Best 2 Days in Siena on a Budget Itinerary & Guide
UPDATED 9/23/23
If you’re using my How to Spend 2 Weeks in Italy now you’re ready to find out how to spend 2 days in Siena on a budget as a single traveler full of historic sites, Tuscany countryside, and Montalcino wine tasting.
Like this? Share it with others!
This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. For products, the goal is to first provide direct links to eco-friendly, ethical, and sustainable companies, and then to those same type (i.e., Climate Pledge Friendly Certification), of brands that use Amazon, if possible. Therefore, you may see multiple links for one option. Should you make a purchase through any link, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. See my Disclaimers & Disclosures and Privacy Policy for more information.
All You Need for 2 Days in Siena
Here are all of the sites you need to successfully book this perfect Siena 2 day itinerary. I even give you my sustainable hotel pick and budget hotel pick as a wonderful, sustainable and budget friendly accommodation options in the Siena city center ideal for a solo weekend in Siena.
I recommend you bookmark and use these sites early to lock in your 2 day Siena itinerary and get the best Siena travel deals.
If you’re a first-time traveler to Italy, also use my Ultimate Italy Solo Travel Guide full of tips on culture, entry requirements, currency, tipping, using electronics, safety, and a lot more.
More Italy Solo Travel
- Best of Italy and Austria in 2 Weeks
- Fabulous Florence 4 Day Itinerary & Guide
- My Fair Verona in 2 Days on a Budget
- Best of Rome 3 Day Budget Itinerary & Guide
- Milan and More in 2 Days on a Budget
- Unforgettable Venice in 2 Days
Siena on a Budget (or Not)
Yes, 2 days in Siena on a budget as a solo traveler is doable. To help provide more Siena budget options, peruse my Guide to Budget European Accommodations for additional accommodation-planning.
Let me state here that when I say “budget”, I mean your daily travel expenses could total approximately €100. It’s up to you on where you wish to budget (accommodations, excursions, etc.), and how far in advance you book. Some attractions can be seen without a tour, which will save you money, of course.
The following Siena travel guide and itinerary can work for anyone, budget or not. The key factors that can push you out of the “budget” range is your choice in Siena accommodations and the types of attraction tours you choose. Some attractions can be seen without a paid tour, give you much fun on little money.
Ok, now let’s get you to an amazing 2 days in Siena on a budget.
Siena Solo Travel Packing Essentials
Prices in this post reflective at time of writing.
Getting To Siena
From Rome or other Italy locations, it is more than likely you will arrive at the Siena Piazza Gramsci station. From there you can easily take regional trains or buses for day trips.
Getting Around Siena
Siena’s historical center can really be done on foot, but if you’re staying within my recommended area (see map below), you’ll want to take a shuttle or bus to/from the Siena train station.
ECO TRAVEL PICKS
More Eco-Travel Tips & Ideas
- 15 Eco Long-haul Flight Essentials for Solo Travel
- Top 10 Eco-Friendly Carry On Luggage
- 10 Best Eco-Friendly Personal Item Bags for Flying
- 10 Amazing Eco-Friendly and Sustainable Swimwear Brands
- 10 Easy Ways to Be an Eco-Friendly Traveler
- 15 Eco Friendly Products for All Travel
Where to Stay in Siena
Siena is a small city on a hill so some of the city is on a higher elevation than Siena city center and Il Campo (lower elevation).
Ideally, if you don’t want to haul your luggage up and down hills, you may want to stay within a 5-minute walk to the Pannilunghi bus stop from which you can catch a 5-minute bus ride back to the Siena train/bus station and have a 15-minute walk down to the Il Campo (Piazza del Campo).
For ease of arriving and departing Siena and walking around for the best Siena sights, I recommend staying within the circle on the map:
Siena Hotels
Siena has hotel, hostel and other accommodation types across all budget types within the Siena map. Going in the off season, or booking well in advance, will get you the best Siena prices.
Consider booking at a property that either is eco-friendly or sustainably rated, or at least employs these methods into their business.
For location, price, amenities (including no pre-payment and free-cancellation), and customer reviews and ratings, my Siena budget hotel recommendation for over 50 single travel is Villa di STR. It is in a fabulous location, with a great breakfast and staff, and includes all of the lovely amenities you could need. It even employs some eco-friendly business practices.
Better yet, it could be booked for less than €100/night, depending on time of year and how far in advance you book.
Siena Budget Tip
There are Siena hostels that could start from around €20/night, depending on what amenities and location you want. Note, these are usually a bed in a dorm room. Private rooms in hostels can cost the same, if not more, than a budget hotel.
For the same conditions, plus employing eco-friendly and/or sustainable operations, here are my Siena hotel recommendations for over 50 single travel (i.e., where I would stay), “budget” and higher:
Siena Must Do Attractions
Siena, which some consider being in the “heart of Tuscany”, is known for the Palio, a bi-annual horse race, that has been held since the 17th century. It is also known for its medieval cityscape, art, museums, and cuisine.
If you have never been to the Siena City Centre, a UNESCO World Heritage site itself, the following are attractions that would a shame to miss.
You can easily do most sights in a day since Siena is fairly small and it is not really necessary to purchase attraction tickets in advance, unless you are visiting during a special event. Some of these are free attractions in Siena.
- Il Campo (Piazza del Campo) – some consider it the best square in Italy
- Torre de Mangia (Tower of Mangia) – has 330 steps to the top for an amazing view of the city
- Piazza dei Salimbeni
- Duomo di Siena
- Museo dell’Opera del Duomo
- Piazza del Duomo
If you decide to see the Duomo and the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo, consider getting the OPASI Pass that covers both entries and is valid for three days.
