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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.

Cascia, Norcia and Marmore Waterfalls Full-Day Tour

2. 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 2–Hour Small Group Walking Tour

3. 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: Private Walking Tour

4. 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.

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.

Montefalco and Bevagna Wine Tasting Full-Day Tour

6. Montefalco and Bevagna Wine Tasting Full-Day Tour

Tour the medieval cities of Montefalco and Bevagna on this full-day sightseeing tour of Umbria, and taste the deep red Sagrantino wines of the region; made from an Italian grape variety mainly found in the area. Hotel pick-ups are offered from Foligno, Perugia, Todi, Assisi, Spoleto and Gubbio. Drive to Montefalco to tour the Museo di San Francesco (Museum of St. Francis), a former Franciscan church with frescoes that tell the story of one of Italy’s most famous patron saints. Admire the 13th to14th-century Palazzo Comunale (Town Hall), and the former church of San Filippo Neri; now a town theater. Other historic churches include Sant' Agostino and Santa Illuminata. See handsome 16th-century residences in Santa Maria di Piazza. Continue to Bevagna, where ancient Roman monuments date back to the 1st century B.C. Just a few steps from the Forum, see the remains of a temple and check out the thermal baths which are still decorated with frescoes. Explore the medieval heart of the city, including the 13th-century Palazzo dei Consoli, and the 19th-century theater with decorations by Domenico Bruschi and a ceiling of dancing muses by Mariano Piervittori.

Perugia: Pasta and Tiramisu Class

7. 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.

Assisi and Spello Full-Day Sightseeing Tour

8. 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.

Perugia: Dining Experience at a Local's Home

9. 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.

Perugia: Market Tour, Cooking Class, and Name Your Recipes

10. Perugia: Market Tour, Cooking Class, and Name Your Recipes

Try food shopping at a local market and traditional food shop along with your expert host. See the amazing produce and get inspired about the ingredients you’d love to experiment with. After choosing your ingredients, head back at your host's home in order to create and name two of your very own recipes. Using the 3-5 staple ingredients that captured your imagination, immerse yourself in a private cooking class. With expert guidance, you will learn how to prepare your chosen ingredients and make two of your own Italian creations.   Cultivate your creativity and confidence in the kitchen by adding an Italian flair to your dishes. Then, taste everything you have prepared accompanied by a selection of red and white local wines.

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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…