Things to do in Siena for self travelers
Enjoy self-guided audio tours with included attraction tickets in one appAll self-guided activities
Embark on an adventure through Siena with an in-app audio guide, a perfect fit for enthusiasts of art, history, and Gothic architecture. Ticket admission to the iconic Cathedral of Siena is included, allowing immediate immersion into the grandeur of Siena’s religious and artistic heritage. (!) Please note that while your ticket to the cathedral is included and available within the app, the audio guide inside the cathedral is provided via a separate app. After you finish exploring the cathedral, set off on a journey through the cobblestone streets of Siena. You will visit the iconic Piazza del Campo, famous for its distinctive shell shape and historical significance, through the echoes of the past at Palazzo Salimbeni, Accademia Musicale Chigiana and more. The tour concludes at the imposing Medici Fortress, once a bastion of power and now a cultural landmark. En route, participants will indulge in sensorial stories of profound fountains, esteemed Renaissance painters, and a globally revered academy.
Enter a world of thrilling history and beautiful architecture - plus peek inside the pope's bedroom - at Pienza's magnificent Piccolomini Palace, built for Pope Pius II in the 15th century! Explore Renaissance life through its sumptuous architecture, priceless artworks and artifacts, and get inspired by the cool contemporary art gallery.
The Synagogue of Siena, located only a few steps from the Piazza del Campo, stands in the heart of the ancient Jewish Ghetto of Siena, where Sienese Jews remained confined until 1859. In 1571, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo I de Medici, extended the restrictive measures already in place in Florence to the state of Siena, where Jews had been present since the 12th century. Despite the limitations and the heavy restrictions imposed, the Jewish community of Siena increased, and its activities contributed significantly to the economic and cultural growth of the city. In 1786, the magnificent Synagogue of Siena was inaugurated. Today it remains the center of worship for the local Jewish community, and a shining example of Tuscan architecture, with Rococo and Neoclassical influences. Explore this historic site of cultural heritage and the adjoining Jewish Museum, and learn about the influence of Jewish culture on Siena.
If you have a taste for the finer things in life, then this all-in-one package for Montalcino, will help you discover both the wine and the town. Your ticket includes a visit to the Tempio del Brunello – an immersive and emotional journey to discover Brunello di Montalcino wine and the region it comes from – plus the Oro Di Montalcino App. At the Brunello Temple, take a five-stage journey to discover Montalcino. Start with a virtual reality station that immerses you in the region, then descend into an underground environment where immersive videos reveal what makes Brunello unique. Your third station will give voice to the characters who have made Brunello a myth. Next, you can leave your mark in the divine painting by using the colors of Montalcino. And lastly, see artistic masterpieces that Montalcino has inspired.
Embark on a captivating journey through time with the Siena's Self-Guided Audio Tour, perfect for history buffs and art aficionados alike. Unravel the rich tapestry of a medieval Tuscan gem, from the world's oldest banking institutions to architectural masterpieces that define this UNESCO World Heritage site. This audio experience is a must for those seeking to uncover the legacies of artists, while immersing themselves in a city that has meticulously preserved its cultural heritage. The tour kicks off at the iconic Piazza del Campo, famous for its distinctive shell shape and historical significance, and concludes at the imposing Medici Fortress, once a bastion of power and now a cultural landmark. Travelers will meander through the illustrious whorls of Siena, visiting notable stops such as the Siena Cathedral, Accademia Musicale Chigiana, and winding down bustling ancient streets in between. En route to the finale, participants will indulge in sensorial stories of profound fountains, esteemed Renaissance painters, and a globally revered academy. Memories will be forged through the echoes of the past at Palazzo Salimbeni and made tangible through the awe-inspiring presence of the Cathedral's treasured artworks. By the journey's end, the fortitude of the Medici Fortress stands as a final testament to Siena's storied past, leaving an indelible imprint of wonder.
