Perugia packs 2,500 years of history into a hilltop city centre that rewards wandering through medieval alleys, underground Etruscan passages, and Renaissance palazzos. The city is compact enough to explore on foot but dense enough to fill 2 to 3 days of sightseeing. This guide covers the best things to do in Perugia from the Etruscan Well to the frescoed halls of Palazzo dei Priori. For climate details and the best months to visit, check the Perugia weather by month guide and the best time to visit Perugia overview.
Things to Do in Perugia: Historic Centre Attractions
Rocca Paolina
The Rocca Paolina is Perugia’s underground city, a 16th-century papal fortress built on top of medieval streets that were buried rather than demolished. Pope Paul III ordered its construction in 1540 after crushing a Perugian rebellion, and the fortress symbolised papal dominance over the city for 300 years. Today you enter from Piazza Italia and walk through a network of subterranean streets, arches, and vaulted chambers that feel like a ghost town frozen in time. The escalators from the bus station pass directly through it, making it the most unusual public transport route in Italy. Free to enter, open daily 6:15 am to 2:00 am. Allow 30 to 45 minutes to explore.
Palazzo dei Priori
Palazzo dei Priori is Perugia’s town hall and one of Italy’s finest medieval public buildings, constructed between 1293 and 1443. It houses the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria on the upper floors, which holds the most important collection of Umbrian art in the world, including works by Perugino, Pinturicchio, and Piero della Francesca. The Sala dei Notari on the ground floor is free to enter and features 13th-century frescoes depicting Aesop’s fables and biblical scenes. The gallery costs EUR 10 (reduced EUR 5 for EU citizens 18-25), open Tuesday to Sunday 8:30 am to 7:30 pm, closed Mondays. The building also contains the Collegio del Cambio with Perugino frescoes, separate admission EUR 5.50.
Perugia Cathedral (Cattedrale di San Lorenzo)
Perugia’s cathedral faces Piazza IV Novembre with a striking but unfinished pink and white marble facade. Construction began in 1345 and dragged on until 1490, leaving the side facing Piazza Danti largely bare brick. The interior is Gothic and relatively austere compared to other Italian cathedrals, but it contains the Cappella del Sant’Anello, which holds what believers claim is the Virgin Mary’s wedding ring (displayed only on July 30 and September 12 each year). Free entry. The cathedral museum next door (Museo del Capitolo) costs EUR 5 and displays the ring and other religious artifacts. Open Monday to Saturday 7:30 am to 12:30 pm and 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Sunday 8:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Etruscan Well (Pozzo Etrusco)
The Pozzo Etrusco is a 3rd-century BC well that plunges 37 metres (121 feet) deep into the hilltop, built by the Etruscans to supply water to the city. You walk across a glass bridge suspended over the well shaft, looking down into the darkness. The engineering is impressive: massive travertine blocks fitted without mortar, still intact after 2,300 years. Entry costs EUR 3, open daily 10:00 am to 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm (extended hours in summer). Located on Piazza Danti just behind the cathedral. The visit takes about 15 minutes.
Fontana Maggiore
The Fontana Maggiore in Piazza IV Novembre is one of Italy’s finest medieval fountains, completed in 1278 by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano. The lower basin has 50 bas-relief panels depicting the months of the year, the liberal arts, biblical scenes, and Aesop’s fables, while the upper basin features 24 statues of saints and historical figures. The fountain was the terminus of Perugia’s medieval aqueduct, bringing water uphill from Mount Pacciano 4 km away. Free to view 24/7. This is Perugia’s central meeting point and the perfect spot to start any walking tour of the city.
Things to Do in Perugia: Museums and Culture
Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria
Housed on the upper floors of Palazzo dei Priori, this is Umbria’s premier art museum with 40 rooms spanning the 13th to 18th centuries. The collection is particularly strong in Perugino (Pietro Vannucci), Perugia’s most famous painter and Raphael’s teacher. Highlights include Perugino’s Pala dei Decemviri, Piero della Francesca’s Polyptych of Sant’Antonio, and Pinturicchio’s Pala di Santa Maria dei Fossi. Admission EUR 10, combined ticket with Collegio del Cambio and other museums available for EUR 14. Tuesday to Sunday 8:30 am to 7:30 pm, closed Mondays. Allow 2 hours for a thorough visit.
Casa Museo di Palazzo Sorbello
An 18th-century aristocratic residence turned house museum near the cathedral. It preserves the original furnishings, a library of 15,000 volumes, and a collection of Perugian ceramics and embroidery. The highlight is a 1721 painted harpsichord. Guided tours only (included in admission), but they run regularly throughout the day. Entry EUR 7, open Tuesday to Sunday 10:30 am to 1:30 pm and 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
Things to Do in Perugia: Outdoor and Free Activities
Walk Corso Vannucci
Corso Vannucci is Perugia’s main pedestrian street, running from Piazza IV Novembre to Piazza Italia. It’s the city’s living room: lined with cafes, gelaterias, bookshops, and historic buildings, it fills with locals and students from late afternoon until midnight. The 400-metre stretch is perfect for a passeggiata (evening stroll). Stop at Pasticceria Sandri (est. 1860) at number 32 for coffee and pastries, or grab a gelato at Gambrinus. The street is named after Pietro Vannucci, better known as Perugino, who was born in nearby Citta della Pieve in 1446.
Giardini Carducci and the City Walls
The Giardini Carducci is a terraced garden on the southern edge of the historic centre, offering panoramic views across the Umbrian valley toward Assisi and Monte Subasio. It sits on the site of the demolished Rocca Paolina above-ground section. The garden has benches, shade trees, and a small cafe. The adjacent city walls date from the Etruscan and medieval periods, and you can walk sections of them for free. The Porta San Pietro gate at the garden’s edge leads to the medieval San Pietro district. Free entry, open during daylight hours.
Via dell’Acquedotto
This elevated pedestrian path follows a 13th-century aqueduct that once carried water from Monte Pacciano to the Fontana Maggiore. The 3 km route starts near the University for Foreigners and runs above the streets to the north of the city, giving you a unique elevated perspective of Perugia’s rooftops and surrounding countryside. It’s flat, free, and takes about 45 minutes to walk one way. Early morning or late afternoon offers the best light for photos.
Day Trip to Assisi
Assisi is 25 km (15 miles) from Perugia and reachable by train from Perugia Fontivegge station in 25 minutes (EUR 3.40 one way) or by bus from Piazza Partigiani in 50 minutes (EUR 3.10). The birthplace of St. Francis, Assisi’s Basilica of San Francesco holds Giotto’s famous fresco cycle depicting the life of the saint. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Italy’s most important pilgrimage destinations. Plan a full day to see the basilica (free entry), the Roman temple of Minerva in Piazza del Comune, and the Rocca Maggiore castle (EUR 6). Trains run roughly hourly; the last return train is around 9:00 pm.
