Best of Umbria

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Umbria
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Umbrian countryside outside of Spoleto
Self-Drive Italy: Hill Towns of Tuscany & Umbria - 8 Days

The medieval hill towns of Tuscany and Umbria take center stage on this relaxed, 8-day road trip through the Italian countryside. Starting in the ancient city-state of Cortona, you'll set out on day trips to the stunning fortified towns of Montepulciano and Arezzo, discovering a treasure trove of Renaissance art and architecture. Hop over to quieter Umbria for spectacular scenery and more magical hilltop locales, visiting historic fortresses, cathedrals, and cities from your base in beautiful Assisi.

The rooftops of Perugia's medieval old town.
Map of Undiscovered Central Italy: Marche, San Marino & Umbria - 8 Days
Undiscovered Central Italy: Marche, San Marino & Umbria - 8 Days

Step off the beaten path and discover some of central Italy's hidden treasures on this relaxed 8-day itinerary. Start in the bucolic region of Marche, where the medieval hill towns of Ascoli Piceno and Urbino will serve as your base for touring local wineries. After a visit to the tiny mountaintop country of San Marino, cross the Apennines to beautiful Umbria. Here you'll explore the region's fortified capital of Perugia, a vibrant city of ancient ruins and Renaissance architecture.

Views across the Marche countryside to the Renaissance hill town of Urbino.
Map of Undiscovered Central Italy: Marche & Umbria - 6 Days
Undiscovered Central Italy: Marche & Umbria - 6 Days

Skip the crowds on this packed 6-day jaunt through Italy’s lesser-known central regions. Hidden between the Apennine Mountains and the Adriatic Sea, Marche boasts the rolling hills and rustic hill towns of Tuscany with far fewer tourists. Visit its beautiful fortified villages of Ascoli Piceno and Urbino, then sample its rich winemaking traditions on a tour of surrounding vineyards. Cross the mountains into Umbria to end your trip in the regional capital of Perugia, where you’ll explore ancient ruins, browse Renaissance art, and spend your final day learning to cook the local cuisine.

Sunset over the countryside around Perugia.
Map of Undiscovered Central Italy: Marche, San Marino & Umbria - 9 Days
Undiscovered Central Italy: Marche, San Marino & Umbria - 9 Days

This leisurely 9-day itinerary introduces you to the medieval hill towns and rolling countryside of Italy's lesser-known central regions.  Skip the crowds and explore the rolling wine country and fortified villages of Marche before heading north to the tiny kingdom of San Marino. Cross the Apennines to end your trip in Umbria, sampling the culture and cuisine of the regional capital of Perugia.

Views across the Umbrian countryside from the regional capital of Perugia.
Map of Undiscovered Central Italy: Marche, San Marino & Umbria - 7 Days
Undiscovered Central Italy: Marche, San Marino & Umbria - 7 Days

Spend a week exploring the historic hill towns and rolling wine country of Italy's lesser-known central regions. This 7-day itinerary starts in Marche, a lush, mountainous region hidden between the Apennine Mountains and the Adriatic Sea. Visit the fortified medieval towns of Ascoli Piceno and Urbino, discover the rich winemaking culture of its countryside, and spend a day in the tiny fairytale kingdom of San Marino. Cross the mountains into Umbria to end your trip in the regional capital of Perugia, where you'll spend your final day learning to cook and savor the local cuisine.

View over the rooftops and countryside of Urbino.
Map of Undiscovered Central Italy: Marche, San Marino & Umbria - 10 Days
Undiscovered Central Italy: Marche, San Marino & Umbria - 10 Days

This relaxed 10-day itinerary gives you plenty of time to discover the hidden gems of central Italy. Start in eastern Marche, nestled between the Apennine Mountains and the Adriatic Sea. Tour the area's renowned wine country, settle into the medieval hill towns of Ascoli Piceno and Urbino, and spend a day exploring the tiny kingdom of San Marino. Head southwest across the mountains to end your stay in Perugia, where you'll discover its Renassaince history and immerse yourself in the regional cuisine.

