22 Best Things to Do in Siena, Italy (and What to Skip)

Short on time? Don't miss these

• Piazza del Campo, then the Torre del Mangia: sit in the square first, then queue for the tower, the best view in town for €10.
• The Duomo and its library, crypt and baptistery on one pass: the cathedral complex is the other must-do, and a walking tour with skip-the-line Duomo tickets is the easy way to see it with a guide.
• A Tuscan cooking class from Siena: the easiest way to eat properly on a first visit.
• A small-group Val d'Orcia wine day: if you have a second day, the countryside is why many people stay overnight.

For the overview of where Siena sits in a Tuscan trip, our Siena travel guide covers it. This page is the item-by-item list, and if you're deciding between bases, our things to do in Florence list shows what you give up by staying there instead.

What's changed this year

Three things matter right now. The Duomo floor is uncovered until 15 November 2026, which adds €2 to the pass and €3 to the Duomo-only ticket, and after that date the floor is covered again. Winter hours began on 1 November, so the tower closes at 4 p.m. and Santa Maria della Scala is shut on Tuesdays until mid-March. And the Pinacoteca Nazionale has been closed since 26 January 2026 for renovation.

Siena's Piazza del Campo and the Civic Core

1. Sit Down in Piazza del Campo

Start here, and don't rush it.

The Campo is a sloping brick square ringed by cafés and the Palazzo Pubblico, the centre of Siena in every sense. It's free. It's open all hours. And it's where the Palio is run.

Sit on the bricks instead of at a café table if you're watching your budget.

Cost: Free. Tip: Come back after the day-trippers have thinned out, because the square is calmer then.

2. Climb the Torre del Mangia (Arrive Early)

The tower is the one climb in Siena that's worth the legs.

It's about 400 steps up from the Campo, with a view over the roofs to the Tuscan hills. It costs €10.

Here's the catch.

You can't book it in advance. Tickets are sold at the Palazzo Pubblico box office on the day, groups of up to 25 go up every 45 minutes, and in busy periods the day's slots can sell out. In practice that means you buy the ticket first, then plan the rest of your morning around the time printed on it.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from 1 March to 31 October (last entry 6:15 p.m.), and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from 1 November to 28 February (last entry 3:15 p.m.). Important: There's no step-free access, and the Comune advises against it if you have heart, breathing or balance problems.

3. See the Frescoes in the Museo Civico

The Palazzo Pubblico houses the Museo Civico, which is Siena's civic art museum. It costs €10 (€11 booked online), €9 reduced, or €22 for a family, and under-11s go free.

It's a good fit for a rainy morning.

Allow an hour, and pair it with the tower using the combined ticket below.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from 1 March to 31 October (last entry 6:15 p.m.), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from 1 November to 28 February (last entry 5:15 p.m.). It's closed on 25 December.

4. Find the Fonte Gaia (It's Easy to Miss)

The Fonte Gaia is the monumental fountain at the top of the Campo, and most people walk past it while looking at the tower.

It takes two minutes and costs nothing. Tuck it into your Campo stop and move on.

Cost: Free.

The Siena Cathedral Complex

5. Walk Into the Duomo (and Look Down)

Siena's cathedral is the other headline sight, and the reason to go in is the floor: an inlaid marble pavement that's normally covered and uncovered for a few months each year. In 2026 that window runs from 27 June to 31 July and from 18 August to 15 November.

So if you're reading this before 15 November, go.

After that, the cathedral is still worth it, but the floor's covered and the ticket is cheaper.

The Duomo alone costs €7 with the floor covered and €10 while it's uncovered, but you almost never want the Duomo alone. The cathedral complex pass (the OPA SI Pass) is a single ticket for the cathedral, the Piccolomini Library, the Baptistery, the crypt, the Museo dell'Opera and the Facciatone viewpoint, and it's valid for three consecutive days. It costs €14, or €16 while the floor is uncovered, with €3 for ages 7 to 11 and free to age 6. The pass is also sold as a bookable ticket on GetYourGuide if you'd rather have it on your phone before you arrive (it's a reseller listing, so compare the price with the official €14 to €16), or you can pair the cathedral with a guided walk so someone explains what you're looking at.

