Getting around

By air

Ascoli has no airport near. The nearest is Ancona’s Marche Airport, a bit over an hour away via the coast; Rome and Pescara are the larger alternatives, each a couple of hours by road. However you fly in, you’ll finish by car or by train via the coast.

By train — via the coast

Ascoli sits at the end of its own branch line down the Tronto valley to San Benedetto del Tronto on the coast, about 40 minutes away, where it joins the main Adriatic Bologna–Bari line. So reaching the wider network means a change at the coast (times below).

By car — the practical way

For the region around Ascoli, the mountains, the valleys, the hill villages, a car is the realistic choice. The town is just off the A14/superstrada down to the coast, with parking outside the historic centre. This is simply how daily life works beyond the town.

On foot

Ascoli's real joy is walking it. The historic centre is compact, flat, and built almost entirely in glowing travertine, gathered around the magnificent Piazza del Popolo. Most central daily life happens on foot, and it's one of the most pleasant town centres in Italy to stroll.

Buses (Start Spa)

Ascoli’s local buses are run by Start Spa, connecting the centre, the station, and the outer districts and valley. A single ride is €1.35, valid 60 minutes (Start Spa, 2026).

Intercity buses (FlixBus and Itabus)

A budget option for reaching bigger cities, and useful given Ascoli is off the main rail line, on FlixBus and Itabus. The coach can be a direct way out that the branch train can’t match.

A note on driving

The historic centre has a ZTL (limited-traffic zone) and parking is outside the walls, so a car is a burden in the core itself. But out of town it's essential: the Sibillini mountains, the Tronto valley, and the hill villages of the Piceno all reward having your own wheels, and the coast is a short drive.