How To Spend A Perfect Weekend In Siena Italy

Siena is the perfect place to spend a romantic holiday with your partner, with plenty of things to see and do. Its old centre is one of the most beautiful in Italy, with narrow streets, red palaces and old churches. Maybe a weekend isn’t long enough to see everything, but in 48 hours will give you enough time to see the main attractions and fall in love with Siena.

You can visit Siena and sample delicious Tuscan wines in the company of a small group of like-minded travellers on Culture Trip’s specially curated 10-day Northern Italy adventure.

Saturday

Siena is known worldwide for the Palio, its biannual horse race which takes place every July and August. While it’s an advised event, if possible, try to avoid Siena at this time of year: prices are higher, it is too crowded and weather is rather hot. The Palio is hosted in Piazza del Campo, the main and most beautiful square in Siena. Here you’ll also find the Public Palace with its spectacular Torre del Mangia, a high tower which deserves to be climbed to admire the gorgeous views over the town and surrounding hills.

After Torre del Mangia, buy a ticket to visit the Civic Museum: remember that it’s possible to buy a combined ticket for both the museum and tower for 13€. Take your time to admire the artworks and frescoes, such as the The Allegory of Good and Bad Government by Ambrogio Lorenzetti, the most famous Sienese painter of all time.

Now it’s time to rest your feet. After these visits you really deserve to relax and taste some of Siena’s delicacies. Piazza del Campo has plenty of bars and restaurants which offer typical Tuscan food. Choose one of them and order pici pasta, a kind of pasta only created in Siena which looks like spaghetti but bigger. Order also a glass of Montepulciano, a red wine produced in the nearby town of Montepulciano, to enjoy with your dinner.

Sunday

Siena is a fabulous city with a strong sense of identity. It is split into 17 neighbourhoods, all with their own names, flags and traditions. The old town holds many architectural treasures, and, besides Piazza del Campo, there is another place that you can’t miss during your weekend: the Cathedral of Santa Maria dell’Assunta.

This Italian Gothic masterpiece is one of the most beautiful churches of Italy. Not only is its polychrome marble façade absolutely stunning but inside it preserves unique pieces of art, such as the frescoes on the ceiling, mosaics and the Piccolimani library, dedicated to Pope Pius II with works by Pinturicchio and Raffaello Sanzio.

If you want to get out into nature, rent a car and head south. Siena is located in one of the most impressive areas of Tuscany, surrounded by olives, cypress trees, vineyards and ancient hamlets that can be discovered in few hours. It is also possible to spend some time in a thermal resort: Siena is surrounded by many natural hot springs and spas. Choose one of them and spend some time relaxing.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.