Day trip from Siena to San Gimignano by train and bus

Outbound 1 h 21 minAbout 6.5 h for your visit in San Gimignano
Costs for the dayabout €55 to €65 per person2 adults, recommended sights, with AI Tour Guide and foodWork out your costs ↓
Start the San Gimignano tourSee the day plan
San Gimignano

An easy day trip: a short regional train to Poggibonsi and a bus up the hill bring you to the gates of San Gimignano in about 80 minutes, early enough to walk the town before the busiest hours. You get roughly six hours in San Gimignano and are back in Siena for the evening.

Is a day trip from Siena to San Gimignano worth it?

Yes, for most visitors staying in Siena. You need no car: a regional train to Poggibonsi and line 130 up the hill run every day of the week, and on weekdays the same bus line also runs directly from Siena. The whole trip takes well under two hours each way, so a morning departure still gives you a full, unhurried visit and an evening back in Siena.

San Gimignano gives you something Siena does not: a small walled hill town whose medieval towers still shape the skyline, 14 of them standing out of a skyline that once counted 72. Siena is the larger, deeper city; San Gimignano is compact, its main sights sit within a few minutes of each other, and the pleasure lies in the atmosphere, the views from the hill and a glass of Vernaccia, the white wine that only comes from here.

The price is the crowd. San Gimignano is one of the most visited hill towns in Tuscany and fills with tour groups from late morning to mid afternoon, so it pays to arrive early and keep the busy hours for lunch and the quieter edges of town. If you already plan to see Montepulciano, Pienza or Montalcino, the hill town experience overlaps and you can spend this day elsewhere.

Who this day trip suits

  • First-time visitors to Tuscany who want to see a classic walled hill town without renting a car
  • Travellers based in Siena who want a half-day change of scale after the big squares and museums of the city
  • Wine lovers, because Vernaccia di San Gimignano is made only around this town and pairs well with a long lunch
  • Photographers drawn to the tower skyline and the views over the countryside from the Rocca
  • Travellers without a car, since buses and trains connect both towns every day

Go if you want the classic Tuscan tower town in one relaxed day from Siena without a car; choose Florence instead if you want museums and depth, or skip it if Montepulciano or Pienza are already on your list.

Other day trips from Siena

How to get from Siena to San Gimignano by train and bus

The most reliable way is the Trenitalia regional train from Siena to Poggibonsi with a change to Autolinee Toscane line 130, because this combination runs every day, Sundays included, and drops you right at the first stop of the walking tour. On weekdays the direct line 130 bus is an equally good choice without a change.

Combined journey: Trenitalia + Autolinee Toscane

Board a regional train at Siena railway station for the short ride of about 20 minutes to Poggibonsi-S.Gimignano, then change to line 130 at the bus bay Poggibonsi FS right at the station for another 20 minutes or so up to Porta San Giovanni. With a well-timed change the trip takes under an hour; in the morning the waits at Poggibonsi usually stretch it to around 80 minutes. Only a few trains a day run in the morning, so aim for one of the early ones. Train and bus belong to two different operators: buy your tickets through Trenitalia and Autolinee Toscane before boarding, and the cost tool shows the fare.

Operator
Trenitalia + Autolinee Toscane
Route
Siena → San Gimignano (Porta San Giovanni)
Journey time
1 h 21 min
Travel fare
Outward €7.50; return €7.50 (€15 return total)

Tickets at Trenitalia ↗

Tickets at Autolinee Toscane ↗

Bus: Autolinee Toscane

Line 130 also runs directly from Siena to San Gimignano on weekdays, roughly every hour, and takes about an hour and a quarter without a change. It leaves from the stop on Via Tozzi in central Siena, not from the railway station, and arrives at Porta San Giovanni; buses back leave from Piazzale Montemaggio. On Saturdays the direct buses back run only in the evening, and on Sundays there is no direct service at all, so on those days use the train and bus via Poggibonsi.