More Solo Travel Guides & Itineraries
- 1 Day in Coimbra Solo Itinerary & Guide
- Best Flexible 4 Day Vienna 4 Day Solo Itinerary & Guide
- Best 2 Day Salzburg Budget Solo Itinerary & Guide
- Fullest 4 Days in Munich Solo Itinerary
- Best of Brussels in 3 Days (5 With Day Trips!)
- Spectacular South of France in 3 Days
- Fabulous 4 Days in Paris Solo
More Siena Attractions
Here are other fabulous attractions to see that you can see during your stroll through Siena (the Baptistry also covered under the OPASI Pass).
- Pinacoteca Nazionale
- Civic Museum of Siena
- Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistry of San Giovanni)
- Santa Maria della Scala Museum
- Complesso Museale Santa Maria della Scala
Siena Events Calendar
If it helps in planning what you would like to see, here is a list of annual events held in Siena and annual events held in the Tuscany region.
Siena Dining
If you want pricier fare, try the over-priced Piazza del Campo restaurants. Otherwise, hit the back streets instead, as the locals do. If you need some help, here are some helpful Siena dining links:
Montalcino Day Trip
Wine Tasting in Montalcino
I can understand if you are enjoying Siena and want to just sleep in and hang out and have a lazy day your second day – that is up to you.
However, if you are a wine buff, please know you are only an hour away from Montalcino, one of the three “heart of Tuscany” towns. If like wine as much as I do, I highly suggest a day trip to Montalcino.
Montalcino is known for its Brunello and, boy, you don’t want to miss it.
There are many wine tasting excursions leaving from Siena that you can arrange, such as this small group Brunello wine tasting Montalcino trip. If you are on a budget, however, and still want to experience local Brunello tasting, save money on tour and take the bus to Montalcino yourself for 10 Euros roundtrip.
When you first arrive in Siena, pop into the bus station, which adjoins the train station, and ask for a local bus schedule for the next day to Montalcino, or just check the bus schedules in advance.
There are several daily buses, but I recommend sleeping in, having a lazy breakfast, and then head to the station to catch the #114 bus to Montalcino Staz.Di Servi. You should arrive at the town of Montalcino, which sits high up on a hill, in time for lunch and wine drinking, I mean tasting.
Take a stroll through Montalcino. It’s easy to navigate and hard to get lost. Here is a fantastic guide to self-guided wine tasting in Montalcino, that includes the town’s wine bars to taste in and restaurants.
More Solo Travel Wine Travel Ideas
- The Ultimate Guide to Solo Travel in Santorini
- Best of Split Croatia Solo Travel in 3 Days
- Best Flexible 4 Day Vienna 4 Day Solo Itinerary & Guide
- Wachau Valley Wine Tasting Day Trip from Vienna
- Spectacular South of France in 3 Days
- Champagne Day Trip from Paris to Reims Without a Car
The town also holds some nice stores to pop into for shopping and scenic views for some great picture snapping. Don’t forget to visit the Enotecca la Fortezza, which is in the town’s medieval fortress. They do have a wonderful selection of wines to taste and the staff is very friendly.
In fact, all wine bars I visited were very welcoming, and the staff love to tell you about their Brunello wines. You can arrange them to ship the wine home for you so you can share with your family and friends. I shipped a case home.
Brunello’s are known for their longevity so they will keep for a while before peaking.
When your lazy Montalcino day is over, catch the 6:20pm bus and you’re back to Siena by 7:23pm in time for dinner and an early night so you’re fresh for the next day’s traveling.
2 Days in Siena Budget Itinerary
Depending on how much you want to see (and spend) is completely up to you. Siena has plenty of options, as I have outlined above.
That said, here is my recommended Siena itinerary that shows what a single traveler over 50 can see and do in 2 days in Siena on a budget (with Montalcino), at approximately €100 a day, if you book well in advance, avoid high tourist season, and choose the right tour or entry tickets for the top Siena attractions to meet your tastes and budget.
Here is one such Siena budget itinerary:
Day 1 Siena
- Il Campo (Piazza del Campo) for exploring and shopping
- Piazza dei Salimbeni
- Tower of Mangia
- Siena Duomo (with OPASI Pass)
- Museo dell’ Opera del Duomo (included with OPASI Pass)
- Hotel
Day 2 – Self-Guided Montalcino Wine Tasting
- Round trip bus
- Three wine tastings
- Hotel
Alternatively, if you wish to spend your second day in Siena without Montalcino:
Optional Day 2 – Siena
- Complesso Museale Santa Maria della Scala
- Pinacoteca Nazionale
- Siena Civic Museum
- Baptistry of San Giovanni (included with OPASI Pass)
- Hotel
Let Me Hear From You
I would love to hear if my version of 2 days in Siena on a budget as a single traveler was helpful to you. Post me your thoughts or questions in the Comments section below. Thank you!
More Travel Itineraries You’ll Like
South of France in 3 Days Itinerary Without a Car
How to Spend 3 Days in Madrid Alone 2023
One Day in Rothenburg ob der Tauber
BEST 1 Day in Pamplona Itinerary & Guide (2023)
3 Days in Zakynthos Greece Solo Travel 2023
Best 4 Days in Florence on a Budget Itinerary & Guide
What to Do in Santorini in 3 Days Itinerary (2023)
