Umbria
Umbria is a region of hill towns, medieval churches and lake shores. Assisi, Orvieto and Perugia are the main stops, and a car makes the smaller places easier to reach.
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Umbria is a region in central Italy, east of Tuscany and north of Rome. Its towns sit on hilltops and ridges, many behind medieval walls and with far older foundations. Assisi is the best known, home to the Basilica of Saint Francis, where the saint is buried. Orvieto rises on a cliff of volcanic rock above the plain, and its cathedral has a black and white striped facade. Perugia, the regional capital, has an old center with Etruscan walls. Lake Trasimeno, Italy's fourth largest lake, lies to the west.
Umbria suits a slow trip built around towns, lake walks, local food and wine. The towns are spread out, and trains and buses between the hilltops are limited, so a car is the simplest way to link them. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons for walking and driving, while summer is hot. Allow five to seven days to cover two or three areas, and more if you want time in Perugia or at the lake.
Umbria in five
- Rent a car for most of the regionTrains reach Perugia, Assisi, Spoleto and Orvieto, but the villages between them need a car or a tour. Park outside the walls, since centers are traffic-limited (ZTL).
- Pick one cluster, not a grand loopPerugia and Assisi form one cluster, Orvieto and Todi another, and the Adriatic coast is a third hour away. Two clusters in a week is enough.Tuscany or Umbria
- Dress for churches in AssisiCovered shoulders and knees are expected in the basilica and other churches. Check the opening and visiting rules on the basilica's official page, since they shift for religious events.
- Visit outside August for quieter lanesSpring and autumn give mild days, food festivals and fewer crowds. Winter brings truffle markets but short days and some closed hotels.Best time to visit Italy
- Add the coast for a change of paceLe Marche has beach towns, cliff coves near Ancona and fish restaurants. Trains run along the Adriatic, so it combines well with a rail trip.Ancona
Neighborhoods
Perugia
- Price band: $$
Assisi
- Price band: $$
Spoleto
- Price band: $$
Orvieto
- Price band: $
Things to do in Umbria
See all attractions in Umbria
Need to know
- Airport
- Perugia (PEG) or Ancona (AOI); Rome Fiumicino is the main hub
- Getting there
- Train from Rome or Florence; Orvieto is on the Rome to Florence line
- Getting around
- Car for villages; trains link the main hill towns
- Best base
- Perugia or Assisi for Umbria; Ancona or Urbino for Le Marche
- Time needed
- 5–7 days; a long weekend covers one cluster
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryCold, quiet
- FebruaryCold, quiet
- MarchCool, wet
- AprilSpring green
- MayWarm, green
- JuneWarm, long days
- JulyHot, Umbria Jazz
- AugustHot, holidays
- SeptemberHarvest, mild
- OctoberEurochocolate
- NovemberRain, truffles
- DecemberCold, markets
Right now in Umbria
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%
Perugia
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, a day trip
Day trips by train
- Assisiabout 20–30 min by train from PerugiaA hill-side pilgrimage town with the Basilica of St. Francis.Read the guide
- Orvietoabout 1.5 hours by train from Perugia or 1 hour from RomeA cathedral town on a volcanic rock with underground caves.Read the guide
- Lago Trasimenoabout 30–40 min by car from PerugiaA large lake with small towns and boat trips to its islands.Read the guide
Before you go to Umbria
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Rules for Umbria, checked
- Many non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check entry rules on the Italian visa site before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
- Cover shoulders and knees before entering churches, including the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi.
- Antiques and cultural objects can require an export license to leave the EU. Check with the Italian Ministry of Culture before you buy at fairs.Source
Plan around Umbria
Regions, cities and the rules every visitor needs
Read the guidePerugiaThe Umbrian capital and its university quarter
Read the guideAssisiBasilica of St. Francis and hill-side lanes
Read the guideOrvietoA cathedral town on volcanic rock
Read the guideViterboA papal city and thermal baths just south in Lazio
Read the guideTuscany or UmbriaWhich region fits your week
Read the guideUmbria FAQ
Is Umbria or Le Marche better?
Umbria for famous hill towns and Assisi, Le Marche for fewer visitors, the Adriatic coast and Urbino. Umbria is easier by train, and Le Marche is easier to reach by car.
How many days do you need in Umbria?
Three days cover Perugia, Assisi and one more town. Five days add Orvieto, Spoleto or Todi, and a week lets you add the coast.
Do you need a car in Umbria and Le Marche?
For villages, yes. Trains link Perugia, Assisi, Foligno, Spoleto and Orvieto, and the Adriatic coast has its own line. A car is useful for everything between them.
What is the best base in Umbria?
Perugia for a city with trains and buses, Assisi for a quieter pilgrimage base, Spoleto or Todi for a smaller and calmer town.
When is the best time to visit Umbria and Le Marche?
April to June and September to October. Summer is hot, and some towns host festivals like Umbria Jazz in July. Check the festival and ceremony calendars before you book.