Operator
Autolinee Toscane
Journey time
20 to 82 min
Morning departures
Monday to Saturday: 7 departures

Tickets at Autolinee Toscane ↗

Both the direct bus and the bus from Poggibonsi stop at Porta San Giovanni at the edge of the old town, which is the start of the walking tour: you walk straight through the gate into the centre. The historic centre is closed to traffic, so everything from here on is on foot.

Example connections by weekday

Full journeys with each leg shown. Times and fares can vary by day and service.

DayOutboundReturn
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday08:18–09:39 · 1 h 21 min
  1. Siena → Poggibonsi FS: 08:18–08:41
  2. Poggibonsi FS → San Gimignano (Porta San Giovanni): 09:19–09:39
16:55–18:05 · 1 h 10 min
  1. Piazzale Montemaggio → Siena-Via Tozzi: 16:55–18:05
Saturday08:18–09:39 · 1 h 21 min
  1. Siena → Poggibonsi FS: 08:18–08:41
  2. Poggibonsi FS → San Gimignano (Porta San Giovanni): 09:19–09:39
16:55–18:15 · 1 h 20 min
  1. Piazzale Montemaggio → Poggibonsi FS: 16:55–17:17
  2. Poggibonsi FS → Siena: 17:49–18:15
Sunday08:18–09:25 · 1 h 7 min
  1. Siena → Poggibonsi FS: 08:18–08:41
  2. Poggibonsi FS → San Gimignano (Porta San Giovanni): 09:00–09:25
15:55–17:14 · 1 h 19 min
  1. Piazzale Montemaggio → Poggibonsi FS: 15:55–16:20
  2. Poggibonsi FS → Siena: 16:45–17:14

Timetable

Train: Trenitalia

Monday to Saturday

DepartureArrivalDuration
05:0005:2121 min
08:1808:4123 min
08:4809:0820 min

Sunday

DepartureArrivalDuration
06:3606:5721 min
08:1808:4123 min
08:4809:0820 min

Timetable: Trenitalia, as of 22 October 2026

Check current times at Trenitalia ↗

Bus: Autolinee Toscane

Monday to Saturday

DepartureArrivalDuration
06:3506:5520 min
07:0007:2525 min
08:0008:2020 min
08:3208:5523 min
09:1909:3920 min
10:2010:4020 min
11:0011:2020 min
12:0512:2520 min
12:2512:5025 min
13:1213:3220 min

Sunday

DepartureArrivalDuration
07:0207:2725 min
09:0009:2525 min
11:2511:5025 min
12:2512:5025 min
13:3013:5020 min

Timetable: Autolinee Toscane, as of 22 October 2026

Monday to Saturday

DepartureArrivalDuration
07:0508:201 h 15 min
08:2009:391 h 19 min
09:3510:401 h 5 min
10:1511:201 h 5 min
11:2012:251 h 5 min
12:1013:321 h 22 min
13:1514:351 h 20 min

Check current times at Autolinee Toscane ↗

Train: Trenitalia

Monday to Saturday

DepartureArrivalDuration
17:4918:1526 min
Show all departures (20)

Other suitable trains may have different fares.

DepartureArrivalDuration
12:1512:3823 min
12:4513:1530 min
13:1513:4025 min
13:4514:1631 min
14:1514:4025 min
14:4515:1732 min
15:1415:3723 min
15:4516:1429 min
16:1516:4025 min
16:4517:1429 min
17:1517:3823 min
17:4918:1526 min
18:1518:4025 min
18:4519:1631 min
19:1519:3823 min
19:4520:1631 min
20:1520:4025 min
20:4521:1631 min
21:1521:3924 min
21:4622:1630 min

Sunday

DepartureArrivalDuration
12:1512:3823 min
13:1513:4025 min
13:4514:1631 min
14:4515:1631 min
15:1415:3723 min
16:4517:1429 min
18:1518:4025 min
19:1519:3823 min
19:4520:1631 min
20:1520:4025 min
21:1521:3924 min

