Overview
Siena's UNESCO-listed historic centre is a medieval landscape of towers and Gothic palaces. The fan-shaped Piazza del Campo anchors walks through the city.
Architecture · History · Festivals · Food
Did you know?
- The Palio races take place on July 2 and August 16.
- Lorenzetti's frescoes on good and bad government decorate the Sala dei Nove.
- Pici are thick handmade noodles rooted in the local cuisine.
Why Go
Siena offers one of Italy's best-preserved medieval cityscapes, with its UNESCO-listed centro storico featuring soaring towers, Gothic palaces, and the iconic fan-shaped Piazza del Campo. The city is famous for Il Palio, a bareback horse race run twice each summer (July 2 and August 16), which transforms the entire city into a fierce contrada competition that has continued since the 11th century. Art lovers find world-class Sienese paintings from the city's 13th-14th century golden age, while food enthusiasts discover local specialties like dense honey-almond Panforte cake and thick pici noodles.
Getting In
Siena has no airport; the closest are Florence Airport (100km north), Pisa International Airport, and Bologna Marconi Airport. Trenitalia runs trains from Florence (€12.80, 1.5 hours via Leopolda station, not Santa Maria Novella) with connections via Empoli or Chiusi. The bus station at Piazza Antonio Gramsci 26 offers regional connections including direct buses to San Gimignano and Florence. Luggage storage is available underground at the bus station for €5.5 per bag, 09:00-19:00; the train station has no luggage storage.
Getting Around
Siena's compact historic center is best explored on foot; the main Piazza del Campo sits at the heart with most sights within a 15-minute walk. The city is entirely walled, so you'll enter through one of several gates like Porta Camollia. Local bus #8 runs to the Colleverde campsite east of the center. Taxis are available but walking is generally preferable for sightseeing within the centro storico.
When to Go
The Palio races on July 2 and August 16 draw the biggest crowds and require advance hotel bookings. The Siena Jazz Festival occurs during summer months. Spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) offer pleasant weather, thinner crowds, and easier accommodation availability. Winter sees the fewest tourists, though some sights have reduced hours. The Wednesday market around the Fortezza Medicea runs from about 07:00 to 14:00 weekly.
Where to Stay
Budget options include the Siena Colleverde campsite (Strada di Scacciapensieri 47) reachable by bus #8, with cabins at €65-115 per night. The Santuario S. Caterina (Alma Domus, Via Camporegio 37) is a modest hotel run by a nunnery near San Domenico at €60-90, with 23:00 curfew. Albergo Bernini (Via della Sapienza 15) offers rooms with spectacular views of the valley and Campo, doubles from €65-85 depending on bathroom availability. For the cheapest central option, Piccolo Hotel Etruria (Via Donzelle 3) has doubles around €90 in season; its sister property Tre Donzelle next door is €10-15 cheaper. The NH Excelsior (Piazza La Lizza) offers mid-range rooms from €100.
Food and Drink
Sienese cuisine features thick handmade pici noodles, Panforte (honey-almond-spice cake made only in Siena and Monteriggioni), and Ricciarelli (small almond paste cakes). For gelato, head to Il Gelato just off the Campo and ask for Romaney. La Chiacchiera near the House of St Catherine serves excellent pici. Bar Pasticceria Nannini (Via Banchi di Sopra 24) offers Tuscan pastries including Cantucci and Cavallucci in a vegan-friendly display; open M-F 07:00-22:30, Sa Su 07:00-23:30. Osteria del Gatto (Via di San Marco 8) serves Italian-only menus at €18-28; try Tonno alla Mediterranea during fish week. The Enoteca Italiana in the fortress vaults stocks extensive Italian wines, while you can buy Chianti at any market selling food.
Things to Do
Palazzo Pubblico (Piazza del Campo 1) has served as Siena's city hall for 800 years and contains Ambrogio Lorenzetti's famous frescoes on good and bad government in the Sala dei Nove. Climb the Torre del Mangia for panoramic views of the Sienese countryside. The Duomo di Siena (Piazza del Duomo 8) features black-and-white striped Romanesque architecture, inlaid marble floors, and the Libreria Piccolomini with Pinturicchio frescoes. The Opa Si Pass costs €8-15 depending on season (€13 most of the year) and covers the Duomo, Baptistery, Museo dell'Opera, and Facciatone tower. The Pinacoteca Nazionale (Via di San Pietro 29) displays medieval Sienese paintings; €4 regular admission, €2 for EU students 18-25, free first Sunday of each month. Santa Maria della Scala museum (€9, reduced €8) showcases Lorenzetti frescoes and the adjacent Museo Archeologico Nazionale.
Safety
Siena is generally a safe city for travelers. The main precaution involves Palio season, when the weeks before each race see heavy police presence due to fierce contrada rivalries; fist fights between contrade no longer occur but tensions remain high. After a Palio win, celebratory processions with drums and banners can continue for several weekends, sometimes with drunk participants at 2am—this is culturally accepted and not dangerous. Standard urban precautions apply regarding pickpockets in crowded tourist areas around the Campo and Duomo.
