Things to Do in Siena: The Best Highlights & Attractions

All of Siena's Highlights on One Map

Siena has around 50,000 residents and is quite manageable in size — you can reach everything on foot.

On our Siena map, we’ve marked all the important highlights of this compact city for you:

Our Top 10 Sights in Siena

Siena is perfect for a day trip from Florence or other parts of Tuscany. Here are our top picks for things to do in Siena.

Piazza del Campo

The Piazza del Campo is the heart of Siena. With its size and trapezoidal shape, this enormous square is simply incredibly impressive.

Right on the square stands Siena’s city hall, the Palazzo Pubblico, with its over-100-meter-tall tower, the Torre del Mangia. Around the Piazza there are several cafés and restaurants — touristy, of course, but that’s part of the experience.

Since the Middle Ages, the legendary horse race Palio di Siena has taken place on the Piazza del Campo twice a year.

Torre del Mangia

The Torre del Mangia, standing over 100 meters tall, is one of Siena’s most iconic landmarks.

There’s actually a great story behind its name: Mangia is a form of the Italian verb to eat. Its first bell-ringer was apparently quite extravagant — he essentially “ate” through his money. The fellow earned this nickname in 14th-century Siena, and it stuck to the tower itself.

In terms of appearance, the tower closely resembles the bell tower of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, though it proudly claims to be a few meters taller.

From the top, you get a breathtaking panoramic view of Siena and the Tuscan hills. To get there, you’ll need to climb over 300 steps — there’s no elevator.

Tickets are only available on-site and cost 10 euros per person; children under 11 get in free.

The Cathedral of Siena

The Cathedral of Siena is one of the most significant sights in Italy — and you absolutely need to see it from the inside too. The nave is paneled in black-and-white marble, and the most jaw-dropping feature is the floor.

Scenes depicted in stone inlays cover the entire nave. The floor is so elaborately decorated that it took around 600 years to complete.

For most of the year, the floor is covered to protect it. Only once a year, from August through October, is it uncovered and available to view — so if you’re visiting in that window, don’t miss it.

The cathedral also includes the truly impressive Piccolomini Library, a completely frescoed side room. Here you can also see paintings by Raphael.

The cathedral complex includes the crypt, the baptistery, the cathedral museum, and the Facciatone viewing platform, located on an unfinished section of the cathedral. All of these highlights can be visited with a single pass.

Note: Buy tickets for the Cathedral of Siena in advance — it gets busy!

Cathedral Complex Pass

Single Ticket for the Cathedral and Library

Museo Civico: Siena's City Museum

The Museo Civico is Siena’s city museum, located inside the Palazzo Pubblico — the city hall right on the Piazza del Campo. It’s not huge; plan on about an hour.

That said, it’s really worth your time — not just for the paintings and frescoes from the 14th to 19th centuries, but for the ornate rooms themselves. There’s also a rotating exhibition of modern art.

Don’t miss the large loggia out back, which has a great view of the surrounding landscape — and a clear sightline to the cathedral.

Admission is 6 euros and you can buy tickets on-site.

Fontebranda

The Fontebranda is the most famous of Siena’s fountains. It’s a little inconspicuous — accessed via a staircase below the cathedral — and consists of three Gothic arches and a large basin.

The water arrives through a miles-long underground canal system that supplied Siena with fresh water as far back as the Middle Ages.

In the past, the basin was divided into three sections: one for people, one for animals, and one for washing laundry. Today the crystal-clear water is no longer drunk — instead, colorful fish swim around in it. In summer, it’s a perfect spot for a cool, refreshing break.

Our tip: You can reach the fountain via an underground escalator from Via del Costone. This saves you the roughly 100 steps you’d otherwise have to climb down from the old town.

Palazzo Salimbeni

The grand Palazzo Salimbeni stands on the square of the same name, right in the heart of Siena’s historic center. The palace is especially stunning in the evening, when it is beautifully illuminated.

Originally a fortress, the palace today serves as the headquarters of Monte dei Paschi di Siena — the oldest surviving bank in the world, based here since 1472.

The interior isn’t open to visitors, but an evening stroll past it is absolutely worth it.

Terrazza panoramica Vicolo del Campaccio

Where the Vicolo del Campaccio meets Via Camporegio, there’s a small viewing platform with a stunning vista over Siena’s old quarter.

You’ll always find people here taking photos of the city, especially at sunset.

Highly sought after are the tables at the two pizzerias located here — you can enjoy the panorama while you eat. Make a reservation in advance if you want one of those spots!

Fortezza Medicea

The Fortezza Medicea is a fortress just outside the historic center.

The whole complex is used for recreation: there are lawns, fountains, and walking paths, and events are held in the courtyard — including an outdoor cinema in summer.

You can walk the entire perimeter of the fortress walls, and from up here you get a great view of Siena and the rest of Tuscany.

