Best Day Trips from Perugia, by Train, Bus or Car

The best day trips from Perugia are Assisi and Spello, both a short regional train ride away, followed by Gubbio (by bus or car) and Lake Trasimeno (by train). With a car you can add Bevagna and Montefalco, Todi, or a longer day in Norcia and Castelluccio. Orvieto is reachable but better as an overnight stop.

Day trips at a glance

Destination	Best way from Perugia	Time on site	Good for
Assisi	Train, then bus up to town	Full day	St Francis, frescoes, views
Spello	Train	Half day	Flower-lined lanes, Pinturicchio
Gubbio	Bus or car	Full day	Medieval stone town, cable car
Lake Trasimeno	Train to Passignano or Tuoro, ferry to the islands	Half to full day	Lakeside walks, swimming, Isola Maggiore
Bevagna and Montefalco	Car	Full day	Roman mosaics, Sagrantino wine
Todi	Bus or car	Half to full day	Hilltop piazza, quiet streets
Orvieto	Train with change, or car	Full day or overnight	Cathedral, underground city
Norcia and Castelluccio	Car	Full day	Mountains, lentil bloom in early summer

Travel times vary with connections; check timetables on the day you plan to travel.

Assisi

The classic choice. Trains from Perugia Fontivegge reach Assisi station, in the plain at Santa Maria degli Angeli, in roughly 20 to 30 minutes; a local bus then climbs up to the old town. Plan a full day for the Basilica of St Francis, the Basilica of Santa Chiara and the walk up to the Rocca Maggiore. Our guides to things to do in Assisi and getting from Perugia to Assisi have the details.

Spello

One stop beyond Assisi towards Foligno, Spello is a compact town of pale pink stone, known for balconies and doorways full of plants. Inside the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Baglioni Chapel has frescoes by Pinturicchio. Spello is easy to combine with Assisi on the same day, or with Bevagna if you have a car. See Spello and Bevagna.

Gubbio

Gubbio, north-east of Perugia, is a remarkably well-preserved medieval town, built of grey stone on the slope of Monte Ingino. It has no railway station, so take a regional bus from Piazza Partigiani or drive. Highlights include the Palazzo dei Consoli and the open-cage cable car up to the Basilica of Sant’Ubaldo. Read our Gubbio guide.

Lake Trasimeno

West of Perugia, Lake Trasimeno is a broad, shallow lake ringed with olive groves. Trains stop at Passignano sul Trasimeno and Tuoro; from Passignano, ferries cross to Isola Maggiore. Castiglione del Lago, on a promontory on the western shore, has a castle and a walkable old town. A summer afternoon here is a good break from churches and museums.

Bevagna and Montefalco

These two towns sit close together in the plain and hills south of Assisi. Bevagna is flat and calm, with Roman mosaics and a fine medieval square. Montefalco, on its hill, is the centre of Sagrantino wine. You need a car, and a designated driver if you plan to taste.

Todi

South of Perugia along the Tiber valley, Todi has a grand central square, Piazza del Popolo, flanked by medieval palaces and the cathedral. It is reachable by bus, but the timetable is limited; a car gives you more flexibility.

Orvieto

Orvieto, on its volcanic rock in the south-west of Umbria, has a richly decorated cathedral façade and a network of caves beneath the town. From Perugia you usually need to change trains, so the day is long. Many travellers stop there on the way to or from Rome instead. See our Orvieto guide.

Norcia and Castelluccio

In the far south-east, Norcia is known for cured meats and black truffles, and the high plain of Castelluccio for its flowering lentil fields in early summer. It is a long but rewarding drive, best with an early start.

Tips for day trips

• Start early in summer to beat heat and coach groups, especially in Assisi.
• Check Sunday timetables, as many bus routes run less often or not at all.
• Book a rental car for a day or two rather than the whole trip if you are based in Perugia.
• Wear good shoes: every hill town involves steep lanes and steps.

For a longer route that strings these places together, see our seven-day Umbria itinerary.