Connectivity
Siena has several internet access points including a multilingual newsagent opposite the church on Via San Marco in the Snail Contrada who also runs an internet point. Most hotels and cafes offer WiFi. Italian mobile providers provide good coverage throughout the city. Power plugs use Type L sockets (three-round-pin style) at 230V; visitors from countries using different plugs will need adapters.
Budget
Budget travelers can manage on €80-100 per day including dorm accommodation (rare in Siena; most budget options are private rooms), self-catering or cheap trattorias, and public transport for day trips. Mid-range budgets of €120-180 per day cover private rooms in 2-3 star hotels, restaurant meals, and museum admissions. Key costs: coperto at restaurants (€1.50-3), bus tickets (around €1.50 within city), museum passes (€13-20). Accommodation during Palio spikes significantly; book months ahead for July 2 and August 16 races.
Day Trips
Chianti wine country surrounds Siena with numerous wineries accessible by car or organized tours. Medieval towns ideal for day trips include San Gimignano (medieval towers), Monteriggioni (outer wall still intact), Pienza (Renaissance planned town), Montalcino (Brunello wine), and Montepulciano (Pienza's larger neighbor). The Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore near Chiusure offers tranquil Benedictine architecture. Arezzo provides a less touristy Tuscan experience with Piero della Francesca frescoes. Pisa is reachable by train (about 2 hours) for those wanting to see the famous Leaning Tower. Hot springs in Tuscany have been enjoyed for thousands of years and offer relaxation.
Go Next
Florence is the obvious first onward destination, just 70km north with hourly train connections (1-1.5 hours). Rome is reachable by direct trains or via Chiusi. The entire Chianti region offers wine-focused touring with small towns like Greve in Chianti. Umbria, accessed via train or bus connections, provides destinations like Perugia and Assisi. For coastal Tuscany, the train to Pisa takes about 2 hours. Regional buses from Siena's bus station connect to most Tuscan destinations when trains are inconvenient.
Guide text adapted from Wikivoyage contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to start
Sleep
Agriturismo Monaciano
Tuscany self catering accommodations in the Chianti hills 7 km from Siena with swimming pool, ping-pong and a romantic park. Monaciano has many farmhouses that may comfortably accommodate large families or large groups of friends.
Sleep
Albergo Bernini
Via della Sapienza n°15 (just down the street from San Domenico) (use Italian or simple English if you email) - dated but clean rooms in a tiny, centrally-located inn. A truly friendly older couple owns and runs it, and lives on the property (they leave their door open often). The great thing is the view of Siena - spectacular, as you look across the unobstructed valley and almost down at the Piazza del Campo and Duomo. The two rooms at the back have the view. They also have good tips on the best inexpensive dining, which is fabulous. At midnight they lock the doors and go to bed. Double with bath €85, without bath €65.
Sleep
Borgo Grondaie
A typical farmhouse hotel with swimming pool. It offers a selection of studio apartments and en-suite rooms in a country and friendly atmosphere.
Sleep
Borgo Scopeto Relais
Beautiful 4-star hotel and restaurant immersed in vineyards and olive groves of the Tuscan countryside 12 km from Siena. Also does weddings and meetings.
Sleep
Campo Regio Relais
A bed and breakfast-style hotel, renovated in 2005, in the historical centre of Siena, with amazing view onto the old town.
Sleep
Chiostro del Carmine
4-star hotel in historical residence, Siena centre. Rooms from €99.
Sleep
Hotel Garden
4-stars hotel with restaurant, outdoor pool and panoramic terrace. With Hotel Italia and Villa Agostoli, the Hotel Garden is one of the hotels in Siena of the company Siena Inns.
Sleep
Hotel Italia
3-star hotel. The hotel has a Love Room for romantic moments.
Before you go
Accommodation
Budget travelers should book campsites or nun-run hotels well in advance, especially during Palio (July 2 and August 16). The cheapest central hotels are around €65-90 per double; mid-range options from €100-150.
Etiquette
Dress modestly when visiting churches (shoulders and knees covered). During Palio, avoid wearing colors of any contrade or displaying symbols that might offend locals.
Food
Sienese specialties include Panforte cake, Ricciarelli (almond paste cakes), and pici pasta. Nannini on Banchi di Sopra is the classic pastry shop. Markets on Wednesdays at Fortezza Medicea offer local produce.
Money
Italy uses euros. ATMs are widely available throughout the historic center. Most restaurants and shops accept credit cards, though some smaller trattorias may be cash-only. Tipping is not obligatory but rounding up or leaving small change is appreciated.
Safety
Siena is generally very safe. During Palio season, expect heavy police presence and celebratory noise from contrade victories for weeks after each race.
Transport
Siena has no airport; fly into Florence, Pisa, or Bologna and connect by train or bus. The bus station offers regional connections; luggage storage available for €5.5 per bag. Within the city, walking is the primary transport.