Are you planning to visit Umbria soon? There are so many best things to do in Umbria that choosing the best ones is a daunting task.
Bordering Tuscany, Lazio, and Marche, the central Italian region of Umbria — dubbed “Italy’s green heart” — is full of medieval towns, outdoor activities, and some of the country’s best food and wine.
Umbria is also a historical and cultural fusion, and as one of the smallest regions of Italy, it retains a strong sense of its past. That alone is reason enough to visit Umbria.
It’s not enough to describe Umbria in terms of “saints,” “warriors,” and “greens,” as most books and travel guides do. This is because the region is birthplace to a great number of Catholic saints.
Also, Perugia and the other cities and towns of Umbria have a rich artistic and cultural heritage, as well as an abundance of ancient landscapes that visitors can explore.
Traditions and celebrations in this region also have a significant role to play in preserving Umbria’s cultural diversity, local customs, and traditions.
15 Best Things To Do in Umbria, Italy
For your awesome experience in the region, here’s our guide to the best things to do in Umbria, Italy.
1. Spend a day or two in Perugia
Perugia, the Umbrian capital, is located in the heart of the region and is a popular tourist destination — a must when you visit Umbria.
Rocca Paolina, Italy’s largest fortress, towers over this Etruscan town, which is charmingly medieval and dominated by this fortress.
Sorbello is one of the most impressive Etruscan sites in Perugia’s historic center. Visit the Fontana Maggiore, a fountain in Piazza IV Novembre, the square’s focal point.
The Italian art museum, La Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria, as well as the Church of Sant’Angelo and the Monastery of Sant’Agnese are other notable attractions.
Perugia is also home to the Università per Stranieri (University for Foreigners of Perugia), a top-notch Italian language school, and the world’s first wine school.
Perugia is also known as the “Chocolate Capital of Italy,” and Perugina, the chocolatier behind the iconic Baci chocolate kisses, is based here. These hazelnut-filled chocolate kisses come wrapped in a love note in either English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, or Greek. These chocolates have been around since 1922. Eat and take some home for your family and friends.
The European Chocolate Festival in Perugia is a must-experience in October, where you’ll be able to take in live performances, culinary demonstrations, and chocolate art exhibits.
2. Hang out in Umbria’s Instagram-worthy town squares
Looking for a unique way to document your trip when you visit Umbria? Taking photos of every town square you encounter is one of the fun things to do in Umbria.
With its fairytale-like towns, Umbria is a must for tourists who enjoy snapping away. Most of these little towns have central squares that are just too beautiful to not be in our Instagram feeds.
It’s easy to get lost in Umbria’s beautiful medieval towns, each with a charming main square where you can grab a coffee and people-watch.
Check out the pretty town square of Spello, said to be the most beautiful town in Umbria. You will appreciate the Gothic charm of Gubbio’s town center or the medieval splendor of Montone.
Wherever you go when you visit Umbria, spend some time in a beautiful town square. You will not regret it.
3. Stop by Umbria’s hill towns
In the eyes of people who visit Umbria, medieval “hill towns” are like towns from a fairy tale that have been forgotten by the passage of time.
Instead of growing into bustling cities, they have preserved their charming characteristics such as narrow streets, massive gates, stone buildings, and so on. Umbria has a lot of these towns, a must-visit to fully appreciate this gorgeous region.
Here are three most famous medieval hill towns for you to check out when you visit Umbria:
• Assisi
Assisi’s hidden treasures range from ancient Roman and medieval ruins to the alpine trails of Monte Subasio’s countryside.
You can get a feel for local history and culture by visiting the lower and upper churches of the 13th-century Romanesque and Italian Gothic Basilica of St. Francis. St. Francis of Assisi’s final resting place can be found here. It’s one of the top destinations when you visit Umbria.
• Gubbio
One of Umbria’s oldest towns, Gubbio has been inhabited since the pre-Roman era. Gray limestone dominates the town’s historic core, which is a pleasing blend of medieval, Gothic, and Renaissance styles.
People call it “the City of Fools” because of the “madman’s licence” (and Eugubina citizenship!) that can be obtained by simply going around the small fountain in Largo Bargello three times.
• Orvieto
With many ancient monuments and an underground network of passageways dating back to the Middle Ages, this hillside town is a treasure trove for history lovers.
For history buffs, visiting Saint Patrick’s Well, a 16th-century well with a historic staircase, is one of those things to do in Umbria that you should not miss.
Explore two archaeological museums and the Albornoz Fortress for a glimpse into the history of the region. Visit the Duomo di Orvieto, a Gothic cathedral with a mosaic-adorned façade and awe-inspiring frescoes.
4. Get close to nature and enjoy outdoor activities in Monte Cucco Regional Park
In northeast Umbria, the Monte Cucco Regional Park is an unspoiled natural haven that’s ideal for those who enjoy the great outdoors.
There are numerous caves, karsts, and underground rivers which delight many caving enthusiasts. If you’re planning to visit Umbria and explore what it has to offer to outdoor enthusiasts, you will never be disappointed.
