Still can't make up my mind.....Siena or San Gimigano for 2 nights??

Without a doubt, Siena. In my mind, San Gimignano was good for a day trip. Not a place I would stay overnight. Siena on the otherhand is perfect for a 2 night (or longer) stay.

Siena also has more hotel options, and more to see and do.

Gotta agree with the Siena trend. Visited both 2 summers ago, and Siena is bigger, has a larger square (more restaurants on it), etc. San Gimigano was interesting for a couple of hours (if taking children, skip the torture museum - yuk).

Thank you for your help. I will be staying in Pienze a few nights as well. Given that would you still recommend Siena?

Hi Monica,
Ditto the other responses. We spent a morning in San Gim and that was enough. I'm really glad we went there, but we had no desire to stay longer. We spent one night at the Hotel Garden in Siena and wished that we had planned to stay longer.
Ellen

I have to say that I completely disagree! How funny. I guess my first question is when are you going? On a trip to Italy several years ago, we did Rome, Florence, Siena and San Gimigniano in 10 days in March (GREAT time to go to Italy by the way). We stayed in Siena for two nights and in San Gimigniano for two as well. I have to say that while Siena is spectacular, San Gimigniano completely emptied out at night (because most people only do day trips), leaving us feeling at home with the locals. We stayed at a gorgeous hotel right off the main piazza, with a view that made me burst into tears. We had dinner around the corner at this TINY little grotto restaurant that was one of the best meals I've had in my life. I guess my experience was singular, but I have to say that I would choose San Gimigniano to stay overnight - only because it seems like nobody else does!

Be very careful selecting a hotel in Siena. We paid a pretty steep price for a very noisy hotel--would never stay in it again. On the other hand we met a couple who were staying for half the price in a convent overlooking the countryside. Our room overlooked a street full of activity which only calmed down from 2am-4am and then the noise started again.

To avoid the fate Nini describes, I would suggest the Palazzo Ravizza, with a room looking out on the garden and the green hills of Tuscany. It's within the walls, but it has its own parking outside the walls; you do, of course, have to drive in to deposit and then to pick up your luggage.

This is becoming harder choice than I thought. My budget is anything below
200 Euro's and your suggestion of the palazzo Ravizzi is a bit steep. I have read wonderful reviews on this site for it but it's still too much.

How many are you? I assumed two people.

Here is the rate list from the Palazzo Ravizza:

http://www.palazzoravizza.it/pricelist.htm

and it shows 180 Euros for a superior room in high season...

hmm...that isn't too bad. I must have been looking at the wrong item. We are 2 and we will be there at the end of April

Palazzo Ravizza has free parking, saving you 15E right there. It's not really especially expensive. A nice place, but don't expect your room to be the Ritz.

Our room at the Palazzo Ravizza was so very tiny although I know there are larger, nicer rooms...but the view outside that window was worth its weight in gold!

I would suggest San Gimigano instead of Siena. It is much less hassle to go in and out of and it is lovely at night.

La Cisterna is the perfect hotel there, one of my all time favorites. Ask for a room with a balcony and a view of the valley. I believe it is around 120 Euros a night, but you can google to find the S.G. website. Also look on the Fodors search function for La Cisterna.

Hi Sally, Thanks for your hotel suggestion. The prices look really good. I'm really leaning toward San Gimigano now.....you really make it hard to choose!

nini,
Where did you stay in Siena? We're going in May and want to avoid this hotel.

Thanks for the information.

We used Siena as a base for going to the hill towns our first time in Tuscany. We stayed in Hotel Duomo. We had a good view of the Duomo, but the hotel was not nearly as nice as La Cisterna in S.G.

The last three times we have gone to Tuscany, we have happily stayed at La Cisterna or at an agriturismo outside of S.G. for one of the nights.

The Tuscany small towns and country side are very relaxing- The traffic going in and out of Siena can be heavy and confusing.

Although we went in Nov a couple years ago, we preferred Sienna. It emptied out at night too but that's because it was off season.

We stayed at a convent associated with St Catherine of Sienna. I found it in a Rick Steves book. They speak no english and don't have breakfast but it was quiet, great views and cheap. We trained it so the car part was not a hasle.

We took the bus (right across the street from the convent) to San G for a day trip. It stopped in Poggobongo (sp) allowing for a special breakfast treat in a small nontouristy town.

We stayed at the Hotel Duomo and it was not cheap. A room on the bacj was even more. This hotel was my husband's selection and he does not inquire about noise levels which is my priority when I book a room. I found it to be a rather strange and unattractive place. I surely would not consider it for a summer stay as the desk clerk/manager said they did not turn on the AC until it gets extremely hot. She said AC is too expensive there! Anyway our room was right up there among the noisiest places we have ever stayed. We are in process of booking in Edinbourgh now and for peace of mind I think we have settled on a Karen Brown place--she has never led us astray yet--we have tried many of her recs and they are always full of charm. BTW, Siena is bigger than you think. I don't plan to return.

SIENA.

Is the traffic in and out of San Gimigano as bad as Siena?

When are you going? Both Siena and San Gimignano are not so good as a touring/driving base. Actually SG, being a smaller town, might be slightly easier. We drove there and stayed only one night but it was highly memorable. We stayed at the Hotel Bel Soggiorno; they gave us a room with a shared terrace. It had a great view of the walls and the Tuscan countryside. So while the streets crawled with daytrippers, we read peacefully in the sun on our terrace. Then went out later.

S.G. is a tiny/small hill town. Siena is a fairly large city- no comparison in traffic. You probably won't drive in S.G. anyway. Just park in the parking lot right outside the town wall, and walk on an interesting medieval road for five minutes. Then you will be in the center of the town right at Hotel La Cisterna.

As another voter for San G. for all the ease of entry/exit and authentic bonding with residents reasons raised above, but let me sweeten the pot.

The storefront pizzeria, just down from La Cisterna hotel has pizza that our gang of 75 teenagers from all over the world(we were teachers in Italy) voted the best in Italy after sampling it in 15 cities and towns.

Also, San G. has the most attractive olive wood kitchen utensils and cutting boards for the best prices: these make incredible gifts for you or friends and family.

By all means visit Siena, but STAY in San G.

I have decided to stay in San Gimigano....turns out its for 1 night instead of 2..sniff sniff! I will stay at the la Cisterna hotel. Thank you for all your suggestions.

I was just in San G. and Sienna in Oct. I think 1 night in San G. will be enough, be sure to go to volterra just up the road a bit, much less touristy. Also when in Pienza eat at latte luna the food was great and the prices very reasonable. We stayed near montacino and drove to Sienna for the day. Go early because the parking spots are gone by 10 am and things get crowded with tour groups in the afternoon. Have a great time.

San Gimignano is lovely and worth a visit but Siena has more to see/do/eat!

Thank you for your suggestions....I just got a e-mail from La Cisterna saying they have no rooms. ugh! So maybe l'antico Pozzo(sp). It seemed more expensive but not as nice.