A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Alexandria vs. Siena for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Alexandria or Siena?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Alexandria and Siena can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Alexandria or Siena?

Alexandria

There are few cities in the world with a history as rich, deep, tragic and fascinating than Alexandria, Egypt. Founded by Alexander the Great in 331 BC, Egypt's second largest city has seen the most extreme ups and extreme downs. The city watched the beautiful and iconic Alexandria Lighthouse crumble to the ground after several natural disasters. The Alexandria Library housed their most sacred and historical documents only to be burned to the ground. These structures may be physically gone, but the history remains. Alexandria is a city with an ancient allure that draws in visitors from all over the world. Alexandria is a survivor city ready for a comeback.

Siena

Located in Tuscany, Siena is a medieval city that is about 70 kilometers south of Florence. One of its most famous events is the horse race, Il Palio, which occurs twice a year during the summer. The race puts a lot of emphasis on neighborhood pride and competition. It is a local tradition that is of great importance to the residence, so it is not an event that is held specifically for tourists. It dates back to the Medieval times and is associated with the area's religion, pageantry and rivalry. In addition to the city's strong neighborhood pride, rich history, and impressive architecture, Siena was also the home of many famous artists including Duccio, Simone Martini, and Ambrogio and Pietro Lorenzetti.

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


Which place is cheaper, Siena or Alexandria?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Alexandria is $17, while the average daily cost in Siena is $142. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Alexandria and Siena in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Alexandria $7.99
    Siena $74
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Alexandria $16
    Siena $148
Compare Hotels in Alexandria and Siena

Looking for a hotel in Alexandria or Siena? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Alexandria


Hotels in Siena


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Alexandria Hotel Prices and Siena Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Alexandria $2.49
    Siena $21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Alexandria

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Alexandria:


  • Taxi to Train Station
    $0.08

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Alexandria

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Alexandria:

  • Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Alexandria City Hotels: $16
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria Airport (HBE) to Alexandria: $26
  • Alexandria to Alexandria Airport - Departure Private Transfer: $26
  • Borg El Arab Arrival & Departure Transfers: $40
  • Private Pickup Transfer From A Hotel In Alexandria To Borg Al Arab Airport: $50
  • Alexandria Airport to Alexandria - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $52
  • Private Transfer from 6 of October City to El Cairo (CAI) Airport: $52
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo/Giza Hotels or Cairo./Giza to Alexandr: $65
  • Private One Way Transfer from Alexandria Hotels to Cairo and Giza Hotels: $68
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria Port to Cairo Int Airport (CAI): $71
  • Private Transfer from Alexandria to Cairo : $73
  • From Private One-Way Transfer to Cairo: $75

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Siena

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Siena:

  • Arrival transfer Siena Airport SAY to Siena City by van or car: $148
  • From Florence: Private Siena Day Trip with Transfers: $348
  • Luxury Private Transfer Between Siena and Genoa: $1,118
  • Private transfer from Siena to Florence: $202
  • Rome Fiumicino Airport: Shared Transfer to/from Siena by Bus: $11
  • Siena - Rome Transfer Tour with Orvieto & Montepulciano: $1,059
  • Siena to Milan Linate Airport 1-Way Private Transfer: $1,305
  • Siena to Milan Malpensa airport private transfer: $1,433
  • Transfer Siena-Florence with visit to Chianti and wine tasting: $218
  • Transfer Siena-Pisa with stop in San Gimignano & Lunch: $245

Is it cheaper to fly into Alexandria or Siena?

Prices for flights to both Siena and Alexandria change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Alexandria $6.46
    Siena $54

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Alexandria

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Alexandria.

  • Half-Day Food Tour in Alexandria, Egypt: $35
  • Alexandria Food Tour: $50
  • From Giza: Sound&light show, Giza pyramids and Dinner on the Nile: $94

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Siena

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Siena.

  • Siena food tour and Chianti wine: $60
  • Walking Food Tour with Tastings: $95
  • Tuscan Dinner in a Villa in an Ancient Siena Olive Grove: $98
  • Siena Food Tour - Do Eat Better Experience : $99
  • From Siena/Chianti: Dinner & Drinks in the Chianti Vineyards: $102
  • Siena countryside: cooking class in a real Tuscan farmhouse: $123
  • Cooking Class in a historical villa in Siena Provence: $130
  • Tuscan Cooking Class in Central Siena: $131
  • 4 Hour Private Cooking Class Unique Tuscan Experience in Siena: $131
  • Family Cooking Class: Pizza and Tiramisù from Siena: $138
  • Small Group Cooking Class in Chianti Farmhouse: $138
  • Small group Cooking Class in Chianti Farmhouse: $141

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Alexandria $3.50
    Siena $4.02

Tours and Activities in Alexandria

Here are a few actual costs in Alexandria for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • The Ancient Roman Theater Entry Ticket: $3.80
  • Pompey's Pillar Entry Ticket: $3.80
  • Citadel of Qaitbay Entry Ticket : $3.80
  • Catacomb Of Kom El-Shoqafa Entry Tickets : $3.80
  • Skip The Line Entry Ticket to Pompey's Pillar in Alexandria: $4.25
  • Alexandria Library Entry Ticket: $5.70
  • Qaitbay Citadel Entry Ticket: $5.70
  • Catacomb Of Kom El-Shoqafa Entry Ticket: $5.70
  • Alexandria Library Skip the line Access Entry Ticket: $6.12
  • Skip the Line Tickets for The Catacomb of Kom eL Shoqafa: $6.12
  • Skip the Line Tickets for The Roman Theater in Alexandria: $6.12
  • Library of Alexandria Entry Ticket Included Pickup And Drop Off: $6.38

