Day trip from Rome to Assisi by train

Outbound 2 h 45 minAbout 6 h for your visit in Assisi
Costs for the dayabout €64.50 to €74.50 per person2 adults, recommended sights, with AI Tour Guide and foodWork out your costs ↓
Start the Assisi tourSee the day plan
Assisi

Assisi works as a day trip from Rome, but it is a long day: the useful morning train takes close to three hours, and the evening train gets you back to Termini late. In between you get about six hours in town, enough to walk from the Basilica di San Francesco up to the Rocca Maggiore and down to Santa Chiara without rushing.

Is a day trip from Rome to Assisi worth it?

Yes, if you accept the travel time. Direct trains run from Roma Termini to Assisi, so there is no change and nothing to drive, but the ride takes between two and three hours each way and the station sits down in the valley at Santa Maria degli Angeli, so add a bus ride up to the old town at both ends. Around five or six hours of the day go to getting there and back.

What you get in return is something Rome cannot give you: a small, walkable medieval town on a hillside where the story of Saint Francis and Saint Clare is told in the places where it happened. The basilica with his tomb, the church built over his presumed birthplace, the cathedral of San Rufino and the basilica of Saint Clare all lie on one short walk, with a Roman temple on the main square and a fortress above the rooftops. The old town is compact, so six hours are enough for the main sights at an easy pace.

Who this day trip suits

  • Travellers interested in Saint Francis and Saint Clare, because every main stop of the day is tied to their lives
  • Visitors who have seen Rome's big sights and want a quiet medieval town for contrast
  • Anyone who likes early starts, since the day only works with the morning train
  • Train travellers without a car, because the direct regional trains make the trip simple
  • Walkers who enjoy exploring a hill town on foot at their own pace

Go if Saint Francis, Saint Clare or medieval hill towns draw you and you don't mind an early train and a late return; if you want more time in town than on the train, pick Orvieto or Naples instead.

Other day trips from Rome

How to get from Rome to Assisi by train

Take a direct Trenitalia train from Roma Termini to Assisi. It is the simplest way there: no change, no car, and a fixed train home in the early evening.

Train: Trenitalia Regionale

Direct Regionale, Regionale Veloce and Intercity trains leave from Roma Termini and stop at Assisi station in Santa Maria degli Angeli. The ride takes roughly two and a quarter to two and three quarter hours depending on the train. On weekdays there are only two direct departures in the morning and the next one leaves in the early afternoon, so the morning train decides your day; on Sundays departures are spread more evenly. Buy your tickets from Trenitalia, and buy the return ticket in Rome as well so you don't depend on the ticket machines and counter in Assisi. Fares vary by train and booking date; the cost tool shows a typical fare. On Saturdays fewer trains run, and later evening returns involve a change at Foligno.

Operator
Trenitalia Regionale
Route
Roma Termini → Assisi
Journey time
2 h 45 min
Morning departures
Monday to Saturday: 2 departures; Sunday: 3 departures
Travel fare
Outward €14.45; return €14.45 (€28.90 return total)

Tickets at Trenitalia ↗

Assisi station is in Santa Maria degli Angeli at the foot of the hill, not in the old town, and the walk up is long and steep. Take the Busitalia urban bus (Assisi Link) up to the historic centre, with cash for the ticket, then walk to the Basilica di San Francesco where the tour begins.

Into the centre: €1.30 per ride

Timetable

Train: Trenitalia

Monday to Saturday

DepartureArrivalDuration
06:5209:062 h 14 min
07:4310:282 h 45 min

Sunday

DepartureArrivalDuration
07:3510:272 h 52 min
09:3011:392 h 9 min
11:3013:402 h 10 min

Timetable: Trenitalia, as of 22 October 2026

Check current times at Trenitalia ↗

Train: Trenitalia

Monday to Saturday

DepartureArrivalDuration
12:1614:402 h 24 min
14:2217:453 h 23 min
16:2418:482 h 24 min
18:1220:552 h 43 min

Sunday

DepartureArrivalDuration
14:2316:432 h 20 min
18:1220:552 h 43 min

Check current times at Trenitalia ↗

Rome to Assisi day trip itinerary

Day plan for: Mon–Sat

The day hangs on two trains: one out of Termini shortly before eight and one back from Assisi shortly after six, with the walking tour and a long lunch in between.

  1. Morning07:43 – 10:28

    Take the direct train from Roma Termini shortly before eight, which arrives in Assisi at around half past ten. Catch the bus up from the station to the old town and walk to the Basilica di San Francesco; plan about three quarters of an hour for waiting, the ride and the walk.

    The only other direct morning train leaves earlier, and the next one is not until the early afternoon, which would leave you almost no time in town.

  2. Tour11:15 – 13:00

    Open the tour in the browser at the Basilica di San Francesco. The AI Tour Guide greets you there and talks you through the Lower and Upper Church, then walks you along the old streets to the Temple of Minerva on Piazza del Comune, telling the stories on the way and asking what you would like to hear more about.

