Umbria is a landlocked region in central Italy, the only one on the Italian peninsula with neither a coastline nor a border with another country. Known as the 'Green Heart of Italy', it is a land of rolling hills, oak forests, olive groves, and medieval hill towns. Umbria is famous for the Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi, the Gothic Duomo of Orvieto, the festivals of Spoleto and Perugia, and a hearty cuisine built around black truffles, cured pork from Norcia, lentils, and the powerful Sagrantino red wine of Montefalco.
- Public
- Trenitalia and the regional Ferrovia Centrale Umbra link Perugia, Assisi, Foligno, Spoleto, Terni and Orvieto, backed by Busitalia Umbria regional buses; Perugia adds the automated Minimetrò people-mover up to its hilltop centre
- Taxi
- Available at stations and in town centres in Perugia, Assisi, Terni and Orvieto but limited in rural areas; ride-hailing apps barely operate, so taxis are booked by phone or taken from ranks
- Rental
- By far the most flexible way to reach Umbria's hill towns, Lake Trasimeno villages, Norcia, Castelluccio and the countryside, most of which have sparse bus service
- Walking
- Umbria's hill towns - Perugia, Assisi, Spoleto, Orvieto, Todi - are compact and walkable, though steep, stepped streets and hilltop centres above their stations make them tiring
Transport at a glance
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Landlocked Umbria is best explored by a mix of train and car. Trenitalia and the regional Ferrovia Centrale Umbra (FCU) connect the main towns - Perugia, Assisi, Foligno, Spoleto, Terni and Orvieto - while Busitalia Umbria runs the regional and city bus network. Perugia's hilltop centre is reached from the Pian di Massiano car park by the automated Minimetrò people-mover and a series of escalators. A rental car is the most flexible option for the hill towns, Lake Trasimeno villages, and the remote Valnerina, Norcia and Castelluccio, which are poorly served by buses. Orvieto, on the Rome-Florence high-speed line, is the quickest rail link to the rest of Italy.
Airports
Perugia San Francesco d'Assisi - Umbria International Airport
Rome Fiumicino - Leonardo da Vinci Airport
Florence - Amerigo Vespucci Airport
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Stations often sit below the historic centres - Assisi's station is at Santa Maria degli Angeli about 4 km from the old town, linked by frequent local buses
In Perugia, park at one of the fringe car parks (Pian di Massiano, Partigiani) and ride the Minimetrò or escalators up to the hilltop centre rather than driving in
Rent a car for Norcia, Castelluccio, Cascia and the Valnerina, which have very limited public transport
Validate regional train and bus tickets before boarding, or carry an e-ticket on the app, to avoid fines
Orvieto sits on the Rome-Florence main line, making it the fastest rail gateway into southern Umbria
The Umbria Airlink combined train-and-bus ticket connects Perugia and Assisi stations with Perugia airport in about 20 minutes
Avoid driving into the ZTL-restricted historic centres of Perugia, Assisi and Orvieto, where cameras issue automatic fines