A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Aegina vs. Siena for Couples, Attractions, Food, and Nightlife

Should you visit Aegina or Siena?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Aegina or Siena? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Aegina

Aegina is a relaxing, vibrant, and fun island. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Siena

Siena is a beautiful, romantic, and charming city. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Aegina and Siena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Aegina or Siena?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Siena than Aegina, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Siena is better known for its food, historical sights, and impressive beauty, while Aegina is more popular for its nightlife, beaches, and small town charm. Aegina is well known for its local pistachio nuts, its nice seaside setting, and its easy access from Athens. Siena is well known for its beautiful medieval architecture, its delicious local restaurants, and the twice yearly Palio horserace. Also, Siena is famous for Piazza del Campo.

How is Aegina different from Siena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Siena and Aegina. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Aegina or Siena?

For an educational experience, head to a museum or a notable sight in either Aegina or Siena.

Aegina offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There are several temples on the island such as the Temple of Athena Aphaia and the Temple of Apollo. There's also and Archeological Museum that is nice to visit.

Many visitors head to Siena specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. At the heart of the city is Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta and Piazza del Campo. Other world famous sights include Palazzo Pubblico and Museo Civico, Torre del Mangia, and Pinacoteca Nazionale.

Is the Food Better in Aegina or Siena? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Siena is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Aegina is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in Siena is an experience not to be missed. The town is all about local flavors and many restaurants use local ingredients in their dishes. Pecorino of Pienza is the local cheese, and you'll also find many cured meats. Local pasta dishes include wild boar ragu and a local spaghetti. You'll also find local meats such as lamb, rabbit, chicken and pork.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Aegina. There's a vibrant restaurant scene that includes traditional eateries serving seafood and refreshing ice cream shops where you can cool off with a scoop of your favorite flavor.

Is Aegina or Siena Better for Nightlife?

Aegina is notable for nightlife. Also, Siena is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for nightlife and partying.

Aegina has plenty to do after the sun goes down. There's a great nightlife scene on the island. Most of the dance clubs are found in Agia Marina and you'll find more relaxing lounges around Aegina Town and other villages on the island.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Siena. The nightlife is laid back and relaxed. Most visitors enjoy socializing in the evening and meeting friends at Piazza del Campo. There are often live performances which you can enjoy as well as many cafes and wine bars around town.

Is Aegina or Siena Better for Beaches?

Aegina is very good for its beaches. However, Siena is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Aegina to enjoy the beach. While most of the beaches are small and crowded, they do offer a number of tourist facilities such as nearby bars and restaurants, as well as hotels. The most popular beaches on the island are Souvala and Agia Marina.

Siena is not a beach destination.

Is Aegina or Siena Better for its Old Town?

Siena is an amazing city to visit for its historic old town charm. However, Aegina does not have a historic old town.

Siena offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The beautiful old town is filled with medieval brick buildings. At the heart of the city is Piazza del Campo, which is a lively square with many neighborhoods spreading out from there.

Aegina does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Aegina or Siena?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Siena and Aegina.

Many visitors go to Aegina to go shopping. You'll find the standard souvenir shops around town where you can buy trinkets or other items you may have forgotten.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Siena. The main shopping street in town is Via Banchi di Sopra, which has many boutiques that sell clothing, bags, and other items. The town also has many leather goods, ceramics, and other local items available.

Is Aegina or Siena Better for Families?

Aegina is very good for its family-friendly activities. However, Siena is a mediocre city for its kid-friendly activities.

Aegina is a family-friendly place to visit. Kids will enjoy the ferry ride from Athens as well as the pirate stories they'll hear throughout their trip. There are places that the whole family can swim and great restaurants with kid-friendly food.

Siena is not always a place people visit with their families. The beauty and history may be lost to the little ones but there is a great atmosphere that even the young ones will appreciate. Kids will enjoy climbing to the top of Torre del Mangia or visiting one of the many playgrounds around town.

Is Aegina or Siena Better for Couples?

Siena is an amazing city to visit for couples. Also, Aegina is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Siena makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. With its impressive beauty and long running history, this is a truly romantic city. The atmosphere is relaxed and there are plazas and neighborhoods that are great for exploring. There are also many great restaurants, superb wine, and world class sights that are not to be missed.

Aegina is a nice destination for couples. Couples will appreciate the beauty and great restaurants that this beautiful island offers. It's a charming day trip from Athens that is filled with impressive historical sights and a nice atmosphere.

