traveling to Umbria

Umbria is beautiful. How much time do you have?

Perugia makes a good base for both bus and train connections.

Montefalco, Gubbio, Assisi, Spello, Trevi are just s few places.

If you want slow and easy the best bet is to rent a car. You’ll have greater flexibility in places to visit and won’t have to schedule your time around the infrequent buses and/or trains between towns. Driving in Italy is really not difficult, so long as you are careful to mind signs for restricted zones (ZTLs) and park outside the restricted zones in each town.

I spent two weeks in Umbria in 2016 and did a nice slow trip based in Todi and then San Gemini. The easiest way to get around is by car. Train lines are limited and while there are buses, they typically have limited schedules to accommodate work and school trips. The driving is very easy - roads are well maintained and marked. Just watch for automated speed cameras in mailbox-sized roadside posts. My favorite towns - well, I didn’t have any non-favorite ones. I loved the two I stayed in and alsoreally enjoyed Bevagna, Spello, Orvieto, and others. I kept the trip reeeeally slow and missed Lake Trasimeno, Norcia, Assisi, and Perugia completely. Another trip.

We've been to Umbria several times and discovered the area offers everything found in Tuscany without the tourists. Perugia is a great place to base because it is a transportation hub. We stayed at the Hotel Fortuna both times, which is located about 50 meters from the two connected main piazzas. If we return to Perugia we would stay there again.

We used bus transportation to make a day trip to Assisi and saw the sights. The crowds were around the Basilica and it wondering around we were by ourselves. Additionally, the bus drops you right at the town for easy exploration.

Another town we Really liked was Gubbio. it was uncrowded and very quaint. They have an unusual funicular going up to Mt. Subiaso. The cars are big enough for two people, they are round, open air, and you must hop on because it never stops. Very cool. At the top of the mountain you will find a cafe and a church, which features a favorite son Pope in a glass coffin. Both times we were there occurred during the summer months and the town was empty. As an extra highlight they have the Università dei calzolari di Gubbio, The University of Shoemakers.

Buon viaggio,

The Hotel Fortuna is a good choice, right in the middle of town, yet a block in from the main drag, which is a pedestrian island. There's lots to see in Perugia, and you'll find it's just a good place to hang out, too. If you want to wander, I agree with the others: rent a car. It's easy to drive in the countryside; Umbrian drivers aren't the kamikazes you'd see in Rome or any other big city. A car gives you flexibility and just driving on country roads is an experience. My bucket list in Umbria would be: Gubbio (the drive from Perugia is beautiful), Assisi, Spello, Spoleto. Go to Tuoro sul Trasimeno and take the ferry to Isola Maggiore, where you can hike around the island and have a nice meal before heading back. Also, Todi, Gubbio, Gualdo Tadino. If you go to Assisi, try to get up to the hermitage of St. Francis. It's a beautiful, tranquil spot. I'm not sure if the road is open yet post-earthquake, but the Piano Grande above Norcia is absolutely amazing. Enjoy your trip.

You can't go wrong in Umbria. We are lucky to have friends who live about 25 minutes outside of Perugia and we are currently house and dog sitting for about three weeks. So, we have a car and I'd echo the previous comments--it's the way to go and it is not like driving in Rome (once was enough for me). GPS in the car or on your phone is a must as the directional signs are sometimes hard to pick out and most cities have multiple convenient parking lots that allow you to get close enough to get out and wander. But do be mindful of the ZTLs and the roadside speed cameras. I do notice that speed limits quickly move up and down (e.g 110 to 90 to 70 back to 110) especially on the main roads without much (or any) warning. The GPS is really good at telling me what the current speed limit is.

As for cities; Gubbio is great. I love taking people there (take time to ride up the hill by care or even better in the funicular to see Ubaldo the incorruptible. I've been to Spello, Orvieto and Todi each a few times---all beautiful. Just did Asissi and Bevagna for the first time this week. Bevagna is nice and reasonably flat. Assisi is a true the hill town but well worth the many hours to take it all in. Not mentioned on most lists is Citta di Costello--up the E45 (and the Tiber River valley) into northern Umbria -- a very nice and flat town with two great art museums. We hope to get to Spoleto for the first time later this week (if only to try the pistachio gelato at the newly crowned best gelateria in the world).

I find that driving around is part of the fun as you discover the countryside, get lost (for a while) in the hills and come across amazing beauty. Plus, driving a manual car again makes it that much more fun--at least to me. And yes, to echo a comment above, the drive to Gubbio is spectacular.

We picked up and dropped off our car at the Perugia airport so we could have a car while in the region. We took a cab from the train station to the airport and then back to the train station at the end of our stay.

I recommend Orvieto very highly, having spent a couple of nights there a little over a year ago. I found it a very pleasant town. Definitely study up on the ZTL thing, ample material on this board on that. Personally I would not drive in Italy, because even for people who are careful and pay attention it's easy to make mistake that can cost you hundreds.

Renting a car would be best to visit the many beautiful towns.
However with a car, I wouldn't stay in Perugia, which is somewhat of a busy city.
If this were my trip, I'd rent a car, and stay in or around Assisi. Even in or near the historical center of Assisi (which is largely forbidden to cars) there are some nice hotels which are accessible by car and have parking. Otherwise you need to park outside the walls in one of the city parking lots.