10 Things to Do in Siena at Night

Siena is a World Heritage City and has a spectacular architectural heritage, not to mention its festivals and traditions. It is a city where life is calm, but when night falls it is enveloped in a magical atmosphere that makes it especially attractive.

Spending a few hours exploring the city when the sun has gone down is one of the best things to do in Siena. You'll discover one of the most beautiful sunsets imaginable, long-established traditions such as the aperitivo and a lively nightlife scene that you can enjoy in bars, pubs and some unique venues that you'll only find in Siena.

Walking around Siena during the day is a delight. But walking around at nightfall is one of the best experiences you will take away from the city. The moment when the streets begin to empty is when you can really enjoy the medieval atmosphere that surrounds it.

Without the incessant comings and goings of people in the middle of the day you can discover charming corners that you may have missed before. It is also the ideal time to take the best photos of your stay in the city. That's why my advice is to wander aimlessly through the old town.

Siena's lighting has also been carefully designed to be welcoming and, above all, not to break the medieval flavour of the city. The lighting is warm, reminiscent of torchlighting. If you're not too tired, set aside a couple of hours to soak up the atmosphere.

And if you don't want to miss anything, you can always join one of the guided tours of Siena. Not only will you discover the charm of the city by night, but you will also be told countless stories, legends and anecdotes about Siena and its monuments.

Sunsets in Tuscany are very special. The colour of the olive groves, vines and cereals changes as the sun goes down. So does the colour of the roofs of Siena. If you don't want to miss an unforgettable postcard, you just have to go a bit further away from the heart of the city. There are several places where you can go.

Orto dei Tolomei

The first place I recommend to watch the sunset over Siena is the Orto dei Tolomei. It is a charming garden, although it is not very well known. Nevertheless, from it you will have a magnificent panoramic view of the city, dominated by the silhouette of the Duomo.

This corner is very close to the Botanical Garden, right on the edge of Siena's old town. But don't worry about the distance, it is only 600 metres, a ten minute walk from Piazza del Campo.

My advice is that if you plan to visit Siena in one day, you should end your day here. It's the perfect place to relax and unwind. And you only have to wait until the evening to have the best end of your visit to the city.

Church of Santa Maria dei Servi

If you are staying two days in Siena, I recommend you also go up to this place to watch the sunset. It is another of Siena's privileged viewpoints. To get there you have to follow a pretty path flanked by cypress trees and at the end you will discover beautiful views of the cathedral and the Palazzo Publico.

Moreover, the church of Santa Maria dei Servi is one of the four basilicas in the city and a must-see. It is also very close to the centre of Siena, just a short walk of no more than ten minutes.

If it's early for dinner, you can dive into one of the most atmospheric places in Siena and take part in a very typical Italian custom: the aperitivo. It is eaten in the evening, usually before dinner, although it can perfectly replace dinner if you are not very hungry.

The Sienese have the custom of taking an afternoon stroll along the Banchi di Sopra. This is one of the main arteries of the city and where some of its most significant buildings are concentrated. But when the monuments and shops close, its terraces and bars fill up with people.

Banchi di Sopra and its surroundings are a good place to enjoy that aperitif that is synonymous with meeting and socialising. But there are many more, from Piazza del Campo to via San Pietro. In fact, it' s in the historic centre where you'll find the most entertainment and where you can enjoy this snack until later in the evening.

What can you try? The typical thing to order is a glass of local wine or a spritz, which is a cocktail made with white wine and sparkling mineral water or tonic. With either of these you will have access to a buffet of tapas made with cold meats and sausages, but also salads and even pasta.

The epicentre of Siena's nightlife is the always lively and crowded Piazza del Campo. A perfect idea is to recharge your batteries for the night in one of its restaurants. You will be able to rest and, at the same time, taste the excellent Tuscan gastronomy.

If the weather is good, I recommend you to sit on one of the terraces that are set up in the square to immerse yourself in one of the most beautiful night-time postcards of Siena. If the weather is not good, you can always look for a charming establishment, it won't be difficult to find one.

In the square itself or in the surrounding streets you will find everything from small osterias to quiet restaurants. If you want a quick bite to eat, Il Cencio has some of the best paninis in Siena. And don't miss the view from its terrace, with the Piazza del Campo at your feet.

If you fancy a more substantial dinner, any of the restaurants in the historic centre offer excellent meat dishes. You can also try the gnudi, a kind of meatball made with spinach and sheep's ricotta. Together with the pici, a type of pasta typical of Siena, these are some of the dishes that are usually included in the gastronomic tours of Siena.

