You don’t need a car to experience Cortona and the surrounding area properly. The historic centre is entirely pedestrianised, and with some planning, trains, buses and the occasional taxi cover almost everything a car would.
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Inside Cortona — On Foot
The historic centre is compact and almost entirely pedestrianised — most sights, restaurants and shops are within a 10–15 minute walk of Piazza della Repubblica. The town is steep, so comfortable shoes matter more than a car ever would.
A local minibus (shuttle) runs between the lower and upper parts of the historic centre — useful if you’re carrying luggage or after a long day. Ask at your hotel or at the information point near Piazza Garibaldi for the current timetable.
Day Trips Without a Car
⚠️ Transportation Strike Alert (Sciopero)
- Sept 7-17: The Perugia-Terontola train line has reopened after summer works, but slower service and some replacement buses continue through Sept 17.
- Sept 5-Oct 31: Ongoing maintenance on the Florence-Rome mainline train route (the Camucia-Cortona stop) is causing schedule changes and slightly longer travel times in both directions.
- Sept 7-8: A 24-hour national rail strike is planned (9:18pm Sept 7 to about 9:00pm Sept 8). Some guaranteed minimum service usually runs 6-9am and 6-9pm.
- Sept 26: A national multi-sector strike is planned; exact hours not yet published, but some rail disruption is expected.
We update this box as soon as the situation changes — check back before you travel. If you’re unsure, ask us on WhatsApp.
By train: Camucia-Cortona station sits on the Florence–Rome line, with regular connections to Arezzo, Florence, and — via Terontola — Rome and Perugia. See our Train to Cortona guide for details.
By bus: LFI regional buses connect Camucia with nearby towns including Montepulciano and Castiglione del Lago — useful for reaching Lake Trasimeno without a car.
By taxi or NCC: for destinations without direct public transport, a taxi or private driver is the practical option. See our Taxi & NCC Guide for local operators.
Insider tip: Montepulciano, Arezzo and Lake Trasimeno are all realistically reachable by train or bus. For Pienza, Assisi or San Gimignano, a taxi, private transfer, or a guided day trip is the more comfortable option — public transport links are limited or involve several changes.
E-Bikes — An Alternative for Nearby Exploration
For shorter trips into the countryside around Cortona — olive groves, nearby wineries, quiet backroads — an e-bike is a genuinely enjoyable way to get around without a car, flattening out Cortona’s hills in the process.
Quick Reference
| Inside Cortona | Walk — 10-15 min across the historic centre |
| Montepulciano, Arezzo, Trasimeno | Train or bus |
| Pienza, Assisi, San Gimignano | Taxi, private transfer, or guided day trip |
| Countryside nearby | E-bike |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a car to visit Cortona?
No — the historic centre is pedestrianised, and trains and buses cover most nearby destinations. A car is only useful for reaching hill towns without direct public transport, like Pienza.
How do I get around inside Cortona without a car?
On foot — the historic centre is compact, and everything is within a 10–15 minute walk. A local minibus also runs between the lower and upper parts of town.
Can I visit Val d’Orcia towns without a car?
Some, like Montepulciano, are reachable by train or bus. Others, like Pienza, have limited public transport — a taxi, private transfer, or guided day trip is more practical.
🍃 Looking for a fully personalised Cortona experience?
Some visitors prefer more than working out trains and buses themselves. If you’d like local guidance, insider recommendations, and a Cortona expert by your side — reach out via WhatsApp.
More Getting Around Guides
- Train to Cortona — stations, tickets and validation
- Taxi & NCC Guide — local operators
- Day Trips from Cortona — where to go and how