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Umbria: Ultimate Holiday Inspiration – What to Do, Where to Go, What to See

The Umbria region has a rich artistic and cultural heritage to enjoy and a whole host of vibrant cities to visit, including Perugia, Orvieto and Trevi. Umbria also has a whole host of sights to see and there are numerous things to do in Umbria too… That is, of course, if you can manage to tear yourself away from the swimming pool! All the apartments and villas in Umbria that Bookings For You have available to rent come with the luxury of having a private or shared pool.

Even the most hardened sunbather will find it hard to avoid the incredible list of things to do in Umbria and the lure of cities such as Perugia and Orvieto though, especially during the months when they host the popular Umbria Jazz Festival. Held in both July and December, Umbria Jazz is a superb event and comes highly recommended in our Umbria travel guide.

Just click on the Umbria travel guide image below to find more information about the exciting activities you could enjoy during your trip to Umbria. Maybe you’re looking for information about one of the Umbria music festivals such as Umbria Jazz in Perugia and Orvieto, or one of the many other festivals such as the Sagra Festival in Trevi. Or perhaps you’d like some information about the museums or the things to do in Umbria with children. Whatever you want to know about Umbria, we hope that the Bookings For You Umbria travel guide will be able to provide you with the information you need to plan your holiday.

Activities for Children in Umbria

Activities for Children in Umbria

There is not a wealth of activities in Umbria specifically geared towards children. However, there should be more than enough to keep them entertained during those hours that you're not lazing by the swimming pool at your choice of Umbria rental property. Hopefully this guide will give you some ideas... If you fancy spending s few hours on a beach, then it's definitely worth heading to Lake Trasimeno. The lake is extremely shallow which means that it's always lovely and warm to swim in during the Summer months. Whilst you're at the lake, why not take a boat trip to one of the islands within...
Cycling in Umbria

Cycling in Umbria

Umbria is ideal cycling territory, with mountain bike trails in abundance! Certainly, it is an extremely popular sport across Italy, with men donning the lyrca most weekends! However, for the holidaymaker, cycle hire can be difficult to find so if you are keen to enjoy a lot of cycling during your trip, you may be best to bring your own bike. It's not impossible to find cycle hire though. The local tourist office will always be able to help recommend routes and itineries for you and will be able to advise you on the nearest bike rental business. One option you may want to consider...
Dining out in Umbria

Dining out in Umbria

Umbria is renowned for exceptional food and wine and visitors will be spoiled for choice when eating out in Umbria. We've selected some of our favourite restaurants and enoteca in the region to share with you. One of our favourites is La Cantina on Via Cavour in Spello. The restaurant has a large indoor area as well as an outside terrace if you wish to dine al fresco. The menu is large and varied and the food delicious. The atmosphere is lively and it's a popular haunt with the locals. Another excellent restaurant in Spello is La Bastiglia, serving traditional Italian food. The terrace here...
Festivals in Umbria

Festivals in Umbria

There are plenty of festivals to enjoy in Umbria, whatever time of year you choose to visit. For those interested in music, make sure your visit coincides with the Umbria Jazz Festival. Held every summer in Perugia, it is fast becoming one of the most important jazz festivals in the world and attracts the world's best jazz musicians. A lot of the outdoor concerts are free, but there are charges for some of the headline events. For those who can't make the summer event, you might also want to try the smaller Jazz Winter instead. In the run up to New Years Eve, the event fills the streets and...
Golf courses in Umbria

Golf courses in Umbria

With a name like the 'Green Heart of Italy' you'd probably expect Umbria to be filled with golf course after golf course. However, there are, in fact, surprisingly few courses in Umbria for the golf lover to enjoy. However, that said, the courses that do exist are superb, with wonderful scenery to enjoy as you take that perfect put. The first worth mentioning is the Antognolla Golf Course. (www.antognollagolf.com). Here, the championship 18 hole course is dominated by the medieval castle of Antognolla & golfers can enjoy incredible far-reaching views of the Umbrian countryside. Along with...
Hiking in Umbria

Hiking in Umbria

Umbria is well known as the 'green heart of Italy' and not surprisingly given it's name, it is ideal walking territory. With an abundance of national parks to choose from, many of the areas are protected ensuring that Umbria's natural beauty will be preserved for future generations. The parks include the Monti Sibillini National Park as well as a number of smaller regional parks, among them Colfiorito, Monte Cucco, Monte Subasio, the Tiber River Park, Trasimeno and the Nera River Park. In addition there is the Parco STINA and some smaller reserves such as the parks of Sette Frati and Villalba,...
Museums in Umbria