If you are one of those who appreciate a good wine or you feel like getting to know all the details of the rich wines of Tuscany, I suggest you take a walk around the area around the cathedral at dusk. This area of Siena is the setting for some of Siena's wine tourism tours. The reason is that a good number of wine bars are concentrated here.

Here you can have a typical aperitif or even accompany a light dinner with one of the wines of the Chianti Valley area. Some of these wine bars also organise wine tastings. This is a good plan if you want to delve into the wine tradition of Tuscany and enjoy a different evening experience in Siena.

One of the most renowned wine bars is I Terzi. Here you have the opportunity to taste Chianti wines of extraordinary quality. You can also visit the wine cellar. And you don't have to hurry, the wine cellar is open from 11:00 to 01:00. The Tirabusciò wine shop or Trefilari, among others.

Siena is a university town, so a good atmosphere until the early hours of the morning is guaranteed. If you prefer not to leave the historic centre, in the area around the Piazza del Campo there are a number of places where you can have a good time until late at night.

There is also a wide range of nightlife on offer. In the city you can enjoy both traditional establishments where you can have a quiet drink and others with a more sophisticated air where you can listen to rock and indie rhythms. Cocktail bars, Irish bars, beer bars and, of course, discotheques make up the Sienese nightlife.

And there are establishments that are true classics in the city, such as Al Cambio or the Caffè del Corso, very popular with young people. Bar Porrione, Robert the Bruce, Lirica Italiana or 115 Bar are other places where you can also have a drink and listen to good music. Some of them don't close until two in the morning.

If you prefer to go clubbing, you'll have to leave the city centre. The best known are Figaroe Club, SottoSopra Club and, above all, Vanilla Disco Club, although this one is quite far from Siena.

Siena has its own legends and stories full of mystery. The night is a perfect time to try to discover them. Some of them are really curious. Here are some clues. Look for the Via della Diana, between Piazza del Campo and the Duomo. In the peace and quiet of the night, do you feel something special?

Legends say that Diana is an underground river that runs through the city. It has not been found, but there are those who claim to have heard it. Neither have the ommicioli or the fuggisioli, the little duence that live underground in Siena and can't stand sunlight. Pay attention, maybe you'll be lucky and you'll see one emerging from its lair.

Another idea is to stroll around the city looking for statues or representations of the Capitoline She-wolf, the one who suckled Romulus and Remus. When the hustle and bustle of the streets relaxes, it is easier to find them. Look especially at the tops of ancient columns and on some of the floors.

You are probably wondering why there are typically Roman images in Siena. This is another of the city's legends that is worth knowing. According to this one, Siena was founded by the sons of Remus: Senio and Ascanio, hence the depictions.

If at the end of the day your body is craving something sweet, my advice is to head for Pasticceria Nannini, it is an institution in Siena and is open late into the night. Its sweets are delicious, perfect to accompany an authentic Italian coffee, if you like this drink. But if there is one thing you should not miss, it is their ice cream.

If the weather is not good and you prefer something hot, there is a really peculiar establishment in Siena: the Tea Room. Entering it is like stepping back in time, as it is a tea room inside a magnificent 15th century building. And it doesn't close until the early hours of the morning.

Its stone arches, vaulted ceilings and antique furniture create a cosy atmosphere, ideal for ending the day in a relaxed and intimate setting. Of course, there are over a hundred different teas to choose from. But don't worry if you're not a tea aficionado, you can also sample local wines and cocktails.

For music lovers, Siena can be a real discovery. In the city there are countless nightclubs where you can listen to live music performances of all kinds. One of the most alternative venues is the Corte Dei Miracoli, a non-profit cultural association.

If you prefer jazz, Un Tubo is an entertainment venue that organises sessions and concerts every week. You can also taste the delicious local wines. Cacio y Pere is also a good place to spend a pleasant musical evening, but in this case other styles can be found, from hip hop to rock.

It's not just about modern and contemporary styles. We are in Italy, so Siena is also a good place to enjoy classical music. Both the Teatro dei Rinnovati and the Teatro dei Rozzi offer an attractive programme of opera and classical ballet.

The Chianti Valley is one of Tuscany's great treasures, and Siena is the starting point for discovering it. Chianti is synonymous with endless fields of vineyards. And the grapes harvested here are used to make one of the most famous wines in Italy, the one that bears the name of the valley.

One of the most interesting things to do in Siena is to get away from the city for a while to watch the sunset over the hills dotted with vineyards. It is spectacular. And the perfect finishing touch is to take part in a wine tasting or, even better, dine in one of the wineries in the area overlooking these unforgettable landscapes.

There are a number of wineries that open to show visitors all the secrets of winemaking. It is therefore a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the winemaking tradition of the area around Siena. And it is also a great opportunity to enjoy a romantic moment, if you are visiting the city as a couple.