Now if that’s not your cup of tea, you can take a walk through the park’s pristine beech woods and meadows.
5. Visit Umbria’s borghi più belli d’Italia
Aside from the major centers of the region, there is a slew of smaller towns and villages that are well worth a day trip or two. Visit Umbria’s smaller villages if you want to get the most out of your trip there.
Umbria is home to a large number of “borghi più belli d’Italia,” or the most beautiful villages in Italy. A few of the places that got this distinction are the cities of Bevagna, Castiglione del Lago, and Bettona, as well as the towns of Arrone, Corciano, Massa Martano, Montefalco, Paciano, and San Gemini.
Check out their official website to see a complete list of the towns and make travel arrangements when you visit Umbria.
6. Visit Umbria’s famous churches and religious sites
The region may be small, but it’s not short of interesting churches and cathedrals to visit. It is home to a good number of these religious sites.
Dubbed the “land of saints,” it’s not surprising that Umbria is filled with religious sites. Some of these saints include St. Francis of Assisi, St. Clare of Assisi, St. Rita of Cascia, St. Ubald of Gubbio, St. Benedict of Nursia (Norcia), St. Veronica Giuliani, and St. Clare of Montefalco.
Here are our top picks of religious sites you should see when you visit Umbria:
• The Church of San Damiano — Assisi, Italy
Located in Assisi, the small and modest rustic-style Church of San Damiano and its cloisters were built in the 12th century. This church is said to be where Christ spoke to St Francis. The church was restored by St. Francis of Assisi and later served as home for St. Clare.
The Church of San Damiano has a significant role not only in Christianism but in Italian literature as well. This is where St. Francis wrote the religious song Laudes Creaturarum (Canticle of the Sun or Canticle of the Creatures). Laudes Creaturarum is deemed the earliest known vernacular literature written in the Umbrian dialect.
• Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi — Gubbio, Italy
Located in Gubbio, the hometown of one of the region’s famous saints, Sant’Ubaldo (St. Ubald), this basilica houses the embalmed body of Sant’Ubaldo himself. A visit to the saint’s shrine is a must!
• Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi — Assisi, Italy
This gorgeous 13th-century basilica is located on a hill in Assisi, the place where St. Francis was born and died.
Assisi’s Basilica of St. Francis stands on a hill that used to be called Hell’s Hill because death sentences were carried out here. After the canonization of St. Francis, the hill’s name was changed to Paradise Hill. This is also where you can find the saint’s final resting place.
• Basilica di Santa Chiara — Assisi, Italy
Constructed onto the original Chapel of St. George, this 13th-century church has a striking pink-and-white façade. This is where the remains of St. Clare of Assisi have been kept in a crypt since 1872.
7. Explore some of Umbria’s most important museums
Museums are the best way to learn about a particular place’s history, art, culture, and others. The region of Umbria is home to a significant number of museums.
Step inside one or some of them for an opportunity to get better acquainted with this fascinating Central Italian region. Here are the best ones we’ve handpicked for you:
• National Gallery of Umbria
The National Gallery of Umbria keeps the largest collection of Umbrian works of art as well as some of the most significant works of art in central Italy from the 13th to the 19th centuries. It is an Italian state museum located in the Palazzo dei Priori in Perugia.
• Museo del Fiore
Museo del Fiore is a small naturalist and multimedia museum in the woods rich in plants and wildlife — at Monte Rufeno Natural Reserve in the village of Torre Alfina in the province of Viterbo, near the Tuscany and Umbria border.
An educational play museum, Museo del Fiore deals with complex scientific issues in an easy manner. This museum is a must for families visiting the area.
• Torgiano Wine Museum
Situated in Torgiano between Assisi and Perugia, this private wine museum was established in 1974. Torgiano Wine Museum is deemed one of the most important museums of its kind in Italy.
• Claudio Faina Etruscan Museum
Located in the Faina Palace in Orvieto, this archaeological museum houses an exquisite Etruscan collection with a stunning view of the Orvieto Cathedral. Must not miss!
8. See Marmore Falls
As one of the world’s tallest man-made waterfalls, Marmore Falls (Cascata delle Marmore) tower over the surrounding landscape.
The Romans built Marmore Falls in 271 BC to divert the Velino River’s overflowing and stagnant waters into the Nero River. As a result, Terni’s metalworking, electrochemical, and electric industries have been made possible thanks to the falls feeding the Galleto Hydroelectric Power Station.
Note that the Marmore Waterfalls can only be accessed via a series of hiking trails that cater to a variety of fitness levels. Travertine grottoes and kayaking, rafting, and canyoneering opportunities await you on the way.
One of Italy’s best waterfalls, Cascata delle Marmore is located within Nera River Park, also known as Waters’ Park. The enchanted path and the balcony of lovers are not to be missed!
9. Head to the beach for an afternoon of water sports
Umbria is a landlocked region, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go to the beach for the day. Several beaches line the shores of Lake Trasimeno in Perugia. There are also a variety of calmer water sports available for you to try your hand at.
