Things to Do in Siena in December
December weather, activities, events & insider tips
December Weather in Siena
Is December Right for You?
Advantages
- Genuine winter atmosphere without the crushing crowds - Piazza del Campo becomes this intimate medieval space instead of the shoulder-to-shoulder tourist scene you get in summer. You can actually photograph the Torre del Mangia without 50 people in your shot.
- December transforms Siena into a proper Christmas market city. The mercatini start appearing in late November and peak mid-December, with wooden chalets selling local ceramics, panforte, and ricciarelli around Fortezza Medicea and along Via di Città. It's one of the few times you'll see Sienese families out shopping in the historic center.
- Hotel rates drop 40-50% compared to summer peak season. That boutique hotel in a converted palazzo that costs €280 in July? You're looking at €150-180 in December, often with better room selection since you're not competing with Palio crowds.
- Restaurant reservations are actually possible, even at places like Osteria Le Logge. You can walk into most trattorias without booking ahead, and locals are dining out more since it's not tourist season - you get a much more authentic sense of how Sienese people actually eat.
Considerations
- The cold here feels colder than the thermometer suggests. That 4-10°C (39-50°F) range combined with 70% humidity and stone buildings that haven't seen central heating upgrades since the Renaissance means you're layering up indoors too. Many smaller museums and churches don't heat properly.
- Daylight is seriously limited - sunset hits around 4:45pm by mid-December. You're losing prime photography hours and outdoor exploring time. If you're trying to visit multiple hill towns, you're essentially working with a 9am-4pm window before everything gets dark and considerably colder.
- December weather in Tuscany is genuinely unpredictable. Those 10 rainy days don't tell the full story - you might get three days of steady drizzle, then a week of crisp sunshine, then fog so thick you can't see across the Campo. The Crete Senesi clay hills turn into slippery mud after rain, making countryside exploration tricky.
Best Activities in December
Siena Cathedral Complex Extended Tours
December is actually ideal for appreciating the Duomo complex because you can spend time in the Piccolomini Library and Baptistery without being rushed through by crowds. The marble floor is fully uncovered (they only cover it in summer for preservation), and the low winter light coming through the stained glass creates this moody atmosphere you don't get in bright summer months. The cold keeps casual tourists away, so you're sharing the space with people who genuinely want to be there. Budget 2-3 hours for the full complex including the Museo dell'Opera with its Duccio masterpieces.
Tuscan Hill Town Day Trips
December is brilliant for visiting San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, and Montalcino because you get these medieval towns essentially to yourselves. San Gimignano's tower views are spectacular in crisp winter air (when it's not foggy), and the Brunello wine cellars in Montalcino do proper tastings instead of the rushed summer sessions. The catch is weather - you need to be flexible and watch forecasts. On clear days, the Crete Senesi landscape is stunning in winter light. On foggy days, you're basically driving blind.
Cooking Classes in Traditional Kitchens
December is peak season for learning traditional Sienese winter dishes - pici cacio e pepe, ribollita, pappardelle al cinghiale (wild boar). Local cooking schools shift to seasonal menus, and you're working with ingredients actually available at December markets. Classes typically run 3-4 hours including market visits and lunch. The indoor activity is perfect for those inevitable rainy afternoons, and you're learning dishes that make sense in cold weather rather than summer tomato salads.
Wine Estate Visits in Chianti and Montalcino
December is actually one of the better months for serious wine tourism. Harvest is done, fermentation is underway, and winemakers have time to talk. You're tasting the previous vintage that's just been bottled, and many estates offer cellar tours showing the winemaking process. The downside is shorter hours (many close by 4pm) and some smaller estates shut down completely for Christmas week. Temperatures in stone cellars hover around 12-15°C (54-59°F) year-round, so you're layering up.
Museum and Gallery Deep Dives
December weather makes this the perfect time to properly explore Siena's museum circuit - Pinacoteca Nazionale, Santa Maria della Scala, Museo Civico in Palazzo Pubblico. You can spend an hour with Duccio's Maestà without crowds, and the Palazzo Pubblico's Sala del Mappamondo with Simone Martini frescoes is nearly empty. The challenge is these spaces are cold - stone floors, minimal heating - so you're keeping your coat on. Budget 90 minutes to 2 hours per museum.
Thermal Spa Towns Excursions
December makes the hot springs at Bagno Vignoni and Rapolano Terme absolutely perfect. Sitting in 37°C (99°F) thermal water while the air temperature is 5°C (41°F) and steam rises around you is genuinely magical. These towns are 30-45 minutes from Siena, and the thermal spas are indoors with heated pools, so weather doesn't matter. You're looking at 2-3 hours of soaking time plus travel. This is what locals do on cold December weekends.
December Events & Festivals
Mercatini di Natale - Christmas Markets
Siena's Christmas markets typically run from late November through early January, centered around Fortezza Medicea and scattered through the historic center. You'll find wooden chalets selling local crafts, ceramics, panforte (the dense spiced fruitcake that's actually Sienese, not just generic Italian), ricciarelli (almond cookies), and vin brulé (mulled wine). It's smaller scale than German Christmas markets but genuinely local - you're buying from Tuscan artisans, not mass-produced ornaments. Markets are busiest 4-8pm when locals finish work.
Presepi Viventi - Living Nativity Scenes
Various contrade (Siena's historic neighborhoods) and nearby villages set up elaborate living nativity scenes in December, particularly during the two weeks before Christmas. These aren't quick photo ops - they're full productions with costumed residents, period crafts demonstrations, and traditional food stalls. The one in Monteriggioni (20 minutes from Siena) is particularly atmospheric since the entire medieval village participates. Check local tourism office for specific dates as they vary by neighborhood.
New Year's Eve in Piazza del Campo
December 31st transforms the Campo into a massive outdoor party with live music, DJs, and a midnight countdown. It's free, all ages, and genuinely fun - though expect crowds of 15,000-20,000 people. Locals bring prosecco and panettone, and the energy is more relaxed carnival than rowdy club scene. Restaurants around the Campo do special New Year's menus (€80-150 per person, reservations essential). The catch is it gets cold standing outside for hours - you're layering up and moving around to stay warm.