Check current times at Trenitalia ↗

Bus: Autolinee Toscane

Monday to Friday

DepartureArrivalDuration
13:0013:2626 min
14:0814:2820 min
14:4515:0722 min
14:4515:1025 min
15:0015:2525 min
15:4016:0222 min
16:5517:1722 min
18:3518:5722 min
19:0019:2525 min
19:4020:0020 min
20:0020:2525 min
20:4021:0020 min

Saturday

DepartureArrivalDuration
13:0013:2626 min
14:0814:2820 min
15:0015:2525 min
15:1015:3020 min
16:0416:2521 min
16:5517:1722 min
18:4019:0020 min
19:0019:2525 min
19:4020:0020 min
20:0020:2525 min
20:4021:0020 min

Sunday

DepartureArrivalDuration
12:3512:5520 min
14:0014:2525 min
15:0015:2525 min
15:5516:2025 min
17:4018:0020 min
19:0519:3025 min
20:2520:5025 min

Monday to Friday

DepartureArrivalDuration
14:4516:021 h 17 min
15:4016:451 h 5 min
16:5518:051 h 10 min
18:3519:581 h 23 min
19:4020:451 h 5 min

Saturday

DepartureArrivalDuration
19:4020:451 h 5 min

Check current times at Autolinee Toscane ↗

Siena to San Gimignano day trip itinerary for one relaxed day

Day plan for: Mon–Sat

Leave Siena early so that you walk the centre of San Gimignano before the tour groups arrive, keep lunch for the busiest hours and head back in the late afternoon.

  1. Morning08:18 – 09:39

    Take the regional train from Siena to Poggibonsi shortly after eight, then the line 130 bus from Poggibonsi FS, which reaches Porta San Giovanni at around a quarter to ten. Use the remaining minutes for a coffee near the gate.

    This connection gets you into town before the late morning rush and leaves the whole day ahead of you.

  2. Tour10:00 – 12:45

    Open the walking tour in your browser at Porta San Giovanni. The AI Tour Guide greets you, tells the stories of the gate and the town and asks what you want to know more about, then leads you to Piazza della Cisterna, past the Palazzo Comunale, into the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta and up the Torre Grossa.

    These sights stand within a minute of each other, so you see them in one go while the squares are still quiet. In the morning the Palazzo Comunale is a stop seen from outside, so linger on Piazza della Cisterna first and let the guide tell its story from the square.

    1. Porta San Giovanni in San Gimignano, stop 1 on the self-guided walking tour1Porta San Giovanni
    2. Piazza della Cisterna in San Gimignano, stop 2 on the self-guided walking tour2Piazza della Cisterna
    3. Palazzo Comunale (Palazzo del Popolo) in San Gimignano, stop 3 on the self-guided walking tour3Palazzo Comunale (Palazzo del Popolo)
    4. Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta (Duomo) in San Gimignano, stop 4 on the self-guided walking tour4Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta (Duomo)
    5. Torre Grossa in San Gimignano, stop 5 on the self-guided walking tour5Torre Grossa

    Start the San Gimignano tour

  3. Lunch12:45 – 13:45

    Have lunch after the Torre Grossa and before walking on to the Rocca di Montestaffoli, ideally with a glass of Vernaccia di San Gimignano.

    Midday is when tour groups fill the main squares; sitting down to eat then gives you the quieter hours on either side for walking.

  4. Afternoon13:45 – 16:15

    The guide takes you on to the Rocca di Montestaffoli, the last stop of the tour, where the old fortress hill opens up views over the countryside. After that about two and a half hours remain: walk along the town walls, return to Piazza della Cisterna for a gelato, or add the Museum of Sacred Art next to the Collegiata as an optional detour.

    The tour itself ends early in the afternoon, so the free time is yours to fill at your own pace before the bus back.

    1. Rocca di Montestaffoli in San Gimignano, stop 6 on the self-guided walking tour6Rocca di Montestaffoli
  5. Return16:15 – 18:15

    Leave the Rocca by about a quarter past four and walk to Piazzale Montemaggio for the bus shortly before five; with a change to the train at Poggibonsi you are back in Siena around a quarter past six.

