Touring Umbria next May using Perugia as a base

November and December 2021 we spent 30+ days in Umbria, staying in Orvieto for 4 nights and then took the train to Perugia for several nights, a 2-hour trip. We knew, or thought we knew, that we'd change trains "in Cortona," but in fact the station we wanted was called Camucia Cortona, and we did not get off there, thinking that there would be a station farther on called just "Cortona." You might profit from our mistake!

Neither of us remember seeing a person selling tickets at the Perugia train station, but we did pay at the machine with a chip and pin credit card, so we probably just didn't notice. It's a transportation hub, so you'd think there would be an actual human being there.

The drive from Perugia to Assisi is a good 30–40 minutes, so I would think a taxi too expensive (says the couple who had to take a taxi from Roma Termini to Tarquinia last year because of a partial train strike).

The train from Perugia station to Assisi station plus the bus from the station up the hill takes 40–50 minutes, and then you walk just a little way uphill, too, to the lower basilica.

You will be surprised at how many more places take credit cards now, even for smaller amounts. The last two trips, we bought so few things with cash that we several times didn't have enough cash when suddenly we needed some --- this had never happened on previous trips.

We almost never buy train tickets in advance --- too many things can make you miss a particular train and you do not save any money if it's a regional train.

Probably have to take a bus to Gubbio, but it's well worth going!

I can only share a bit off our trip which was several years ago. The Tourist Information office was very helpful in suggesting day trip destinations and the best transport, bus or train, to each. We visited Assisi, Spoleto and Gubbio and followed their suggestions. It was very easy and never much travel time. All were beautiful and well worth the visits. Perugia itself was a pleasant spot to return to each evening. It’s a university town with many American kids. We were there during graduation time and it was fun all over each evening. There was a huge chocolate event sometime but we had no idea. We stayed at the Hotel Sant'Ercolano. It’s fairly modest but well maintained and the staff were very nice. Our room had a small balcony looking over to Assisi in the distance. It was also close to the Minimetro which was invaluable in getting up and down to transportation. We had a great time in Perugia. Hope the same for you. Safe travels.

Forum poster Jean from Hayden, Idaho, stayed in Perugia (and many other places) in June of 2022. Her trip report is called June 2022: Solo trip to Italy. (Sorry, I don't know how to turn this into a link!

Do I need a credit card with chip and pin to purchase rail tickets in Italy from the machines at rail stations?