    The basilica is the anchor of the day and deserves a full hour; arriving before lunch also gets you there before the afternoon.

    1. Basilica di San Francesco in Assisi, stop 1 on the self-guided walking tour1Basilica di San Francesco
    2. Temple of Minerva in Assisi, stop 2 on the self-guided walking tour2Temple of Minerva

    Start the Assisi tour

  3. Lunch13:00 – 14:00

    Have lunch around Piazza del Comune after the Temple of Minerva and before the Casa Natale di San Francesco. A porchetta sandwich or a plate of arvoltolo with local cheese and a glass of Grechetto keeps it simple.

    The square is roughly halfway through town, and both the Casa Natale di San Francesco and the Basilica di Santa Chiara close at midday, so this is the natural pause.

  4. Afternoon14:00 – 17:00

    The guide continues: past the Casa Natale di San Francesco, seen from outside, to the Cattedrale di San Rufino, up to the Rocca Maggiore for the castle and the view over the valley, and down to the Basilica di Santa Chiara, where the tour ends. If time is left before you need to leave, add the Roman Forum and Archaeological Collection or the Municipal Art Gallery as a short optional extra.

    Climbing to the fortress after lunch and then walking downhill to Santa Chiara keeps the hardest part short, and Santa Chiara has reopened from its midday break by the time you get there.

    1. Casa Natale di San Francesco in Assisi, stop 3 on the self-guided walking tour3Casa Natale di San Francesco
    2. Cattedrale di San Rufino in Assisi, stop 4 on the self-guided walking tour4Cattedrale di San Rufino
    3. Rocca Maggiore in Assisi, stop 5 on the self-guided walking tour5Rocca Maggiore
    4. Basilica di Santa Chiara in Assisi, stop 6 on the self-guided walking tour6Basilica di Santa Chiara
  5. Return17:00 – 20:55

    Leave the Basilica di Santa Chiara by five, take the bus down to the station and catch the train shortly after six, which reaches Roma Termini just before nine.

    The bus ride, waiting time and a short buffer need around an hour, and the train shortly after six is the last sensible direct train back.

Arrival to return departure: 7 h 44 min. Time for your visit: about 6 h.

Realistically you get about six hours in Assisi; if your morning train runs late, shorten the time at the Rocca Maggiore and at Santa Chiara rather than skipping ahead.

Best day to visit Assisi from Rome

  1. Monday: recommended
  2. Tuesday: recommended
  3. Wednesday: recommended
  4. Thursday: recommended
  5. Friday: recommended
  6. Saturday: recommended
  7. Sunday: possible
  • Sunday: Different connections run on this day.

An Assisi walking tour in one day

The walking tour is how you see Assisi on this day: it starts at the Basilica di San Francesco, crosses the old town to Piazza del Comune, climbs to the Rocca Maggiore and ends at the Basilica di Santa Chiara. It covers about 1.6 km with less than half an hour of pure walking, and with time inside the churches and at the fortress it fills about four hours. The AI Tour Guide leads the walk as a conversation, so you follow the story of Francis and Clare from place to place instead of drifting between souvenir shops.

The Assisi tour: your guide leads you from stop to stop.
  1. Basilica di San Francesco
  2. Temple of Minerva
  3. Casa Natale di San Francesco
  4. Cattedrale di San Rufino
  5. Rocca Maggiore
  6. Basilica di Santa Chiara

Start the Assisi tour

Opening hours as of 21 October 2026.

  1. Basilica di San Francesco in Assisi, stop 1 on the self-guided walking tour
    1Stop 1

    Basilica di San Francesco

    The mother church of the Franciscan friars, with its Lower and Upper Church and the tomb of Saint Francis.

    Hours
    Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun: Lower Church 06:00–18:30 · Upper Church 08:30–18:00 · Tomb 06:00–18:15
    Wed: Lower Church 06:00–17:30 · Upper Church 08:30–18:00 · Tomb 06:00–18:15
    Price
    Free
  2. Temple of Minerva in Assisi, stop 2 on the self-guided walking tour
    2Stop 2

    Temple of Minerva

    A Roman temple from the first century BC on Piazza del Comune, whose columned front now belongs to the church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva.

    Hours
    Daily: 08:00–20:00
    Price
    Free
  3. Casa Natale di San Francesco in Assisi, stop 3 on the self-guided walking tour
    3Stop 3

    Casa Natale di San Francesco

    The Chiesa Nuova, built in 1615 over the presumed house of Pietro di Bernardone, where Francis is said to have been born, seen from outside on this walk.

