A Practical Guide to Activities in Siena
Siena planned by time of day
Siena packs a lot into a small, car-free centre of steep lanes, so it helps to match each activity to the part of the day it suits. Cars are barred from the walled centre by camera-enforced traffic zone rules, so park outside the walls and walk or ride the free escalators. Pickpockets work the busiest squares, so keep bags zipped in crowds.
Morning: the cathedral complex
The Duomo precinct is best before tour groups arrive. The OPA SI PASS covers the cathedral, the Piccolomini Library, the cathedral museum with its panoramic terrace, the crypt and the baptistery, and stays valid for three consecutive days. It costs EUR 14 for adults, or EUR 16 while the inlaid marble floor is uncovered. Children aged 7 to 11 pay EUR 3 and younger children enter free. The floor is normally covered; it is uncovered in a summer window and again from late summer to mid-November, so check the Opera’s calendar for 2027 dates. Tickets and hours are on the Opera’s page: Duomo tickets and hours
Midday: frescoes and a tower
The Palazzo Pubblico on the Campo holds the civic museum, where the large fresco cycles on good and bad government are the main draw. A ticket is about EUR 10. The Torre del Mangia next door costs EUR 10 and is sold in person at the ticket office on the day, never online. Groups of up to 25 climb every 45 minutes up 400 steps, so expect a short wait. Confirm it is open on the day, since it closed for a spell earlier in 2026. Current fares: civic museum and tower prices
Afternoon: underground and sweet
The medieval aqueduct tunnels, the Bottini, can be visited in small guided groups of up to ten. Only part of the Fonte Gaia branch is open, children under 8 are not admitted, and visits pause from June to August. Booking is through the Comune’s ticket page, and slots appear only on certain days. Bring a torch and non-slip shoes, and expect to leave large bags behind. Details: Bottini visit details
Between sights, try the local sweets: panforte, ricciarelli and cavallucci. Pasticceria Nannini, on Via Banchi di Sopra, sells them alongside coffee.
Evening: the Campo
Locals sit on the sloping bricks of Piazza del Campo at sunset facing the Palazzo Pubblico. Buy a panino from a nearby salumeria such as Il Cencio, or take a table at one of the cafes around the rim for a glass of Sangiovese. In winter the ring is quieter and the light is lower.
Cooking and market days
Scuola di Cucina di Lella, on Via Fontebranda, runs group classes of about four hours for roughly EUR 130, and the menu covers fresh pasta rather than pici alone. The weekly market takes place on Wednesday mornings around La Lizza and the Fortezza. The Mercato nel Campo is a separate event held once a year in early December.
Palio days
The Palio is run twice a year, on 2 July and 16 August, and weather can postpone it. See the shows and events guide for more.
Read more: sightseeing in Siena , walking tours and the two-day itinerary .
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