Siena

Where to stay

Most hostels sit inside the medieval walls, a short walk from Piazza del Campo. The northern stretch near Piazza Gramsci, the city's main bus terminal, tends to have slightly lower prices and puts you close to buses connecting to Florence and the train station at the bottom of the hill.

Getting around

• The Palio horse race falls on July 2 and August 16. Rooms disappear months ahead and prices spike hard. If you are not coming specifically for the race, those two weekends are worth avoiding entirely.
• The Wednesday morning market at Piazza La Lizza is where locals actually shop. Bread, cheese, and produce cost a fraction of what the stalls near the Campo charge.
• The cathedral complex sells a combined ticket covering the Duomo, the Museo dell'Opera, and Santa Maria della Scala, a converted medieval hospital directly across the square. Buying the combo saves a meaningful amount over paying each entry on its own.

When to go

Hostels run cheapest from November through February. July and August fill fastest, with the Palio weekends on July 2 and August 16 booking out months in advance.