Siena Holidays

Holidays in Siena take you to central Italy, in the heart of Tuscany’s countryside. It’s surrounded by the emerald green hills and valleys the area is renowned for, as well as warm stone buildings and a history which stretches back to the Medieval era.

Spend your days indulging in the most Italian of traditions, a passeggiata, or evening stroll. Take in the vibrant squares and narrow cobbled streets, stop off in little boutiques or sit in a street side café as you watch the world go by; coffee, wine or gelato in hand. The Piazza del Campo is home to a lively collection of restaurants, while Palazzo Pubblico (the town hall) and Siena Cathedral draw culture lovers from far and wide.

Food and drink form a centrepiece of any holiday to Siena, with wild boar, pappardelle pasta and cheese high on the menu. The Tuscany region is also famous for its fantastic wines, so a vineyard tour should be top of your list.

Explore Siena like no other

At Citalia we can help you get off the beaten track. We specialise in holidays to Italy, meaning one of our experts can help plan your perfect itinerary, whatever you want to discover.

From its location in Italy’s heart, Siena offers plenty of opportunities to explore the country further. Florence is under an hour and a half’s drive away and offers a chance to immerse yourself in the history of the Renaissance, as well as seeing some of Italy’s greatest works of art. Pair your Siena holiday with the Tuscany coast for a chance to see some of the country’s diverse landscapes – from cities through rolling green landscapes and to the golden sands of the beach. And for a cosmopolitan city with Medieval architecture and a cool café culture around the university, try a Siena and Pisa multi centre holiday.

To discover everything Siena has to offer, book our Palio di Siena short break. You’ll try some of Tuscany’s most delicious cuisine, visit UNESCO-listed sites and see the famous horse race through the centre of the city on this three day itinerary.

Your plans, our expertise

Start planning your Citalia holiday by getting in touch with one of our Personal Travel Planners.

Lines open: Monday to Saturday 09:00 to 17:30 (Wednesdays from 9:30), Bank Holidays 10:00 to 16:00.

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Handpicked hotels in Siena

Discover the real Siena while staying in one of our carefully selected hotels

Tuscany, Tuscany Countryside

Grand Hotel Continental

Housed in a magnificent 17th-century palazzo
Located in central Siena, a five-minute taxi ride from the train station
Close to Piazza del Campo, famous for its medieval horse race

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Things to do in Siena

High on the list of things to do in Siena is a food and wine tour. Visit some of the beautiful vineyards in the areas surrounding the city before tasting wines perfectly paired with local delicacies. Our experts recommend visiting the Azienda Agricola La Lastra vineyard or the Cantina in Piazza, which is a small enoteca (wine shop) found in the maze of pretty streets in the town itself. Alternatively, learn to create your own authentic dishes in a class at the Lella Cooking School.

Culture lovers should visit the Piazza del Campo, which is fringed by the tall, warm stone buildings Siena is well known for. Siena Cathedral and the Piccolomini library each have beautiful, intricate designs both inside and outside, giving you a fascinating sense of the area’s artistic history.

Things to doExplore the contradeOriginally made up of 59 contrade, or districts, only 17 remain in the medieval hilltop city of Siena. The contrade were originally established in the middle ages to supply the military companies hired to defend Siena from Florence and other nearby states; nowadays, despite there no longer being a requirement the intense rivalry between each still remains.Find out more about the contrade

Things to doIl Palio di SienaIl Palio di Siena is a famous horse race and is a hugely significant part of Siena's history. Staged twice a year on the 2nd July and 16th August, the event takes place directly below the Torre del Mangia on the famous sunken circular slope that's known as the Piazza del Campo.Find out more about Il Palio di Siena

Things to doPiazza del CampoSiena’s Piazza del Campo is considered to be one of Europe’s greatest Medieval squares. The sloping piazza is located in the heart of the city, surrounded by restaurants and cafés, with the impressive Duomo stealing the show. Find out more about Piazza del Campo

Things to doSiena CathedralThe famous cathedral in Siena, Cattedrale di Santa Maria, was originally designed and completed between 1215 - 1263. Find out more about Siena Cathedral

Flight Information

The majority of international flights arrive into Pisa airport (PSA). Direct flights to Pisa are available from Belfast, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, London Luton, London Stansted, Manchester and Newcastle and take approximately 2 hours.

When to go

Tuscany is predominantly a summer destination, with the main tourist season generally running from April to October. Temperatures are at their hottest in July and August, this is also when Tuscany is at its busiest. However, Tuscany also enjoys a mild climate in spring and autumn with temperatures rarely going beneath 20 degrees which makes it perfect for visiting at the beginning or end of season too. The coast has wonderful sea breezes and the hilltop towns are much cooler than the lower countryside villages. The best time to visit is during the quieter season, from April to June and September to October when the weather is good, prices are a bit lower and there are fewer crowds. There are many festivals and events throughout the year in Tuscany and Easter and Christmas are always busy.

Visa Information

At the current time, British citizens do not require a visa to visit Italy.

Tipping

Whilst tipping isn’t embedded into Italian culture it is always appreciated as an acknowledgement of good service. Nowadays people generally round up a bill in a bar or cafe and leave 5-10% extra on a restaurant bill. Taxi bills are usually also rounded up.

On guided tours/excursions, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide.

On small group escorted tours, it is customary to leave a token of appreciation for the driver and guide at the end of the tour.

Introduction to languages

The official language of Italy is Italian. English is widely spoken too, so getting by is easy.

Siena Specialities Tuscany’s beautiful landscapes are home to rich, fertile soil and an excellent climate for local produce, as well as unique varieties of wines. It’s a foodie’s paradise, and offers a glimpse into the spectacular cuisine Italians are so proud of.

For a hearty yet delicate starter, begin your meal with crostini di fegato, which is a small, crunchy bread topped with a chicken liver spread. The spread is made from anchovies, capers, sage leaves, butter and chicken liver which create a riot of flavours and a smooth, creamy texture. More traditional varieties include saffron, which is grown in the surrounding regions.

Siena Specialities No trip to Italy would be complete without a pasta dish, and each region has its own special variety, cooked in many different ways. One of Siena’s most traditional is pappardelle alla lepre, which consists of thick ribbons of pasta topped with a hare sauce. It’s ideal as a hearty meal and provides a creamy, rich taste of the wildlife which can be found in the centre of the country., which is grown in the surrounding regions.