Things to do in Assisi, Italy: What you must see in one or two days!

Wondering what to do in Assisi? Here are the best things to do in Assisi Italy that you should include in your itinerary.

Which are the places you must see in Assisi, Italy, in one or two days? Is this city worth including in your traveling plans? Even though it’s one of the most famous destinations of Italy, visited by hundreds of people every day, not everyone includes it in their first trip to the country.

And let me tell you something: this medieval city is worth visiting as much as other less known Umbria destinations. The place where Saint Francis and Saint Clare were born is not only an important peregrination site for Christians, but it’s also located in an unbelievable landscape, surrounded by green fields and olive groves.

In this travel guide, I’m going to show you where the city of Assisi is in Italy, how to get there from different places, and what you should see and do there.

Where is Assisi city in Italy?

The city of Assisi is in the middle of Italy, and it’s one of the best places to see in Umbria region. It’s 175 km from Rome and just 25 km from Perugia.

At the end of this article, you’ll see a map with the best places to see in Assisi in one day to get yourself better acquainted.

How to get to Assisi

The most common way to get to Assisi is from Rome, Perugia or even Florence. Let’s see both the public transport and the excursions of each option.

1. How to get to Assisi from Rome by train

The easiest way to get to Assisi from Rome is by train. There are many a day, in regional trains, regionale veloce and even Intercity trains.

Some trains don’t require you to change at any station and the trip lasts 2 hours, approximately. In the case of other trains, you’ll have to change stations in Foligno, and the trip can extend up to 3 hours, that’s why you should check which train you should take beforehand.

You can buy the ticket from Trenitalia’s website or also from Omio’s website which shows you even more clearly the combinations and routes.

The cheapest ticket is 12 euros. The price doesn’t mean that the route is direct, but rather depends on the train you take (the Intercity train is more expensive, for example) and the class you choose (2nd class is pretty okay and it’s logically cheaper than 1st class).

Assisi train station is not in the historic center, but in the lower part called Santa Maria degli Angeli.

You’ll have to walk more than 3 km uphill or take the bus, which arrives in 15 minutes. It leaves every half an hour from the square that’s in front of the station and costs 1.30 euros (you must buy the ticket beforehand). A more comfortable option, if you buy the tickets in Omio, is to choose the trains that go to Piazza Unita d’Italia, which include the transfer to the bus that goes to the city center.

🚆  Book the Rome-Assisi train here 🎫

💯 Travel discount: When you register on Omio for the first time to buy your ticket, by entering the code mariaf2k8b7z you will get a voucher of 5 or 10 euros (and me too!) when you spend more than 44 euros. 

2. How to get to Assisi from Florence by train

From Santa Maria Novella train station in Florence, the trains going to Assisi city leave fairly frequently.

There are direct trains and others that you’ll have to change trains in the Terontola Cortona or Perugia train stations.

In case there are direct trains, the trip lasts, in general, 2 hours and a half and cost from 16 euros.

As I explained in the previous case, the Assisi train station is far from the center, so I recommend you buy here the trains that go to Piazza Unita d’Italia, since they include the transfer to the bus that takes 15 minutes to get to the center of the city.

When you register on Omio to buy your ticket, by entering the code mariaf8h9w2g you will get a 5 euro voucher (and me too!).

🚆 Book the Florence-Assisi train here 🎫

3. How to get to Assisi from Perugia

This option is the quickest, since Perugia is only 25 km from Assisi. There are trains that leave frequently. The route is direct, lasts 20 minutes and costs 3 euros.

If you’re staying in Perugia, then this is an excellent one-day trip.

🚆 Book the train Perugia-Assisi here. 🎫

4. Going to Assisi by car

If you’re traveling by car, you should take into account that you’ll have to leave it in some paid parking, since you can’t drive in the center, unless you’re staying there, in which case you should ask the place you are staying at for the corresponding instructions.

And if you’re traveling around Italy by car, I recommend you to use this rental comparator that compares renting agencies, since that way you’ll get better prices.

5. One-day excursion to Assisi (from Rome or Florence)

If you prefer to visit Assisi in a more comfortable way and without worrying about transport, a guided excursion is the answer. In these tours, the guides will explain to you the places you visit, so apart from traveling, you’ll learn a lot.

I share with you some alternatives that last all day and include transfers and English speaking guide, as well as free cancellation and discounts for children:

✅ Excursion to Assisi and Cortona, from Florence: Cortona is a beautiful destination that I visited twice, where Under the Tuscan Sun was filmed and being close to Assisi is a good alternative to combine them in the same excursion. ➥Book it here!.

✅ Excursion to Assisi from Rome: a day trip from Rome through the Italian countryside to Assisi with wine tasting included. ➥ Book it here!.

