Easy Excursions From Siena by Bus or Car

October 29, 2026

Excursions from Siena, sorted by what you want to see

Siena sits between three landscapes: Chianti to the north, the pale clay hills of the Crete Senesi to the east and the Val d’Orcia to the south. That makes it a good base, but public transport thins out fast once you leave the main roads. This page sorts the options by theme and says honestly which ones work without a car.

Towers and walls

San Gimignano, about 40 km north-west, is known for its surviving medieval tower-houses and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Collegiata church has 14th-century frescoes on the Old and New Testaments, and the Torre Grossa gives a view over the roofs. Expect to pay about EUR 10 for the civic museum and tower circuit, but confirm on the town’s museum site. Gelateria Dondoli on Piazza della Cisterna is the famous gelato stop, and Vernaccia is the local white wine.

By bus, take Autolinee Toscane line 130. A change at Poggibonsi is common, there is no train station in San Gimignano, and the trip takes roughly 1 hour 15 to 2 hours. Fares are EUR 8.10 booked ahead and EUR 10 on board. Check the last bus back before you commit. Timetable: line 130 timetable

Monteriggioni is a small walled village about 15 km north-west with fourteen towers on its circuit. Buses 130 and 131 stop at La Colonna, roughly 500 metres from the gate. Walking the ramparts costs a few euros and winter closures for maintenance are possible. Directions: how to reach Monteriggioni

Wine towns

Montalcino lies about 42 km south and is the home of Brunello, a red made from Sangiovese. The fortress has an enoteca inside, and the Romanesque abbey of Sant’Antimo stands in olive groves roughly 10 km further. Montepulciano, about 65 km south-east, climbs a ridge to Piazza Grande and has old cellars cut into the rock under its palaces, where Vino Nobile is tasted. Both are far easier by car or small-group tour than by bus.

Renaissance streets and valley views

The Val d’Orcia is a UNESCO cultural landscape. Pienza was remodelled in the 1460s as an ideal Renaissance town, and its pecorino cheese is sold along the lanes. San Quirico d’Orcia has a 16th-century Italian garden, the Horti Leonini, with free entry. Bagno Vignoni centres on a square thermal basin that is for looking at, not swimming in.

Bus line 112 serves this valley only a few times a day, with no listing on Sundays, and takes about two hours to Pienza with a change at Buonconvento. Treat it as one village a day, or hire a car or join a small-group tour.

Roofless abbey

San Galgano is about 32 km south-west. The Cistercian church has no roof and stands open to the sky, and a round chapel on the hill above shows the sword said to have been driven into the rock in 1180. No practical bus runs there, so go by car, taxi or tour. The abbey admission is not confirmed, so check before you leave.

Driving tips

The old centre is a camera-enforced restricted zone. Leave the car at a car park beyond the walls and ride the free escalators. The fine for entering the zone is sent to the car’s registered owner, and the amount varies, so avoid it entirely.

Guided day tours to compare: Compare tours on Viator