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Things to do in Perugia

Our most recommended things to do in Perugia

Perugia: Old Town Walking Tour, Piazza IV Novembre

1. Perugia: Old Town Walking Tour, Piazza IV Novembre

Learn the history of Perugia Old Town on a walking tour for small groups. A local guide will show you through the events that took place in Perugia and that have shaped the city, from the Etruscans to the Romans, until the Papal dominations and the Middle Ages.  Dive into the historic square, Piazza IV Novembre, and admire the masterpiece of engineering and Gothic sculpture that is the Fontana Maggiore. Lose yourself in the splendid landscapes that the city offers and capture photos of the rolling hills and snowy peaks from Mount Subasio to Assisi.  Cross the main street while your guide unveils curiosities and anecdotes about the city, its characters, and some architectural elements that may go unnoticed. See the Etruscan Arch, built in the 3rd Century BC. Then go underground in the Rocca Paolina, a symbol of the power of the Pope in Perugia. Walk around the old fortress and see the exhibitions on display there.

Perugia 2–Hour Small Group Walking Tour

2. Perugia 2–Hour Small Group Walking Tour

Walk along the city walls dating from the Etruscan Age, get lost in the symbols carved by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano's into the Fontana Maggiore and find yourself fascinated by the many layers of the Rocca Paolina - Perugia's undergrounds. Perugia is a city full of charm and history. Every ancient gate, alley, piazza, palazzo and church will capture your imagination, and every museum and gallery will impress you with a sense of history, culture and art. Perugia is not just a stuffy old showcase of the ancient, it also has a young, vibrant and energetic feel. As the site of many festivals and concerts, the most important of which are the annual fall Chocolate festival and the summer Umbria Jazz festival, the city has a chic and urban atmosphere unmatched by other Italian cities.

Perugia: Pasta and Tiramisu Class

3. Perugia: Pasta and Tiramisu Class

During this private lesson, you will learn how to prepare 2 pasta recipes and the tiramisu dessert from scratch. Your Cesarina will reveal the tricks of the trade of these iconic recipes. Have fun putting your cooking skills to the test and amaze your friends and family once home with an Italian meal! This experience is suitable for families with children of all ages.

Perugia: Traditional Umbrian Food Guided Walking Tour

4. Perugia: Traditional Umbrian Food Guided Walking Tour

Welcome to the beautiful city of Perugia, known for its charming medieval architecture and most importantly for its delicious local Umbrian cuisine. Join us on our Walking Food Tour and we will take you on a journey through the city's best food stops. We will try the locally-known Umbrian bread, "torta al testo" which has been a staple in the region for centuries. This sandwich if we can call it that way, will be filled with local delicacies. You'll get to taste Umbrian prosciuttos beautifully paired with local red wine. Pecorino, is also included considering that it its a staple ingredient in many traditional Umbrian dishes. Our third stop is at a traditional trattoria, where you'll get to taste some of the most famous Umbrian dishes. From fresh pasta with local ingredients, this restaurant is sure to delight your taste buds with its authentic Umbrian flavors. Finally, we'll end our tour on a sweet note at a gelateria or a patisserie, where you'll get to taste some of the best gelato in the city. From classic flavors to a pick-me-up coffee! As we walk through the charming streets of Perugia, you'll get to learn about the history and culture of this beautiful city, as well as the traditional foods that have been a part of Umbrian cuisine for centuries. Join us on this tour and discover the true flavors of Perugia.

Perugia: walking tour with interactive video

5. Perugia: walking tour with interactive video

With our interactive map you will be able to move from one point to another in the historic center without time constraints: only you will decide what to see and when. Our private local guide will accompany you, through your smartphone, for the entire tour, providing you with all the curiosities, anecdotes and useful tips to experience the city at its best. You can start your tour at the time of your choice and choose the monuments of your interest included in the itinerary, moving between stops without ever getting lost thanks to our geolocated directions. Etruscan walls and a delightful medieval old town: this is Perugia, city of gluttons and artists, capital of the beautiful region, Umbria. Perugia is also a place of culture par excellence, as it is home to no less than two universities: the University of Studies, founded in 1308, and the University for Foreigners, the largest in Italy. If you really want to get to know all the wonders of Perugia's historic center, choose this unmissable Interactive Tour: come and discover ancient Perugia.

Perugia: Private Walking Tour

6. Perugia: Private Walking Tour

Perugia is a city full of charms and history. Every ancient gate, alley, piazza, palazzo and church will capture your imagination; and every museum and gallery will impress you with a sense of history, culture and art. Perugia is not just a stuffy old showcase of the ancient, it also has a young, vibrant and energetic feel. Perugia is the site of many festivals and concerts, the most important of which are the annual fall Chocolate festival and the summer Umbria Jazz festival, lending the city to a chic and urbane atmosphere unmatched by other Italian cities. Meeting point will be at Piazza Italia, from there you will go first exploring the different strata of Rocca Paolina – the so called 'Perugia underground.' Once back to the city center, there will be a stop at a famous old-fashioned but traditional coffee shop for an espresso or a cappuccino topped with hand-whipped cream. The tour will focus on the main fountain – Fontana Maggiore – together with the other buildings standing in the square.