    The walk to the bus stop plus a short buffer keeps the connection safe, and you are back in Siena in time for dinner.

Arrival to return departure: 7 h 16 min. Time for your visit: about 6.5 h.

This day gives you about six hours in San Gimignano; if you arrive later, shorten the free time after the Rocca rather than skipping stops of the tour.

Best day to visit San Gimignano from Siena

  1. Monday: recommended
  2. Tuesday: recommended
  3. Wednesday: recommended
  4. Thursday: recommended
  5. Friday: recommended
  6. Saturday: recommended
  7. Sunday: better not
  • Sunday: The planned interior visits (Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta (Duomo)) do not fit the opening hours on this day.

A San Gimignano walking tour in one day

The walking tour leads from Porta San Giovanni, where the bus drops you, through the heart of the old town to the Rocca di Montestaffoli: under a kilometre with just a few minutes between stops, so most of the time goes into the squares, the frescoed church and the climb up the tower. The AI Tour Guide leads this walk as a conversation, telling the stories of each place and taking your questions along the way.

The San Gimignano tour: your guide leads you from stop to stop.
  1. Porta San Giovanni
  2. Piazza della Cisterna
  3. Palazzo Comunale (Palazzo del Popolo)
  4. Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta (Duomo)
  5. Torre Grossa
  6. Rocca di Montestaffoli

Start the San Gimignano tour

Opening hours as of 22 October 2026.

  1. Porta San Giovanni in San Gimignano, stop 1 on the self-guided walking tour
    1Stop 1

    Porta San Giovanni

    The main gate in the town walls was the historic entrance for travellers coming from Siena along the branch of the Via Francigena, the same direction you arrive from today.

    Price
    Free
  2. Piazza della Cisterna in San Gimignano, stop 2 on the self-guided walking tour
    2Stop 2

    Piazza della Cisterna

    A triangular square on a gentle slope, linked to Piazza del Duomo by an open passage and the place where the town's daily life gathers.

    Price
    Free
  3. Palazzo Comunale (Palazzo del Popolo) in San Gimignano, stop 3 on the self-guided walking tour
    3Stop 3

    Palazzo Comunale (Palazzo del Popolo)

    The Palazzo del Popolo has been the seat of the town's government since the 13th century and houses the civic museum and picture gallery.

    Hours (optional interior visit)
    Daily: 11:00–17:30 (last admission 17:00)
    Included
    Combined ticket (Civic Museums: Palazzo Comunale & Torre Grossa, Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta (Duomo))
  4. Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta (Duomo) in San Gimignano, stop 4 on the self-guided walking tour
    4Stop 4

    Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta (Duomo)

    From outside the Collegiata looks plain, but its interior is covered in frescoes and is the part of San Gimignano visitors most often overlook.

    Hours
    Mon–Sat: 10:00–17:00 (last admission 16:30)
    Sun: 12:30–17:00 (last admission 16:30)
    Price
    Combined ticket: €15
  5. Torre Grossa in San Gimignano, stop 5 on the self-guided walking tour
    5Stop 5

    Torre Grossa

    The tallest tower in San Gimignano, standing on Piazza del Duomo, is the one you can climb for the view over the other towers and the hills.

    Hours
    Daily: 11:00–17:30 (last admission 17:00)
    Included
    Combined ticket (Civic Museums: Palazzo Comunale & Torre Grossa, Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta (Duomo))
  6. Rocca di Montestaffoli in San Gimignano, stop 6 on the self-guided walking tour
    6Stop 6

    Rocca di Montestaffoli

    A 14th-century fortress on the hill where the bishop of Volterra once held a stronghold, now a green spot with views over the countryside.

