An Assisi tour is worth it for one reason: the Basilica of St. Francis is dense with frescoes and meaning, and a guide turns it from a blur into a story. Two options lead Viator. The private St. Francis Basilica and city walking tour is rated 4.9 across 137 reviews, from about $139 per person. The Basilica of Saint Francis tour with an official guide is rated 4.8 across 29 reviews, from about $46.
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The verdict
Choose by how much of Assisi you want to see. The private walking tour is our pick if you have a morning. In two and a half hours it starts at the Basilica of Santa Chiara, passes the Chiesa Nuova, built in 1615 on the presumed site of the house where St. Francis was born, and the Roman temple in the main square, then ends inside the Basilica of St. Francis with commentary on Giotto’s frescoes. It is private, so the pace is yours.
The Basilica tour with an official guide is the budget choice and focuses on the church alone. In one hour a small group, capped at 15, visits the tomb of St. Francis, the lower church, the friary cloister and the fresco cycle of the saint’s life in the upper church. It starts at 2:00 p.m. at the lower entrance. One solo traveler reports that she had to buy two tickets because single places were not available.
Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Both tours enforce the Basilica’s dress code: knees and shoulders covered, for men and women. The private tour warns that on Sundays, major Catholic holidays and national holidays guided tours inside the Basilica are not allowed, so your guide explains it from outside and you enter alone, in silence. Coming from Rome for the day? Read our Assisi day trip guide.
Which one is for you?
Take the private walk if
- You want the higher rating: 4.9 from 137 reviews.
- You want the town as well as the Basilica.
- You want a private guide for your group.
- You have a free morning.
Take the Basilica tour if
- You want the lower price, from about $46.
- You only have an afternoon.
- You care most about the frescoes.
- You are fine in a group of up to 15.
What each price covers
The private walk, from about $139
Included: a private guide and the admission tickets listed for the Basilica of St. Francis.
Not included: gratuities.
The Basilica tour, from about $46
Included: a local guide and the Basilica admission fees listed.
Not included: gratuities and hotel pickup.
Where each one starts
- Private walk: Piazza Santa Chiara, in front of the Basilica of St. Clare near the fountain, at 10:30 a.m. It ends in Piazza Inferiore di San Francesco.
- Basilica tour: the lower entrance of the Basilica of St. Francis, Piazza Inferiore di San Francesco 2, at 2:00 p.m.
Side by side
| Private walk | Basilica tour | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.9 from 137 | 4.8 from 29 |
| Five-star reviews | 129 (94%) | 26 (90%) |
| Price | from about $139 per person | from about $46 |
| Length | 2.5 hours | 1 hour |
| Format | Private walking tour | Small group, up to 15 |
| Covers | Santa Chiara, town, Basilica | Basilica only |
| Start | 10:30 a.m., Piazza Santa Chiara | 2:00 p.m., lower Basilica |
| Wheelchair accessible | No | No |
| Cancellation | Free up to 24 hours before | Free up to 24 hours before |
What travelers say
On the private walk
She is a great story teller, very knowledgeable and great sense of humor.
CarmenGloria_C, September 2026, via Viator
He pace was just right for our group and made opportunities for us to use the restroom which was appreciated.
Joe_M, September 2026, via Viator
On the Basilica tour
Very informative tour of the artwork adorning the interior of the bassilica.
Curtis_H, October 2025, via Viator
I bought two tickets because there were no tickets for single person.
Louise_C, June 2026, via Viator
The private walk has 94% five-star ratings and a single one-star review among 137. The Basilica tour has 90% five-star ratings from a smaller base of 29; its reviewers praise the guides’ knowledge of the frescoes, and the one practical complaint is the lack of single tickets.
More of Assisi and Umbria
For a view of Assisi from above, compare the Umbria hot-air balloon options. Nearby, the Perugia walking tour covers Umbria’s capital.
For planning, read our Umbria itinerary and the Assisi day trip guide.
Questions travelers ask
Which Assisi tour should I book?
For a morning in town, the private St. Francis Basilica and city walking tour, rated 4.9 from 137 reviews on Viator, from about $139 per person (checked September 2026). For the Basilica alone and a lower price, the one-hour tour with an official guide, rated 4.8 from 29 reviews, from about $46.
Can I take a guided tour inside the Basilica on a Sunday?
Not always. The private tour warns that on Sundays, major Catholic holidays and national holidays guided tours inside the Basilica are not allowed; the guide explains the church outside and you visit alone, in silence.
What is the dress code for the Basilica of St. Francis?
Knees and shoulders must be covered, for men and women. Both tours warn that you may be refused entry otherwise.
Where do the Assisi tours start?
The private walk starts at 10:30 a.m. in Piazza Santa Chiara. The Basilica tour starts at 2:00 p.m. at the lower entrance of the Basilica of St. Francis.
Can I cancel an Assisi tour?
Both offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
Book the private walk to see Assisi as well as its Basilica; book the official-guide tour for an hour with the frescoes at a lower price.
Editorial assessment by Italy2Love, September 2026. Itineraries, inclusions, meeting points and times, prices, ratings, review counts and cancellation terms read on both Viator product pages (product codes 206098P13 and 7233P25), September 2026. Reviews quoted with attribution to their authors and to Viator. Next review March 2027, or sooner on any change to either option.