Umbria in March

Enjoy your trip and please come back to tell us all about it!

In Umbria, I highly recommend the hill town of Spello. We spent two wonderful weeks there.

Perugia is a delightful town. Try to stay near the old part of the city (centro).. You can get a train or bus to Assisi, which is well worth a visit. Haven't been to Orvieto, but have read that it is also well worth a visit. You can probably get there from Perugia by bus (if not by train).Peter

I second Spello as a base, although Perugia might be a bit more lively in March.

I’ve always felt safe around Termini. Just use your normal precautions.

KRS,
I always trot out Bevagna, a genuine rural Italian town with an outstanding range of possible daytrips.
We keep getting email ads from the real estate agent who once arranged our rental in Bevagna, a great value place with a world-class view overlooking the main square.
Her name is Luana Zingarelli.
I am done. The end.

I looked at Airbnb a bit this morning and it looks like there are a few very nice options in Spello. Is it easy to get to and from other towns/villages by train from Spello? What about Assisi? I think I read Perugia is a good base for the train system, but maybe the other towns are easy too? After looking into the region a little bit, I was thinking maybe I'd do a big loop from Rome, stopping in Orvieto, staying a few nights in Perugia/Spello/Assisi and making my way over to Siena for a few nights before heading back to Rome. I want to be in Rome 1-2 nights when I arrive and since my flight out is so early, I'll need to find a hotel connected to the airport if possible for my last night (any suggestions?) so that gives me 6-7 nights to be in Umbria.

Thank you to everyone for any helpful ideas!

You can readily get to Foligno, Perugia, Spoleto and Assisi from Spello by train. Not all of the towns one might want to visit in Umbria are on the train line and the bus system is geared more toward student than tourists. But those four cities plus Orvieto would occupy you. You could also add a wine tour from Spello to see a bit of countryside. Gusto Wine tours will pick you up and offers wonderful tours. I highly recommend.

Be aware that the Spello train station is unmanned. At least when I was last there, you could not buy tickets there. You can buy tickets in town at a tabaccheria or at a manned station like Perugia or Foligno. You can also buy them online.

That's interesting. When I got lost in December and missed a train exit, the town I stopped in had no people around, but they did at least have machines where people could buy tickets.

It’s possible things have improved in the years since I last caught a train in Spello.

Just get the Trenitalia app on your phone. It’s super easy to use and you’ll be able to buy tickets anytime. You can also check the status of your train, such as when it is expected to arrive at your station, platform number, the other stops the train is making, etc.

The more I read and research, the more I wonder if maybe I should consider renting a car for my time outside Rome. It seems like I can get to more places in less time (not that I have much of an agenda yet). If I did that, I'd rather park outside the towns and walk in since I don't mind walking and I am not good at parking in tight spots. Do most towns/villages have parking lots outside the city within a walkable distance? Does that make sense?

If I did rent a car, should I consider basing myself in Orvieto, Siena, somewhere else? I think I'd still rather stay in a town rather than out in the countryside since I'll be alone.

Thank you!