Hours (1 November to 24 December 2026): 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Sundays and holidays 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.). Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. Tip: Allow about two hours for the whole complex, not just the nave.

6. Visit the Piccolomini Library

Inside the cathedral, the Piccolomini Library is a single frescoed room that's included in the pass. It's small. It's busy. Treat it as ten bonus minutes rather than a destination.

Cost: Included in the OPA SI Pass.

7. Go Down to the Crypt and Baptistery

The crypt and the baptistery are the two quieter pieces of the complex, and both are on the pass. If the nave is crowded, this is where you get your breath back. The crypt has also been hosting a photography show, Bill Armstrong's Sibyls, until 15 November 2026.

Cost: Included in the OPA SI Pass.

8. Climb the Facciatone for the Cheap View

The Facciatone is the viewpoint on the unfinished facade of the "new cathedral", reached through the Museo dell'Opera. It's in the pass, so it costs nothing extra, and it gives you the whole tangle of Siena's roofs with the Torre del Mangia in the middle. If the tower queue defeats you, this is the consolation, and some days it's the better view.

Hours (Museo dell'Opera): 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. from 1 April to 31 October, and 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from 1 to 24 November.

9. Book the Gate of Heaven If You're Keen

The Porta del Cielo, or Gate of Heaven, is a separate ticketed route over the cathedral's roofs. It isn't in the OPA SI Pass. It costs €21 (€6 for ages 7 to 11, free to age 6), it's valid from 1 March to 6 January, and the ticket also covers the museums.

It's the one add-on we'd save for a second visit or a keen architecture fan.

If it's your first afternoon in Siena, the pass alone is enough.

Booking: Online through the Opera's ticketing partner or at the ticket office, subject to availability.

Tip: Combined Tickets Will Save You Money (If You Do Them in Order)

The Comune sells combined tickets for the civic sites, but only at the box offices, and the first entry has to be the Torre del Mangia. Civic Museum plus tower is €15, Civic Museum plus Santa Maria della Scala (valid two days) is €14, and all three is €20. Combined tickets that include Santa Maria della Scala aren't sold on the first weekend of each month.

Museums, Churches and Hidden Corners in Siena

10. Spend an Hour at Santa Maria della Scala

This former hospital opposite the cathedral is now a museum complex, and it's easily the most underrated sight in Siena. Inside you'll find the frescoed Pellegrinaio ward, a treasury (which includes the Holy Nail), a children's art museum and the National Archaeological Museum. It costs €9 (€8 booked online), or €7 reduced and €20 for a family.

It's the best place to take children.

And it's free on the first Sunday of each month.

Hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from 15 March to 31 October. From 1 November to 14 March: Monday and Wednesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Sunday and holidays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Important: It's closed on Tuesdays in winter, and on 25 December.

11. Stop in at the Basilica of San Domenico

San Domenico is the big brick church on the hill, and it's free to walk in. A third-party listing gives roughly 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in winter, so check before you go. It's a short, free stop.

Cost: Free.

12. Go Under the City on a Bottini Tour

The Bottini are the medieval underground water channels that fed Siena's fountains, and none of the eight competitor lists we read mention them. Visits are guided by the La Diana association in groups of up to 10, and booking is mandatory through the Comune's ticket page.

A few rules.

Visits are suspended from June to August, you must wear non-slip shoes and carry a torch, photos aren't allowed, and it isn't suitable for children under 8 or anyone claustrophobic. We couldn't confirm the price or the schedule, so check the booking page.

Important: Book first. You can't just turn up.

13. Walk Up to the Fortezza Medicea

The Fortezza is the sixteenth-century fort on the western edge of the old town, and it's an open-air park you can walk through at no cost. It's where the weekly Wednesday market is held (roughly 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with La Lizza), so a market morning plus the Fortezza makes a decent free hour.

Cost: Free.

14. Peek Into a Contrada Museum

Siena is divided into 17 contrade, the neighbourhood teams that race in the Palio, and each has its own museum. The visit rules differ from one to the next, and many are by request, so check the contrada's own site before you walk over. It's the most local thing on this list, and the one that rewards advance planning.