    Hours (optional interior visit)
    Daily: 08:00–12:30, 14:30–18:00
    Price
    Free
  4. Cattedrale di San Rufino in Assisi, stop 4 on the self-guided walking tour
    4Stop 4

    Cattedrale di San Rufino

    Assisi's cathedral, dedicated to Saint Rufinus, with a crypt, museum and bell tower you can visit separately.

    Hours
    Daily: 07:30–19:00
    Price
    Optional entry · Cattedrale di San Rufino: €4
    Price
    Optional entry · Cattedrale di San Rufino: €5
  5. Rocca Maggiore in Assisi, stop 5 on the self-guided walking tour
    5Stop 5

    Rocca Maggiore

    The castle that guarded Assisi and the Tescio valley for more than eight hundred years, looking down over the whole town.

    Hours
    Daily: 10:00–17:00
    Price
    €8
  6. Basilica di Santa Chiara in Assisi, stop 6 on the self-guided walking tour
    6Stop 6

    Basilica di Santa Chiara

    The basilica of Saint Clare, begun in 1257, four years after her death, and a calm place to end the day.

    Hours
    Mon–Fri: 06:30–12:00, 14:00–17:45
    Sat, Sun: 06:30–17:45
    Price
    Free
AI Tour Guide in Assisi

Your guide for the Assisi tour

The AI Tour Guide leads you through Assisi from the tomb of Saint Francis to the basilica of Saint Clare and talks with you along the way: it tells the stories of the friars, the Roman temple and the fortress, asks you questions and remembers what caught your interest. You start it in the browser at the Basilica di San Francesco, and you can interrupt it whenever you want to know more.

stops
6
route
1.6 km
walking only
27 min
with visits
3 h 51 min
  • 100 free credits to start
  • €19.99 once for the whole group
  • Travel and admission tickets are not included
Start the Assisi tourSee the whole tour →

Rome to Assisi day trip cost

Most of the cost of this day is the train, which has dynamic fares, plus the bus up from the station; the churches on the tour are free, and only the Rocca Maggiore charges entry, so it is the one ticket set by default. Lunch is the other variable, and the crypt, museum and bell tower of San Rufino are optional extras you can add.

Adults
Children

One device is enough for the whole group: two people listen on two connected headphones, larger groups use the phone speaker.

Cost breakdown

Costs for 2 adults · planned visits

Travel there and backTrenitalia Regionale2 adults × €28.90€57.80
Local transport (bus)2 adults × 2 rides × €1.30€5.20
SightsRocca Maggiore2 adults × €8€16
AI Tour Guide touronce for the whole group€19.99
Food (estimate)€15 to €25 per person€30 to €50
Total€128.99 to €148.99
Split between peopleabout €64.50 to €74.50 per person
Sights
  • €4
  • €5
  • €8
Buffer and private guide

A porchetta sandwich eaten on Piazza del Comune keeps lunch cheap, and booking the train early tends to help with the dynamic fares.

Prices as of October 2026.

Getting back from Assisi to Rome

The way back mirrors the morning: bus down from the old town to the station in Santa Maria degli Angeli, then the direct train to Roma Termini. Leave the Basilica di Santa Chiara by five so you have time to wait for the bus, ride down and still have a short buffer at the station before the train shortly after six, which reaches Termini just before nine. Have the return ticket bought in Rome already so you can walk straight onto the platform.

If you are running late, drop the optional extras first and shorten the visit to the Rocca Maggiore. If you miss the direct train, there are later connections with a change at Foligno that reach Rome late in the evening on weekdays; on Sundays the wait at Foligno is long, so the direct train is far more convenient.

Recommended returnTrenitalia: departs 18:12, arrives 20:55Leave the last stop of the tour by 17:00

Latest return that fits the day: 18:12

  • Trenitalia from Assisi, Monday to Sunday: departs 18:12, arrives 20:55

Questions about the day trip from Rome to Assisi

What should I wear in Assisi's churches?

Cover shoulders and knees, for men and women alike: no shorts and no sleeveless tops. You visit four churches on this tour, so dress for that from the morning.

Can I take photos inside the basilicas?

No. Photography is not allowed inside the churches, even without flash, so enjoy the frescoes in person and take your pictures outside.

Can I walk from Assisi station up to the old town?

It is a long uphill walk, so take the bus. Carry cash for the ticket, which is sold at the café at the station.

Do I need a guided tour to visit Assisi from Rome?

No. The direct train and the bus make the trip easy to do on your own, and the walking tour leads you through the town at your own pace.

Should I take a taxi from the station?

A taxi is an option if you want to skip the bus wait. The fare is already set, so there is no need to add a tip.

More day trips from Rome

Naples in a day 1 h 10 min Amalfi in a day 3 h Milan in a day 3 h Pisa in a day 2 h 50 min Positano in a day 4 h Siena in a day 2 h 40 min Orvieto in a day 1 h 15 min Capri in a day 3 h Venice in a day 3 h 45 min

Sources

Timetables, fares and opening hours come from these operators:

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