16 Cool Things to Do in Siena, Italy

There are so many fantastic things to do in Siena, Italy. This small city in Tuscany is an excellent day trip from Florence, showcasing the beauty of urban Italy, with far fewer tourists than in Florence.

Many tourists visit Siena on a day trip from nearby Florence — and it’s even better when paired with the Tuscan hilltop town San Gimignano, like on this excellent tour I took. A day trip to Siena and another town like San Gimignano can give you a wonderful introduction to the region of Tuscany.

I also like the idea of using Siena as a base for exploring Southern Tuscany, which is a large and diverse region in its own right. You get all the benefits of staying in a city (like nice restaurants and lots of hotel choices!) with far fewer crowds than you’ll find in Florence.

I first visited Siena way back in 2013 and loved it right away — and I was happy to come back more than a decade later on a fun Siena day trip from Florence to explore the city more.

Siena is Florence’s rival from the Renaissance era, although Florence has now outgrown its competitor considerably, at least when it comes to population — the population of Siena is just 53,000, while Florence has over 382,000 residents. 

One of the things Siena is most famous for is the Palio, a twice-annual summertime festival with a horse race around the city’s central square. Siena is also known for its impressive medieval architecture, including the iconic Torre del Mangia and the incredible Duomo di Siena, which is actually my favorite church in Italy.

So how should you spend your time in Siena? Let’s take a look at the best things to do!

This post was published in November 2024 and was co-written by Adventurous Kate and Dale Peterson.

Things to Do in Siena, Italy

Visit the Piazza del Campo

The Piazza del Campo is Siena’s main public space, but it’s so much more than your average town square. It’s regarded as one of the most impressive medieval squares in Europe, thanks to its iconic architecture and expansiveness.

This large square (which is really more of a rounded trapezoid with) is where the famous Palio horse race takes place. The race dates all the way back to the 15th century in Siena, and it’s been using the current racecourse in the Piazza del Campo since 1659.

The Palio takes place twice a year on July 2 and August 16. As you can imagine, the buildings around the Piazza del Campo are all prime real estate for viewing the race!

Explore inside the Duomo of Siena

Another one of the main attractions you can’t miss is the Duomo di Siena, or Siena Cathedral. And if you’re starting to have “church fatigue” in Italy, fear not — this one is worth it. The Duomo di Siena is my favorite church in Italy! You know how many churches I’ve been to in Italy? LOTS.

This is also a church where you pay to enter, but trust me, it’s well worth it. The black-and-white-striped Duomo di Siena is filled with so many layers of color and patterns. It’s a feast for the eyes and while St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome might have more artwork, I think Siena’s is much more interesting.

Don’t miss the interesting little alcoves off to the sides of the church — I was a particular fan of the Piccolomini Library with its beautiful artwork.

You can purchase a skip-the-line ticket here that includes access to the cathedral, the Piccolomini Library, the Baptistry of San Giovanni, the Crypt, the terrace, and the museum. This is the ticket I recommend getting for the views from the Museo dell’Opera.

Take in the view from the Cathedral Museum (Museo dell’Opera)

Admission to the Cathedral Museum (Museo dell’Opera) is included in the higher tiers of tickets for the Duomo di Siena, and believe me — it is ABSOLUTELY worth the cost of the ticket.

I highly recommend getting this ticket for two reasons: exploring the museum, and getting to see the view. The view from the terrace is outstanding, offering a panorama of the cathedral in one direction, Piazza del Campo and the city center in another, and the rolling green hills of Tuscany in every direction.

The museum features an interesting collection of works of art and architecture that were once inside the cathedral. So if you enjoyed the art and style of the cathedral itself, you’ll also like visiting this museum and checking out even more artwork.

Know that this museum is not accessible; there is no elevator.

Insider Tips: The museum is a bit hard to spot at first, but it’s located to the right of the cathedral when you’re looking at it, but further back, like at 2:00. There is a free restroom in the museum basement, while you need to pay for the restroom in the cathedral itself, even if you paid for a ticket.

Go on a walking tour

A walking tour is a great way to get an overview of Siena and orient yourself to the layout of the city. This is an activity I always like to do on my first day arriving somewhere new to get myself familiarized with the destination.

A walking tour was part of my Siena-San Gimignano-Chianti day trip from Florence, which was wonderful and gave me a good overview of the city.

If you’re already in Siena or you only want to book a tour within the city, this two-hour Siena walking tour is a great option because it includes the historic center of the city as well as skip-the-line tickets to the Duomo di Siena and a guided tour inside the cathedral.

And once again…you know how much I love that cathedral!

Climb the Torre del Mangia

The Torre del Mangia is the symbol of Siena. Located in the Piazza del Campo, this medieval tower was constructed in the 14th century and was one of the tallest ancient towers in Italy.

