LisaAnnDinielli

My college age daughter and I are going to Perugia from Florence, stopping to rent a car in Chiusi, booked a B&B and a cooking class in Perugia, and now I'm getting a little concerned about driving and parking and generally getting around in this area. Please give your feedback if you've been there. We can always change the plan

Pvoyageuse

Driving in the center of Perugia (old town) is a nightmare and is severely restricted : http://www.perugiaonline.com/tfintpgus.html
Here is a list of public parking places : http://www.perugiaonline.com/parchepgus.html

BlueRidgeboots

Driving there isn't a problem, it's actually quite nice. We drove to Perugia several years ago and parked on the outskirts of town as we weren't staying there. If your B&B is within the boundaries they'll tell you where to park and driving into the center isn’t as big of a deal. On this same trip, we were visiting Le Marche to take a walking tour of the incredible mosaics in and around the churches. As we were closing in on the area we needed to start the tour, I noticed the city center warning sign as I drive right by it. I started screaming. Lol Needless to say, the ticket caught up with me about six months later. By the time the dust settled on getting a check made out in Euros and the postage to mail it plus the extra cost of getting a signature – over $200.

PalenQ

I based in Perugia and went everywhere by public bus and or train - why hassle with the car - Assisi, Terontola, Cortona, Montepulciano, Urbino, Todi and many places easily done by bus and or train. Parking can be a real hassle near your B&B I would think.

Perugia is a lovely lovely town - a big hill town but a lively one thanks to its many students. Loved loved loved it!

tower

We once stayed at the top-o-the-town, Hotel Fortuna. Drove up several rings, allowed to drop luggae at hotel, then escorted by hotel emloyee to the parking garage (there are three on various levels). The system of elevators and escalators is quite unique and raidly whisks you to wherever you're staying. I think it's a great town to base in with great views of the whole vicinity.

Jean

With the advent of GPS, I think driving into Perugia would be less of a "nightmare" than previously, but you do need to know precisely where you're going, where you're going to park, and whether you can get there without violating the ZTL (Zona Traffico Limitato).

http://www.perugiaonline.com/tfintpgus.html

bvlenci

I don't know how anyone could easily travel from Perugia to Urbino by public transportation. There used to be, some years ago, a bus between Urbino and Rome that stopped somewhere in Umbria, but no more. I don't think it would be terribly easy to get to Montepulciano, either, but I could be wrong on that one. Over the years, bus schedules have been trimmed rather severely.

PalenQ

I should not have said easily for that one but I did do it - actually I must have been thinking of Gubbio and not Urbino - I agree Urbino is a long slog - I took a train to Foligno I believe and then train and bus - but yes I mixed up Urbino and Gubbio - Gubbio I thought was outstanding - not so crowded as proper hill towns - it ain't a hill town at all but ancient looking beyond believe - the anti-Todi all gussied up and all and a proper hill town - easily accessible from Perugia by bus or slow dumpy trains.

In Gubbio a roof tile nearly fell on my head - that's how old the town is - yet Gubbio would be at the top of my list for easy treks by car or bus from Perugia. Twas my favorite of several day trips I took.

nytraveler

I would be very hesitant to book a B&B in the center unless they could guarantee you a garage/parking spot for your car and tell you now where it is.

We were there several years ago and needed to park in a lot outside the walls and walk in. Not an issue for a day trip - but wouldnt want to do with luggage to and fro.

tower

Lisa...I found the name of one of the Perugia parking garages in my journal. It's about on the third level down the hill, indoor garage. Just look for signs proclaiming "Partizaner Parcheggio", pull in and self-park. From there you can get to any level of the city via the escalator/elevator system (quite unlike any you've ever seen).