15. Plan Around the Palio (or Its Trial Runs)

The Palio is the horse race run in the Campo each summer, traditionally on 2 July and 16 August. In 2026 both races were postponed by weather: the July race ran on 3 July and was won by Aquila, and the August race ran on Tuesday 18 August and was won by Nicchio. We haven't seen official 2027 dates, so treat 2 July and 16 August as the usual pattern and check before you book anything.

Free standing room in the middle of the square is limited and regulated, and children under 10 aren't admitted. It's a one-of-a-kind event. It's not a casual add-on.

Our Palio di Siena guide covers how to see it.

16. Skip the Pinacoteca (for Now)

The Pinacoteca Nazionale, Siena's national art gallery, has been closed since 26 January 2026 for a renovation. The official site says it's currently closed and gives no reopening date, so don't plan around it. Spend that hour at the Museo Civico or Santa Maria della Scala instead.

Nothing is lost.

Food, Wine and Classes Around Siena

17. Eat Ricciarelli and Panforte

Siena's two famous sweets both have protected geographical status: ricciarelli (soft almond biscuits) and panforte (a dense spiced fruit-and-nut cake). Buy a small box of each.

Eat them on a bench in the Campo instead of paying café prices.

For somewhere to buy them, Antica Drogheria Manganelli on Via di Città (numbers 71 to 73) says it has been trading since 1879, and listings show it open daily, though we couldn't confirm current hours. An antiques market runs in Piazza del Mercato on the third Sunday of each month except August.

Tip: Buy sweets on your last afternoon so they travel home in one piece.

18. Take a Tuscan Cooking Class

A cooking class is the easiest way to eat well on a first visit. We'd book the Tuscan cooking class with wine and lunch from Siena, which has more than 200 reviews and a rating of about 4.9 on the page we checked.

Tip: Book it for your second morning, when you've had a day of sightseeing to earn the pasta.

19. Do Chianti by Car or Bus

The Chianti villages are 30 to 60 km from Siena, between 45 minutes and 90 minutes away. Bus 125 serves Castellina and Radda if you don't want to drive. Castello di Brolio is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last ticket 4 p.m.) until 20 December, and closed from 1 January to mid-March 2027.

If you want a guide and a designated driver, our Tuscany tours round-up covers the wine day-tour options.

Day Trips From Siena

20. Spend a Half-Day in San Gimignano

San Gimignano is the town of towers, about 42 km from Siena and roughly an hour by bus. It has its own guide, San Gimignano, so here's the short version: go early to beat the crowds. If you'd rather have it done for you, this small-group day tour from Siena combines San Gimignano and Volterra over about eight hours and rates around 4.9 on more than 150 reviews.

21. Take Ten Minutes to Monteriggioni

Monteriggioni is the walled hilltop village about 15 km from Siena, 20 to 22 minutes by car or bus 131. It's a small village, so it works as a short stop rather than a full day.

22. Go Deeper Into the Val d'Orcia

If you have a second full day, the Val d'Orcia is the reason to stay. Montalcino is about 45 km away (just over an hour), Pienza about 55 km (roughly 1 hour 15 minutes by car) and Montepulciano about 65 km (around 1 hour 20 minutes). A small-group Val d'Orcia wine tour with lunch and Brunello covers it in 10 hours, and has about 486 reviews and a 4.4 rating. See our Val d'Orcia travel guide and Montepulciano guide for the towns themselves.

Free Things to Do in Siena

Most of the best things to do in Siena cost nothing: the Campo, the Fonte Gaia, San Domenico and the Fortezza, plus wandering the old town's medieval lanes. Santa Maria della Scala is also free on the first Sunday of each month. If you're travelling with children, the Museo Civico is free for under-11s, the OPA SI Pass is free to age 6, and the children's art museum at Santa Maria della Scala is a good rainy-day bet.

How Many Days in Siena?

