Perugia and Assisi Tour from Florence

Perugia and Assisi make a rewarding day out from Florence: one is Umbria’s regional capital, the other a pilgrimage city tied to Saints Francis and Clare. I love the contrast between Perugia’s open-ended free time and Assisi’s guided visit to the Basilica of Saint Francis, where Giotto and Cimabue frescoes are a major draw.

I also like that the day includes the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels, built over the Porziuncola, a place central to the Franciscan movement. The trade-off is a packed schedule: you leave Florence at 7:30 a.m., return around 7:30 p.m., and cover ground on foot, including stairs.

At a glance

• Perugia gets four hours of free time: Visit Piazza IV Novembre, the Fontana Maggiore, the Cathedral, and underground Rocca Paolina at your own pace.
• Assisi includes a guided basilica visit: The Basilica of Saint Francis is known for frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue.
• Santa Maria degli Angeli adds a Franciscan landmark: The church is built over the Porziuncola.
• The coach day runs about 12 hours: Departure is at 7:30 a.m. from Piazzale Montelungo; the planned return is 7:30 p.m.
• The pace calls for comfortable shoes: Expect considerable walking and stairs, and dress to cover your knees and shoulders inside churches.
• A location label may cause confusion: The route described visits Perugia and Assisi, not Orvieto.

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A long day from Florence into Umbria

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The day begins at Piazzale Montelungo Bus Terminal, a short walk from Santa Maria Novella station. The meeting point is at the Tours and News kiosk, where you’ll look for a Ciaoflorence staff member in a fuchsia jacket. Plan to arrive 20 minutes early. The coach leaves at 7:30 a.m., and late arrivals or no-shows are not eligible for a refund.

From Florence, the first coach ride takes about two hours. An air-conditioned bus and round-trip transport spare you the work of linking several towns by public transport, and an English-speaking tour leader helps keep the group moving. The group size can range from one to 35 people, so the feel of the day may vary with the number who book.

The day is scheduled to end back at the same terminal at 7:30 p.m. Traffic and weather can change the order of visits or timing, so treat the schedule as a plan rather than a promise down to the minute. You’ll want to keep some energy in reserve: this is not a gentle coach trip with a quick photo stop.

There is no hotel pickup or drop-off. You’ll need to reach the Florence meeting point on your own, and food, drinks, tips, and personal purchases are not included. The experience is sold as a join-in tour in English or Spanish.

Four hours to make Perugia your own

Perugia is Umbria’s regional capital, set among the region’s rolling hills and medieval towns. You get about four hours here without a guided walking route, a generous window that lets you choose the pace and sights that suit you. It also means you’ll need to keep an eye on the clock and find your own way around.

Piazza IV Novembre is a useful place to start. The Fontana Maggiore and the Cathedral are among the central sights, and the square gives you an easy first sense of the city. If you want a change from the streets above, the underground Rocca Paolina is another listed highlight. The tour information does not give a fixed route through these places, so decide what matters most before you set off.

Perugia is also known for chocolate. An optional tasting at the Chocolate Museum may appeal if you want a sweet stop, but it is not listed among the inclusions. Meals and beverages are not covered, either, so allow room in your budget for anything you choose to eat, drink, or taste.

Free time is a plus if you like to explore independently. It is less helpful if you want a guide to explain every church, lane, and landmark. I’d use the time for a modest plan: choose two or three priorities, leave room for a café break, and note where and when the group meets again before wandering off.

Assisi’s churches and the Franciscan story

After Perugia, the coach ride to the next stop is about 30 minutes. Assisi is associated with Saint Francis and Saint Clare, and the tour gives the town a guided focus rather than leaving you to tackle every major site alone. A local guide leads the visit to the Basilica of Saint Francis, whose frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue are a central reason to go inside.

Admission to the Church of San Francesco is included. The visit is a strong fit if you’re interested in religious art or the Franciscan story, but it is also the most structured part of the day. You’ll follow the guide’s timing and route, then have some free time to explore Assisi on your own.

Lucia is one named guide associated with the tour. Her English tour was described as articulate and well informed by a couple who particularly valued the experience as Catholic visitors. That is useful context if the religious history is your main reason for booking. It does not guarantee Lucia will lead your departure, so think of her as a guide named in connection with the tour, not a promised assignment.

