Under $100: Perugia, Italy

The central Italian town of Perugia is a wonderful place to spend a few days, and it can be easy on the wallet, too.

Eat breakfast the Italian way with a coffee and a panino at Caffe del Banco on the main square, Piazza IV Noviembre ($3). Take a stroll around the square, check out the cathedral and have a look around the Galleria Nazionale dell’Umbria for the rest of the morning, and then settle in for a long lunch at Osteria Il Gufo.

Sample the local Umbrian specialties such as wild boar and Montefalco wine, before a tasty dessert. The chef has come up with a potato and almond desert which looks a bit like crème caramel and is well worth a try (three courses and wine for $35).

In the afternoon, visit the Etruscan well to learn about the history of the Etruscan, Roman, Medieval and modern cities built one on top of the other in Perugia. Walk down to Hotel Brufani to look out from the city walls to the rolling hills beyond, and stop in at the hotel bar for a quick coffee ($2).

Check out the local shops to stock up on artisanal produce, clothes or other souvenirs, and then go for a sundowner on the terrace at Ristorante del Sole ($6 per cocktail). Head to Daje for dinner, where meat and cheese boards are a favorite ($8 for a board and a glass of wine), and then go for another drink at Il Perugino if you want to stay out late.