Chianti
Explore Chianti with your family: hilltop villages, castle visits, pasta classes, and some of the best food in Tuscany. Here is everything you need to plan your trip.
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🇮🇹Siena
Siena is one of Italy's most beautiful medieval cities, packed with family-friendly history, extraordinary architecture, and delicious Tuscan food — all within easy walking distance.
Your family guide
Siena with kids: where medieval Italy comes alive
“Siena feels like the Middle Ages never left, and that makes it one of the most magical places to explore with curious kids.”
— San & Jo
Siena is one of those rare places that genuinely stops you in your tracks. The terracotta rooftops, the winding stone lanes, the vast shell-shaped piazza at the heart of it all: it feels less like a city and more like a living museum. And the best part? Your family gets to walk right into it.
Everything that makes Siena special is within easy reach. The Piazza del Campo, the soaring Duomo, the climbable Torre del Mangia: they are all close together, which means less time navigating and more time actually exploring. For families, that kind of compact layout is a genuine gift.
Siena is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with centuries of stories baked into its streets. From the fierce neighbourhood rivalries of the contrade to the abandoned skeleton of a cathedral that was meant to be the largest in the world, there is something here to spark the imagination of every member of your family.
Tuscany, ItalyCentral Italy
UNESCO World Heritage SiteHistoric centre
Palio di SienaJuly and August
Best things to do
Why we love Siena for families
Piazza del Campo
This vast shell-shaped square is the beating heart of Siena and one of the most impressive medieval spaces in all of Europe. Let the kids run across the red brick paving, count the nine sections that represent the old Government of the Nine, and find a spot on the sloping ground to sit and soak it all in. It is free, open all day, and endlessly atmospheric.
Visit early morning to beat the crowds and get the best photos
30-60 min
Duomo di Siena
Siena's cathedral is genuinely jaw-dropping, even for kids who have seen a few churches. The striped marble exterior, the three ornate doorways, and the extraordinary mosaic floor inside make it unlike any other Italian cathedral. The OPA SI Pass gives you access to the Duomo plus the Piccolomini Library, Baptistery, Museo dell'Opera, the Crypt, and the Facciatone viewpoint.
The mosaic floor is only fully uncovered for a limited period each year: check ahead
1.5-2 hours
Torre del Mangia
At 88 metres tall, this medieval tower is one of Italy's highest and offers sweeping views over Siena's rooftops and the Tuscan countryside beyond. Climbing the 400-plus steps is a real achievement for kids, and the view at the top is absolutely worth it. Book ahead as visitor numbers are limited each day.
Go up in the late afternoon for golden light over the city
45-60 min
Panorama dal Facciatone
This is the unfinished facade of a cathedral extension that was abandoned after the Black Death struck in the 14th century. Climbing to the top gives you one of the best viewpoints in Siena, and the story behind it, a city that once dreamed of building the largest church in the world, is one that kids find genuinely fascinating.
Included in the OPA SI Pass: great value if you are already visiting the Duomo
30-45 min
Palazzo Pubblico and Museo Civico
The civic palace on Piazza del Campo houses some of the most important medieval frescoes in Italy, including Ambrogio Lorenzetti's famous depictions of Good and Bad Government. It is a genuinely engaging museum for older children who are curious about how medieval cities were run, and the building itself is an impressive piece of history.
Combine with a visit to the square for a full morning in the heart of Siena
1-1.5 hours
Santa Maria della Scala
One of the oldest hospitals in Europe, this vast complex opposite the Duomo is now a major museum. It served pilgrims walking the Via Francigena to Rome for centuries, and its underground halls and frescoed rooms tell a rich story. Older children will find the history here surprisingly gripping.
Look out for the underground sections: they are the most atmospheric part of the visit
1-2 hours
Discovering the Contrade
Siena is divided into 17 neighbourhoods, each with its own colours, symbols, and fierce pride. Spotting the flags and symbols as you walk through the city turns an ordinary stroll into a treasure hunt for kids. Each contrada has its own museum too, and if your visit coincides with a neighbourhood celebration, you are in for a real treat.