This nine-day tour begins in Italy's capital, Rome
Map of Rome, Assisi & Florence - 9 Days
Rome, Assisi & Florence - 9 Days

Travelers wishing to combine Italy's cities and a bit of the stunning countryside will love this nine-day tour. It starts in Rome, where you'll spend three days exploring the ancient sights with a private guide and on your own. Then pick up a car and drive through Umbrian vineyards and olive groves to get to Assisi—a UNESCO-listed town oozing with history. Continue to Florence and spend the last few days walking between Renaissance gems and hilly viewpoints for an adventure to remember.

Views across the Marche countryside near Urbino.
Map of Undiscovered Central Italy: Marche, San Marino & Umbria - 11 Days
Undiscovered Central Italy: Marche, San Marino & Umbria - 11 Days

Avoid the crowds and explore Italy's quieter central regions on this laid-back 11-day itinerary. Starting in Marche, you'll explore medieval hill towns, tour renowned wine country, and go truffle hunting in ancient woodlands. Spend a day climbing through the mountaintop kingdom of San Marino before crossing the Apennines to Umbria, Italy's "green heart." Here you'll soak up the art, culture, and cuisine of Perugia, its beguiling regional capital.

Learn about the height of the Roman Empire from your private guide
Map of Rome, Assisi & Florence - 10 Days
Rome, Assisi & Florence - 10 Days

If you have 10 days to spend in Italy, this tour blends two world-class cities and a road trip through the countryside for a well-rounded adventure. Start in Rome to see the Vatican and learn about the height of the Roman Empire with local guides. Then pick up a rental car and make your way to the hilly Umbria region for medieval towns, like UNESCO-listed Assisi, plus wineries and olive groves. Finish in Florence for Renaissance culture and a cooking class, where you'll learn recipes to take home.

Let a local guide show you the Colosseum and Roman Forum
Map of Rome, Assisi & Florence - 7 Days
Rome, Assisi & Florence - 7 Days

This Italy tour makes the most of a weeklong adventure by combining three legendary destinations. Start with the ancient monuments in Rome, including a guided tour of the Colosseum and Roman Forum. Then pick up your rental car for a gorgeous road trip through the Umbrian countryside, where you'll taste wine and olive oil straight from the source. After exploring the medieval hill town of Assisi, drive north to Florence to absorb the city's Renaissance art and architecture, followed by aperitivos at sunset.

Italy's capital, Rome, is situated along the Tiber River
Map of Rome, Assisi & Florence - 8 Days
Rome, Assisi & Florence - 8 Days

This scenic eight-day tour through Italy checks off two world-class cities and a UNESCO-listed hill town in the Umbrian countryside. First, stay three nights in Rome to see ancient ruins and the Vatican's many museums (including the Sistine Chapel). Then pick up a car and drive through the rolling olive groves and wineries to get to medieval Assisi, the birthplace of 12th-century St. Francis. Finish the adventure in Florence, where you'll discover elegant gardens and Renaissance masterpieces.

Start your Italian adventure with a self-guided tour of Palatine Hill and the Colosseum
Map of Rome, Perugia & Florence - 8 Days
Rome, Perugia & Florence - 8 Days

Spend eight days soaking up central Italy's art, culture, and history as you zip between Rome, Perugia, and Florence by train. Start in the Eternal City to walk in the footsteps of the Roman Empire at the Colosseum before ducking into the museums and galleries of the Vatican. Head north into Umbria for wine tasting and two nights in the hilltop city of Perugia, then continue to Florence for a walking tour through its Renaissance splendor and a "skip the line" ticket to see Michelangelo's "David" up close.

Enjoying a meal with friends
Map of Italy Food & Wine Immersion: Treviso, Verona, Perugia, Urbino - 16 Days
Italy Food & Wine Immersion: Treviso, Verona, Perugia, Urbino - 16 Days

Prepare for a full food and wine experience in 16 days on this trip to Veneto, Marche, and Umbria regions. Admire the art and architecture in Treviso as you sample an Italian prosecco. Continue to Verona for Valpolicella wine tasting, then make your way to Marche for the rolling hills and rustic hill towns of Tuscany. Cross the mountains into Umbria to end your trip in the regional capital of Perugia, where you’ll explore ancient ruins, browse Renaissance art, and spend your final day learning to cook the local cuisine.

