Visiting Siena by car
 

My wife and I are heading to Italy in a couple of weeks. We have reservations in Cortona (3 nights) and San Gimignano (3 nights) and would like to do a day trip to Siena during our stay. I can't seem to find any information on visiting the city by car (rental). We are not doing an overnight. Any suggestions on where to park or tips on doing a day trip (or maybe we should just forget it, if too complicated for a short visit)?

En route from Cortona to San Gimignano, as you approach Siena, you'll find signs directing you to a large parking facility just to the south of town - outside the walls. It should not be a problem...

We drove in and found parking on a side street though it did require at least two loops around. Not complicated at all and well worth it--even for a few hours!

I don't think it is too complicated at all. There are several large car parks around the outskirts of Siena, as well as lots of carparking near the Fortezza (not Wednesdays) and the football stadium. all are quite expensive at around €1.60 an hour, but for a short trip, this should not be too much of a problem.

The car parks near Porta Fontebrande and Porta Ovile have the advantage that the have escalators up to the city centre. The central parking (Stadium and fortezza) are reasonaly close to the centre via flat paths.

What to do: The combined ticket for duomo, museum of works, crypt and baptistry costs €10 and is worth it. Siena cathedral is stunning - probably my favourite of any I have seen in Italy with the possible exception of Monreale in Sicily.

The museum includes entrance to what would have been the back wall of the super cathedral had it ever been built. From the top of this you get phenomenal views over the city including the Campo.

If you feel energetic you can climb the torre del mangia - about 500 steps but another amazing view.

My favourite occupation is just sitting in the Campo people watching. I highly recommend the city - it is great for just walking around discovering things. I am currently writing this reply from within a few hundred yards of the cathedral. It is my 3rd trip (7th week)here, and I have yet to tire of the place.

One small word of warning, they are currently filming part of the latest James bond film in the city. There are cranes everywhere, and parts of some streets are inaccessible - but these are not part of the main tourist areas.

Now THAT would be awesome ... a chance to meet the pope (while in Rome on the first leg of our travels) and James Bond, all on the same trip!

Thanks to everyone for your very helpful replies. We'll keep you posted!

Just realized my response might have seemed a little, shall we say, "narrow." Of course we are MOST excited about the very things being talked about ... the monuments and museums, of course, but we, too, love people watching and just immersing ourselves in the local culture and meeting the people. We're also hoping to enjoy an evening meal with a glass of wine with time enough to return safely to San Gimignano that evening.

In Siena you can't enter the pedestrian zone without a special authorization (a hotel res etc.) and only in that case for a few minutes.

As of three days ago, the parking behind the Enoteca/"Piazza for the Forces" was 100% free. Leave the car there and it is about a 5 min walk to the Campo and all the rest.

We had a great trattoria meal in the Osteria "Ficcomezzo" just about 5 min from the carpark on the way to the Campo. Inexpensive, tasty, and some wonderful dishes that I had never had before (pork with balsamic and beans), plus the Tuscan classics.

Definitely do the day trip. Easy . Rouss

Be sure to visit the Siena Cathedral inside, allow 1 to 2 hours. If you are there in July-October, the phenomenal floor mosaics may be fully opened, otherwise about 20%.

Parking just outside the walls should not be a big issue, as others have said above.

Enjoy!