Travel guide
Umbria
The green heart of Italy: hill towns of pink stone, olive groves, abbeys and small squares where you want to linger. Distances are short, the valley is well served by trains and many villages are an easy day trip.
Photo: Hagai Agmon-Snir حچاي اچمون-سنير חגי אגמון-שניר, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Things to do in Umbria
The Spello Infiorata at dawn
Spello · June, on the Corpus Domini weekend
Pinturicchio's Baglioni Chapel
Spello · All year
Sagrantino wine tasting at a winery
Montefalco · All year by appointment; September for the harvest
Benozzo Gozzoli's frescoes
Montefalco · All year
Ferry to Isola Maggiore
Castiglione del Lago · Spring to autumn
Rocca del Leone and Palazzo della Corgna
Castiglione del Lago · All year
Guided tour of the Basilica of St Francis
Assisi · All year, best early in the morning
Hike to the Eremo delle Carceri
Assisi · Spring and autumn
Calendimaggio in Assisi
Assisi · Early May
Cable car up Mount Ingino
Gubbio · All year (shorter hours in winter)
The Race of the Candles
Gubbio · 15 May
Down St Patrick's Well
Orvieto · All year
Orvieto Underground tour
Orvieto · All year, several departures a day
The Anello della Rupe walk
Orvieto · All year
Umbria Jazz Winter
Orvieto · Late December, over New Year
The Ponte delle Torri loop
Spoleto · All year
Festival dei Due Mondi
Spoleto · Late June to mid-July
Villages to visit in Umbria
Spello
Santa Maria Maggiore · Porta Consolare · Porta Venere · Chiesa di Sant'Andrea
Montefalco
Museo di San Francesco · Piazza del Comune · Chiesa di Sant'Agostino · Chiesa di Santa Chiara
Castiglione del Lago
Rocca del Leone · Palazzo della Corgna · Chiesa di Santa Maria Maddalena · Porta Fiorentina
Assisi
Basilica di San Francesco · Basilica di Santa Chiara · Rocca Maggiore · Tempio di Minerva
Gubbio
Palazzo dei Consoli · Duomo di Gubbio · Teatro romano · Palazzo Ducale
Orvieto
Duomo di Orvieto · Pozzo di San Patrizio · Torre del Moro · Palazzo del Capitano del Popolo
Spoleto
Duomo di Spoleto · Ponte delle Torri · Rocca Albornoz · Teatro romano
Visiting Umbria: the essentials
Where is Umbria?
Umbria is in central Italy, between Tuscany, Le Marche and Lazio, and it is the only region in central Italy without a coastline. Its capital is Perugia. Rome and Florence are about two hours away by train, which makes Umbria one of the easiest regions to explore without a car.
Umbria in 2, 3 or 4 days
In 2 days: Assisi and Spello, ten minutes apart by train. In 3 days: add Orvieto, or Bevagna and Montefalco for a wine tasting. In 4 days: give a day to Spoleto or Gubbio and spend an evening on Lake Trasimeno for the sunset.
When to go
Spring and early autumn are the best times: mild weather, fewer crowds and plenty of village festivals. In summer pick the hill towns and the cooler hours of the day. December brings the giant Christmas tree of lights on Gubbio's mountain and Umbria Jazz Winter in Orvieto.
Travelling solo in Umbria
Umbria is calm, safe and welcoming: towns are small enough to walk everywhere, locals are used to visitors and guided tours or wine tastings are an easy way to meet people. Base yourself in Assisi or Spello and you can reach several villages by train.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best villages to visit in Umbria?
On Solivaga you'll find Spello, Montefalco, Castiglione del Lago, Assisi, Gubbio, Orvieto, Spoleto, each with an illustrated map, what to see and how to get there.
Which villages in Umbria can you reach without a car?
Spello, Castiglione del Lago, Assisi, Orvieto, Spoleto can be reached by train or bus: each page explains how.
What are the most beautiful villages in Umbria?
Assisi, Orvieto, Spello, Gubbio, Spoleto, Montefalco and Castiglione del Lago on Lake Trasimeno are the ones we recommend first.
Can you visit Umbria without a car?
Yes. Assisi, Spello, Orvieto, Spoleto and Castiglione del Lago all have train stations, and the main towns are connected by regional trains and buses.
How many days do you need in Umbria?
Three or four days are enough for the highlights: Assisi and Spello, Orvieto, and one of Spoleto, Gubbio or Montefalco.