Major city · Italy
Cortona
Give Cortona 2 nights as a hill-town base, not a day trip: the climb from Camucia station eats 30 min each way and the evenings are the point.
Cortona is an Etruscan hill town at about 600 m in the Val di Chiana, 29 km from Arezzo and roughly 100 km from Florence. The walled centre is small enough to walk in an afternoon, but the two train stations sit on the plain below, so the town works best as a 2-night base with a car or bus for the valley. Spring and autumn are the seasons to go; high summer is hot and crowded.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- EUR
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- avoid Jul–Aug (heat and crowds), late Dec–Feb (many places shut)
- Airports
- FLR · PSA
- Nights
- 2
Rules in force · 8Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Italy and Malta ↗The region's headline sights run on timed tickets that sell out: book the Vatican Museums, the Colosseum, the Uffizi, the Last Supper and Malta's Hypogeum before you fix train and hotel dates.
- Italy and Malta ↗Budget for per-night city taxes in Italy (up to about €10 a person in Rome), Malta's per-night environmental contribution, and Venice's day-visitor fee on peak days; none are included in most online room prices.
- Italy ↗Italy is in the Schengen area. Check the entry rules for your passport on official sources; the EU's Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors at the first Schengen border, and further pre-travel authorisation rules are being introduced.
- Italy ↗Historic centres are ZTL limited-traffic zones: cameras fine any unauthorised car that enters, often months later through the hire company. Park outside and walk in.
- Italy ↗Regional train tickets bought on paper must be validated in the machine on the platform before boarding; digital tickets carry a time and need no stamping.
- Italy ↗Venice charges day-visitors an access fee on selected peak days; check the city's official site if you are not sleeping there.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Cortona112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Cortona, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the euro (EUR, €).Italy-wide
- SIM or eSIMTIM, Vodafone, WindTre and Iliad sell prepaid SIMs in shops and at airports; a passport and an Italian tax code (codice fiscale…Italy-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe unless signed otherwise; Rome's nasoni fountains run all day.Italy-wide
- TippingRestaurant: Coperto or service may already be on the bill; leave €1–2 (≈ US$2–3) a person or round up for good service.Italy-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F/L. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Italy-wide
- SafetyCortona is a low-crime small town; the real risks are steep lanes after rain, summer heat on the climb…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsFew public toilets; use bars (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €1 (≈ US$2).Italy-wide
- Emergency numbers112 Europe-wide emergency · 113 police · 115 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany state museums close on Monday; the Vatican Museums close on most Sundays.Italy-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportFLR Florence Amerigo Vespucci (Fly-by-Bus shuttle to Florence Santa Maria Novella station, about 20 min, then train south).
- Getting aroundOn foot inside the walls: the centre is small but steep, with lanes and stairways.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee at the bar€1.20–1.80 (≈ US$2–3)
- Metro or bus rideBus Camucia-Cortona, one wayCheaper from a tabacchi than from the driver€1.10–2 (≈ US$2–3)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week€15–25 (≈ US$18–30)
- Museum or sight ticketMAEC museum entryCombined with Museo Diocesano €13€10 (≈ US$12)
- Budget bedAgriturismo or villa room (up to 4), a night, per room€120 (≈ US$140)
- Mid-range bedDouble room in the centre, a night, per room€140 (≈ US$170)
- High-end bedDouble room in the centre, a night, per room€280 (≈ US$350)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget €70 (≈ US$85) · Mid €120 (≈ US$140) · High €220 (≈ US$300)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- FLR Florence Amerigo Vespucci (Fly-by-Bus shuttle to Florence Santa Maria Novella station, about 20 min, then train south) · PSA Pisa Galileo Galilei (Train from the airport station to Florence or Terontola, then change)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
Feb
Avoid
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
Mar
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Apr
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
May
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Jun
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Jul
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Sep
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Oct
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Nov
not flagged
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Dec
Avoid*
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
Best: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)), coolest Jan (1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C) low), wettest Nov (10 rain days), driest Jul (4). Averages, not a forecast.
* only part of the month (early, mid or late).
Weather and climate
Cortona: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
8 rd
Feb
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
8 rd
Mar
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
8 rd
Apr
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
9 rd
May
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
8 rd
Jun
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
6 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
4 rd
Aug
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
5 rd
Sep
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
7 rd
Oct
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
9 rd
Nov
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
10 rd
Dec
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
9 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
On foot inside the walls: the centre is small but steep, with lanes and stairways. Driving in the old town is impractical and parking inside is almost impossible; use the lots outside the walls, some free. Bus 1 links Camucia-Cortona station with Piazza Garibaldi roughly every 30 min.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Chiusi
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Train from Camucia-Cortona or Terontola-Cortona, about 20–30 min
Etruscan museum and underground tunnels; pair with a Val di Chiana drive.
