort/spa called Le Tres Vaselle in Torgiano. I highly recommend it. It has a pool. The buffet breakfast was very good. The restaurant is outstanding. Order something with truffles. The town of Torgiano doesn't have much; but, the hotel has parking and it is easy to drive to all the neat places in Umbria.