Things to Do in Gubbio

Most of the things to do in Gubbio are packed into a compact medieval centre you can walk in a day, with a cable car ride to Monte Ingino on top. Start at Piazza Grande and the Palazzo dei Consoli, then work down through the Roman theatre and up to the Basilica di Sant’Ubaldo. Entry prices run from free for the squares and fountains to about 7 euros for the main museums. For how to reach the town and what to bring, see our Gubbio travel tips page, part of the full Gubbio guide.

Things to Do in Gubbio: Historic Landmarks

Palazzo dei Consoli

This 14th-century Gothic palace dominates Piazza Grande and houses the Civic Museum, whose centrepiece is the Iguvine Tablets, seven bronze tablets inscribed in the ancient Umbrian language around 300 BC. The museum is open daily except Monday, roughly 10:00 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 18:00, with a combined ticket around 7 euros. Climb to the loggia for the best view over the rooftops.

Piazza Grande

Gubbio’s main square is a suspended terrace held up by arches, built in the 14th century. It is free to visit and is where the Festa dei Ceri reaches its climax each May 15, covered in our Gubbio events and festivals guide. The Palazzo dei Consoli and Palazzo Pretorio frame the eastern side, and the square is the best starting point for the lanes that drop towards the lower town.

Palazzo Ducale

Built in the 1470s for Federico da Montefeltro, this Renaissance palace faces the cathedral and now hosts exhibitions and events. The internal courtyard, inspired by the Urbino palace, is free to view; guided access to the upper halls runs around 4 to 5 euros and is worth it for the coffered ceilings and the view across the valley.

Teatro Romano (Roman Theatre)

The 1st-century BC theatre sits outside the medieval walls near the modern town and still hosts performances each summer. The exterior and seating tiers are visible for free from the road, and during the Gubbio Summer Festival in July and August you can buy tickets to watch classical music from the ancient stone seating. It is a five-minute walk from Piazza Quaranta Martiri.

Cathedral of Gubbio (Duomo)

The 12th-century cathedral on Via Ducale has a plain stone interior and a stained-glass rose window. Entry is free and it is open roughly 8:00 to 19:00, closing for midday lunch. It is a five-minute walk up from Piazza Grande and sits beside the Palazzo Ducale.

Things to Do in Gubbio: Monte Ingino

Funivia Colle Eletto Cable Car

The open two-person cage cable car climbs from Via San Gerolamo to the Basilica di Sant’Ubaldo on Monte Ingino in about 6 minutes. A return ticket costs around 6 euros and the cabins run daily from roughly 8:30 to 18:30, later in summer. The cages are open to the air, so it can feel brisk in winter; check the Gubbio weather by month guide for clear-day conditions.

Basilica di Sant’Ubaldo

The basilica at the top of the cable car holds the body of Gubbio’s patron saint and the three Ceri, the 4-metre wooden candles carried in the May 15 race. Entry is free. From the terrace you get a 360-degree view over Gubbio and the Apennines, and on a clear day you can see as far as Perugia. For the quietest, clearest visiting conditions, see the best time to visit Gubbio guide.

Things to Do in Gubbio: Quirky Traditions and Free Stops

Fontana dei Matti (Fountain of the Mad)

In front of the Palazzo del Bargello, tradition says you run three laps around the fountain to earn a patent of the madman (patente da matto). The certificate is sold inside the Bargello for a few euros; the laps themselves are free. The fountain sits at the top of Via dei Consoli, a short walk below Piazza Grande.

Walk the Medieval Streets

The network of lanes, covered passages and stairways between the cathedral and the lower town is free and best walked in the early morning before tour groups arrive. Via dei Consoli and the alleys around San Francesco have the steepest, most photogenic climbs. Match each lane to its quarter with the Gubbio neighborhoods guide, and pick a base nearby using where to stay in Gubbio.