Perugia
Perugia is the hilltop capital of Umbria, known for medieval lanes, Etruscan walls and chocolate. Stay two or three nights, then use it as a base for day trips to Assisi, Orvieto and Lake Trasimeno.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Perugia is the capital of Umbria, a region in central Italy, and sits on a hill above the Tiber valley. Its old town has steep, narrow streets, medieval palaces and sections of Etruscan walls that date back more than 2,000 years. In Piazza IV Novembre, the main square, the Fontana Maggiore, a 13th-century fountain, is a good place to get your bearings.
The Galleria Nazionale dell'Umbria holds a strong collection of Umbrian painting, including works by Perugino. The Perugina chocolate brand was founded in the city, and the university brings students into the old town, so the bars stay busy in the evenings. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons, since summer is hot. Plan two or three nights to see the old town at a relaxed pace, with one or two day trips to Assisi, Orvieto or Lake Trasimeno.
Perugia in five
- Use the escalators and minimetro to climb the hillThe station sits below the old town, and the hill is steep. Check current buses, the minimetro and the Rocca Paolina escalators before you plan a first-day arrival with luggage.
- Visit the National Gallery of UmbriaThe gallery in the Palazzo dei Priori holds Umbrian painting from the medieval period onward, including Perugino and Pinturicchio. Check opening days and tickets on the official site, since Monday closures are common in Italy.
- Plan around Eurochocolate and Umbria JazzPerugia's chocolate festival is usually in October and its jazz festival in July. Both fill rooms and raise prices, and dates change each year, so check before you book.
- Base in Perugia for Assisi, Orvieto and the lakeTrains from Perugia reach Assisi in about 20–30 minutes, and Lake Trasimeno and Orvieto are within reach by train or bus. Rental cars help in the hills, so avoid driving into the old center.Assisi
Things to do in Perugia
See all attractions in Perugia
Need to know
- Airport
- Perugia Sant'Egidio (PEG) is small; Rome or Florence are bigger hubs
- Getting there
- Train from Rome in about 2–3 hours; from Florence about 2 hours
- Getting around
- Walk the old town; minimetro, escalators and buses for the hill
- Best base
- Old center for atmosphere; near the station for trains
- Time needed
- 2 days, 3–4 with day trips
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh10°Low2°Cold, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh12°Low4°ColdFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh14°Low5°MildMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 89 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh18°Low7°Spring, idealAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 79 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, ideal
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh22°Low11°Warm, greenMayRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JuneClear8 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh28°Low16°Warm, long daysJuneClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Warm, long days
- JulyClear5 rainy daysHigh33°Low19°Jazz festivalJulyClear
Good
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 41 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Jazz festival
- AugustClear7 rainy daysHigh33°Low19°Hot, quietAugustClear
Mixed
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, quiet
- SeptemberClear10 rainy daysHigh26°Low15°Harvest, mildSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 121 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Harvest, mild
- OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh21°Low11°Chocolate festOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 107 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Chocolate fest
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Rain, quietNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 117 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, quiet
- DecemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh11°Low4°Christmas lightsDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 117 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas lights
Average daily high and low in Perugia, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Jul Umbria Jazz Festival
Right now in Perugia
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 7°
- Humidity
- 81%
- Wind
- 20 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 18%
Umbria
10:57 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today14°8°18%Monday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Tue14°9°3%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Wed15°9°15%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Thu15°10°1%Thursday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Fri15°10°20%Friday: Rain. High 15°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Sat14°9°13%Saturday: Rain. High 14°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Sun16°6°14%Sunday: Rain. High 16°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 14%.
Updated 07:16 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Jun–JulFestival dei Due MondiSpoleto, a day trip
- Jun–SepSaracen JoustArezzo, a day trip
- JulUmbria Jazz FestivalPerugia
Day trips by train
Before you go to Perugia
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Perugia, checked
- Visitors from countries that do not need a visa may stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check the rules on the Italian visa portal before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
- Cover shoulders and knees inside churches, including the cathedral of San Lorenzo in Perugia.
- Parts of the historic centre are restricted traffic zones. Check the Perugia city website before you drive in, and park outside the walls.
- Antiques and cultural objects may need an export license to leave the EU. Check with the Italian Ministry of Culture before you buy at fairs.Source
Plan around Perugia
Regions, cities and how to link them
Read the guideAssisiA short train ride to St. Francis's town
Read the guideLago TrasimenoLakeside villages and island ferries
Read the guideOrvietoCliff-top cathedral town
Read the guideArezzoTuscany's antique town, an hour north
Read the guideItaly by train off-peakSlow-rail trips outside peak weeks
Read the guidePerugia FAQ
Is Perugia worth visiting?
Yes, especially if you want a living medieval city rather than a museum town. It has an excellent main street, a national gallery, chocolate and a big student population. It is also a good base for Assisi and Lake Trasimeno.
How many days do you need in Perugia?
Two days cover the center, the gallery and a chocolate stop. Three or four let you add Assisi, Lake Trasimeno or Orvieto without rushing.
Is Perugia or Assisi better to stay in?
Perugia has more hotels, restaurants and train links. Assisi is quieter and more pilgrimage-minded. Stay in Perugia if you want city life, and visit Assisi for a day.
When is the Eurochocolate festival?
It usually runs in October, but dates change each year. Check the festival's official site before you book, because rooms fill and prices rise that week.
Is Perugia hard to walk?
The old town is hilly, with steps and cobbles. Escalators, the minimetro and buses help, so check current service. Wear flat shoes and expect to climb.