Climbing the tower is one of the top things to do in Siena — but speaking honestly, I don’t think it’s a must. Similar to climbing the Eiffel Tower or the Empire State Building, you can’t actually see the iconic building you’re in from the top! That’s why I prefer the view from the terrace on top of the museum of the cathedral instead.

If you do want to climb to the top of the tower, tickets for the Torre del Mangia cost 10 EUR ($11 USD) and you can also purchase a combination ticket that includes access to the Museo Civico and the Santa Maria della Scala Museum for 13 EUR ($14 USD.). 

Do note that this is not an accessible activity — there are more than 400 steps and no elevator.

Explore the Palazzo Pubblico

Another iconic place to visit in Siena is the Palazzo Pubblico. This is the historic seat of government in Siena, dating back to the 13th century. You can’t miss it, because the Torre del Mangia is attached to it!

If you buy a ticket to climb the tower, you can also add on a visit to the Museo Civico, which is housed inside the Palazzo Pubblico. Or you can just buy a ticket for the museum on its own for 6 EUR ($6.40 USD.)

The museum houses an impressive art collection and has gorgeous frescoed ceilings.

See the Basilica of San Domenico

Although the Duomo di Siena is the most impressive church in the city, the Basilica of San Domenico is also worth a visit if you have the time. This striking Cistercian Gothic church dates back to the 13th century.

On the inside, it’s very sparse compared to the opulence of the Duomo di Siena. That said, it’s worth popping inside and taking a look around the Basilica of San Domenico. And unlike the Duomo, entry to this church is free to the public.

Admire the Fonte di Fontebranda

As a medieval walled city, entry to Siena was only accessible through imposing gates. The Fonte di Fontebranda is one of the last remaining gates to the city. It’s located off the Via Fontebranda on the western side of the city.

Even more intriguing than the ancient gate is the 13th-century fountain underneath the arches of the gate. The fountain still works today, and it’s also a shady spot to cool off if you’re visiting Siena on a hot, sunny day.

Explore the Santa Maria della Scala Museum

The Santa Maria della Scala Museum is an excellent place to go if you want to learn more about Siena’s history.

This museum is housed in a former hospital that helped pilgrims, as well as the poor and orphaned children. The hospital was actually one of the first in Europe, dating all the way back to the late 12th century.

The piece de resistance in this museum is the ceiling in Pilgrims’ Hall, which is covered with gorgeous frescoes in a geometric design.

Now, the museum is home to exhibitions on Siena’s history spanning from Etruscan times to the Renaissance. Tickets are 9 EUR ($9.60 USD). If you have the time, could be worth a stop.

See the Fonte Gaia

While you’re admiring the Piazza del Campo, take a moment to pause at the Fonte Gaia. This large, decorative fountain is actually easy to miss if you aren’t paying attention. It’s right in the Piazza del Campo, but it’s not very tall and it’s built into a wall, rather than right in the center like most Italian fountains, so you might not notice it at first.

But it’s worth checking out the early Renaissance relief sculptures carved into the fountain, including dogs with water spouting out of their mouths!

It’s also impressive to think that water has been pumped into the fountain via underground pipes since the 14th century, thanks to the sophistication of medieval engineering.

Wander through the historic center

There’s a lot to see and do in Siena, but don’t forget to take some time to simply wander through the historic streets of the city center! Siena is one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Italy, and it’s worth spending some time just getting lost in the ancient streets.

Siena is divided into 17 distinct contrade, or neighborhoods. Historically, residents of Siena have been fiercely loyal to their neighborhood, and there’s always been a great rivalry between the different contrade. In fact, each contrada has its own representative competing in the Palio di Siena horse race every summer!

Each neighborhood is represented by a different symbol (some examples are Eagle, Unicorn, Caterpillar, and Seashell!). While strolling around the historic center, you can determine which contrada you’re in based on flags and emblems adorning the streets.

Go wine tasting

You can’t go to Tuscany without trying some local wine! Siena is surrounded by vineyards in one of the top wine-producing regions in not just Italy, but the whole world.

This half-day wine tasting trip departing from Siena is the perfect way to enjoy some local wine and see some gorgeous Tuscan scenery. You’ll visit the charming hilltop town of Montalcino, where you’ll visit several local wineries and vineyards.

In addition to enjoying tastings at each stop, you’ll also learn more about wine production in the region, getting the chance to hear from the owners of family-run Tuscan wineries.

Take a cooking class

I love taking cooking classes in Italy. They’re a great way to immerse yourself in one of the things Italy is best at: food! With a local cooking class, you can learn how to prepare regional cuisine (and, of course, enjoy the results of your cooking at the end!)

This is a great cooking class in Siena. Over the course of several hours, you’ll prepare a delicious multi-course meal with local ingredients, and even learn to make pasta from scratch! You’ll enjoy the fruits of your labor, accompanied by some Tuscan wine.

