Perugia Getting there & around

Getting around

It’s a steep 1.5km climb uphill from Perugia’s train station, so a bus is highly recommended, essential for those with luggage. The city bus costs €1 and takes you as far as Piazza Italia in the historic centre. Be sure to validate your ticket upon boarding or you will be fined on the spot. If you haven’t bought a ticket, you can buy one on the bus for €1.50. Buses 6, 7, 9, 11 and 15 run between the train station and Piazza Italia. Buy your bus ticket from the small green bus kiosk in front of the train station (or in Piazza Italia, or at many tabacchi throughout the city). If you’re going to stick around for a while, buy a 10-ticket pass for €8.60. The ‘minimetro’ light rail system was supposed to have been finished by 2003, so expect it to be running by 2012 or so.

Give Scootyrent (075 572 07 10, 333 102 65 05; www.scootyrent.com ; Via Pinturicchio 76) a call for scooter hire. For about €20 a day, you can feel like a real Italian, transporting yourself and taking your life in your hands, all at the same time.

Car & motorcycle

Perugia is humorously difficult to navigate and most of the city centre is only open to residential or commercial traffic (although tourists may drive to their hotels to drop off luggage). Rumour has it that parking police are more lenient on rental cars, but if you park illegally for too long you run the risk of getting towed.

Perugia has six fee-charging car parks: Piazza Partigiani and the Mercato Coperto are the most central and convenient, plus Viale Sant’Antonio, Viale Pellini, Briglie di Braccio and Piazzale Europa. The free car park is located at Piazza Cupa. Scale mobili or ascensori (lifts) lead from each car park towards the city centre, but take note: they don’t operate 24 hours a day, and they usually stop between about midnight or 1am and 6am or 7am.

Parking fees cost €0.80 to €1.20 per hour, 24 hours a day, in the city centre lots. If you intend to use a car park a lot, buy a tourist abbonamento (unlimited parking ticket pass) from the ticket office at the car park. If you’re just parking for a while, try the Coop by the train station, where you can park free for two hours with any purchase. Also, many of the spaces near the train station charge only from 9am to 1pm and 4pm to 7pm Monday through Friday, including a car park just north of the station.

Call the information line (075 577 53 75) if your car has been towed or for general parking information.

Your best bet is simply to rent a car on your way out of Perugia.

^ Back to top

Local transport

Taxi

Taxi services are available from 6am to 2am (24 hours a day in July and August) – call 075 500 48 88 to arrange pick-up.

A ride from the city centre to the main train station, Stazione Fontivegge, will cost about €12. Tack on €1 for each suitcase.

^ Back to top