Ask locals which contrada you are standing in: they will be delighted to tell you
Self-paced
Our verdict
How Siena scores for families
Kids
The compact layout, climbable towers, and dramatic stories make Siena genuinely exciting for curious children. Toddlers will need a pram-friendly route planned as the streets are cobbled, but older kids will thrive here.
Culture
Few cities in Italy pack this much medieval history, art, and living tradition into such a small space. The Duomo, the frescoes, the contrade: Siena is a cultural heavyweight.
Food
Hearty Tuscan cooking, handmade pasta, and legendary sweets like panforte and ricciarelli make Siena a genuinely delicious destination. Most dishes are simple and crowd-pleasing for families.
Nature
Siena itself is an urban experience, but the Tuscan countryside surrounds it on all sides. Day trips into the Val d'Orcia or the Chianti hills are easy and beautiful.
Budget
Siena is a mid-range Italian destination. The OPA SI Pass offers good value for the Duomo complex, but accommodation and dining in the historic centre can add up quickly.
Planning your visit
How long should you stay in Siena?
1
1 day
Day trip
Hit the Piazza del Campo, climb the Torre del Mangia, and walk through the Duomo. A full and satisfying day.
sweet spot
2
2 days
Sweet spot
Explore the Duomo complex properly, visit Santa Maria della Scala, wander the contrade, and eat well. This is the pace your family deserves.
3
3 days
Slow Siena
Add a day trip into the Tuscan countryside, linger over long lunches, and really settle into the rhythm of the city.
Fun facts
Things about Siena your kids will remember
The wildest horse race in Italy
Twice a year, ten horses race bareback around the Piazza del Campo for just 90 seconds. The Palio di Siena has been run since the Middle Ages, and the rivalry between the 17 contrade is so intense that jockeys are sometimes bribed, and winning neighbourhoods celebrate for months.
The cathedral that never was
In the 1300s, Siena planned to build the largest cathedral in the world. They got as far as constructing part of the new nave before the Black Death killed a third of the city's population and the money ran out. You can still see the unfinished wall, the Facciatone, standing as a monument to that extraordinary ambition.
A cake older than most countries
Panforte, a dense, spiced cake packed with dried fruit, nuts, and honey, has been made in Siena since at least the 13th century. Medieval records show it was used as a form of payment to local monasteries. It is still sold in the same shops today, wrapped in the same distinctive paper.
Taste Siena
What to eat with your family in Siena
Pici cacio e pepe
Kids love itCompagnia dei Vinattieri, Via delle Terme
Thick, hand-rolled pasta with just pecorino cheese and black pepper. It is simple, comforting, and almost universally loved by children. This is the dish to order if you want a guaranteed win at the table.
Pici al ragù di cinghiale
Must tryLa Taverna di San Giuseppe, Via Giovanni Duprè
The same thick pici pasta, this time topped with a rich slow-cooked wild boar sauce. It is deeply savoury and warming: a proper Sienese classic that adventurous eaters in your family will love.
Ribollita
Local favouriteOsteria Le Logge, historic centre
A thick, hearty soup made with bread, kale, cannellini beans, and vegetables, slow-cooked until it becomes almost a stew. It is peasant food at its finest and one of the most satisfying things you can eat in Siena on a cool day.
Panforte
Must tryAny local pasticceria in the historic centre
Dense, chewy, and packed with almonds, dried fruit, and warm spices, panforte is Siena's most iconic sweet. Pick up a small wrapped piece from a local pasticceria and share it as an afternoon treat: it is rich enough that a little goes a long way.
Ricciarelli
Daily treatPasticcerie throughout Siena's historic centre
Soft, chewy almond biscuits dusted with icing sugar, these are one of Siena's most beloved traditional sweets. They are gentle in flavour, not too sweet, and perfect for little ones. You will find them in every bakery and food shop in the city.
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