Tours and Activities in Siena

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Siena are as follows:

  • First Discovery Walk and Reading Walking Tour: $3.21
  • Palazzo Pubblico Entry Ticket: $6.42
  • Escape Game and Tour: $6.95
  • Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and City Tour: $6.95
  • City Highlights Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $6.99
  • Siena Cathedral and Piccolomini Library Entry Ticket: $8.56
  • Siena Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $8.75
  • Italian Opera in Siena Experience: $27
  • Escape Tour - Self-Guided Citygame: $32
  • Guided tour of Siena INCLUDING the Cathedral or Museum: $33
  • Chianti: Wine and Olive Oil Tasting with Cellar Tour: $36
  • Wine Experience in an Organic Chianti Winery: $36

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Alexandria $1.35
    Siena $2.34

Sample the Local Flavors in Siena

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Siena:

  • Wine Tasting at the Winery in the Panoramic Terrance: $27
  • Montalcino: Brunello Wine Tasting Experience: $35
  • Total Immersion Wine Tour in Chianti: $43
  • Lapi&Tour Guided tour of the cellars with wine tasting: $52
  • From Florence: San Gimignano, Siena, and Chianti Wine Tour: $55
  • Tuscany Hiking Tour from Siena Including Wine Tasting: $60
  • Siena Underground Wine tasting in a Medieval Cave: $61
  • Siena Underground Wine tasting in a Medieval Cave: $63
  • Tuscan Classics Wine Tasting Class with Aperitivo: $64
  • Montalcino: Brunello Wine Tasting & Lunch in a Tuscan Castle: $64
  • Wine and Food Pairing Class with Tuscan Wine Tastings: $75
  • Organic Winery Tour and Wine Tasting in Siena: $80


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Alexandria and Siena, we can see that Siena is more expensive. And not only is Alexandria much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Alexandria is in Africa and Siena is in Europe, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Alexandria would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Alexandria 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 Alexandria.

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


Which is Bigger, Alexandria or Siena?

Alexandria has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Siena. When comparing the sizes of Alexandria 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 Alexandria or Siena?

Siena has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Alexandria experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Alexandria or Siena in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Alexandria and Siena. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Alexandria year-round. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Siena this time of year.

In the summer, Alexandria is a little warmer than Siena. Typically, the summer temperatures in Alexandria in July average around 26°C (79°F), and Siena averages at about 23°C (73°F).

In July, Alexandria usually receives less rain than Siena. Alexandria gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Siena receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Alexandria 26°C (79°F) 
    Siena 23°C (73°F)

Should I visit Alexandria or Siena in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Alexandria as well as Siena. Alexandria attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Siena for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Alexandria is generally a little warmer than Siena. Daily temperatures in Alexandria average around 22°C (72°F), and Siena fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

Alexandria usually gets less rain in October than Siena. Alexandria gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Siena receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Alexandria 22°C (72°F) 
    Siena 16°C (61°F)

Should I visit Alexandria or Siena in the Winter?

Both Siena and Alexandria are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Alexandria throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Siena in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Alexandria is much warmer than Siena in the winter. The daily temperature in Alexandria averages around 13°C (55°F) in January, and Siena fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

In January, Alexandria usually receives less rain than Siena. Alexandria gets 50 mm (2 in) of rain, while Siena receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Alexandria 13°C (55°F) 
    Siena 7°C (45°F)

Should I visit Alexandria or Siena in the Spring?

Both Siena and Alexandria during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Alexandria because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Furthermore, most visitors come to Siena for the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Alexandria is much warmer than Siena. Typically, the spring temperatures in Alexandria in April average around 19°C (66°F), and Siena averages at about 12°C (54°F).

Alexandria usually gets less rain in April than Siena. Alexandria gets 10 mm (0.4 in) of rain, while Siena receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Alexandria 19°C (66°F) 
    Siena 12°C (54°F)

Typical Weather for Siena and Alexandria

Alexandria Siena
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 13°C (55°F) 50 mm (2 in) 7°C (45°F) 64 mm (2.5 in)
Feb 13°C (55°F) 40 mm (1.6 in) 7°C (45°F) 67 mm (2.6 in)
Mar 16°C (61°F) 20 mm (0.8 in) 9°C (48°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Apr 19°C (66°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 12°C (54°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
May 22°C (72°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 16°C (61°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Jun 23°C (73°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 20°C (68°F) 56 mm (2.2 in)
Jul 26°C (79°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 23°C (73°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Aug 27°C (81°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 23°C (73°F) 59 mm (2.3 in)
Sep 25°C (77°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 20°C (68°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
Oct 22°C (72°F) 10 mm (0.4 in) 16°C (61°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Nov 19°C (66°F) 30 mm (1.2 in) 10°C (50°F) 95 mm (3.7 in)
Dec 14°C (57°F) 50 mm (2 in) 7°C (45°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)