More about hotels in Umbria
Umbria is the only Italian region with no coastline and no border with another country, tucked between Tuscany, Lazio and the Marche. Locals call it the "green heart of Italy," and it's easy to see why once you're driving through it: rolling hills covered in olive groves, hill towns that seem to grow straight out of the rock they're built on, and a lake big enough to paddle across without spotting the far shore. The whole region holds DOP status for its olive oil, and black truffles from around Norcia turn up on menus everywhere from autumn onward. Sagrantino di Montefalco, one of Italy's most robust reds, comes from vineyards you'll pass on almost any drive between towns. It's quieter than Tuscany next door, and arguably just as good for food, art and views.
You could spend a week here and still not run out of hill towns to explore. Base yourself in one and day-trip to the rest, or split your stay across two or three. Here's where people usually stay, and roughly what it costs.
Where to stay in Umbria
- Perugia: Umbria's hilltop capital, with a proper medieval centre, a famous chocolate factory on its edge and a good bar scene along Corso Vannucci. The main square has a grand 13th-century fountain and the region's best art gallery, and it's handy if you want city life alongside the countryside. See stays in Perugia.
- Assisi: a smaller hill town of pastel stone lanes and sweeping valley views, home to a landmark medieval basilica celebrated for its Giotto frescoes. Quieter than Perugia and easy to explore on foot. See stays in Assisi.
- Orvieto: built on a dramatic tuff cliff, with a striped Gothic cathedral facade that's one of the most photographed in Italy. The old town sits over a warren of Etruscan caves and tunnels you can tour underground. See stays in Orvieto.
- Castiglione del Lago: the main base on Lake Trasimeno, with a medieval fortress on the water's edge and boats out to the lake's islands, including Isola Maggiore's old fishing village. See stays in Castiglione del Lago.
How much is Umbria accommodation?
Hotels across the region start from around AU$60 a night, though prices climb fast for anything historic, lakeside or with a pool.
- Budget/Guesthouses: from AU$60 per night. Simple rooms in family-run B&Bs, often right in a town's old centre.
- Mid-range/Agriturismo: from around AU$200 per night. Countryside farmhouse stays with pools and home-cooked meals are Umbria's speciality, and they're often better value than a city hotel.
- Boutique/Historic: from around AU$350 per night. Converted palazzos, convents and castles with real character and original stonework.
- Luxury/Resorts: from AU$450 per night and up. Wellness resorts and grand hotels with spas, fine dining and views over the hills.
Top-rated hotels in Umbria
- Sina Brufani, Perugia. The grande dame of the city, with a rooftop terrace and an indoor pool with a glass floor over exposed Etruscan ruins below.
- Nun Assisi Relais & Spa, Assisi. A former convent turned spa hotel, perched on one of the town's highest points with valley views from most rooms.
- Castello di Monterone, Perugia. A genuine medieval castle just outside the city, with turrets, a moat garden and its own vineyard.
- Palazzo Piccolomini, Orvieto. A Renaissance palazzo a short stroll from the cathedral, with high ceilings and stone details throughout.
- Hotel Duca della Corgna, Castiglione del Lago. Simple, comfortable rooms close to the fortress, with views across Lake Trasimeno.
Tips for finding the perfect accommodation in Umbria
- Book well ahead for October, when Perugia's Eurochocolate festival draws close to a million visitors and hotel prices across the region climb accordingly.
- If you're driving, base yourself somewhere central like Perugia or Assisi. Most of Umbria's hill towns, including Orvieto and the shores of Lake Trasimeno, sit within an hour or two of each other.
- An agriturismo is often the best-value option outside the main towns, and puts you closer to the olive groves and truffle woods around Norcia and the Valnerina.
- Rooms with parking are worth paying extra for in hill towns like Assisi and Orvieto, where the old centres are pedestrian-only and street parking is limited.
- Late spring (May-June) and early autumn (September-October) bring the best weather without peak summer crowds, and October adds truffle season and the grape harvest into the bargain.
If you're touring more widely, Spoleto's Festival dei Due Mondi fills the town with opera, dance and music every June and July, and Umbria's central location makes it an easy stop between Tuscany and Rome. Wherever you end up staying, save room for the local pasta: hand-rolled strangozzi, usually tossed with black truffle or a simple garlic and olive oil sauce, is the dish to order across the whole region.
