Siena on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Siena is manageable on a budget because the city itself is free to walk and day trippers leave in the evening. Plan on about €95 per person per day (bed €45, food €30, sights €15, transport €5).
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €45 | €85 | €200 |
| Food & drink | €30 | €55 | €100 |
| Sights & tickets | €15 | €35 | €60 |
| Local transport | €5 | €15 | €50 |
| Per person, per day | €95 | €190 | €410 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Siena day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Sit in Piazza del Campo at dusk like the Sienese do
- Walk Banchi di Sopra and Banchi di Sotto, the main streets
- See the medieval brick Fonte Branda
- Visit the church of San Domenico and watch the sunset view of the Duomo
- Explore the contrade, each with its own fountain and flag
- Watch the trial races in the Campo in the days before the Palio
Cheap eats
- Pici all'aglione away from the Campo: about €12–16
- Ribollita soup at a trattoria: about €10–12
- Cinta senese salami in a panino from a deli: a few euros
- Panforte or ricciarelli from a bakery: a few euros
- Trattoria meal with house wine: about €25–40 per person
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay outside the walls near the station, with hotels and B&Bs around €70–120 for a double, linked to the centre by escalators and buses. San Domenico and Camollia, near the bus station, are good mid-priced options.
Getting around cheaply
Walk inside the walls. From Florence, the direct bus (about 1 hour 15 minutes) to Piazza Gramsci is usually the fastest; the train takes about 1.5 hours to the station below town. Regional buses reach San Gimignano and some Val d'Orcia towns, but services are limited.
A sample budget day
- Morning: Torre del Mangia early (about €10–15)
- Lunch: panino with cinta senese from a deli (about €7)
- Afternoon: Duomo with the OPA SI pass (about €16–20)
- Evening: dusk in the Campo and pici in a side street (about €20)
- Total: about €55–60 plus your bed (€45 per person), so roughly €95–105
More ways to save
- Choose either the tower and Museo Civico or the Duomo complex if you only have one day of tickets.
- Carry a refillable bottle and use the public fountains.
- Book Panorama slots with the OPA SI pass to avoid queuing.
- Use regional buses for San Gimignano and Monteriggioni instead of a tour.
- Visit outside the Palio dates and in shoulder season for lower room prices.
- Buy panforte and cantucci in bakeries rather than souvenir shops.
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Common questions
Can you visit Siena on a budget?
Yes. Walking the city is free, rooms outside the walls are about €70–120, and side-street trattorie are fair.
What is the cheapest way from Florence?
The direct bus to Piazza Gramsci, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
Is the Palio free to watch?
Yes, standing in the centre of the Campo; seats on the stands cost a lot, often hundreds of euros.