Three self-guided walks through Siena Siena is a city for walking, and nothing else gets you far, since the old centre is closed to ordinary traffic. The three routes below run from short to long. All of them involve slopes, so read the terrain notes first. Terrain and shoes Siena spreads over three ridges, and the lanes between them climb at gradients that reach 18 to 20 percent in places. Kerbs are high and the stone is slippery after rain.

Siena’s landmarks and what each ticket gets you The sights cluster around two squares, the Campo and the Duomo, ten minutes apart on foot. Three ticket systems cover them, and knowing which is which saves money and queueing. There is no city-wide card for transport and museums, so you buy each system separately. Ticket system one: the Duomo’s Opera The OPA SI PASS is valid for three consecutive days. It covers the cathedral, the Piccolomini Library, the Museo dell’Opera, the Facciatone viewpoint, the crypt and the baptistery.

A romantic weekend in Siena, in order Siena suits couples because it is compact, car-free and best at the edges of the day, when the brick turns warm and the tour groups have left. This page lays out a slow weekend rather than a list of sights. Spring and early autumn are the most comfortable seasons; midsummer afternoons are hot. Friday evening: arrive and wander Leave the car outside the walls and walk in.

One base, three directions: a Tuscan trip from Siena Siena works as a base because three different landscapes start within an hour of its walls: Chianti to the north, the pale clay hills of the Crete Senesi to the east and the Val d’Orcia to the south. Rather than a rigid schedule, this page treats the trip as a city day plus up to three outings that you can reorder to suit the weather.

Siena with children, by age and energy Siena is a good place for children who like to climb, look for symbols and eat ice cream, and a tiring one for strollers. The lanes are steep, the kerbs are high and the paving is uneven cobble, so a baby carrier works far better than a pushchair. Here is what suits each age, followed by a sample day. Toddlers and under-sevens Most sights are free for this age.

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.

Special-access visits in Siena, grouped by what you get to see Some of Siena’s best experiences are not a walk-in ticket to a gallery. They involve a climb, a guide, a locked door or an email. This page groups them by the kind of access they need rather than by price. Up high The cathedral roof route, called Porta del Cielo, leads through the upper galleries and out onto the roof terraces for wide views toward Monte Amiata.

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.