A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Basel vs. Siena for Old Town, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Basel or Siena?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Basel or Siena, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Basel

Basel is a beautiful, vibrant, and historic city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Siena

Siena is a charming, medieval, and history city. You'll find world class beauty here as well. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Basel and Siena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Basel or Siena?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Siena than Basel. While Basel is larger than Siena, Siena has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Siena is very popular for its food, historical sights, and impressive beauty, while Basel attracts visitors for its shopping. Siena is more touristy than Basel and is known for its beautiful medieval architecture, its delicious local restaurants, and the twice yearly Palio horserace. It is also well known for Piazza del Campo. Basel is famous for its many museums and its nice old town.

How is Basel different from Siena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Plenty of people visit the excellent sights and museums in both Basel and Siena.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Basel can be an interesting and educational experience. The city is filled with history. Head to Minster Hill to see the beautiful historic church and Münsterplatz. There are also several unique museums around town including Jean Tinguely Museum, the Paper Mill Museum, the Historical Museum, and the Museum of Art.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Siena. 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 Basel or Siena? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Siena is notable for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Siena. 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.

Basel is becoming an appealing option for foodies. Food around town can be expensive, but there are some outdoor markets where you can buy fruit and a bratwurst for a reasonable price. The city is known for its breads, soups, and pastries, which are all delicious.

Is Basel or Siena Better for Nightlife?

Evening events are nice in both Basel and Siena.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Basel. The city's nightlife comes alive as the sun sets. There are bars, pubs, and dance clubs that stay active until the early morning hours.

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 Basel or Siena Better for its Old Town?

Siena is a world-class destination for its old town. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its historic old town charm.

The historic old town of Siena is revered around the world. 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.

Basel is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. The charming old town is fun to explore on foot with its quaint streets and meandering alleys. The beautiful architecture and ornate fountains give the area a unique personality. On the hottest days you may even see locals swimming in some of the fountains.

Is the Shopping Better in Basel or Siena?

Basel is notable for shopping. Also, Siena is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Basel is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The old town is filled with shops that you can wander through as you explore. Popular shopping streets include Freie Strasse and the area around Marktplatz, where you'll find boutique shops and interesting trinkets. You can also head to the city's oldest department store - Manor.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting 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 Basel or Siena Better for Families?

Basel is notable for its family-friendly activities. However, Siena is a mediocre city for its kid-friendly activities.

Basel is a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has an impressive zoo, a really unique toy museum, as well as Aquabasilea with its pools and slides. It's also compact enough that little legs can explore and enjoy everything that it has to offer. If the weather's warm, head for the river to cool off.

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 Basel or Siena Better for Couples?

Siena is a world-class destination for its romantic activities. Also, Basel is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for couples.

Siena has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. 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.

Basel is a good city for couples to visit. Nice restaurants, interesting museums, and several great spas make this a nice place for a romantic trip.

Is Basel or Siena Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Basel and Siena are nice destinations for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Basel. There are a few hostels and a really useful City Pass that make this city an option for backpackers and budget travelers. It's also a major transit center so accessibility is convenient. If you're traveling around Europe by train, you'll likely pass through Basel at some point.

Siena is a good city to visit for backpackers. 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 Basel or Siena Better for Students?

Basel and Siena are both excellent destinations for students and younger travelers.

Basel is a great city to visit as a student. The University of Basel brings in international students from around the world. The city makes a nice base for exploring Europe, but it's also a bit expensive which can be challenging on a student income.

Students come from all over to stay in Siena. 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.

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

Basel is notable for its public transit. Also, Siena is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Basel is fairly effecient and thorough. Trams and buses make it easy to get around town.

Siena has some public transit options. TIEMME is the bus service that runs in and around town. Many lines pass through the train station and provide service from there.

Is Basel or Siena a more walkable city?

Basel is very popular for its walkability. Also, Siena is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of walkability.

It is easy to get around Basel on foot. The old town and most of the major attractions are easily accessible on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Siena or Basel?

How long in Basel or Siena?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Basel or Siena to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Basel than Siena because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Basel, and 1-2 days is enough time in Siena.

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

Couples should spend more time in Siena than Basel. 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 Basel than Siena 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 Basel.

One day in Basel or Siena?

In Basel, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this historic destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

In Siena, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this charming destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Basel or Siena?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Basel. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Siena. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. 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.

Five days in Basel or Siena?

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

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

A week in Basel or Siena?

You'll find food and shopping around the historic destination of Basel. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

You'll find food and shopping around the romantic destination of Siena. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Switzerland, The Best Bicycle Tours in Switzerland, 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 Basel and Siena, we can see that Basel is more expensive. And not only is Siena much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Siena would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Siena 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 Basel would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Basel than you might in Siena.

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

Which is Bigger, Basel or Siena?

Basel has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Siena. When comparing the sizes of Basel 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 Basel 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 Basel or Siena in the Summer?

Both Siena and Basel are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Basel for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Siena because of the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Basel is generally around the same temperature as Siena. Daily temperatures in Basel average around 21°C (70°F), and Siena fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

It's quite sunny in Siena. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Basel. Basel usually receives less sunshine than Siena during summer. Basel gets 241 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 316 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Basel usually receives more rain than Siena. Basel gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Siena receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Basel or Siena in the Autumn?

Both Siena and Basel during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Basel because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Siena this time of year.

Basel is cooler than Siena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Basel averages around 13°C (56°F) in October, and Siena fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In the autumn, Basel often gets less sunshine than Siena. Basel gets 120 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 177 hours of full sun.

Basel usually gets less rain in October than Siena. Basel gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Siena receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Basel or Siena in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Basel and Siena. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Basel this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Siena for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Basel in the winter. In the winter, Basel is much colder than Siena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Basel in January average around 3°C (37°F), and Siena averages at about 7°C (45°F).

Basel usually receives less sunshine than Siena during winter. Basel gets 55 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 105 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Basel usually receives more rain than Siena. Basel gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Siena receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Basel or Siena in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Basel as well as Siena. Many travelers come to Basel for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Siena in the spring for the natural beauty.

In April, Basel is generally around the same temperature as Siena. Daily temperatures in Basel average around 12°C (53°F), and Siena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the spring, Basel often gets less sunshine than Siena. Basel gets 150 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 192 hours of full sun.

Basel usually gets more rain in April than Siena. Basel gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Siena receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Siena and Basel