Things to Do in Siena in August
August weather, activities, events & insider tips
August Weather in Siena
Is August Right for You?
Advantages
- Palio di Siena on August 16 - this is THE reason many people choose August. The historic horse race around Piazza del Campo draws massive crowds, but the pre-race pageantry, neighborhood dinners, and electric atmosphere make it one of Europe's most authentic medieval festivals. If you're here for Palio, you're experiencing Siena at its most genuine.
- Long daylight hours mean you can start sightseeing early around 7am when temperatures are still comfortable at 20°C (68°F), take a proper midday break during the 2-4pm heat, then enjoy evening exploring until 9pm. The extended golden hour makes those Torre del Mangia sunset climbs absolutely worth the 400 steps.
- August brings festa season to the Tuscan countryside - nearly every small town within 30 km (19 miles) of Siena hosts a sagra celebrating local food. You'll find festivals dedicated to pici pasta, wild boar, porcini mushrooms, and local wines. These are genuinely local events where you'll pay €15-25 for multi-course meals that would cost €50+ in city restaurants.
- Fewer international tourists in the first two weeks of August (pre-Palio) actually makes accommodation easier to find than June or September, though prices spike dramatically August 14-17. If you avoid Palio weekend, you'll find the city pleasantly manageable with 20-30 minute waits at major sites versus the 60+ minute queues of peak spring season.
Considerations
- The heat between 12pm-4pm is genuinely intense - that 31°C (87°F) combined with 70% humidity and medieval stone streets that radiate heat makes midday exploration uncomfortable. Many smaller museums and churches close 1-4pm anyway, which locals will tell you is for a reason. Plan indoor activities or leave the city during these hours.
- Palio weekend (August 14-17) transforms the city completely - accommodation prices triple from typical €120-180 to €350-500 per night with minimum 3-4 night stays required. Restaurant reservations become nearly impossible, and the historic center swells to uncomfortable crowd levels. If you're not specifically here for Palio, avoid these dates entirely.
- Many family-run restaurants, artisan shops, and smaller attractions close for ferragosto (August 15 and surrounding weeks) as Italians take their own vacations. You'll find the big tourist sites open, but that authentic neighborhood trattoria you read about might have a chiuso per ferie sign through August 25. The city feels noticeably less local during these weeks.
Best Activities in August
Early Morning Duomo Complex Tours
The Duomo, Baptistery, and Museo dell'Opera stay remarkably cool inside those thick medieval walls, making them perfect for 8-10am visits before the heat builds. August mornings offer something special - you'll often have the Piccolomini Library nearly to yourself at 8:30am, and the inlaid marble floors are fully uncovered (they're protected by boards much of the year). The light streaming through the stained glass hits differently in summer's angle. Book the Opa Si Pass which covers all Duomo complex sites for €15 and lets you skip individual ticket lines.
Tuscan Hill Town Day Trips
August is actually ideal for exploring San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, or Montalcino - you'll escape Siena's midday heat while these smaller towns stay 2-3°C (4-5°F) cooler thanks to hilltop breezes. The countryside looks spectacular in August with sunflower fields still blooming in early weeks and golden wheat fields creating that classic Tuscan landscape. Most importantly, you'll find these towns less crowded than Siena itself during non-Palio weeks. The 20-40 km (12-25 mile) distances mean easy morning departures returning by evening aperitivo time.
Wine Estate Visits and Tastings
August sits right between the July heat stress and September harvest, meaning winemakers have time for visitors and vineyards look beautiful with full canopies. The Chianti Classico region (15-25 km/9-15 miles north) and Brunello di Montalcino area (40 km/25 miles south) both offer estate tours that include cool cantina tastings - a perfect midday escape from city heat. You'll taste the previous vintage while learning about the upcoming harvest. Many estates serve lunch featuring local salumi, pecorino, and olive oil for €25-45 per person.
Contrada Museum and Neighborhood Walks
Each of Siena's 17 contrade (neighborhoods) maintains a small museum showcasing their Palio history, and these intimate spaces offer genuine insight into how the horse race shapes modern Siena life. August is the perfect time to explore these because contrada members are actively preparing for Palio - you'll see flags being practiced, hear drumming rehearsals, and notice the intense neighborhood pride. The museums stay cool, rarely have lines, and cost just €3-5 entry. Combine visits with walks through each contrada's territory to spot their animal symbols on street lamps and building corners.
Evening Aperitivo and Passeggiata
Siena comes alive after 6pm in August when temperatures drop to comfortable 24-26°C (75-79°F) and locals emerge for the evening stroll. The passeggiata tradition means streets fill with Sienese families, and bars set out aperitivo spreads - pay €8-12 for a drink and get access to buffets of bruschetta, cheese, olives, and pasta salads. This is how locals actually spend August evenings, and it's your best chance to experience neighborhood life. The areas around Piazza del Mercato and Via di Città offer the most authentic scenes away from Piazza del Campo's tourist concentration.
Fortezza Medicea and Public Gardens
The 16th-century fortress at the north edge of the historic center offers something tourists often miss - shade, grass, and breeze. The thick walls create natural air conditioning, and the rampart walks provide panoramic views without the Torre del Mangia climb and crowds. In August, the fortress hosts an enoteca where you can taste wines from across Tuscany in a cool stone setting for €4-8 per glass. The adjacent public gardens have benches under mature trees - locals bring picnic supplies here during hot afternoons. It's a 10-minute walk from the Campo but feels worlds away from tourist intensity.
August Events & Festivals
Palio di Siena
The August 16 Palio is one of two annual horse races (the other runs July 2) around Piazza del Campo, but it's so much more than a race - it's a genuine expression of neighborhood identity dating to the 1600s. The 90-second race itself is almost secondary to days of pageantry, flag throwing, blessing ceremonies, and neighborhood dinners. Ten of the 17 contrade compete (selected by rotation and lottery), and the winning neighborhood celebrates for months. The trial races (prove) run August 13-15 and are actually easier to watch than race day itself. The atmosphere is electric, authentic, and unlike any other European festival because it's genuinely for Sienese first, tourists second.
Ferragosto Celebrations
August 15 is Ferragosto, Italy's major summer holiday marking the Assumption of Mary. While many businesses close, the city hosts special masses at the Duomo, and neighborhoods organize communal meals and celebrations. It's more of a local family day than a tourist event, but if you're in Siena on August 15, you'll experience the city at its most Italian - expect everything to move slower, many restaurants to be closed, and a genuine holiday atmosphere. Some contrade host open-air dinners that visitors can sometimes join for €20-30.