    Price
    Free
AI Tour Guide in San Gimignano

Your guide for the San Gimignano tour

At Porta San Giovanni you start the AI Tour Guide in your browser, and it leads you through San Gimignano as a spoken conversation: why a small hill town once had 72 towers, who governed from the Palazzo del Popolo, what the frescoes in the Collegiata tell. It asks what you want to hear more about, remembers what caught your interest and adapts the stories as you walk to the Rocca.

stops
6
route
0.7 km
walking only
12 min
with visits
2 h 41 min
  • 100 free credits to start
  • €19.99 once for the whole group
  • Travel and admission tickets are not included
Start the San Gimignano tourSee the whole tour →

What a Siena to San Gimignano day trip costs

The cost of the day comes from the train and bus in both directions, the paid visits to the Collegiate Church and the Torre Grossa, whose Civic Museums ticket also covers the Palazzo Comunale, and lunch. The gate, Piazza della Cisterna and the Rocca are free, so you can trim the budget by choosing which interiors matter most to you.

Adults
Children

One device is enough for the whole group: two people listen on two connected headphones, larger groups use the phone speaker.

Cost breakdown

Costs for 2 adults · planned visits

Travel there and backTrenitalia + Autolinee Toscane2 adults × €15€30
SightsCombined ticket (Civic Museums: Palazzo Comunale & Torre Grossa, Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta (Duomo))2 adults × €15€30
AI Tour Guide touronce for the whole group€19.99
Food (estimate)€15 to €25 per person€30 to €50
Total€109.99 to €129.99
Split between peopleabout €55 to €65 per person
Sights
  • €7
  • €10
  • Combined ticket (Civic Museums: Palazzo Comunale & Torre Grossa, Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta (Duomo))The calculator automatically picks the cheapest combination ticket that fits.€15
Buffer and private guide

The Civic Museums ticket covers the town hall, its picture gallery and the Torre Grossa together, so you do not need separate tickets for the palace and the tower.

Prices as of October 2026.

Getting back from San Gimignano to Siena

Buses back leave from Piazzale Montemaggio, a different stop from Porta San Giovanni where you arrived, at the edge of the old town. Allow about twenty minutes to walk there from the Rocca plus a quarter of an hour of buffer, then ride line 130 to Poggibonsi FS and change to the regional train to Siena; on weekdays a few direct buses to Via Tozzi in Siena also leave from the same stop.

Not every line 130 bus runs through to Siena, so look at the destination on the bus before boarding. On Sundays there is no direct bus at all, so the change at Poggibonsi is the way home.

If you run late, drop the free time after the Rocca first. If you miss the planned bus, buses from Piazzale Montemaggio to Poggibonsi run frequently on weekdays and trains from Poggibonsi to Siena continue into the evening; on Sundays both run less often, so leave more margin.

Recommended returnAutolinee Toscane + Trenitalia: departs 16:55, arrives 18:15Leave the last stop of the tour by 16:15

Latest return that fits the day: 20:40

  • Autolinee Toscane + Trenitalia from Piazzale Montemaggio, Sunday: departs 20:25, arrives 21:39
  • Autolinee Toscane + Trenitalia from Piazzale Montemaggio, Monday to Saturday: departs 20:40, arrives 21:39

Questions about the day trip from Siena to San Gimignano

Should I visit San Gimignano in the morning or the afternoon?

In the morning. Tour groups arrive from late morning and stay until mid afternoon, so starting the walk around ten gives you the gate, Piazza della Cisterna and the main sights before the squares fill up.

Can I drive from Siena to San Gimignano instead?

Yes, but the historic centre is a restricted traffic zone and driving into it brings fines. Park in one of the car parks outside the walls, such as P1 Giubileo, and walk or take the local shuttle into town.

What shoes should I wear?

Comfortable, sturdy shoes. The streets are paved with stone, run up and down the hill and are uneven in places.

Is San Gimignano too touristy to be worth it?

It is busy, but it is popular for a reason: the medieval atmosphere and the towers are genuine. Arriving early and spending the busiest hours at lunch or up at the Rocca makes a clear difference.

More day trips from Siena

Florence in a day 1 h 15 min Pisa in a day 2 h 5 min

Sources

Timetables, fares and opening hours come from these operators:

Image credits
AI Tour Guide
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