Museums in Umbria

With such a rich cultural heritage, visitors to Umbria are spoilt for choice in terms of museums to visit. We have listed some of those on offer here, but we certainly don't claim to have managed to put together an exhaustive list of what is on offer! History of the Olive Musuem, Trevi As the name suggests, the musuem is dedicated to educating visitors about the history and symbolic significance of the olive and the production of olive oil. Opening hours do vary depending on the time of year but, as a general rule, they are always closed over lunchtime. Museo della Civilta dell' Olivo,...
Organised Excursions

Organised Excursions

Bookings For You are proud to partner with Greedy Porcini, a company offering some unique gastronomic experiences to enjoy during your stay in Umbria. Greedy Porcini is headed up by a wonderful husband and wife team, passionate about everything Italian but most especially the food and wine of Umbria. Umbrian's are equally passionate about their food and wine. They care about how it's made and where it comes from. Greedy Porcini have worked with them to bring together the best of Umbria, providing our clients with the opportunity to enjoy a truly unique gastronomic experience. By working with...
Shopping in Umbria

Shopping in Umbria

Perugia is a good place to start if you want to hit the shops for the day. For those interested in fashion, the main street in Perugia - the Corso Vannucci - has some great shops including designer boutiques, department stores and high street shops. Unfortunately, for those looking to grab a real bargain, Umbria doesn't have any large outlet malls. However, depending on where you are staying, it might be worth taking a drive to one of the malls in Tuscany, or, if you're based further south, to one on the outskirts of Rome. Only 90 minutes north of Perugia is The Mall (www.themall.it), where...
Sightseeing in Umbria

Sightseeing in Umbria

There are some wonderful towns and cities across Umbria, all of which are worth a visit during your stay. With the growth of Ryanair, holidaymakers visiting Umbria are increasingly flying into Perugia. Make sure you take the time to visit the city itself rather than just heading in and out of the airport! The university town is vibrant, with life revolving around it's main street - the Corso Vannucci which has at one end the Piazza IV Novembre (home to the Duomo, the stunning 13th century Fontana Maggiore and the Palazzo dei Priori) and at the other end the Piazza Italia. The Palazzo dei...
Spa Breaks in Umbria

Spa Breaks in Umbria

Umbria contains a multitude of natural springs, used as far back as Roman times, around which modern spas have set up. Visitors should be aware that many Italian spas have a much more institutionalised feel than those in the UK, with a focus on healing and rehabilitation rather than on pure relaxation and beauty. Of particular fame include the thermal baths in Citta dei Castello and the health centres at Massa Martana, Melezzole and Spoleto. Of course, with many of the Umbria villas we offer in Umbria close to the border with Tuscany, the spas in Tuscany may also be an option to consider...
Umbria travel information

Umbria travel information

Umbria has just one main airport serviced from the UK - Perugia's Sant' Egidio aiport - which is serviced by Ryanair. However, if you're not based near Stansted, you also have the option of flying to one of the airports in neighbouring Tuscany, Marche or Lazio. Pisa, Ancona and Rome are all options to fly into which shouldn't involve too much of a journey from the airport to your choice of holiday destination in Umbria.           Perugia Rome Ancona Pisa London Gatwick                   ...
Umbria Weather

Umbria Weather

As you would probably expect, July and August are the hottest months in Umbria. Average temperatures are typically in the high twenties around 28 or 29 degrees centigrade. May, June and September also tend to be lovely months to travel to Umbria, with the weather tending to still be warm and dry, but with less of the humidity and excesses of temperature that visitors can sometimes experience in the peak Summer months. However, don't be put off travelling during the quieter Autumn and Winter months. November does tend on average to be the wettest month and weather can be unpredictable but...
Wine Tasting

Wine Tasting

For those looking to enjoy a wine tasting experience in Umbria, look no further than spending a couple of hours with Roberto and his family at Enotica Properzio in Spello. Roberto is an impeccable and incredibly welcoming host, whose knowledge of wine is second to none. Guests are warmly welcomed and treated to a superb array of wines accompanied by the most delicious, home made food. Located in the heart of Spello, a beautiful old town dating back to Roman times, the enoteca has tables both inside and outside, either at the front or in a more private rear garden. It's a popular place so it's...