A Travel Price Comparison for Italy Siena vs. Pompeii for Attractions, Couples, Families, and Backpackers

Should you visit Siena or Pompeii?

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 Siena and Pompeii can help you decide which place is right for you.

Siena

Siena is a romantic, charming, and medieval city. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. It's also popular because of the food, shopping, and museums.

Pompeii

Pompeii is a ancient, famous, and iconic archeological site. It's also known for museums.

Siena and Pompeii: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Siena or Pompeii?

Both Pompeii and Siena have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. Siena is better known for its food, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Pompeii is more popular for its museums. Pompeii is more touristy than Siena and is popular for its well preserved archaeological ruins that are still intact following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Siena is well known for its beautiful medieval architecture, its delicious local restaurants, and the twice yearly Palio horserace.

How is Siena different from Pompeii?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Pompeii is very popular for its sights and museums. Also, Siena is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Pompeii that are not to be missed. Pompeii is a city frozen in time and it is truly a one-of-a-kind destination. The streets remain as they once stood, lined with shops and homes. Highlights of a visit include the Forum, the Antiquarium, the Temple of Isis, and the Teatro Grande.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Siena can be an interesting and educational experience. 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 Siena or Pompeii? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Siena is an excellent place to visit for its restaurants. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for its restaurant scene.

Siena has a number of nationally recognized food spots and 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.

While Pompeii is not famous for its food, you'll find what you need there. While there is a café near the Forum, the quality of the food isn't great and it can get crowded. You'd do best to bring your own food as the site is large and you'll want to eat on your own schedule.

Is Siena or Pompeii Better for Nightlife?

Siena is very good for its evening party scene. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for nightlife.

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.

Things get quiet in the evenings in Pompeii. As a popular tourist destination, you'll find some bars nearby, but most people visit as a day trip and head out of town before the evening hours.

Is Siena or Pompeii Better for its Old Town?

Siena is renowned for its historic old town charm. However, Pompeii does not have a historic old town.

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.

Pompeii does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Siena or Pompeii?

Siena is very good for its shopping areas. However, Pompeii is lacking in options for shopping.

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.

Pompeii has some shopping areas for those that seek them out. There are some souvenir stands outside of the site where you can buy trinkets to remember your visit.

Is Siena or Pompeii Better for Families?

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

Pompeii is a very family-friendly place to visit. Its a city frozen in time, and even kids will get lost in the history and story behind Pompeii. The trick is to find a kid-friendly tour and understand the layout before you arrive. Because it's so big, you want to know which places to visit and which you might want to skip with kids who have short attention spans.

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 Siena or Pompeii Better for Couples?

Siena is renowned for couples. Also, Pompeii is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for romance.

For those traveling as a couple, Siena has plenty to offer. 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.

Pompeii is a nice destination for couples. It's an iconic destination in Italy, and should be added to any Italian trip itinerary. It's not exactly a romantic destination, but it's something that every visitor should see.

Is Siena or Pompeii Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Siena and Pompeii are notable destinations for backpackers.

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.

It's common for backpackers to visit Pompeii. It's touristy and crowded, but also world renowned and not-to-be-missed. Whether you're a backpacker or a luxury traveler, Pompeii is on most itineraries.

Is Siena or Pompeii Better for Students?

Siena is an excellent place to visit for its student-friendly activities. Also, Pompeii is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for students.

Siena is very popular with students. 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.

Pompeii is popular with students. It's history and educational significance make it a great study abroad destination, whether you visit alone, with friends, or as part of a tour group.

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

Both Siena and Pompeii offer notable public transit options.

Siena has a few 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.

Pompeii has some public transit options. Many visitors from Sorrento and Naples arrive via the the Circumvesuviana train. There are also buses from many different locations.

Is Siena or Pompeii a more walkable city?

Pompeii 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 Pompeii on foot. You can walk around the entire site in about 4 hours, but you'll really want to allow a full day if you want to see everything in depth.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Pompeii or Siena?

How long in Siena or Pompeii?

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

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

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

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

In Siena, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

In Pompeii, many people enjoy the museums that this iconic destination offers. Lots of people come for the museums. This archeological site offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Siena or Pompeii?

In Siena, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Siena has to offer.

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

Five days in Siena or Pompeii?

Siena is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Pompeii is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums when visiting the destination of Pompeii. Lots of people come for the museums. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Siena or Pompeii?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Siena. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Siena. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

You'll find museums around the famous destination of Pompeii. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the museums. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Italy, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy, The Best Historical Tours in Italy, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Siena and Pompeii, we can see that Pompeii is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

When is the best time to visit Siena or Pompeii?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Siena or Pompeii in the Summer?

Both Pompeii and Siena during the summer are popular places to visit. The summer months attract visitors to Siena because of the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Pompeii this time of year.

In July, Siena is generally around the same temperature as Pompeii. Daily temperatures in Siena average around 23°C (73°F), and Pompeii fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

In Pompeii, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Siena. In the summer, Siena often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Pompeii. Siena gets 316 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 313 hours of full sun.

Siena usually gets more rain in July than Pompeii. Siena gets 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Siena or Pompeii in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Siena and Pompeii. The shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Siena this time of year.

Siena is around the same temperature as Pompeii in the autumn. The daily temperature in Siena averages around 16°C (61°F) in October, and Pompeii fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

Siena usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Pompeii during autumn. Siena gets 177 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Pompeii receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Siena usually receives less rain than Pompeii. Siena gets 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Siena or Pompeii in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Siena as well as Pompeii. Many travelers come to Siena for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Pompeii in the winter for the museums.

In the winter, Siena is cooler than Pompeii. Typically, the winter temperatures in Siena in January average around 7°C (45°F), and Pompeii averages at about 8°C (47°F).

In the winter, Siena often gets less sunshine than Pompeii. Siena gets 105 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Pompeii receives 115 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Pompeii. Siena usually gets less rain in January than Pompeii. Siena gets 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Siena or Pompeii in the Spring?

Both Pompeii and Siena are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many visitors come to Siena in the spring for the natural beauty.

In April, Siena is generally around the same temperature as Pompeii. Daily temperatures in Siena average around 12°C (54°F), and Pompeii fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Siena usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Pompeii during spring. Siena gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Pompeii receives 189 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Siena usually receives around the same amount of rain as Pompeii. Siena gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Pompeii receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Pompeii and Siena