Palio di Siena

The Palio di Siena is the legendary horse race that has taken place twice a year on the Piazza del Campo since the Middle Ages. Each horse races for one of Siena’s 17 contrade — the city districts into which Siena is divided.

The race is viewed critically outside of Siena, as it isn’t really in keeping with modern times and horses are injured every year.

But the Palio is essentially in the Sienese blood — it’s an extremely serious affair. Critical remarks from outsiders about the race are not welcome.

It takes place every year on July 2nd and August 16th, throwing the entire city into a state of excitement. In every alley, the flags of the local contrada fly from poles, processions in traditional costumes take place, and the songs of the contrade ring out loudly.

It’s not for everyone — but it’s a wonderful way to experience the deep-rooted traditions of the city.

Museo della Tortura

If you’ve had your fill of art and want something completely different, this is the place.

The Museo della Tortura displays original torture instruments from the 15th to 18th centuries across several floors.

There are around 100 exhibits, each with a detailed information panel. Fair warning: the museum is only for the strong of stomach — the items on display can be genuinely shocking.

The museum is located in a medieval palace near the Piazza del Campo.

Day Trip Ideas from Siena

Siena is a great base for day trips. The city sits quite centrally in Tuscany, and from here you can reach all the best things to do in Tuscany within one to two hours.

These destinations are all within about an hour’s drive from Siena and are absolutely worth visiting:

San Gimignano

You can spot San Gimignano from miles away thanks to its towers. The Manhattan of the Middle Ages is a small hilltop town with several medieval family towers rising above the rooftops.

From the winding alleyways you get a wonderful view of the Tuscan hills at every turn. San Gimignano is a must when you’re in the region.

From Siena it takes about 45 minutes by car to get there.

Also check out our tips for the most beautiful sights in San Gimignano.

Val d'Orcia

The Orcia Valley is where all those Tuscan postcard scenes come from: rolling hills with cypress-lined avenues, scattered farmhouses with red-tiled roofs, and endless vineyards.

The Val d’Orcia is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and simply can’t be missed in Tuscany. Set aside a full day, because there are some lovely villages to explore along the way: Pienza, Montalcino, and San Quirico d’Orcia are all well worth a stop.

The Val d’Orcia lies south of Siena — you can reach it in about 30 minutes.

Also check out our tips for the most scenic route through the Val d’Orcia.

Abbazia di San Galgano

The Abbazia San Galgano is the ruin of an abbey about 40 minutes from Siena. This enormous 12th-century structure stands in the middle of an open field.

The roof collapsed over the centuries, but the remaining walls are completely intact and you can visit for an entrance fee.

The view from inside is seriously impressive — when else do you get to stand inside a massive roofless church under open sky?

Volterra

Volterra is one of the most beautiful places in all of Tuscany.

Here you can lose yourself in medieval alleyways, visit a Roman theater, and admire traditional handcrafted works in alabaster.

There’s also an important museum of Etruscan artifacts here — Volterra was likely the most significant city in Tuscany during the Etruscan era.

From Siena it takes about an hour to reach Volterra.

Terme di Petriolo

From Siena it’s only a 30-minute drive to the Petriolo thermal baths. These are freely accessible hot springs in the middle of the forest, and they’re among our favorite under-the-radar spots in Tuscany.

The water bubbles up from the rock at nearly 40 degrees Celsius and spreads down the slope into various small pools.

At the bottom, a river flows through the forest where you can cool off after your soak.

The thermal baths are open around the clock, 365 days a year. Come in the evening if you can — it’s much less crowded.

Our Hotel Tips in Siena

If you’re doing a Tuscany road trip and want to spend a few nights in the city, here are our hotel recommendations in Siena:

Alternatively, there are some lovely wineries around Siena where you can stay overnight. Check out our article on the most beautiful wineries in Tuscany for that. And if you’re still looking for a place to stay elsewhere in the region, our hotel tips for Tuscany have you covered.

Getting to Siena and Parking

Traveling to Siena by Car

Siena’s old town is completely car-free — only residents are allowed to drive in.

There are several parking garages on the edge of the historic center where you can leave your car. Street parking is risky — you can get a ticket before you know it.

• Parking Garage Il Campo: open 24 hours, just a short walk from the Piazza del Campo. Parking costs 2 euros per hour, 35 euros per day. If you’re staying at a hotel in Siena, it’s 25 euros per day.
• Parking Garage Il Duomo: also open 24 hours with the same rates — 2 euros per hour and 35 euros per day. This mid-sized garage is located right next to the cathedral.
• Parking Garage at the Train Station: the most affordable option in Siena. The first half-hour is free, 50 cents for the first hour, and 2 euros from the second hour onward. An escalator from here takes you straight up into the old town.

Traveling from Florence to Siena by Train

You can also reach Siena by train. From Florence, a regional train runs to Siena every half hour, though not all of them are direct.

The direct journey takes about 1.5 hours; with a transfer it can easily take two hours. Tickets cost 10 euros. By car you’ll definitely get there faster.