Assisi is not just a town to visit in silence: for children there is a castle to explore, a Roman square hidden underground and a path among the olive trees. Here is an itinerary for one or two days, with opening times and tickets checked against official sources, and tips from people who live a few kilometres away, at Agriturismo La Mora.
At a glance
- Rocca Maggiore
- free up to age 8 · €6 ages 9 to 18
- Roman Forum
- free up to age 8 · €5 ages 9 to 18
- Bosco di San Francesco (FAI)
- free up to age 5 · family €16
- Basilica of St. Francis
- free admission
- From La Mora
- Piazza del Comune 6.8 km · about 14 min
- By car
- historic centre largely ZTL: park outside
Assisi with the children and evenings in the countryside, with a playground and a kitchen? Check availability.
Before you go: car and parking
The historic centre of Assisi is largely a limited traffic zone (ZTL): you park at the gates of the town and continue on foot. The car park nearest the Basilica of St. Francis is Giovanni Paolo II; the one nearest Santa Chiara is at Porta Nuova. From La Mora, Piazza del Comune is 6.8 km away, about 14 minutes by car.
The streets of the centre climb and often have steps: with little ones a baby carrier is easier than a pushchair, and comfortable shoes are a must for everyone.
Day 1, morning: the Basilica of St. Francis
Start at the Basilica of St. Francis, free for individual visitors. During summer time the Lower Church is open from 6:00 to 19:00 (on Wednesdays until 18:00) and the Upper Church from 8:30 to 18:45; in winter the Upper Church closes at 18:00. For children, the frescoes of the Upper Church are a huge picture book: look together for the scene of the sermon to the birds.
Day 1, midday: the square and the underground Roman Forum
Along via San Francesco you reach Piazza del Comune, where the columns of the Temple of Minerva, free to enter, tell you that a Roman town stood here. The proof is under your feet: from via Portica you go down into the Roman Forum, among ruins and finds, a short visit that feels like an expedition to children.
The Roman Forum costs €7 (reduced €5 for ages 9 to 18) and is free up to age 8. From November to February it is open from 10:00 to 17:00, closed on Tuesdays; in the other months every day from 10:00, until 18:00 or, in July and August, 19:00.
Stay 6.8 km from Piazza del Comune
About 14 minutes by car (Google Maps). Mornings in town, afternoons at the playground.
Day 1, afternoon: Santa Chiara and the Rocca Maggiore
On the other side of the square, walk down to the Basilica of Santa Chiara, free to enter, which keeps the San Damiano Crucifix. Then climb to the Rocca Maggiore, the fortress that dominates the town: towers, walkways and a view over the valley that children remember for a long time.
The Rocca opens at 10:00 and closes at 17:00 from November to February, later in the other months (until 20:00 in summer); the ticket office closes 45 minutes earlier, and it is closed on 25 December. Tickets cost €8, €6 for ages 9 to 18, and admission is free up to age 8. The official listing describes it as not accessible: leave the pushchair in the car.
Day 2: the Bosco di San Francesco
Day two is spent outdoors. The Bosco di San Francesco, run by FAI, is a 1.5 km sloping path with a natural surface and a few steps, running below the Basilica through olive groves and woodland; along the way you find Michelangelo Pistoletto's Third Paradise, three great circles of olive trees to discover together. There are two entrances: from the square of the Upper Basilica, via a short flight of steps, and from the Benedictine complex of Santa Croce.
From 25 October 2026 to 6 January 2027 the Bosco is open from 10:00 to 16:00, with last entry at 14:00; it is closed on Mondays, from 24 to 26 December and on 1 January. Tickets cost €6, €3 for ages 6 to 18, and are free up to age 5; the family ticket, for two adults and children aged 6 to 18, costs €16.
For a shorter walk, from Porta Nuova follow the sign for the Sanctuary of San Damiano, free to enter: visits are from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 18:00 (16:30 in winter time).
To finish: Santa Maria degli Angeli and the countryside
On the way back, the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli is 2.1 km from La Mora: inside is the Porziuncola, Francis's little church, tiny beneath the great dome. Then it's back to the countryside, to the playground and, in summer, the pool.
Frequently asked questions about Assisi with children
Do children pay at the Rocca Maggiore?
Admission is free up to age 8; from 9 to 18 the reduced ticket costs €6, the full ticket €8.
Do you pay to enter the Basilica of St. Francis?
No: admission is free for individual visitors and no ticket is needed.
Is the Bosco di San Francesco suitable for children?
Yes, with comfortable shoes: it is a 1.5 km sloping path with a few steps. Free up to age 5, €3 from 6 to 18.
Can you get around Assisi with a pushchair?
The centre is hilly with many steps, and the Rocca Maggiore is not accessible: a baby carrier is better.
Where do you park to visit Assisi?
Outside the historic centre, which is largely ZTL: the car park nearest the Basilica of St. Francis is Giovanni Paolo II, the one nearest Santa Chiara is at Porta Nuova.
Assisi by day, the countryside in the evening.
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- 25% deposit, balance on arrival
Last checked: 21 October 2026. Opening times, prices and rules of the places mentioned can change: always check the official websites before you go.
