Orvieto is the perfect hilltop town to visit on a trip between Rome and Florence. Perched dramatically above the Umbrian countryside, the city rises from sheer volcanic cliffs, with vineyards stretching out below. Its Gothic cathedral glows in the afternoon light, the streets wind through a dense medieval core with Etruscan roots, and local tables are set with crisp white Orvieto Classico wine. Best of all, Orvieto offers a small‑town pace that feels like a welcome pause between the energy and crowds of Italy’s most visited cities. Whether you stop for a few hours or stay a couple of nights, Orvieto is one of the most rewarding—and underrated—stops in central Italy.
My Visits to Orvieto
My first visit to Orvieto was in 2008 as a study‑abroad architecture student, and I still remember the moment I emerged from the underground tunnels and caught my first glimpse of the medieval city above. Orvieto is one of the places that changed me and I even visited for a week in 2018 on a four month travel sabbatical.
Why Visit Orvieto
Built tightly atop a plateau of volcanic rock, Orvieto unfolds as a maze of narrow, winding streets, where buildings seem stacked on one another in layers of local stone and history. Approaching the Duomo in the afternoon feels almost theatrical—the gold‑leaf façade catches the western light and appears to glow as the sun sets. Orvieto reveals even more of its beauty if you take a walk along the perimeter walls, where the city drops away to sweeping views of vineyards and hills below. What makes this experience even better is how easy it is to reach Orvieto, even if you’re traveling only by train.
Short on Time? Here’s what not to miss in Orvieto.
Stay at Hotel Palazzo Piccolomini
Visit the Duomo
Check out the views from the perimeter walls
Get a porchetta panino at the Farmers Market
Drink Orvieto Classico wine
Map of my saved places is at the bottom of this post
The Region of Umbria
Umbria is a region in central Italy, nestled between the more famous Lazio and Tuscany. Known for the scenery, wine tasting, and hilltop medieval towns, the entire region of Umbria is worth seeing, but I want to convince you why you need to visit Orvieto.
The most well-known towns of Umbria include Perugia and Assisi. Perugia is the largest city and hilltop capital of Umbria. The most famous town in Umbria is Assisi, also a religious pilgrimage site because of the famous Basilica of Saint Francisc of Assisi.
I visited both Perugia and Assisi during my study abroad journey and I was surprised by the more places in Italy I visited, the more I realized what a hidden gem Orvieto is. And spoiler, Orvieto is even more beautiful that Perugia or Assisi.
Arriving in Orvieto – Where the Drama Begins
One of my favorite things about Orvieto is the scenery and drama, and that begins before you even set foot inside the walled city. From a distance, you can see Orvieto rise above the cliffs. The town is built on top of volcanic rock, or tufa. It was founded by the Etruscans, who created underground tunnels that you can still explore today! It was later developed during the middle ages to be the medieval city it is today.
Typical of an Italian Medieval hilltop town, Orvieto features narrow winding streets, dense architecture with buildings constructed of local stone sitting tightly next to each other. Even the streets are paved with small dark basalt stones in an intricate pattern. It truly feels like a magical town, without the crowds!
One of the best things about Orvieto is that it is relatively easy to access. The town sits along the main train line between Rome and Florence, making it an easy stop even if you are travelling without a car.
The drama only increases once you exit the train station. To access the city, you take a funicular, which is a small train with tracks going steeply uphill to transport you from the train station below, up to the cliff that Orvieto is perched on.
Things to Do in Orvieto
Once you arrive, there is plenty to keep you busy inside the walls of Orvieto, or just beyond.
Urban Texture – Walking Inside Orvieto
One of my favorite things to do in any city is to just meander along the streets and get the feel of a place. Orvieto is perfect for this, just make sure you have sturdy walking shoes like in any European city. Since Orvieto is a medieval hilltop town, the buildings are built tightly together, and the stone paved streets are narrow and winding.
The streets open up to piazzas throughout the town, and I have three favorites. Piazza del Duomo features the famous Cathedral. Piazza del Popolo features a local farmers market on Thursdays and Saturdays. Along the main shopping street, Corso Cavour, you can stumble into Piazza della Repubblica.
The main shopping street is Corso Cavour, worth wandering for shopping and stopping into local bars and restaurants.
