Sandwiched between Rome and Florence yet remarkably unspoilt, Umbria is Italy's only landlocked region and one of its most rewarding walking destinations. Known as the Green Heart of Italy, it combines rolling hills rising to the Apennines and Sibillini mountains with ancient villages, Roman and Etruscan ruins, UNESCO World Heritage towns, dense woodland, and nature reserves across six distinct walking areas.

40 day walks ranging from 3 to 19km (2 to 12 miles) and taking 1 to 5 hours are described in this second edition guidebook by expert author Gillian Price. It pairs clear route descriptions with detailed information on accommodation, public transport, and facilities to help you explore the Green Heart of Italy with confidence.

• The 40 walks are graded 1 to 3 and organised across six areas covering Alta Val Tiberina and Gubbio, Lago Trasimeno and its islands, Orvieto and Todi, Assisi and Monte Subasio, Spoleto and the Valnerina, and Norcia and the Sibillini
• Sketch maps are included for every walk alongside detailed information on accommodation, public transport, and facilities, with notes on culinary delights helping you make the most of Umbrian food and drink
• Highlights include Assisi, glorious Orvieto and its medieval aqueduct, Lago Trasimeno and the islands of Isola Maggiore and Isola Polvese, the Piano Grande di Castelluccio, Monte Cucco, and the wonderful Valnerina
• Background sections cover Umbria's history, plants, flowers, and wildlife, giving rich context for the Roman and Etruscan ruins, medieval hilltowns, and dense woodland you encounter on the trail
• Bases include Perugia, Assisi, Gubbio, Norcia, Spoleto, Orvieto, and Passignano sul Trasimeno, with the region sitting conveniently between Rome and Florence for easy access

With walks spanning UNESCO hilltowns, crater lakes, Roman ruins, and the high Sibillini peaks, this second edition guidebook captures the full variety of walking in Umbria in a single volume. Discover the very best of the region from hiking expert Gillian Price. 

Walking in Umbria – Quick Facts

Region: Umbria, central Italy 
Walk format: 40 graded day walks 
Walk distances: 3 to 19km (2 to 12 miles) per walk 
Walk duration: 1 to 5 hours per walk 
Difficulty grades: 1 (easy) to 3 (difficult) 
Areas covered: Alta Val Tiberina and Gubbio, Lago Trasimeno, Orvieto and Todi, Assisi and around, Spoleto and the Valnerina, Norcia and the Sibillini 
Main centres: Perugia, Assisi, Gubbio, Norcia, Spoleto, Orvieto, Passignano sul Trasimeno, Umbertide, Montone 
Key highlights: Assisi (UNESCO World Heritage), Orvieto, Lago Trasimeno, Isola Maggiore, Isola Polvese, Piano Grande di Castelluccio, Monte Cucco, Spoleto aqueduct bridge, Valnerina, Monte Subasio, Norcia, Sibillini mountains 
Terrain: Rolling hills, mountain paths, lakeside walks, ancient village circuits, Roman and Etruscan ruins, dense woodland, nature reserves 
Best season: Spring to autumn; year-round possible except mountainous areas in winter, where snow is common 
Maps: Sketch maps included for every walk

Author Highlight

“Landlocked Umbria, with its array of fabulous landscapes, inspirational for so many artists and writers over the years, is rightly celebrated as the ‘green heart’ of Italy. Rolling hills swathed in dense woods, hilltop after marvellous hilltop occupied by charming walled villages, which time seems to have left untouched. This region has much to offer outdoor enthusiasts, with superb walking guaranteed year-round on hundreds of kilometres of marked paths."

- Gillian Price, author of Walking in Umbria

Overview maps
Legend

Introduction
A potted history
Plants and flowers
Wildlife
Getting there
Local transport
Information
When to go
Accommodation
Culinary delights
What to take
Maps
Dos and don’ts
Emergencies
Using this guide 

1 Alta Val Tiberina, Gubbio and Monte Cucco
Walk 1 Monte Santa Maria Tiberina
Walk 2 Monte Falcone
Walk 3 Rocca d’Aries
Walk 4 Monte Tezio
Walk 5 Monte Foce
Walk 6 Above Gubbio
Walk 7 Monte Cucco
Walk 8 Val di Rio Freddo 

2 Lago Trasimeno and environs
Walk 9 Tuoro and Monte Gualandro
Walk 10 Passignano Ridge
Walk 11 Isola Maggiore
Walk 12 Isola Polvese
Walk 13 Montemelino and Montesperello
Walk 14 Paciano and Monte Pausillo
Walk 15 Monte Arale 

3 Orvieto and Todi
Walk 16 Orvieto ring walk
Walk 17 Orvieto Aqueduct loop
Walk 18 Orvieto to Bolsena
Walk 19 Titignano Loop
Walk 20 Titignano to Roccaccia
Walk 21 Civitella del Lago
Walk 22 Todi and the River Tiber
Walk 23 Vasciano–Montenero 

4 Assisi and around
Walk 24 Bettona–Collemancio
Walk 25 Monte Subasio
Walk 26 Spello and Monte Pietrolungo
Walk 27 Bevagna to Montefalco 

5 Spoleto and the Valnerina
Walk 28 Spoleto and Monteluco
Walk 29 Giro dei Condotti
Walk 30 Spoleto to Sant’Anatolia di Narco
Walk 31 Valnerina 1
Walk 32 Monte Coscerno
Walk 33 Roccaporena to Cascia
Walk 34 Monte Meraviglia

6 Norcia and the Sibillini
Walk 35 Preci and Sant’Eutizio
Walk 36 Campi to Norcia 

Walk 37 Monte Patino
Walk 38 Monte delle Rose
Walk 39 Piano Grande di Castelluccio
Walk 40 Dogana Loop 

Appendix A Route summary table
Appendix B Italian–English Glossary
Appendix C Useful contacts 

Seasons

Spring to autumn, but year-round is possible - except for mountainous areas in winter where snow is common.

Centres

Perugia, Assisi, Gubbio, Norcia, Spoleto, Orvieto, Passignano sul Trasimeno, Umbertide, Montone

Difficulty

Walks are graded 1-3, from easy to difficult.

Must See

Assisi, Lago Trasimeno and its islands, Spoleto and its famous aqueduct bridge, Monte Cucco, Piano Grande di Castelluccio and Norcia in the Sibillini, wonderful Valnerina and its railway line, Monte Tezio over the upper Tiber valley, glorious Orvieto and the medieval way from Lago Bolsena, medieval Gubbio.

May 2026

Walk 36

May 2026

Post (2016) earthquake reconstruction

May 2025

Walk 2

January 2025

Walks 28 and 29

March 2023

Maps

November 2022

Maps (page 22)

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