The day also stops at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels, built over the Porziuncola, the place identified with the birth of the Franciscan movement. That adds a meaningful second site to the Assisi visit. The schedule allows about three hours for this part of the day, though the order of stops can change.

What the schedule means for your day

The listed timing is simple: depart Florence at 7:30 a.m., travel about two hours to Perugia, spend four hours there, take a roughly 30-minute coach ride, then spend about three hours at the remaining stop before returning to Florence around 7:30 p.m. The timetable adds up to a full day, with some flexibility for traffic and weather.

The timing gives you a substantial block in Perugia and time for Assisi’s key religious sites. In exchange, you’ll spend part of the day on the coach and have limited freedom to linger once the group moves on. If you want slow meals, long museum visits, or several hours in each town, this format will feel rushed. If you want a practical introduction to both places without arranging transport yourself, the structure is useful.

There is a naming wrinkle worth sorting out before you book: the experience is titled around Perugia and Assisi, and those are the towns in the described route, but the location details also name Orvieto. No stop in Orvieto is included in the route provided. If Orvieto is the place you specifically want to visit, confirm the destination before paying.

Price, value, and who should book

The advertised starting price is $83.35, while the English and Spanish join-in options are each shown from $104.19. Prices can vary by package or date, so check the amount for your selected option before booking. The price covers round-trip transport, an English-speaking guide for the English tour, free time in Perugia, and admission to the Church of San Francesco.

That bundle can be good value if you want to visit both towns in one day and would rather not plan the connections yourself. The included transport is especially useful for a route with multiple stops. But meals, drinks, other personal expenses, and tips are extra, and the optional chocolate tasting is not listed as included. The value depends on how much you want guided structure and how comfortable you are with a long, tightly timed day.

This tour suits you best if you’re interested in Assisi’s religious sites, want a first look at Perugia, and are happy to explore one stop independently. It is a weaker fit if you need step-free access, prefer a slow pace, or want to spend a full day in just one town. The activity is not wheelchair-accessible and is not recommended for people with disabilities; it involves considerable walking and stairs.

Wear walking shoes and check the weather before you leave. Knees and shoulders must be covered for the church visits, and flip-flops, shorts, tank tops, and sleeveless shirts are not suitable for smooth entry. Pets are prohibited. Children aged zero to three can join free, while those aged 13 and older pay the adult rate; the price rules for children aged four to 12 are not specified here.

Cancellation is refundable if you cancel at least 24 hours before the activity date, using the destination’s local time. Your mobile voucher is valid only for its specified date and time.

Should you book this Florence day trip?

Book it if you want a convenient way to pair Perugia’s historic center with Assisi’s major Franciscan sites, and you’re ready for an early start, a full coach day, and plenty of walking. The guided visit to the Basilica of Saint Francis and the stop at Santa Maria degli Angeli give the day a clear focus; Perugia’s four hours of free time let you set your own pace.

Skip it if you want an unhurried visit, need wheelchair access, or are booking specifically to see Orvieto. Before you commit, confirm the destination, check the price for your language and date, and make sure the walking demands and church dress rules work for you.

FAQ

Where does the tour depart from?

It departs from Piazzale Montelungo Bus Terminal in Florence. Meet at the Tours and News kiosk, near the Santa Maria Novella station area.

What time should I arrive?

Arrive 20 minutes before the 7:30 a.m. departure. The meeting point is about a five- to ten-minute walk from Santa Maria Novella station.

What towns does the described route visit?

The route describes Perugia and Assisi, followed by the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels. Orvieto is named in the location details but is not shown as a stop in the route.

How much time do you get in Perugia?

The schedule allows about four hours of self-guided free time in Perugia.

Is a guide included?

Yes. The tour includes an English-speaking guide, and a local guide leads the visit to the Basilica of Saint Francis. English and Spanish join-in options are shown.

Is admission to the Basilica of Saint Francis included?

Admission to the Church of San Francesco is included.

What is not included in the price?

Meals, beverages, tips, gratuities, hotel pickup and drop-off, and other personal expenses are not included.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not wheelchair-accessible and involves considerable walking and stairs.

What should I wear for the church visits?

Wear walking shoes and cover your knees and shoulders. Flip-flops, shorts, tank tops, and sleeveless shirts are not suitable for smooth entry.