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

Should you visit Versailles or Siena?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Versailles 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.

Versailles

Versailles is a grand, ornate, and opulent palace. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It's also known for museums.

Siena

Siena is a charming, medieval, and history city. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Other reasons to visit include museums, nightlife, and food.

Versailles and Siena: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Versailles or Siena?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Siena than Versailles. While Versailles is larger than Siena, Siena has more sights and attractions for tourists. Siena is more popular for its food, nightlife, historical sights, and shopping, while Versailles is known for its museums. Versailles is more touristy than Siena and is popular for its long running history and its grand architecture. Siena is popular for its beautiful medieval architecture, its delicious local restaurants, and the twice yearly Palio horserace. It is also home to Piazza del Campo.

How is Versailles different from Siena?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Versailles 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 Versailles that are not to be missed. The palace is filled with history and impressive items relating to the royal family. Within and near the palace you should make sure you see the Gardens of Versailles, Grand Trianon, the Hall of Mirrors, and the Royal Opera of Versailles.

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 Versailles or Siena? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Siena is a great city for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Versailles is not known for its local cuisine and restaurants.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in 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.

You'll find the standard options when it comes to food in Versailles. There are a couple of restaurants and cafes on the grounds.

Is Versailles or Siena Better for Nightlife?

Siena is a nice place to visit for nightlife. However, Versailles is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

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.

Versailles is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Versailles or Siena Better for its Old Town?

Siena is an amazing city to visit for its historic old town. However, Versailles 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.

Versailles does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Versailles or Siena?

Siena is a nice place to visit for shopping. However, Versailles is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

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.

Versailles is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Versailles or Siena Better for Families?

Siena is adequate for its kid-friendly activities. However, Versailles is not known for its family-friendly activities.

For families, Siena is not always the best place to visit. 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.

Versailles does not offer many kid-friendly activities. While there are those unicorn children who fall in love with the grand setting, for most kids, a visit to Versailles can make for make for a long and draining day.

Is Versailles or Siena Better for Couples?

Siena is an amazing city to visit for romance. Also, Versailles is not as popular, but is still a nice palace for its romantic activities.

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.

Versailles is a very popular place to visit for couples. It's opulence, grandeur, and history make this a wonderful place to explore as a couple. There are gardens and other unique settings that make Versailles very romantic.

Is Versailles or Siena Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Siena is a nice place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Versailles is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

It's common for backpackers to 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.

Versailles is not a backpacker-friendly destination.

Is Versailles or Siena Better for Students?

Siena is a great city for its student-friendly activities. However, Versailles is not popular with students.

Siena is a great city to visit as a student. 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.

Versailles is not popular with students.

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

Versailles 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 Versailles is fairly effecient and thorough. There are SNCF trains that travel from Gare Montparnasse to Versailles Chantiers train station and additional trains that travel between Gare Saint Lazare and Versailles Rive Droite.

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 Versailles or Siena a more walkable city?

Versailles and Siena are excellent when it comes to walkability.

Versailles is very walkable. It's approximately a 20 minute walk from the Versailles Chantiers train station to the entrance to the palace. Versailles Rive Droite is slightly closer.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Siena or Versailles?

How long in Versailles or Siena?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Versailles 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 Versailles. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

Couples should spend more time in Siena than Versailles. 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 Versailles 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 Versailles or Siena?

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

With museums and nightlife around the charming city of Siena, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Siena, one day is sufficent for most.

A weekend in Versailles or Siena?

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

With nightlife and food around the destination of Siena, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

Five days in Versailles or Siena?

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

Siena, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Versailles or Siena?

You'll find museums around the ornate destination of Versailles. 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.

Siena is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Sightseeing Tours in France, The Best Vineyard & Wine 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 Versailles and Siena, we can see that Versailles 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 Versailles would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Versailles 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 Versailles Expensive? and Is Siena Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Versailles or Siena?

Versailles has a larger population, and is about 62% larger than the population of Siena. When comparing the sizes of Versailles 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 Versailles or Siena?

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 Versailles or Siena in the Summer?

Both Siena and Versailles during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the summer months attract visitors to Siena because of the family-friendly experiences.

Versailles is cooler than Siena in the summer. The daily temperature in Versailles averages around 20°C (68°F) in July, and Siena fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

In Siena, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Versailles. In the summer, Versailles often gets less sunshine than Siena. Versailles gets 239 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 316 hours of full sun.

Versailles usually gets more rain in July than Siena. Versailles gets 58 mm (2.3 in) of rain, while Siena receives 45 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Versailles or Siena in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Versailles and Siena. The autumn months attract visitors to Versailles because of the natural beauty of the area. Furthermore, the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Siena this time of year.

In the autumn, Versailles is cooler than Siena. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Versailles in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Siena averages at about 16°C (61°F).

Versailles usually receives less sunshine than Siena during autumn. Versailles gets 126 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 177 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Versailles usually receives less rain than Siena. Versailles gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Siena receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Versailles or Siena in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Versailles as well as Siena. The museums and the cuisine are the main draw to Versailles this time of year. Additionally, many travelers come to Siena for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Versailles in the winter. In January, Versailles is generally much colder than Siena. Daily temperatures in Versailles average around 5°C (40°F), and Siena fluctuates around 7°C (45°F).

In the winter, Versailles often gets less sunshine than Siena. Versailles gets 56 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Siena receives 105 hours of full sun.

Versailles usually gets less rain in January than Siena. Versailles gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Siena receives 64 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Versailles or Siena in the Spring?

Both Siena and Versailles are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Versailles for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Siena in the spring for the natural beauty.

Versailles is around the same temperature as Siena in the spring. The daily temperature in Versailles averages around 11°C (52°F) in April, and Siena fluctuates around 12°C (54°F).

Versailles usually receives less sunshine than Siena during spring. Versailles gets 173 hours of sunny skies, while Siena receives 192 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Versailles usually receives less rain than Siena. Versailles gets 50 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Siena receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Siena and Versailles