If you're asking what to do in Siena with limited time, the answer starts with how long you have. Two nights is the sweet spot. One day is enough for the Campo, the tower and the cathedral, but it's rushed, and the city looks better once the day-trippers leave. Three nights suits you if you want to add the Val d'Orcia or Chianti. If you're coming from Florence for the day, this full-day tour covering Siena, San Gimignano and Monteriggioni runs about 11 hours and has thousands of reviews at a 4.6 rating, and our Florence to Siena guide covers doing it yourself.

Getting to and Around Siena

The regional train from Florence takes about an hour and a half, direct or with a change at Empoli, and there's no fast service. Omio's route page advertises regional fares from €5. Buses from Florence take roughly an hour and a quarter to an hour and 40 minutes, depending on the line. See our guide to getting from Florence to Siena for the comparison.

Don't drive into the centre. Most of the old town is a restricted traffic zone with cameras, so park outside the walls or have your hotel arrange a permit. If you need a car for the countryside, compare rental prices here, and if you land at Florence airport, pre-book a transfer. The old town is hilly, so wear shoes you can walk in.

Best Time to Visit Siena

Spring and autumn are usually the comfortable months. In July the average daily high is around 29 °C and in August about 28 °C, with the Palio crowds in both. November averages about 14 °C and December about 10 °C, and winter hours are shorter. Our best time to visit Tuscany page covers the rest of the region.

Where to Stay in Siena

Stay inside Siena's walls if you can, because the evenings are the best part. Siena also charges a tourist tax of about €3 per person per night in high season (1 March to 31 October) for most hotels and about €1.50 in low season, for up to four nights, with under-12s exempt. Check the current rate with your hotel.

• Splurge: Grand Hotel Continental Siena, Via dei Banchi di Sopra 85, scores 9.1 from more than 700 reviews on Booking.com.
• Mid-range: Albergo Cannon d'Oro, Via Montanini 28, scores 7.5 from more than 4,000 reviews.
• Budget: Hotel Alma Domus, Via Camporegio 37, scores 8.7 from more than 2,700 reviews.

For more on where to base yourself, see where to stay in Tuscany.

Siena FAQ

How many days do you need in Siena?

Two nights is ideal. One day covers the Campo, the Torre del Mangia and the Duomo, but it's rushed. Three days works if you add a day trip to Chianti or the Val d'Orcia.

Is Siena worth visiting?

Yes. It's a compact medieval city with one of Italy's best squares, a cathedral with a famous floor, and a food scene that rewards a slower stay. It works as a day trip from Florence or as a base for the countryside.

Can you enter Siena Cathedral for free?

No. The Duomo costs €7 with the floor covered and €10 while it's uncovered, and the OPA SI Pass is €14 or €16. The Basilica of San Domenico, by contrast, is free to enter.

Can you book the Torre del Mangia in advance?

No. Tickets are sold at the Palazzo Pubblico box office on the day, for groups of up to 25 every 45 minutes. Go early in summer, when slots can sell out.

Is Siena a tourist trap?

Not if you avoid midday. The Campo and the cathedral are busy when the tour buses are in, and quiet in the evening and early morning. The best experience of the city is the one you get by staying overnight.

What is Siena famous for?

Piazza del Campo, the Palio horse race, the cathedral and its marble floor, and sweets such as ricciarelli and panforte.

How do you get from Florence to Siena?

By regional train in about 1 hour 30 minutes, direct or with a change at Empoli, or by bus in roughly an hour and a quarter to an hour and 40 minutes depending on the line. See Florence to Siena.

Can you drive in Siena?

Not in the historic centre. Most of it is a restricted traffic zone with cameras, so park outside the walls or ask your hotel about a permit.

Plan Your Trip

• Hotel: Grand Hotel Continental Siena, Albergo Cannon d'Oro or Hotel Alma Domus
• Tours and tickets: OPA SI Pass with audio guide, walking tour with Duomo tickets
• Train: Florence to Siena on Omio
• Car: DiscoverCars
• eSIM: Yesim
• Insurance: Visitors Coverage

For more of the region, see our Tuscany travel guide, things to do in Tuscany, Tuscany itinerary, Lucca and Pisa.