On the lake, activities such as windsurfing, kitesurfing, and wakeboarding are becoming increasingly popular.
For more experienced wakeboarders looking to put their skills to the test, Perugia also has a custom towing system and ramps.
For those interested in sailing, schools near Lake Trasimeno provide lessons for those who want to learn the sport. Take a trip to one of the many sailing clubs in Castiglione del Lago, Passignano, or Tuoro Sul Trasimeno.
10. Forage for truffles
Nicknamed “black diamonds” for their rarity and high value, truffles are the true culinary treasure of Umbria. There’s no better way to learn about truffle hunting’s history and technique than by actually participating in a hunt.
Hunting for truffles in the countryside is best done with the assistance of an expert truffle hunter and his truffle-hunting dogs.
11. Visit Umbria’s vineyards
Photo by Umbria Lovers via Flickr
Tuscany, which borders Umbria, is known for its excellent wine production, but Umbrian wine is also becoming increasingly popular both domestically and abroad.
For a fraction of what you’d pay in Tuscany, you can buy high-quality wines directly from the vineyards when you visit Umbria. The Caprai Winery in the Montefalco region, for example, is a world-class vineyard with a Sagrantino red wine as its signature product.
Reservations in advance are recommended for a tour and lunch on the terrace. An unforgettable experience is guaranteed thanks to the combination of vineyard views, mouth-watering food, and fine wine.
Check out their website for more details.
12. Go hiking to explore more of the region
We recommend three best hiking trails for you to explore when you visit Umbria, depending on your hiking skill level — from easy to intermediate to expert.
• Belvedere Pennarossa superiore
Belvedere Pennarossa superiore is a scenic viewpoint near the Piazzale George Gordon Byron in Terni.
This trail requires expert hiling skills.
• Vista Piano Grande
The Piano Grande or the Great Plain in the Central Italian Apennines is a large plateau planked by the Sibillini Mountains. While there, you may as well stop by Castelluccio, a village perched on a tall rock in the plateu’s center.
The Vista Piano Grande requires intermediate hiking skills.
• Rocca Albornoziana
Rocca Albornoziana is a fortress atop the Sant’Elia Hill overlooking the city Spoleto. Make sure you are truly fit before you hike this one.
The Rocca Albornoziana trail requires expert hiking skills.
13. See the stunning wildflower fields in Casteluccio di Norcia
Known locally as la fioritura, this annual flowering is a sight to behold across Castelluccio di Norcia’s plateau. Here you will witness a stunning polychromatic visual of wildflowers in bloom across this part of the region.
The blooms you can see are violets, daffodils, shamrocks, clovers, gentianellas, buttercups, and poppies.
This beautiful explosion of nature’s colors takes place each year between late May and early July. This is one of the most beautiful spectacles you will see when you visit Umbria during these months.
14. Visit the village markets
There are numerous weekly markets in Umbria, where you can have an authentic and fun shopping experience. All kinds of delicious food and clothing, as well as shoes and leather goods, can be found in these markets.
If you’re looking for the best Umbrian markets, the best place to start is at your local tourist information office. To get the best selection, go to the market early in the morning.
You can find markets in Assisi and Marsciano every Monday and Tuesday, in Gubbio every Thursday, in Citta di Castello every third Saturday, and in Spoleto every Sunday.
There are also markets in Bastia Umbra every Friday and Orvieto every Saturday, as well as markets in Citta di Castello and Spoleto every third Saturday and second Saturday.
Perugia and Terni, two of Italy’s largest cities, both have permanent covered food markets that are open daily. Take note of these when you visit Umbria.
15. Sample Umbria’s “cucina povera”
Food is always a top must when you’re visiting any regions of Italy. Umbrian cuisine is interesting so partaking in it should be high on your list of things to do in Umbria.
The rustic Umbrian cuisine is often said to be “cucina povera” (“peasant cooking”), meaning it requires very few ingredients and simple preparations. However, despite its simplicity, the region’s cuisine is seen as one of Italy’s culinary treasures.
Here are some of the region’s traditional foods you should partake when you visit Umbria:
• Porchetta
Umbria’s porchetta is stuffed pig with its entrails seasoned with lard and garlic, plus lots of salt, pepper, and fennel. The pig is rolled, tied up, then slow-roasted for several hours. This dish is best paired with Umbria’s Montefalco Rosso wine.
• Pasta alla Norcina
This pasta dish uses sausage and cream based sauce, with white wine and tons of Pecorino Romano. Pasta alla Norcina hails from Norcia, a town and province known to produce some of Italy’s best sausages.
• Scafata
This traditional Umbrian dish is made with sautéed fava beans, artichokes, peas, asparagus, Swiss chard, and onion. Poached eggs may also be placed on top of it.
This dish doesn’t require cheese, but you may put some grated Parmesan if you wish!
• Torta al testo
Literally translated as “cake of the tile,” in some areas of the region this dish is called “caccia” or “crescia.”
Torta al testo is a simple sandwich with cheese and Umbrian cured meat stuffing, traditionally served alongside soups and stews.
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