One of the most scenic views inside the city walls, is walking down Via Lorenzo Maitani towards the Cathedral in the afternoon. The Duomo di Orvieto façade features gold leaf and is oriented towards the west. This means as the sun sets in the afternoon, it reflects on the gold leaf façade, making it look like Cathedral is glowing in the afternoon light. You can’t miss going inside the Cathedral. The Duomo di Orvieto is a gothic cathedral with intricate details on the facade. It also has a unique striped stone on the sides and interior columns.
For the best view over Orvieto and the Cathedral, climb the stairs to the top of the bell tower, Torre del Moro. The views from the top are worth the climb! The street between the tower and the cathedral, Via del Duomo, is also filled with lovely shops.
The Views – Walking the Walls and the Ring of the Rock
Another thing you cannot miss when visiting Orvieto is the views from the perimeter walls. Orvieto overlooks the Umbrian countryside and vineyards beyond. I marked some of my favorite viewpoints on the map below, but I recommend walking the entire town if you have time.
If you stay at least one night, there is a trail just beyond the city walls that circles the entire town called Anello della Rupe, or Ring of the Rock, that I recommend as a hike if you have a little extra time. I stayed in Orvieto for a week in July of 2018 and did this hike every morning before it got too hot. It was the perfect way to start the day. There are five access points to the trail. I was accessing the trail from Palazzo Crispo Marsciano, near the Duomo. From there, take a spiral stair down a tower to access the trail below.
Unique Sites
Within the walls of Orvieto, there are a few unique sites that I recommend if you spend a night or two in town.
This is a well that has ramps in a double helix shape. This means you never cross the same path. The ramp you take down is a different ramp than you take up. It is an interesting walk if you have some extra time in town.
Under the medieval hilltop town, there are still a series of ancient Etruscan tunnels, storage spaces, and pigeonholes that you can tour.
Where to Eat and Drink in Orvieto
We can’t visit Italy without mentioning food, can we? Orvieto has its own local specialties. In town, you will find many restaurants featuring local black truffles, like truffle pasta. The area is also known for its white wine, Orvieto Classico. If you are able to visit the local farmers market, make sure to get a porchetta panino. Porchetta is a local specialty of pork slowly roasted with spices. It makes for a delicious (and cheap) sandwich.
I saved several of my favorite restaurants as well as some bars and of course gelato in the map below.
Where to Stay in Orvieto
If you are able to stay a night or more, I recommend staying within the city walls. Once you get beyond the walled city, there are a lot less options for restaurants, although there are some bed and breakfasts nearby.
On my last visit, I stayed in this Airbnb, that I recommend. It is a large studio apartment centrally located inside the city and it was easy to walk everywhere. Honestly, anywhere within the city walls is very walkable, but if to really be in the center, the intersection of Corso Cavour and via del Duomo is close to everything.
For hotels, Hotel Palazzo Piccolomini is in an excellent location and has great reviews.
If you want to stay just beyond the walls but still able to walk into town, I recommend Casa Selita. This is a bed and breakfast just outside the walls. I actually lived here for my summer study abroad, and it is lovely. You have a little hike up to the Parcheggio della Rupe where there are escalators inside tunnels that take you up into the city. Even if you don’t stay here, taking a trip through the underground system of escalators is an interesting experience.
How to Get to Orvieto from Rome or Florence
You can reach Orvieto directly from Rome or Florence. From Rome, it takes about 2 hours by car or train. From Florence, it takes about 3 hours by train or 2 hours by car. I did day trips from Orvieto to Rome and Florence multiple times during my study abroad summer.
Is Orvieto Worth Staying Overnight?
As mentioned earlier, Orvieto is a worthwhile stop between Rome and Florence, even if you only have time for a day trip. Although I recommend staying at least two nights to give yourself one full day to experience walking around the perimeter trail, seeing the Duomo as the sun sets, and experiencing the slower pace for a couple nights. If you have even more time, Orvieto is a perfect place to slow down, enjoy a slower pace of life for a few days, and even do some day trips for nearby wine tasting.
Related Post: How Long to Stay in Europe for it to be “Worth It”
Map of Orvieto
Buon Viaggio!
I hope this post inspires you to visit Orvieto. The more places I visit in Italy, the more convinced I am that Orvieto is truly a hidden gem. If you’re planning a trip to Rome and Florence and are looking for a quieter town to complement your itinerary—or even just a day trip to a picturesque medieval hilltop town—I hope Orvieto finds its way onto your list. It’s one of my favorite places in the world. If you’ve visited Orvieto, or if you have any questions as you plan your trip, let me know in the comments.
For more Italy inspiration, check out my favorite books to inspire your trip to Italy.
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