Le Marche sits between the Apennines and the Adriatic and remains one of Italy’s least crowded regions, which is a reason to visit but also means fewer packaged tours. The best experiences are the Renaissance court town of Urbino, the enormous Frasassi caves, the white cliffs and coves of the Conero Riviera, and the wine and truffle country inland. This page compares regional tours by type, operator and price, and points to direct booking where platforms are thin.
Ancona is the transport hub, with an airport and a ferry port, and works as a base for most day trips. Pesaro and Urbino suit the north and Ascoli Piceno the south. A car helps a lot. Prices are indicative for 2026. Our Le Marche region guide covers places to stay, and neighbouring Umbria tours and Rimini tours cover the regions on either side.
Urbino and Gradara Day Trip
Duration: 7-8 hours | From: approximately 70 per person
Urbino’s Palazzo Ducale, home to the Galleria Nazionale delle Marche, is a UNESCO-listed Renaissance palace built for Federico da Montefeltro. Entry costs around €10 as of 2026 and the collection includes works by Piero della Francesca and Raphael, who was born in the town. Many day trips add Gradara, a walled castle linked to the story of Paolo and Francesca in Dante’s Inferno. Guides give the court’s history far more life than the audio-guide.
Book an Urbino and Gradara trip
Frasassi Caves Guided Visit
Duration: 1.5-2 hours | From: approximately 20 per person
The Grotte di Frasassi, near Genga, are one of Europe’s largest cave systems, with the Ancona Abyss chamber big enough to hold Milan Cathedral. The standard route takes about 75 minutes along lit walkways, with stalagmites and a constant temperature of around 14C. Tickets cost roughly €20 as of 2026 and can be booked on the cave’s official site. Combine the visit with Genga’s Temple of Valadier, a neoclassical church built in a rock cave.
Conero Riviera Boat Tour from Numana or Portonovo
Duration: 3-4 hours | From: approximately 30 per person
The Conero is a limestone headland that drops into the Adriatic in white cliffs and hidden coves, such as Due Sorelle and Portonovo. Small-boat tours leave from Numana and Portonovo from May to September, with swim stops. The two sea stacks of Due Sorelle are only accessible by boat or a steep walk. Check the weather, as wind often cancels morning departures.
Verdicchio Wine Tour in the Castelli di Jesi
Duration: 4-5 hours | From: approximately 70 per person
Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi is a crisp white wine that pairs with fish, and producers such as Umani Ronchi open for visits. Tours cover vineyards and tastings of Classico and Riserva wines, often with a lunch of olive all’ascolana or fresh pasta. The area is rolling, green and quiet compared with the coast. A day tour from Ancona is easier than driving after tastings.
Truffle Hunting at Acqualagna
Duration: 3-4 hours | From: approximately 90 per person
Acqualagna holds a celebrated truffle fair each autumn, and the surrounding woods produce both white and black truffles. Guided hunts with a dog end with a tasting lunch. The white truffle season runs from October to December, and the fair is in late October and November. Wear good boots, as terrain can be slippery and steep.
Ascoli Piceno and Sibillini Day Tour
Duration: 8-9 hours | From: approximately 80 per person
Ascoli Piceno’s travertine Piazza del Popolo is one of Italy’s best squares, and the town’s olive all’ascolana, stuffed fried olives, is a local classic. Guided tours often continue into Monti Sibillini National Park for short walks and mountain views. Distances in the south are long, so this day suits visitors based nearby. Spring has the best weather and flower displays.
Practical Information
Best season: May to September for the coast, April to June and September to November for the interior. See Visit Marche for events and listings.
Getting around: Trains run along the coast, and Urbino is best reached by bus or car. Tours usually leave from Ancona, Pesaro or Urbino, so check the meeting point.
Prices: Prices are approximate as of 2026. Where platforms have few listings, contact museums, caves and wineries directly, particularly in low season.