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Nestled on three red clay hills in the heart of Tuscany, Siena unfolds a medieval labyrinth that has remained almost untouched since the Trecento. Its silhouette revolves around the Piazza del Campo – a fan-shaped brick shell – and a profile of towers, bell towers, and domes of striped marble. Surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, this Tuscan city offers a concentration of Gothic art, living traditions (the contrade), and refined peasant cuisine. Before exploring its ochre alleyways and panoramic views of the Crete Senesi, here are all the practical answers to help you plan your getaway, followed by seven things to do in Siena – only the essentials.
🗒️ Time of year, hotels: what you need to know before visiting Siena
Before we begin our list of things to do in Siena, let’s have a quick look at the most frequently asked questions from travellers.
Where is Siena?
Siena occupies the south-central part of Tuscany, 70 km south of Florence and 230 km north of Rome. Its municipal territory hugs the Chianti hills and extends to the lunar landscapes of the Crete Senesi, making the city an ideal starting point for exploring the region.
What is the best time to visit Siena?
The climate, semi-continental tempered by the altitude (322 m), offers mild springs and autumns (17-22°C) and hot but dry summers (28-32°C). Locals recommend April-June and September-October : pleasant temperatures, golden light on the brick buildings, and the grape harvest in the surrounding hills. July-August remain attractive for attending the Palio, but the crowds and heat are intense.
How to get to Siena?
There is no airport; the main access is via Florence-Santa Maria Novella: a regional train departs approximately every hour, takes 1 hour 30 minutes, and costs around ten euros. Rapid buses also depart from Florence (75 minutes) and Rome (3 hours). By car, the Autopalio (Firenze-Siena link) connects Florence in 50 minutes; the historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a ZTL (limited traffic zone), so you must park in the car parks along the city walls and then reach the centre on foot or via covered escalators.
Is Siena an expensive city?
A budget traveller spends approximately €125 per day, a comfortable traveller around €170 , and a luxury stay exceeds €230 (4-5 star accommodation, gourmet restaurants). The Duo Museo OPA Si Pass (€17) includes the cathedral, Piccolomini Library, crypt, and baptistery, quickly offsetting the cost of visits. Meals can remain affordable in neighbourhood restaurants offering set menus for €15-18.
What events should not be missed?
The Palio di Siena, a spectacular horse race, is held twice a year – July 2 (Palio di Provenzano) and August 16 (Palio dell’Assunta) – with ten of the seventeen contrade competing for a hand-painted flag. The preceding week is filled with blessings, medieval parades, and street dinners. In November, the Siena Jazz Festival offers masterclasses and concerts throughout the city centre.
How to get around?
The city centre is best explored on foot; its narrow, steep streets are reserved for residents and local buses. The tram lines run along the ring of ramparts (90-minute ticket: €1.50) and connect to the outer parking areas. For the hills, rent an e-bike or take a Tiemme regional bus to Montalcino, Pienza, or San Gimignano.
What do people eat in Siena?
The local cuisine showcases the region’s bounty: pici all’aglione (large, hand-rolled pasta with a tomato and garlic sauce), cinta senese (black pork), zolfino beans , and Chianti Colli Senesi wines. For dessert, try ricciarelli (almonds and icing sugar) and panforte with candied fruit, a legacy of the spice routes. Pair with an amber Vin Santo or a red Vino Nobile from Montepulciano.
How many days should I plan for?
Two days are enough for Piazza del Campo, the Duomo and the Torre del Mangia. Three to four days gives time to explore the Pinacoteca, the Medici Fortress, nearby vineyards and a village on the Via Francigena.
Where to stay in Siena?
Above the city walls, Hotel Athena offers a panoramic terrace overlooking the hills and private parking. For a chic, monastic stay, Certosa di Maggiano occupies a former convent surrounded by vineyards and includes a swimming pool. Urban design enthusiasts will appreciate NH Siena, located in Piazza La Lizza, ten minutes from Piazza del Campo.
🔝 What are the things to do in Siena?
Now we come to the heart of our subject. Here are 7 things to do in Siena during your trip.
Contemplate the Piazza del Campo
The political heart of the Republic since the 13th century, the Piazza del Campo impresses with its nine-section shell shape, symbolizing the former Governo dei Nove . Surround yourself with Gothic palaces, spot the Gaia fountain by Jacopo della Quercia, then settle down on the gently sloping red bricks: the view of the Torre del Mangia is incomparable when the shadows lengthen and the bells announce the victorious contrada .
Visit the cathedral and the Opera del Duomo
A Romanesque-Gothic masterpiece in white marble striped with black, the Duomo houses a Pinturicchio dome, a Pisano pulpit, and a marble marquetry floor unique in the world, visible in its entirety for a few weeks each year. Climb the Facciatone (unfinished façade) for panoramic views over the rooftops and hills, explore the crypt rediscovered in 1999, and finish at the Biblioteca Piccolomini, frescoed by Pinturicchio with scenes from the life of Pope Pius II.
Climb the Torre del Mangia
At 102 meters, the civic tower, completed in 1348, offers a challenging climb (400 steps) rewarded by a 360° panorama: Piazza, Duomo, a sea of terracotta rooftops, and a patchwork of vineyards stretching to Monte Amiata. Its name, “Mangia-guadagni,” comes from its first bell ringer, Giovanni di Balduccio, known for squandering his wages on feasts – a nod to the pleasures of Sienese cuisine.
Exploring the contrade and the spirit of the Palio
Siena is divided into seventeen contrade , community districts with animal coats of arms (Oca, Drago, Giraffa, etc.). Each has its own oratory, museum, baptismal fountain, and stable for the Palio horse. Let the colourful flags hanging from the facades guide you: the Museo dell’Onda (blue dolphin) or the Museo de la Selva (green rhinoceros) display embroidered costumes, drums, and trophies venerated like relics. A plunge into the most vibrant civic soul in Italy.
Admire Gothic art at the National Art Gallery
Housed in two 14th-century palaces, the Pinacoteca Nazionale boasts the richest collection of Sienese paintings: works by Duccio, Simone Martini, Lorenzetti, Sassetta, and others. A visit reveals the transition from Byzantine gold leaf to pre-Renaissance naturalism. On the second floor, frescoes detached from neighbouring churches illustrate the Marian iconography so dear to the city. Take the time to compare the different representations of the Virgin Mary, the patron saint and a recurring artistic theme in Siena.
Relax at Fortezza Medicea and Orto de’ Pecci
On the western hill, the Medici Fortress (1560) offers a park of shaded bastions, a jogging track, and benches with views of the Duomo; in summer, it hosts concerts and wine fairs. Five minutes from the Piazza, the Orto de’ Pecci is a restored medieval garden: a vegetable garden, donkeys, picnic tables, and a restaurant offering an unexpected green respite behind the city walls.
Sample Sienese cuisine between the market and the osteria
Start your morning at the Mercato delle Erbe (Wednesday), brimming with vegetables from the Val d’Orcia, porcini mushrooms, and aged pecorino cheese. Have lunch with a cone of pici all’aglione or a porchetta sandwich on Via Pantaneto. In the afternoon, stop by a historic pastry shop for a soft ricciarello or a slice of spicy panforte. In the evening, head to a family-run osteria—wines by the glass, ribollita bean soup , and Chianina tagliata with herbs—before a glass of Vin Santo on the terrace of a hidden bar in Casato di Sotto.
There you have it, we hope this list of things to do in Siena has helped you plan your stay in the Tuscan pearl.