Go on a hot air balloon ride

If you’re in search of an unforgettable experience in Siena, why not take a hot air balloon ride? You can glide over Siena and the Tuscan countryside, getting a unique bird’s eye view of the landscape.

This hot air balloon tour includes breakfast before your hot air balloon flight and a glass of sparkling wine upon landing. You’ll soar over the rolling Tuscan hills dotted with vineyards, olive groves, and ancient villages on this one-hour hot air balloon ride.

Just keep in mind that hot air balloon rides are extremely weather-sensitive, and unfortunately more of my scheduled balloon rides around the world have been cancelled than have gone forward. Just keep your expectations in check — but I hope it happens for you!

Take a day trip to San Gimignano

San Gimignano is a wonderful day trip from Siena. This charming Tuscan hilltop town is striking because of its skyline of stone towers, almost like a medieval Manhattan. It’s much smaller than Siena, and it’s the perfect place to spend an afternoon wandering around and soaking up the atmosphere.

If you’re based in Florence, you can book the day trip that I took and loved that includes Siena, San Gimignano, and lunch at a Tuscan vineyard in the Chianti region. That’s a great way to see it all!

If you’re staying in Siena, this tour visits both San Gimignano and Volterra, a lovely Tuscan town that was featured in the Twilight books and films.

You can also visit San Gimignano on your own from Siena by taking the 130 bus, which you can catch right by the train station — it takes just over an hour, but be sure to check the schedule before you go because it doesn’t always go all the way to San Gimignano. There is no train to San Gimignano.

Go truffle hunting

Lucky you — Siena is famous for its truffles. And you can go beyond just tasting them in a dish at one of Siena’s restaurants — you can actually hunt for truffles yourself!

This unique truffle hunting tour allows you to join a local forager hunting for mushrooms in the hills around Tuscany.

You’ll depart from Siena and join your host and his dogs as you scour the woods for truffles, even having the chance to dig some out yourself. You’ll conclude this tour by returning to Siena and sampling some truffle products in a local gourmet shop.

How Much Time to Spend in Siena, Italy

So how much time should you spend in Siena? You can visit the highlights of Siena on a day trip from Florence, and one full day should give you enough time to see all the major sights.

Siena is a tourist hotspot, but it’s also a working city that feels so much more local than Florence. For that reason, I think it makes a nice base.

You can easily visit smaller towns and villages around Tuscany on day trips from Siena before returning in the evening to enjoy dinner at one of the many delicious local restaurants.

If you’re basing here for a few days, I especially recommend visiting the nearby Val d’Orcia region, which includes nice towns like Pienza (my favorite town in Tuscany!), Montalcino, and Bagno Vignoni.

How to Get to Siena, Italy

How do you get to Siena? From Florence, you have several options. The first is taking the train to Siena. There are direct trains from Florence Santa Maria Novella to Siena Centrale that take about 1.5 hours. 

Driving is actually slightly faster, taking about 1 hour and 10 minutes. There are also buses that run from Florence to Siena. The 131R bus leaves from the Florence bus station (next to the Santa Maria Novella train station).

If you just want to visit Siena, you can take the train or bus independently. However, if you want to visit other destinations in Tuscany on a day trip, it’s best to book an organized day trip that includes transportation.

This full-day tour from Florence, the one I took, includes visits to Siena, San Gimignano, and lunch at a vineyard; while this Siena tour from Florence also includes a quick stop in Pisa.

Where To Stay in Siena, Italy

Where should you stay in Siena? There are accommodation options for every budget in Siena, from luxurious five-star hotels to simple and traditional bed & breakfasts.

I recommend staying in the historic heart of Siena. It’s the most convenient location for exploring Siena, and the historic center has a really special atmosphere.

Here are the best hotels in Siena for every price range:

Best Time To Visit Siena, Italy

When is the best time to visit Siena? It’s all about the best time to visit Tuscany! Tuscany is a year-round destination, but you can expect the high season to last from spring through fall, with peak season in the summer months. 

Personally, I love visiting Tuscany in the fall months — October is probably my favorite month overall for traveling in Italy. Fall is a great time to visit Siena for milder weather and somewhat fewer crowds (though Florence will still be quite busy at that time).

The Palio di Siena horse race is held twice each year, on July 2 and August 16. These are absolute peak dates in Siena and you can expect accommodation prices to be sky-high — don’t come to Siena around these dates unless you’re here for the Palio!

Is Siena Worth It?

Yes, Siena is absolutely worth it! I’ve enjoyed both of my visits to Siena so much. I love the look of the city, and once again — the Duomo di Siena is my favorite church in Italy.

I hope you have the best time in Siena — and all of Tuscany!

More on Florence and Tuscany:

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Have you been to Siena? Share your favorite experiences!