Castiglion Fiorentino
goDoor to door: About 45 min
Train to Castiglion Fiorentino, about 10 min, then a steep walk up
Quiet walled town with a good small gallery; half a day.
Lucignano
goDoor to door: About 45 min
Car or bus via the Val di Chiana, about 30 min
Elliptical walls and the Golden Tree reliquary; easy with a car.
Monte San Savino
cautionDoor to door: About 50 min
Car on the Siena–Perugia speedway, about 35 min
Worth it for the centre and food; awkward without a car.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Centro storico (Piazza della Repubblica and Via Nazionale)
Everything walkable; expect stairs and no car access. Best for a short stay without luggage.
Camucia
On the plain by the station, 5 km (3.1 mi) below town; cheaper rooms and easy parking, but you bus or drive up.On the plain by the station, 3.1 mi (5 km) below town; cheaper rooms and easy parking, but you bus or drive up.
Val di Chiana countryside
Agriturismi and villas between Cortona, Castiglion Fiorentino and Monte San Savino; car needed.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- €60–90 (≈ US$70–110) excl. bed
- Mid
- €90–150 (≈ US$110–180) excl. bed
- High
- €150 (≈ US$180)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room in the centre1 × 2 nights × €140 | €280 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 2 days × €120 | €480 |
| Bus Camucia-Cortona, one way2 × €2 | €4 |
| Train Florence–Camucia-Cortona, one way2 × €15 | €30 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × €20 | €40 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | €83 |
| Trip total≈ €229 per person per day, bed included | €917≈ US$1,100 |
2026 estimate in euro; flights and car hire excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee at the bar | €1.20–1.80 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Pizza or pasta at a trattoria | €9–16 (≈ US$11–19) |
| Glass of local wine | €4–8 (≈ US$5–10) |
| MAEC museum entryCombined with Museo Diocesano €13 | €10 (≈ US$12) |
| Museo Diocesano entry | €5 (≈ US$6) |
| Bus Camucia-Cortona, one wayCheaper from a tabacchi than from the driver | €1.10–2 (≈ US$2–3) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | €15–25 (≈ US$18–30) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Camucia-Cortona station has no staffed ticket office; use the machines or buy before you travel.
- Bus tickets from the driver cost more than from a tabacchi and drivers may not give change.
- Few taxis serve the stations: book one through your hotel.
- ZTL camera zones and steep lanes: park outside the walls and walk.
Emergency numbers
- Europe-wide emergency
- 112
- Police
- 113
- Fire
- 115
- Ambulance
- 118
Pocket card
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CortonaCortona
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
A questo indirizzo, per favoreTo this address, please
Emergency
- Europe-wide emergency112
- Police113
- Fire115
- Ambulance118
Embassy
No embassies in Cortona; the US consulate general is in Florence and embassies are in Rome.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Camucia-Cortona → Cortona centre, bus: €1.10–2 (≈ US$2–3), about 15 min
- Florence SMN → Camucia-Cortona, train: about €15 (≈ US$18), 1 h 30 min
- Taxi Camucia station → Cortona centre: €15–25 (≈ US$18–30)
Say or show
- Buongiorno — Good morning (bwon-JOR-no)
- Per favore — Please (per fa-VO-re)
- Grazie — Thank you (GRAH-tsyeh)
- Quanto costa? — How much is it? (KWAN-to KOS-ta)
- Il conto, per favore — The bill, please (eel KON-to per fa-VO-re)
- Dov'è la fermata dell'autobus? — Where is the bus stop? (do-VEH la fer-MA-ta del-LOW-to-boos)
112 works from any phone in Italy, including mobiles with no local SIM.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Cortona. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct · avoid Jul–Aug (heat and crowds), late Dec–Feb (many places shut) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for FLR and PSA: last trains and buses field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: Piazza della Repubblica, the Duomo and Museo Diocesano, Santa Margherita and the Fortezza, Le Celle.
- Place pages with verified hours (MAEC, Museo Diocesano, Fortezza del Girifalco) and eat pages with closing days.
- Hostile arrival fixtures: Sunday and holiday buses, August heat, and rain days so gates A–D can go green.