Visiting Umbria in 4 days: top must-see places

Is it possible to visit Umbria in 4 days?

Certainly not, given the many places of interest and attractions that this region has to offer.

If, however you only have a long weekend available, then here is an itinerary with the top must-see places.

Day 1: Trasimeno Lake – Perugia

We start from Trasimeno Lake, the largest lake in central Italy and the fourth largest in Italy.

It boasts a great wealth of flora and fauna and offers amazing landscape. This body of water is set between very typical and lively delightful little towns. Particularly Passignano, Castiglione del Lago, Magione, San Feliciano and Monte del Lago. A boat tour can also be a highly interesting way of visiting the three islands, Maggiore, Minore and Polvese. A quick lunch – of lake fish, naturally – and then on towards the afternoon destination.

The region’s capital city is also one of the areas offering the greatest number of monuments. For this reason, for a 4-day trip in Umbria, we absolutely recommend going to Perugia.

The historical centre will astonish you with its beauty and, in particular, you must see the Rocca Paolina, Piazza Italia and the Carducci Gardens, Corso Vannucci and Piazza IV Novembre with the majestic Fontana Maggiore fountain and the Cathedral of San Lorenzo. For art lovers there is also the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria (The National Gallery of Umbria) and you cannot leave the city of Perugia without seeing Piazza Morlacchi, the medieval aqueduct with its adorable steps and the Etruscan Arch. The Frontone Gardens are the perfect location to relax at sunset in the greenery of a marvellous park.

Day 2: Todi – Orvieto

For the second day we head towards the centre of the region to Todi, an absolute gem, of history, architecture, landscape and culture.

It is also the city of poet Jacopone and is also known for being defined by a famous American study as the “ideal city” or “the most liveable city in the world”. Here you must see the Santa Maria della Consolazione Church, Piazza del Popolo with the Duomo and the Palazzi Comunali (Town Hall Buildings), Piazza Garibaldi, the Roman cisterns and the San Fortunato Church with its breathtaking view from the bell tower.

In the afternoon we go to Orvieto, another ancient and precious town, built on a steep hill it is especially famous for its Duomo which in itself is worth a visit of several hours. Also very interesting is the underground city of tunnels and wells: the San Patrizio Well is particularly famous, an extraordinary example of civil engineering.

Day 3: The Marmore Waterfalls – Valnerina

After filling up on monuments, art and architecture, why not dedicate your third day in Umbria to its incredible natural attractions? These include the Marmore Waterfalls: among the highest in Europe, they are distinguished by being three-tiered over an overall drop of 165 metres. You can visit it from six different paths and it can be admired from up close from the Belvedere Inferiore (lower) and the Belvedere Superiore (upper) lookout points. The Marmore Waterfalls are located in the Parco fluviale del Nera (Nera River Park) in Valnerina, a mountainous area where the Nera river crosses and is home to abbeys and monasteries, forests and small towns. The cities of Cascia and Norcia attract great attention, with the latter offering its Plains of Castelluccio, especially famous for the amazing flowering in June and July. Therefore there is no lack of beauty and attractions to spend an entire day in this amazing area of Umbria.

Day 4: Spoleto – Assisi

Spoleto, with its vast area, is populated with monuments and places of interest. The fourth and last day of your trip around Umria can start right from this extraordinary city, also famous for its Festival of Two Worlds. Here you must visit at least the Rocca Albornoziana fortress, the Ponte delle Torri bridge and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. And to conclude the day, from Spoleto we head to Assisi, another gem of the region, with its Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi and the Basilica of Saint Clare, with the large Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli which houses and protects the Porziuncola, the heart of the Fransiscan movement, with its historical buildings and impressive and beautiful Rocca Maggiore.