How much does it cost to travel to Siena?
You should plan to spend around $148 (€133) per day on your vacation in Siena. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $57 (€51) on meals
- $22 (€20) on local transportation
- $155 (€139) on hotels
A one week trip to Siena for two people costs, on average, $2,078 (€1,862). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Siena has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Siena expensive to visit?
Prices in Siena are reasonable and comparable to your average travel destination. Hotels, food, and sightseeing are generally within normal price ranges.
Within Europe, which is known to be an expensive region, Siena is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Kalampaka (Meteora) or Leiden.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Siena Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Siena?
The average Siena trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Siena travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
€139
($155)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
€20
($22)
|
|
Food 2
|
€51
($57)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
€3.75
($4)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
€1 -
3
($1 - 4)
|
Accommodation Budget in Siena
The wide range of prices for hotels and accommodation in Siena can be very surprising. Some destinations have much higher price tags than others, and even within the same areas you can find a big difference between the budget-friendly and higher-end hotels. Also, during peak season, prices are much higher. You can save a good bit of money if you travel during the low season or shoulder seasons, as room prices adjust according to the overall demand. Booking in advance can often save you money, too.
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Siena is $77 (€69). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Siena is $155 (€139). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Siena? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
The most affordable highest rated hotels in Siena include:
- Al Palazzo dei Priori Hotel starting at $196
- Residenza d'Epoca Palazzo Borghesi starting at $148
- Hotel Certosa Di Maggiano starting at $135
Transportation Budget in Siena
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Siena is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $22 (€20) per person, per day, on local transportation in Siena.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$22
€20
Some of the standard transportation options and hotel transfers include:
- PRIVATE TRANSFER from Siena to Florence with stop in S Gimignano & Monteriggioni for $167 details
- Private Departure Transfer: Siena Hotel to Florence Airport for $215 details
- Arrival transfer Siena Airport SAY to Siena City by van or car for $151 details
How much does it cost to go to Siena? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Siena will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in Siena
Calculated from travelers like you
If you're looking to experience the culinary culture in Siena, taking a food tour or cooking class is a terrific way to do it. After all, cuisine is one of the reasons why so many people visit. Some of the best food-related activities here include:
- Cesarine: Home Cooking Class & Meal with a Local in Siena for $188 details
- Cesarine: Typical Dining & Cooking Demo at Local's Home in Siena for $144 details
- The Most Delicious Private Food Tour of 6 or 10 Tastings for $158 details
Entertainment Budget in Siena
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Siena typically cost an average of $4.19 (€3.75) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$4.19
€3.75
A nice way to explore destinations in Siena is with local tours that last just a few hours. This way you can see as much as possible in an efficient way with knowledgable guides. Prices vary by the type of activity or tour, the dates, and the size of the group. Here are a few of the highest rated tours by previous visitors:
- Truffle Hunting Experience Siena Tartufi for $145 details
- Chianti Classico E-Bike Tour for $290 details
- First Time Siena Medieval Tuscany Private Half Day Tour for $286 details
Alcohol Budget in Siena
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $2.44 (€2.19) on alcoholic beverages in Siena per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$2.44
€2.19
Nightlife activities and tasting tours are popular in Siena. A few favorites from other travelers include:
- Lapi&Tour Guided tour of the cellars with wine tasting for $54 details
- Guided Winery Tour and Wine Tasting in Siena for $84 details
- Private Premium Brunello Wine Tasting Tour & Food Pairing for $99 details
Siena on a Budget
Siena, Italy
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.
Siena's popularity as a touristy destination began during the 19th century. Following its defeat by Florence, it was a very poor city. For this reason most of the Medieval buildings were never torn down giving Siena its beautiful character that exists today. Today Siena is economically dependent on tourism and all new buildings that are constructed within the city walls must be built with the same traditional character and beauty.
Sights
Like many Italian cities, Siena is about atmosphere, but it also has a lot of sights and attractions to visit. The Piazza del Campo is a shell shaped piazza in the middle of the city. It also serves as the racetrack for the Palio. The Palazzo Publico is the city hall that dates back almost 800 years. The Duomo is beautiful and attached to it is Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. The Pinacoteca has many Sienese paintings and the Palazzo Salimbeni, which was built in 1472, is the world headquarters of a major banking corporation. Near the duomo is the house where St. Catherine of Siena was born. Finally, the Piccolomini Palace was built in 1459 by the architect, Bernardo Rossellino.
Neighborhoods
Siena is divided into about 17 neighborhoods, or contrade. These neighborhoods were originally based on administrative and military needs, but now they are very tight knit communities that have a lot of loyalty. This becomes particularly apparent during the Palio. Horses during the event wear a design to represent their contrada. These include the Dragon, Eagle, She-Wolf, Panther, Ram, Unicorn, Owl, Porcupine, Giraffe, Goose, Tortoise, Snail, Caterpillar, Forest, Shell, Tower, and Wave.
Activities
The most popular event in the city is the Palio Horse Race which is held twice during the summer months. In addition to this event, there are many classical concerts during the warmer months as well. They are held throughout town but most often you'll find them at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana. The Siena Jazz Festival is also quite popular.
Food and Dining
There are some great restaurants in Siena. Because the city is so dependent on tourism, it is best to avoid the more touristy spots and head to where the locals eat. Make sure that you try some of the local specialties that are unique to the area. Panforte is a type of dense cake that is made with honey, flour, almonds, candied fruits, and a variety of spices. The cake is commercially manufactured in the city and the most famous brand is Sapori. It's available for good prices in the local supermarkets but you can also pick it up in cafes around town. Ricciarelli is another local favorite. It's a small almond paste cake that is very good. Try one at Antica Drogheria Manganelli, which is located on Via di Citti 31.
Transportation
Siena can be reached by train or bus. There are hourly trains from Florence to Siena, but you could also take a train that stops in Empoli and then change trains to travel from Empoli to Siena. Siena's train station is located about 2 kilometers outside of the city's historical city center. It's about a five minute bus ride and you can catch a bus at the bus station inside the mall. You can catch a return bus from Piazza del Sale. Buses 3, 8, 10, 17, and 77 travel toward Piazza del Sale and bus 17 travels from the piazza to the train station. It's also possible to walk, up hill, to the city center in about twenty or thirty minutes.
The much easier, although less scenic way to travel from Florence to Siena is by bus. You can take the SITA bus from an underground bus depot near the Santa Maria Novella train station. It's about an hour and a half trip and you'll arrive at the bus terminal at Piazza Antonio Gramsci inside the city walls. From there it's easy to walk to most of the city's popular sights. You can also catch a bus from Siena to Rome. The trip is about three hours.
Once you're in Siena you can travel around by bus or foot. The city is small but also very hilly. Some attractions are easier to reach by following the ridge of the hill instead of going up and over. Small buses, called Pollicino, travel around some of the streets in the center of the city. There are also some routes that go outside of town. Check out Google maps for the location of the routes and stops.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.