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

Should you visit Beaune or Siena?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Beaune and Siena. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Beaune

Beaune is a vineyard-filled, cultural, and historic town. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Siena

Siena is a history, beautiful, and romantic city. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Beaune and Siena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Beaune or Siena?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Beaune. Although Beaune and Siena are popular destinations, Beaune has more sights and attractions for tourists. Beaune is very popular for its food and small town charm, while Siena attracts visitors for its impressive beauty. Beaune is famous for its surrounding vineyards and world-renowned wines. It is also well known for The Surrounding Vineyards. Siena is famous for its beautiful medieval architecture, its delicious local restaurants, and the twice yearly Palio horserace.

How is Beaune different from Siena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Plenty of people visit the high quality sights and museums in both Beaune and Siena.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Beaune. Top sights and museums around town include Hôtel-Dieu (a former hospital), Château de Savigny, and Château de la Rochepot.

Siena offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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 Beaune or Siena? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

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

Beaune has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. The restaurant scene is made up of small, narrow, local bistros that serve local dishes with regional ingredients. Many of the menus are focused on wine with the dishes designed specifically to compliment the wines. This is a tourist town, and you'll find many visitors come specifically to enjoy the French cuisine.

Siena has a huge number of terrific restaurants. 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.

Is Beaune or Siena Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Beaune or Siena has a better nightlife scene.

Beaune has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. You'll find bars and pubs as well as many places to sip French wine and enjoy the evening.

If you're looking for night time activities Siena has a few options to choose from. 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 Beaune or Siena Better for its Old Town?

Visitors enjoy the first-rate old town areas in both Beaune and Siena.

Beaune has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. The old town is walled and compact. It is centered around the medieval hospital complex and it is filled with cobblestone streets and shops.

The old town of Siena is one of the most recognized in 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.

Is the Shopping Better in Beaune or Siena?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Siena and Beaune.

Beaune offers some nice shopping areas. Boutiques, wine shops, and independent vendors are fun to explore in town.

Siena has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. 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 Beaune or Siena Better for Families?

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

Beaune is a family-friendly place to visit. The town has museums like Hospices de Beaune, Hotel-Dieu (a formal hospital), as well as vineyards that you can hike through. Many people enjoy taking a hot air balloon ride while they're in the region.

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 Beaune or Siena Better for Couples?

Beaune and Siena both first-rate destinations for a couple.

Beaune is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. Couples will enjoy exploring vineyards, sipping French wine, and wandering through the charming old town. There are breathtaking hot air balloon rides and wonderful French restaurants that make for a romantic trip.

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.

Is Beaune or Siena Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Siena is a good destination for backpackers. However, Beaune is a town with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Siena. 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.

Beaune is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's a charming town, but it's not on many backpacker's itineraries. There are also a limited number of hostels to choose from.

Is Beaune or Siena Better for Students?

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

Many students visit 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.

Beaune is not popular with students.

Is Beaune 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 Beaune and Siena.

You'll find some public transit in Beaune, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. While you can walk around the historic center, it's possible to take a bus if you're traveling further.

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 Beaune or Siena a more walkable city?

Beaune 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 Beaune on foot. It's a walkable town that's perfect for taking a stroll.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Siena or Beaune?

How long in Beaune or Siena?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Beaune or Siena to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Beaune than Siena because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Beaune, and 1-2 days is enough time in Siena.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Siena than Beaune 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 Beaune or Siena?

In Beaune, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this vineyard-filled destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Lots of people come for the food. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

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 Beaune or Siena?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Beaune. 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.

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 Beaune or Siena?

Beaune is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Beaune. Lots of people come for the food. Visiting the old town is also a must. 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 Beaune or Siena?

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

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the charming 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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France, 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 Beaune and Siena, we can see that Beaune 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 Beaune would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Beaune 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 Beaune Expensive? and Is Siena Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Beaune or Siena?

Siena has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Beaune. When comparing the sizes of Beaune 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 Beaune 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 Beaune or Siena in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Beaune and Siena. Many travelers come to Beaune for the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, many visitors come to Siena in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

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

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Siena this time of the year. In Beaune, it's very sunny this time of the year. Beaune usually receives less sunshine than Siena during summer. Beaune gets 266 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 316 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Beaune usually receives more rain than Siena. Beaune gets 51 mm (2 in) of rain, while Siena receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Beaune or Siena in the Autumn?

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

Beaune is cooler than Siena in the autumn. The daily temperature in Beaune averages around 13°C (55°F) in October, and Siena fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In the autumn, Beaune often gets less sunshine than Siena. Beaune gets 121 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 177 hours of full sun.

Beaune usually gets less rain in October than Siena. Beaune gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Siena receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Beaune or Siena in the Winter?

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

Beaune can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Beaune is much colder than Siena. Typically, the winter temperatures in Beaune in January average around 3°C (38°F), and Siena averages at about 7°C (45°F).

Beaune usually receives less sunshine than Siena during winter. Beaune gets 53 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 105 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Beaune usually receives less rain than Siena. Beaune gets 59 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Siena receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Beaune or Siena in the Spring?

Both Siena and Beaune during the spring are popular places to visit. The spring months attract visitors to Beaune because of the small town charm. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Siena this time of year.

In April, Beaune is generally around the same temperature as Siena. Daily temperatures in Beaune average around 11°C (53°F), and Siena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

In the spring, Beaune often gets less sunshine than Siena. Beaune gets 178 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 192 hours of full sun.

Beaune usually gets less rain in April than Siena. Beaune gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Siena receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Siena and Beaune