✅ Excursion to Orvieto and Assisi, from Rome: Orvieto is one of the most recommended places to visit in Umbria. I visited it on my last trip to Italy and it fascinated me. This tour from Rome takes you the whole day to visit not only Assisi, but also Orvieto. You can do it in a group tour or with a private guide. ➥Book the group tour here! Private excursion is an excellent option if you are traveling with friends or family and if you want to choose any day of the week to take the tour. ➥ Book it here!

🔝 Would you like a 5-day all-inclusive tour of the best places in Italy? Visiting Assisi, Siena, Florence, Bologna, Montepulciano, Venice and other places. This tour includes transfers, accommodation in 4 star hotels with breakfast and some meals. Read more details here.

Is it better to see Assisi in one day or to stay for a night?

The places you must see in Assisi are relatively close to one another and you’ll easily see the main places in just one day. However, Assisi is beautiful and it’s worth staying at least for one night, or to even have it as a base and from there visit other destinations in Umbria.

In my case, I visited in one day from Perugia, and even though I visited almost every place I was interested in, I ended up really tired because, as we’ll see later, there are a few things to see in Assisi and some of them are a bit far from the city, and, on top of that, they are uphill! That’s why I think that staying for a night is a good idea.

In this case, I recommend you stay at Berti Hotel, which has stunning views to the valley or the Trattoria Pallotta. Both are in the historic center, a short walking distance from every spot to visit in Assisi.

But if you are traveling by car, Porta Nuova Hotel is a better option since it’s near the center and has a private parking lot in the establishment, a rarity in this area. Since you have a car, don’t rule out staying further away: I recommend you to consider taking an agricultural trip with views to the city. For example, this agriturismo has spectacular views of Assisi.

Things to do in Assisi, Italy, in one day. The must-dos!

If you get to Assisi by train, like I did, you’ll immediately see why this is a privileged location: it’s at the top of the hill, so you’ll have to walk from the train station, unless you take the bus.

To explore Assisi, you can do everything on your own, on foot, but it’s always more interesting with a guide (book a 3-hour walking tour here). You can also book a private guide here.

Most places to see in Assisi are in the historic center, which is pedestrian. Let’s see what you shouldn’t miss.

1. Basilica of Saint Francis, the most famous place to see in Assisi

From afar, the double Basilica of Saint Francis is shocking. Even though its external design is simple, its great size makes it stand out from the landscape.

Its construction began the day after the canonization of the saint, in 1228, and finished in 1253. It is located beside the walls of the city, in Colina del Paraíso (Paradise Hill), although at that time it was known as Colina del Infierno (Hill of Hell), as it was where the wicked were executed.

The Basilica is made up of 2 superimposed churches, both very different from each other:

• Lower Church: it’s dark, and from there you can go down into a crypt where Saint Francis of Assisi is buried.
• Upper Church: bright and beautiful, with walls decorated with frescoes by Giotto about Saint Francis’s life.

Entry is free, and it opens everyday, although the schedules vary according to the time of the year. There’s always a lot of people visiting it. More info.

💯 Book a 3-hour walking tour here and visit St Francis Basilica.

But, who was Saint Francis of Assisi?

Saint Francis of Assisi, son of a wealthy family, was born in this city in 1182. When he was young, he was sent to prison for participating in disturbances between the city of Perugia and Assisi, and some say this shaped his behavior. So much so, that he gave up his inheritance, material goods and devoted his time to preach a simple life.

In the church of Portiuncula in 1209, he got a calling to do good, and from that moment, he founded the order of the Franciscans, which was based on peace, austerity, love, and helping the needy.

One of the convents he built was “Eremo delle Celle” outside of Cortona in 1211, which I recommend visiting if it’s available, since it’s immersed in a beautiful natural scene.

Several years later, after many days of fasting and prayers, he received the stigmata. If you’re interested in Saint Francis of Assisi’s life, you should read about his history here.

He was declared saint in 1228, just 2 years after his death.

Today, he’s considered the patron saint of animals and the environment.

2. St. Francis’s Woods

Next to Upper Church, there’s a delightful place: St. Francis’s Woods.

There are trails to walk on, and it was, in my opinion, a perfect place in nature to rest and spend time under the sun, more so if you visit it during the summer, like I did.

3. Basilica of Saint Clare

Once you get to the Basilica of Saint Clare, you can enjoy its unique stunning white and pink stone facade and the views you get from the square where the Basilica is.

Inside this church built between 1257 and 1265, there’s the cross or St. Damian’s Crucifix, which, according to Catholic history, it spoke to Saint Francis. There also are very well kept art works and frescoes that portray what the life of Saint Clara was like, a faithful follower of Saint Francis and founder of the Order of the Poor Clares, as well as her tomb.

4. Piazza del Comune and Temple of Minerva

Many of the most important buildings of Assisi are around the main square of the historic center called Piazza del Comune.

