Umbria Or Tuscany: Which Region Should You Travel To?

November 20, 2024

Umbria and Tuscany are, without a doubt, two of Italy’s most beautiful regions. And they have a lot in common. Both are famed for their rolling hills and vineyards, medieval hilltowns and fantastic food. They’re also right next to each other, located right in the center of Italy. But which should you visit – Umbria or Tuscany?

First, keep in mind that the regions are different. Just ask Italians who live in Umbria or Tuscany themselves – they have quite the rivalry! Trying to decide whether to do a day trip or a longer trip to one of the two regions? Here’s some help!

A group of people standing at a viewpoint in Pienza, taking in the view and listening to their tour guide.

Not sure if you should choose Umbria or Tuscany? We’ll help you make a decision!

Table of Contents

Umbria Or Tuscany: How to Choose

Both regions have spectacular scenery

If you’re after rolling hills and cypress trees, olive groves and sparkling lakes, medieval hilltowns and spots of thick forest, either region will do the trick.

View of green mountains in a small village in Tuscany, Italy.

Whether you choose Umbria or Tuscany, one thing for sure is that you won’t be disappointed by the views.

If you’re looking for the sea or beaches, head to Tuscany

The one thing Umbria doesn’t have? A coastline. Umbria is land-locked, so if you’re dead set on making it to the sea, then Tuscany is your best bet.

Just keep in mind that most of Tuscany’s best beaches are in the Maremma area, which is a more than a two-hour drive from Florence.

Both Umbria and Tuscany are easily reached from Florence

By car from Florence, you can get to both Tuscany (of course) and Umbria easily. You’re in Tuscany, after all, and reaching some of Tuscany’s more beautiful countryside areas—the Chianti wine-making region, for example—takes just a half an hour’s drive.

It’s a little further to get to Umbria, but still close. In an hour and a half on the road, you cross the border from Tuscany into Umbria and can be in the area of Lake Trasimeno, Chiusi, and Perugia. (On a train, Florence to Perugia takes two hours).

If you want to take in the grandeur of Tuscany (and sip some fine Chianti) without having to navigate the country roads, we’ll drive you ourselves on our Tuscan Day Trip from Florence.

(By the way, don’t miss our adventure through Tuscany’s most stunning scenery, in video!).

Umbria is easily reached from Florence or Rome

Meanwhile, from Rome, Tuscany’s a bit farther than Umbria. It takes two hours to drive from Rome to Pitigliano, a lovely town right over the border from Lazio in Tuscany.

Umbria is much closer; it only takes one hour to drive to the medieval hill town of Narni, or 1 hour 15 minutes to drive to Orvieto. On the train, both Rome to Orvieto and Rome to Narni-Amelia take as little as an hour.

If you’re planning on taking public transport around Umbria, don’t miss our post on how to travel Umbria by train and bus.

Umbria is a quick trip from Rome.

Both regions have hidden, off-the-beaten-path gems…

Don’t let friends who have traveled to Tuscany and only visited the tourism hotspots tell you anything different: Tuscany does have medieval towns and stretches of countryside that remain unvisited by big tour buses and untrampled by tourist hordes.

A group of people exploring Pienza's streets.

Tuscany has plenty of medieval towns for you to explore.

…but Umbria may have more of them

Because Umbria is less famous than Tuscany, though, there are more of these off-the-beaten-path gems in Umbria. Where Tuscany’s most beautiful towns and rural areas have become famous—and, therefore, more touristy—Umbria’s best offerings remain little-known. These include Spoleto, Spello, Todi, Montefalco, Norcia, Narni, Amelia, Bevagna, even Perugia. And that’s not to mention all of the really tiny towns that receive no tourism whatsoever, towns that you discover simply by driving around the countryside.

You can find deals in Umbria or Tuscany…

Especially if you do go off the beaten path.

…but, in general, Umbria is cheaper

There’s less tourism in Umbria (although the region is getting more popular all the time), so most things, from eating out to staying at a villa or agriturismo, will cost you less than it would at its Tuscan equivalent.

A woman eating typical Tuscan dishes and drinking wine.

Both regions have delicious food that foodies will want to sink their teeth into.

Umbria and Tuscany both produce excellent wines…

Although it’s a much smaller region, Umbria produces some great wines, like the world-renowned Sagrantino wines or its DOC-protected Orvieto wines.

A woman raining a glass of Italian wine.

More wine, please!

…but Tuscany produces more, and has some of Italy’s most famous wines

If you’re determined to try Italy’s most famous labels, then Tuscany is your best bet. Tuscany has the most famous, and established, labels. After the Veneto and Piedmont, Tuscany produces Italy’s highest number of DOC/DOCG wines, and wine country is spread throughout the whole Tuscan wine region.

Which wines are produced in Tuscany? Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, and Vin Santo are some of the big guys, not to mention the Super Tuscans—wines that are considered some of Italy’s best, but don’t follow the restrictions that govern DOC or DOCG-protected labels.