Is Aegina or Siena Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Aegina and Siena are notable places to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Aegina. Like most visitors, backpackers can hop on a ferry in Athens and visit the island as a day trip. It makes a nice excursion with many affordable restaurants and fun activities.

Siena is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. Many backpackers visit Siena as a daytrip from nearby Florence. While there are some affordable places to stay here, the atmosphere isn't as backpacker friendly as nearby Florence.

Is Aegina or Siena Better for Students?

Siena is a great destination for students. However, Aegina is not popular with students.

Siena is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. It's home to one of the oldest universities in Italy, and it's a wonderful study abroad destination for any student who wants to spend some time in Italy.

Aegina is not popular with students.

Is Aegina or Siena Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Aegina and Siena.

You'll find some public transit in Aegina, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. You'll find the central bus station in Aegina Town and there you can catch buses that travel around the island.

While Siena offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. TIEMME is the bus service that runs in and around town. Many lines pass through the train station and provide service from there.

Is Aegina or Siena a more walkable city?

Siena is a great destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Aegina is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Siena is a very walkable destination. The compact town center is best explored on foot.

Aegina is somewhat walkable. The town is walkable, but to explore elsewhere on the island, it's easiest to have your own vehicle.

For even more information, also check out Is Aegina Worth Visiting? and Is Siena Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Siena or Aegina?

How long in Aegina or Siena?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Aegina or Siena to fill your time. In our opinion, Siena has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Siena than Aegina. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Aegina than Siena. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Aegina, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Siena than Aegina. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Siena that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Siena than Aegina if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Siena.

One day in Aegina or Siena?

In Aegina, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this active destination offers. This island offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Siena. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Aegina or Siena?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Aegina. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Siena is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Aegina or Siena?

Aegina is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Aegina. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Siena. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Aegina or Siena?

You'll find food and shopping around the fun destination of Aegina. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the medieval destination of Siena. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Honeymoon Tours in Greece, The Best Luxury Tours to Greece, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Italy, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Aegina and Siena, we can see that Siena is more expensive. And not only is Aegina much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Aegina would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Aegina and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Siena would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Siena than you might in Aegina.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Aegina Expensive? and Is Siena Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Aegina or Siena?

Siena has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Aegina. When comparing the sizes of Aegina and Siena, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Aegina or Siena?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Aegina or Siena in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Aegina and Siena. The beaches, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Aegina this time of year. Furthermore, many travelers come to Siena for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Aegina is a little warmer than Siena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Aegina in July average around 27°C (81°F), and Siena averages at about 23°C (73°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Siena this time of the year. In Aegina, it's very sunny this time of the year. Aegina usually receives more sunshine than Siena during summer. Aegina gets 357 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 316 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Aegina usually receives less rain than Siena. Aegina gets 6 mm (0.2 in) of rain, while Siena receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Aegina or Siena in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Aegina as well as Siena. Many travelers come to Aegina for the shopping scene and the small town atmosphere. Additionally, many visitors come to Siena in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Aegina is generally a little warmer than Siena. Daily temperatures in Aegina average around 19°C (67°F), and Siena fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Aegina this time of the year. In the autumn, Aegina often gets more sunshine than Siena. Aegina gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 177 hours of full sun.

Aegina usually gets less rain in October than Siena. Aegina gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Siena receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Aegina or Siena in the Winter?

Both Siena and Aegina are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Aegina in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, most visitors come to Siena for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Aegina is a little warmer than Siena in the winter. The daily temperature in Aegina averages around 10°C (51°F) in January, and Siena fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

Aegina usually receives more sunshine than Siena during winter. Aegina gets 143 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 105 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Aegina usually receives less rain than Siena. Aegina gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Siena receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Aegina or Siena in the Spring?

Both Siena and Aegina during the spring are popular places to visit. Most visitors come to Aegina for the beaches and the small town charm during these months. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Siena because of the natural beauty.

In the spring, Aegina is a little warmer than Siena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Aegina in April average around 16°C (60°F), and Siena averages at about 12°C (54°F).

It's quite sunny in Aegina. In the spring, Aegina often gets more sunshine than Siena. Aegina gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 192 hours of full sun.

Aegina usually gets less rain in April than Siena. Aegina gets 25 mm (1 in) of rain, while Siena receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Siena and Aegina