About Siena
The best tours to do in Siena with kids are:
The best walking tours to do in Siena are:
The must-see attractions in Siena for a first visit are:
Insider tips for visiting Siena
Alexandra Sam is a local guide who has been publishing tours since 2024 for your discovery of hidden gems and local specialities of Siena on their personal guide page (view profile). Explore their expert tips planning trip to Siena.
When I’m in Siena, I always slip away from the Campo and head to the tiny Orto de’ Pecci, a green valley just below the old walls where you get one of the loveliest quiet views of Siena. For lesser-known attractions in Siena, I also recommend the Vicolo di San Pietro, where steep medieval lanes suddenly open onto rooftops and countryside. Locals know the Facciatone is famous, but I prefer Santa Maria della Scala’s hidden corridors and old pilgrim spaces. If you’re planning tours in Siena and wondering what to see in Siena beyond the postcard spots, these corners feel intimate, authentic, and deeply Sienese.
On my first days in Siena, I always start early in Piazza del Campo, before the café tables fill up, then climb Torre del Mangia for the best sense of Siena’s shell-shaped heart. For practical things to do in Siena, I recommend stepping into the Duomo complex, but also walking the back streets toward Via di Città and the small fountain at Fontebranda, where Siena feels more local. If you’re deciding what to see in Siena, don’t skip Santa Maria della Scala; its frescoed halls are among the most rewarding attractions in Siena. I’d leave tours in Siena for later and first let the city reveal itself on foot.
When I visit Siena, I usually eat around the streets branching off Via Pantaneto and in the small lanes near the Mercato district, where menus feel more local and you’ll spot Sienese stopping for lunch. If you visit Siena, I also recommend the neighborhood around Fontebranda: it’s quieter, and I’ve found some of the best pici and ribollita there after an uphill walk. Contrada areas like Civetta and Oca often hide tiny osterias that don’t feel polished, just honest. In any travel guide Siena readers check, food is usually secondary, but for me it’s one of the essential things to do in Siena, especially in Siena after sunset.
When I help friends choose where to stay in Siena, I usually suggest the area around Via di Città or the quieter streets behind the Duomo. You’re central, but Siena feels less crowded there in the evening, and I love how quickly you can reach both Campo and small neighborhood bakeries in the morning. For a practical travel guide Siena tip, Fontebranda is another smart choice if you want character and slightly lower prices, though the slopes are steep. If you visit Siena for the first time, staying inside the walls makes the main things to do in Siena easy on foot, and Siena after dark is part of the experience.
When I walk Siena, I always tell people not to stay only around Campo. For the most characterful attractions in Siena, I love Via di Città and the lanes of the Aquila and Onda contrade, where noble palaces sit beside tiny shrines and neighborhood fountains. If you’re deciding what to see in Siena, the area around Fontebranda shows a rougher, older side of Siena, with steep streets and views toward the valley. I also recommend the district near Via Pantaneto for everyday life, food shops, and evening passeggiata. Many tours in Siena skim these areas, but wandering them slowly reveals the city’s real texture.
When I visit Siena, I always look for the foods locals actually crave: pici with a rich aglione sauce, wild boar ragù, and the peppery, rustic slices of cinta senese salumi. Siena is also deeply tied to sweets, especially panforte, ricciarelli, and cavallucci; I like tasting them from old-fashioned bakeries rather than souvenir shops near Campo. If you visit Siena in cooler months, try ribollita or pappa al pomodoro in a neighborhood trattoria. In any travel guide Siena readers pick up, these dishes appear, but eating them well is one of my favorite things to do in Siena.
In my travel guide Siena advice, I usually recommend late April to June or September to early October, when Siena is warm but still comfortable for climbing its steep lanes. When I visit Siena in summer, I love the long evenings, but midday heat can make even simple things to do in Siena feel tiring. July and August bring more intensity, especially around the Palio, which is thrilling but crowded and expensive. If you want Siena at its most atmospheric, I find late autumn beautiful too: fewer visitors, bakery windows full of ricciarelli, and a quieter rhythm that lets you really visit Siena rather than rush through it.