Getting Around Without a Car
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)
- Now–Jul 30: Planned engineering works at the Florence rail hub are reducing train frequency on the Cortona–Florence train line (bridge replacement). The Cortona–Rome train line is not affected.
- Now–Sept 6: The Perugia–Terontola train line (the branch toward Perugia/Umbria) is closed for signaling upgrade works, with replacement buses running. Trains toward Florence and Rome via Terontola continue running normally.
- Aug 10–28: Planned maintenance works (tunnel and viaduct) on the Florence–Rome mainline between Chiusi and Orvieto will affect the Cortona–Rome train line, with possible delays and partial replacement transport. The Cortona–Florence train line is not affected.
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