One of them, Temple of Minerva with its 6 huge pillars, is one of my favorite places to see in Assisi. It’s a Roman construction built before Saint Francis, and when the Roman Empire fell, it was turned into a church in 1539: Santa Maria sopra Minerva.

In fact, there’s an anecdote that tells that when Goethe was traveling around Italy, he was obsessed about meeting this incredibly well-kept temple, so when he arrived in Assisi, he was so in awe with it that he didn’t really pay attention to other Saint Francis related works in the city.

Other buildings you should pay attention to when visiting Piazza del Comune are:

• Tower of the People, symbol of Assisi right next to Temple of Minerva.
• Archeological Museum and the Roman Forum.
• The pretty and typical fountain, like the ones you see in the cities of Umbria.

5. Saint Rufino Cathedral or Assisi Cathedral

Saint Rufino Cathedral, built in the 12th century to keep the relics of the city’s bishop, Saint Rufino, is the oldest church of Assisi.

There, Saint Francis and Saint Clara were baptized, and still to this day you can see said baptismal font. If you go up the bell tower, you can get amazing views of Assisi.

At the end of August, the city celebrates its patron saint with Palio di San Rufino, so if it coincides with your visit, you can take part in celebrations that will take you to medieval times.

6. Saint Damian Sanctuary

A cobbled path leads to this simple, but stunning, sanctuary that few visit. Declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2000, this chapel is where the crucifix spoke to Saint Francis and is considered the first monastery of the Poor Clares or Order of Saint Clare. Saint Clare died here.

It’s outside the historic center, just 10 – 15 minutes on foot and downhill. Make sure you take a deep breath to go back!

7. Rocca Maggiore, the best views of Assisi

It is a medieval defensive fortress with spectacular views of Assisi and the surrounding fields, since it is 500 meters high.

You can already imagine that, to get there from the center, you’ll have a beautiful path uphill. But seriously, the views are worth it.

To enter you have to buy a ticket.

8. Eremo delle Carceri or Hermitage of the Prisons

It is such a beautiful place. At the entrance, there are signs that make it clear that it is not a place to go on a picnic, but a place of silence and prayer. Here, Saint Francis would retire to meditate and pray.

It is one of my favorite things to do in Assisi. Lots of green, trees, flowers, caves. Going down a steep staircase, you reach a forest and the Grotto of Saint Francis.

There are other paths to walk that lead, for example, to the Frate Leone grotto, so you have to go ahead of time and plan to enter before, approximately, 5:00p.m.

Also, there are very nice views in the distance.

You can go by car. I did it walking, but it’s all uphill and you have to be careful if vehicles come.

9. Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli

This enormous church is not in Assisi, but in the town at the foot of the hill. If you travel to Assisi by train, I recommend visiting it upon arrival or before leaving, as it’s just a few meters from the Assisi train station.

It is one of the most famous churches, since inside is the Portiuncula, a very sacred chapel for the Franciscans since Saint Francis renounced everything here, found his vocation and it’s also where he died.

In addition, outside is the rose garden where they say that Francis, to ward off temptations, rolled in a bush with thorns and it turned into rose bushes without thorns.

🚩 Did you read the article with the best places to see in Umbria region?

What to see in Assisi, beyond the typical spots

Many times when we visit a place, we want to know it in a different way. If you want to combine a visit to the Basilicas, temples and the historic center, with different and unique experiences, here are some options.

Tasting wines and other delicacies, a good plan to do in Assisi.

One of the characteristics of the Umbria region is its delicious olive oil and its vineyards. High quality wines are produced in Assisi, which have a very good reputation.

This is why visiting wineries for tastings or wine tasting is an excellent activity to add to your traveling plans in Assisi.

There are options that combine wine tasting with cheese, or a visit to olive groves, etc.

Here are some interesting excursions that depart from Assisi, so you can choose the one that best suits your tastes (I particularly like the last one). Clicking on them you can see what they include, schedules and price:

• Cheese and wine tasting, with a complimentary wine.
• Guided wine tasting of 5 wines including a picnic basket with wine, extra virgin olive oil, and more!
• Organic wine and cheese tasting.

Take a hot air balloon flight and see the landscapes of Assisi from above

The landscape that surrounds Assisi is gorgeous, but what would it be like if we changed the angle and looked at it from above?

In recent years, it has become very fashionable to take a hot air balloon ride to see Assisi from the sky. In addition, the experience includes a typical breakfast in the countryside and wine tasting to finish the trip.

🎈 Book the hot air balloon flight here!

Map – Best things to do in Assisi, Italy

---

I hope this Assisi travel guide was useful to plan your trip. Do you have other suggestions for cool things to do in Assisi that I missed? Let me know in the comments!