Cross the Ponte Vecchio across Florence's River Arno as you explore this Renaissance city
Map of Rome, Perugia & Florence - 9 Days
Rome, Perugia & Florence - 9 Days

This nine-day itinerary combines bucket-list sights with plenty of self-guided tours—so you can set your own pace as you discover the best of central Italy. Start in Rome to see the Colosseum at first light and go behind the scenes at the Vatican. Venture off the tourist trail with a trip into Umbria for walled cities and wine-tasting. End in Florence, choosing your own path through Renaissance squares, palaces, and museums before getting hands-on with a pasta-making and cooking experience.

Spend two nights in Orvieto, a charming hill town in lesser-known Umbria
Map of Rome, Orvieto & Florence - 10 Days
Rome, Orvieto & Florence - 10 Days

Travelers with 10 days to explore Italy will love this trip through cultural cities and hill towns in the stunning countryside. It starts in Rome, where you'll visit the famous fountains, ancient ruins, and museums in Vatican City. Then take a train to Orvieto, a medieval walled town in Umbria, to explore an Etruscan cave network and taste local wines. Finish in Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, to see Michelangelo's "David," make fresh pasta, and take a driving tour through Tuscany.

Leave the tourist trail to visit Perugia, the capital of Umbria
Map of Rome, Perugia & Florence - 10 Days
Rome, Perugia & Florence - 10 Days

With a relaxed pace and some off-the-beaten-path finds, this 10-day Italian adventure gives you a taste of Rome and Florence without rushing through the highlights. Check off the Colosseum and the Vatican before getting a local's eye view of the Eternal City in its parks and markets. Hop over to Umbria to wander the medieval city of Perugia and visit rural wineries, then head to Florence for Renaissance treasures, a day trip into the Tuscan countryside, and an intimate pasta-making workshop.

Spend one night in Orvieto, a stunning hill town outside of Rome
Map of Rome, Orvieto & Florence - 6 Days
Rome, Orvieto & Florence - 6 Days

This six-day train adventure through Italy combines world-class cities and stunning countryside. Start in Rome, visiting the Vatican and Colosseum before heading to the lesser-known Umbria region for a stopover in Orvieto. Finish in elegant Florence, where you'll see Renaissance masterpieces and enjoy predinner aperitivos overlooking the Arno River.

Finish the trip in the romantic city of Verona, where you'll spend three nights
Map of Rome, Orvieto, Florence & Verona - 11 Days
Rome, Orvieto, Florence & Verona - 11 Days

This 11-day train journey through Italy covers four beautiful cities and some of the stunning countryside for a memorable trip. Start in Rome, where you'll see the Vatican and Colosseum, before going up to Orvieto in the lesser-known Umbria region. Then continue to Florence to see the city's Renaissance masterpieces and learn how to make fresh pasta. Finish your adventure in Verona's lovely and romantic streets with a day trip to its neighboring city, Venice.

This itinerary includes three nights in Florence, the capital of the Tuscany region
Map of Rome, Orvieto, Florence & Verona - 12 Days
Rome, Orvieto, Florence & Verona - 12 Days

Travel from Rome to Venice via high-speed train on this exciting 12-day tour of Italy. Your first stop is the "Eternal City" to visit the Vatican and Colosseum before going to Orvieto in the lesser-known Umbria region. Then train to Florence to experience the Renaissance culture and Tuscan cuisine. Finish your trip in the romantic and UNESCO-listed city of Verona with a quick trip to the "Floating City," where you can cruise through the canals and explore St. Mark's Square.

