Booking choice: The small-group day with pickup, from $329 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
The basilica is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing "Assisi, the Basilica of San Francesco and Other Franciscan Sites", inscribed in 2000. It is also a working church, which shapes the visit: there is no ticket, but there is a dress code and there are services.
2026 is the 800th anniversary of St Francis's death, and the tomb of St Carlo Acutis a few minutes away draws large crowds of its own.
The quick answer
Entry is free. The Lower Church is open 6:00 to 19:00 (to 18:00 on Wednesdays), the Upper Church 8:30 to 18:45 and the crypt with St Francis's tomb 6:00 to 18:15. Cover knees and shoulders. St Carlo Acutis is buried in Santa Maria Maggiore, the Sanctuary of the Spoliation, elsewhere in town.
Is the Basilica of St Francis free to enter?
Yes. It is a working church, entry is free and donations are welcome.
Tours that list "basilica entrance included" are not saving you money; what they add is a guide or headsets to explain what you are looking at. The Welcome Italy small-group day gives you headsets inside, and the coach day with lunch has a local guide in Assisi.
Want the frescoes explained? The small-group day includes a two-hour Assisi guide and headsets in the basilica.
Check dates for the small-group day with pickupWhat is the difference between the Upper and Lower Church?
The basilica is two churches, one above the other: the bright Upper Church with its fresco cycle of St Francis's life, and the darker Lower Church that leads to the crypt.
Most tours give the basilica about an hour, which is enough to walk through both churches and visit the tomb if you do not linger.
Where is St Francis buried?
In the crypt beneath the Lower Church, open 6:00 to 18:15.
The tomb is reached from the Lower Church. In early 2026 his remains were displayed from 22 February to 22 March for the 800th anniversary; outside that period you visit the tomb itself. Allow time for a queue in busy weeks. On Friday and Saturday evenings the crypt opens again from 21:00 to 22:00 for personal prayer, says the basilica.
What are the basilica opening hours?
Lower Church 6:00 to 19:00 (18:00 on Wednesdays), Upper Church 8:30 to 18:45, crypt 6:00 to 18:15.
| Part of the basilica | Opening hours | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Church | 6:00 to 19:00 | Closes 18:00 on Wednesdays |
| Upper Church | 8:30 to 18:45 | Fresco cycle of St Francis's life |
| Crypt and tomb | 6:00 to 18:15 | Reached from the Lower Church |
Arriving late afternoon? The coach day reaches the basilica after lunch, well within opening hours.
Check dates for the coach day with lunchWhat is the dress code at the basilica?
Knees and shoulders covered, for men and women; the tour operators say it is strictly enforced and you can be refused entry.
No shorts or sleeveless tops. A light scarf over bare shoulders works, as one small-group guest suggested. See what to wear in Assisi for shoes and the rest of the kit.
Where is St Carlo Acutis buried, and can you visit?
In the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Sanctuary of the Spoliation, in Assisi; visits are free but depend on the queue.
He was canonized on 7 September 2025 by Pope Leo XIV, and the Diocese of Assisi counted over 620,000 visitors to the tomb in the first eight months of 2025. Several tours build it in: the coach day with lunch stops at Santa Maria Maggiore, the private guided day spends an hour at the sanctuary, and the Carlo Acutis day includes the visit subject to attendance. One coach guest wrote that seeing him was worth the tour.
Coming for St Carlo Acutis? This day adds both basilicas, the crypt, Santa Maria degli Angeli and the Orvieto Duomo.
Explore the Carlo Acutis dayWhat else should you see in Assisi?
The Basilica of Santa Chiara, dedicated to St Clare, and Santa Maria degli Angeli in the lower town, which encloses the Porziuncola chapel.
St Francis restored the Porziuncola and died there on the night of 3 October 1226. Santa Maria degli Angeli is near Assisi station, so most tours visit it first or last.
Is Assisi busier in 2026?
Yes. It is the 800th anniversary of St Francis's death, and Italy restored 4 October, his feast day, as a national holiday from 2026.
Expect crowds around early October, at the Acutis tomb and on weekends. An early start helps: the Lower Church opens at 6:00, and the minivan and private days with hotel pickup leave Rome around 7:00 AM.
Want a smaller group in a busy year? The private day takes only your party, with pickup in central Rome.
Check dates for the private guided dayFrequently asked questions
How long do you need at the Basilica of St Francis?
About an hour covers the Upper and Lower Church and the tomb; tours typically allow that, within a two to three hour visit to Assisi.
Are the day tours wheelchair accessible?
No. None of the day tours listed here is wheelchair accessible, and Assisi's lanes are steep, with steps and cobbles.
Where is St Carlo Acutis buried?
In the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, the Sanctuary of the Spoliation, in Assisi. Entry is free; the wait depends on the crowds.
Ready to book
Choose your day
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Small-Group Assisi & Orvieto with Pickup
- Pickup and drop-off at your Rome hotel or B&B (7:00 AM start)
- Air-conditioned minivan and a two-hour professional guide in Assisi
- Basilica of St Francis with headsets
Assisi, Orvieto & Carlo Acutis Day
Both basilicas, the crypt, St Patrick's Well and the Acutis tomb
Assisi & Orvieto Coach Day with Lunch
- Air-conditioned coach from the Green Line office near Termini (7:15 AM)
- Tour leader on board and a local guide in Assisi
- Lunch near Lake Trasimeno