Cascia, Norcia and Marmore Waterfalls Full-Day Tour

7. Cascia, Norcia and Marmore Waterfalls Full-Day Tour

Experience the beautiful landscape of Umbria on a full-day tour of the Marmore Waterfalls, the Sibillini Mountains, and Valnerina Valley. Taste the black truffle, hams, and cheeses of Umbria, all Protected Designation of Origin (DOC). Drive to the remote town of Cascia, home of the Augustinian nun Santa Rita. The former Roman town was destroyed in the 1st century B.C. by an earthquake. In medieval times it was sacked by the Byzantines and Lombards, and later occupied by papal troops to become a papal city. Visit the home of Santa Rita in the nearby hamlet of Roccaporena, perched at an altitude of 2,320 feet (700 meters). Stop for lunch in Norcia, birthplace of the founder of the Benedictine order, St. Benedict, and see the Gothic façade of the Basilica of Saint Benedict, with a rosette and crests of the 4 evangelists that dates to about 1200 A.D. Depart Norcia for the staggering Marmore Waterfalls. Among the highest in Europe, the waters cascade 540 feet (165 meters) down 3 terraces, the first (and highest) a drop of 272 feet (83 meters). The name derives from the calcium salts in the rocks that take on the appearance of marble. The manmade waterfalls were constructed by the Romans in 271 B.C. to drain the stagnant waters of the Velino River’s swamps, directing them to the natural leaps of Marmore and on into the Black River. Built over 2,000 years ago, this is the largest manmade waterfall in the world.

Perugia: Dining Experience at a Local's Home

8. Perugia: Dining Experience at a Local's Home

Take part in an authentic, private dining experience at a local's home. Watch an exclusive cooking show and taste authentic recipes that have been treasured in family cookbooks and passed down by real Italian Mammas. Feel the warmth of Italian hospitality as you connect with local people. Enjoy a 4-course menu including starter, pasta, main course with side dish, and dessert with drinks included (water, selection of red and white wines from regional cellars, and coffee). At the end of the experience, take your souvenir apron back home.

Tuscany: Sanctuary of La Verna Day Tour Private Tour

9. Tuscany: Sanctuary of La Verna Day Tour Private Tour

Take a full-day trip to visit the Sanctuary of La Verna, located in the commune of Chiusi della Verna, in Tuscany. It is this place where, in 1224, St. Francis of Assisi is said to have received the stigmata. On your trip, you will be provided with round-trip transportation from your starting point. After an approximately 2-hour trip, arrive at the sanctuary, where you will have 4 hours of free time. Here you may explore the area on top of Mount Penna, and stop at the local convent to learn more about why the site is a place of pilgrimage. In the afternoon, you will be transported back to your hotel.

Assisi and Spello Full-Day Sightseeing Tour

10. Assisi and Spello Full-Day Sightseeing Tour

Tour the holy shrines of Assisi on this full-day tour of Umbria, with pick-ups from Foligno, Spoleto, Todi, Perugia, and Gubbio. Explore the birthplace of St. Francis and learn more about Italy’s famous patron saint. Admire Roman ruins integrated into medieval houses, they're still lived in by locals! Among the historic monuments of St. Francis you will visit is the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, where he first renounced the world to live in poverty. Go to the Convent of San Damiano to learn about Saint Claire, founder of the Order of Poor Ladies, and visit the Eremo delle Carceri (Carceri Hermitage) in the forest gorge above Assisi, where St. Francis came to pray. After lunch, drive to the walled town of Spello on the slopes of Mount Subasio, with commanding views of the Umbrian plains, groves of olives, and vineyards. There will be the chance to taste wines and olive oils during your tour, and if it’s a market day you can see the thriving trade of these ancient products still carried on to this day. You will also stop at the tiny hamlet of Collepino, perched in the forests between Assisi and Spello, it's a former settlement of shepherds and woodcutters.

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What people are saying about Perugia

Overall rating

4.9 / 5

based on 148 reviews

fantastic walking experience of a beautiful city. Our guide was wonderful! We appreciated the historical overview and then visiting the areas and buildings we had learned about. We ended the tour with one of the most beautiful vistas in Italy. We highly recommend this experience to those who are looking for insights into their stay in. Perugia.

The meeting point was a bit unclear. If I hadnt heard other English voices saying the meeting point was around the corner - I might have missed the tour. Nevertheless the tour was very good, not too long and I saw places I probably wouldn’t have found by myself.

I struck gold - thanks to Chiara for a wonderful tour and a walk around her city. I learnt a lot, enjoyed her company very much and feel lucky to have spent time with a true local who has a love of her home. Thanks Chiara.

Beautiful city to explore away from the usual maddening crowds of more popular Italian towns. Highly recommend!

Very good English plus excellent knowledge of Perugia and its history…