When is the best time to visit How to get to Urbino?

The recommended time is April, May, June, September and October, when it is less crowded.

Is How to get to Urbino crowded?

How to get to Urbino is a very quiet destination compared with the more touristy ones.

Where is How to get to Urbino?

How to get to Urbino is located in Urbino, Marche, Italy.

How to get to Urbino: trains, planes, cars and buses

How to get to Urbino

Urbino, the city of Raphael and the Ducal Palace, stands on two hills in the heart of the Marche, far from major transport routes. This secluded position is part of its charm: getting there is a small journey into the Italian Renaissance, through rolling hills and villages that seem frozen in time. Here is how to reach it.

By train (via Pesaro)

Urbino has no railway station. The nearest station is Pesaro, on the Adriatic line between Bologna and Ancona, about 36 km away. From Pesaro, the Adriabus bus to Urbino takes about 45-50 minutes with services every 30-60 minutes.

Regional trains connect Pesaro to Bologna in about 1 hour 15 minutes, to Ancona in about 40 minutes, and to Rimini in 20 minutes. From Rome, the fastest route is the Frecciarossa to Pesaro (about 3 hours 30 minutes, with a change at Bologna or Ancona) and then the bus.

Alternatively, Fano station (25 km from Urbino) is on the same Adriatic line and has a bus connection to Urbino, but less frequent.

Local tip

From Bologna, the regional train to Pesaro is cheaper than the Frecciarossa and takes only 30 minutes longer. Combine the train+bus ticket with the Pesaro-Urbino card available at the station.

By plane

The nearest airport is Rimini Federico Fellini (RMI), about 60 km away, with seasonal flights (mainly summer charters). From Rimini, take the train to Pesaro (20 minutes) and then the bus to Urbino.

Ancona Falconara Airport (AOI), about 90 km away, has Ryanair flights to Rome, London, and other destinations. From Falconara, the train to Pesaro takes about 50 minutes, then the bus to Urbino.

Bologna Marconi (BLQ), about 160 km away, is the airport with the widest flight offering. From Bologna Centrale, the train to Pesaro takes about 1 hour 15 minutes.

Local tip

If arriving at Bologna Marconi, consider hiring a car: the drive from Bologna to Urbino (about 2 hours via the E45 and then the dual carriageway to Fano/Urbino) crosses beautiful Apennine landscapes and leaves you with a perfect vehicle for exploring the Marche hills.

By car

A car is the most convenient way to reach Urbino. From the A14 (Adriatic motorway), exit at Pesaro-Urbino or Fano and follow the E423/SS73bis dual carriageway to Urbino (about 30-40 minutes from the motorway exits).

From Rome, the fastest route is the A1 to Orte, then the E45 towards Fano and the dual carriageway to Urbino (about 3 hours 30 minutes, 290 km). From Florence, the E45/A14 via Cesena (about 2 hours 45 minutes, 230 km). From Milan, the A1+A14 (about 3 hours 30 minutes, 340 km). From Bologna, about 2 hours (170 km).

The final stretch of road climbing towards Urbino, with its switchbacks through the hills, is scenic and evocative: the profile of the Ducal Palace appearing suddenly from the mist or the sunset light is one of the most beautiful moments of arrival.

Parking

Urbino's historic centre is entirely pedestrianised and perched high up. The main car park is Parcheggio Santa Lucia (covered, beneath the centre, connected by lifts and escalators leading directly to the centre in 2 minutes, about 1.50 euros per hour). Parcheggio Mercatale (large, partly covered, in the lower area beneath the Ducal Palace) is a convenient alternative. The Piazzale Borgo Mercatale car park is free in the outer zones.

By bus

Adriabus connects Urbino to Pesaro (45-50 minutes, frequent) and to Fano. The main stop in Urbino is Borgo Mercatale, at the foot of the historic centre, from where an escalator rises to the centre.

FlixBus does not serve Urbino directly: alight at Pesaro or Fano and take the Adriabus bus. Busitalia offers connections from Roma Tiburtina towards Pesaro/Fano with changes.

For university students (Urbino has a large university), there are dedicated buses from Milan, Rome, and other cities at the start and end of each semester.

Local transport

Urbino's historic centre is small and entirely pedestrianised: you can walk across it in 15 minutes from end to end. From the Ducal Palace to Raphael's birthplace is 5 minutes, to the Oratory of San Giovanni 8 minutes, to the Albornoz Fortress 10 minutes.

The only useful local transport is the system of lifts and escalators connecting the lower car parks to the centre above. The urban bus connects the outer residential areas and university colleges to the centre.

To explore the surroundings (Gradara, Fossombrone, Sassocorvaro, the Montefeltro hills), a car is essential. The surrounding territory offers some of the most scenic roads in the Marche.