Photo: Mark Sehnert · Public domain, Wikimedia Commons
Siena
A medieval hill town in the Tuscan countryside.
A Gothic hill town of brick lanes around a shell-shaped piazza, with a striped cathedral that rivals Florence's. Compact, walkable and calmer once day-trippers leave.
Places to see
- Piazza del CampoSight · A sloping, shell-shaped brick square fanning down to the town hall and its tall tower.Free
Torre del MangiaViewpoint · A slender tower with a view straight down into the Campo and across the brown hills of…≈ A$18
Siena CathedralChurch · Black-and-white striped walls and columns, a pulpit carved by Nicola Pisano, the…≈ A$14
Fonte GaiaSight · A long marble fountain at the top of the Campo, carved with figures, fed by an old system…
When to go
- Jan10° / 2°Some rainQuiet
- Feb12° / 2°Some rainQuiet
- Mar15° / 4°Some rainBusy
- Apr18° / 7°Some rainBusy
- May23° / 11°Some rainVery busy
- Jun28° / 15°Mostly dryVery busy
- Jul31° / 17°Mostly dryVery busy
- Aug31° / 17°Mostly dryVery busy
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
Il Campo. The shell-shaped square and the lanes around it, the heart of the town.
Camollia. The north end by the bus stops and the fortress: quieter and better value.
Flying in
Florence Peretola (FLR): Tram into Florence, then the bus to Siena, about 1 h 50 min, ≈ A$18.
Pisa Galileo Galilei (PSA): Train to Florence, then the bus to Siena, about 2 h 30 min, ≈ A$35.
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Siena; check times and fares before you fly.
Getting around
You can walk everywhere. A single ticket is ≈ A$3. The old town is small, hilly and car-free. The train station is down the hill (long escalators climb to the centre); buses from Florence stop right by the old town.
Tourist tax
Siena's city tax: usually about €2–3 a person a night in hostels and B&Bs, more in hotels, for the first few nights; under-12s don't pay. Paid at check-in (check).