The fountain of Neptune in Florence's Signoria Square
Map of Rome, Perugia & Florence - 7 Days
Rome, Perugia & Florence - 7 Days

With a week at your disposal, you can discover two of Italy's most historic cities with time to get off the beaten path in between. See Rome's ancient origins on Palatine Hill, then witness the spirit of the Renaissance as you tour the Sistine Chapel. Break up your journey north with a night in the hilltop Umbrian city of Perugia, and end your trip in Florence—where you'll explore the city's elegant piazzas, parks, and galleries before settling in for an "aperitivo" and a Tuscan sunset over the River Arno.

Spend your first full day in Rome with a self-guided visit to the Colosseum
Map of Rome, Orvieto & Florence - 7 Days
Rome, Orvieto & Florence - 7 Days

Experience two of Italy's most cultural cities at a relaxed pace during this one-week train trip. Start in Rome, visiting the Vatican museums and Colosseum before going to the lesser-frequented Umbria region for a stopover in Orvieto. Here you'll enjoy scenic walks along the ancient walls and join a wine-tasting session. Continue north to Florence to see Renaissance masterpieces and get a local's perspective during a private walking tour.

Spend your last full day in Venice to see famous landmarks like Basilica San Marco
Map of Rome, Orvieto, Florence & Verona - 13 Days
Rome, Orvieto, Florence & Verona - 13 Days

Experience Italy's culturally-rich cities and stunning countryside during this 13-day itinerary. Kick off in Rome, where you'll see the Colosseum and the Vatican, before spending two days in the Umbria region. Then take a train to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, where you'll learn how to make pasta and visit hill towns in Tuscany. Complete the adventure by exploring the neighboring cities of Verona and Venice—each with its charms—for a memorable trip.

Take evening walks in Rome to see historic attractions like the Pantheon
Map of Rome, Orvieto, Florence & Verona - 14 Days
Rome, Orvieto, Florence & Verona - 14 Days

Experience a mix of Italian cities and scenic excursions during this two-week Italy adventure. First, you'll see Rome's legendary sights—like the Sistine Chapel and Spanish Steps—on your own and with a guide. Next, train to Orvieto to see Etruscan caves, followed by Florence for a cooking class and a drive through Tuscany. Finish in the UNESCO-listed city of Verona, home of Juliet's balcony, where you'll squeeze in trips to the Dolomites and Venice to complete the adventure.

You'll have three nights in Rome to take long, evening walks
Map of Rome, Orvieto & Florence - 8 Days
Rome, Orvieto & Florence - 8 Days

Take eight days to explore Italy by train, combing two world-class cities and a bit of the scenic countryside. You'll land in Rome, visiting the Vatican and Colosseum before going to the lesser-known Umbria region for a night in Orvieto. Enjoy some quiet time with walks along the ancient walls, exploring caves, and tasting local wine. Continue north to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, where you'll see the masterpieces and learn Tuscan recipes to take home for the ultimate souvenir.

Explore Florence's Renaissance art and architecture, including Palazzo Vecchio
Map of Rome, Orvieto, Florence & Verona - 15 Days
Rome, Orvieto, Florence & Verona - 15 Days

Enjoy a mix of world-class cities and scenic excursions during this grand 15-day tour of Italy. After landing in Rome, spend three days seeing the legendary attractions independently and with a private guide. Then make your way to off-the-beaten-path Umbria to stay in an ancient walled city. Next is Florence for pasta-making and a drive through Tuscany before heading to the romantic city of Verona. You'll also boat through Venice's canals and sample the waterfront bar scene—the perfect end to the trip.

While in Florence, take a drive through Tuscany and visit San Gimignano
Map of Rome, Orvieto & Florence - 9 Days
Rome, Orvieto & Florence - 9 Days

This classic nine-day trip through Italy combines two of its most cultural cities with stops in the beautiful countryside. First, land in Rome to spend quality time in the Vatican and Colosseum before taking a train to Orvieto in the Umbria region—the country's green heart. Spend a night here before you continue to Florence, the birthplace of the Renaissance, where you'll take a walking tour, learn how to make fresh pasta and drive through Tuscany to finish the adventure.