Things to Do in Siena in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Siena
Is March Right for You?
Advantages
- Dramatically fewer tourists than summer months - the Piazza del Campo and Duomo are actually manageable without the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. You can photograph the cathedral steps without 50 people in your frame, and restaurants don't require reservations weeks in advance.
- Perfect walking weather for Siena's steep medieval streets - those 14°C (58°F) afternoons are ideal for climbing the Torre del Mangia's 400 steps or wandering the contrade neighborhoods without overheating. The hills that make Siena beautiful in summer become genuinely pleasant to navigate.
- Accommodation prices drop 30-40% compared to peak season - you'll find four-star hotels in the historic center for €80-120 per night that would cost €180-250 in July. Early March especially offers the best value before Easter crowds arrive.
- Local life is visible again - Sienese residents reclaim their city in March. You'll see neighborhood bakeries operating for locals rather than tourists, the Thursday market at La Lizza filled with actual residents buying produce, and evening aperitivo spots where you might be the only non-Italian in the room.
Considerations
- Unpredictable weather requires flexible planning - those 10 rainy days are scattered randomly throughout the month, and March can swing from sunny 16°C (61°F) afternoons to gray 8°C (46°F) mornings within 24 hours. You'll need backup indoor plans and can't count on perfect photography light.
- Some countryside agriturismi and smaller restaurants close for maintenance - March sits in that awkward shoulder season where family-run establishments take their annual break before Easter. About 15-20% of countryside dining options will be shuttered, particularly in the first two weeks.
- Shorter daylight hours limit your touring time - sunset around 6:00-6:30 PM means you've got roughly 9-10 hours of good daylight for sightseeing. Those golden hour shots of the Tuscan hills happen earlier than you'd expect, and evening activities start feeling chilly quickly once the sun drops.
Best Activities in March
Siena Cathedral Complex Extended Tours
March is actually the secret window for experiencing the Duomo without the claustrophobic summer crowds. The inlaid marble floors are uncovered (they're protected by boards during peak months), and you can spend 20-30 minutes studying the Piccolomini Library frescoes without being rushed. The cooler temperatures make the climb up the Facciatone viewing platform genuinely pleasant - those narrow medieval stairs get stifling in summer. Book the OPA SI Pass that includes the cathedral, museum, baptistery, and crypt. The UV index hits 8 on clear days, so morning visits around 9:30-11:00 AM offer the best light filtering through the stained glass without harsh shadows.
Chianti Wine Estate Visits
March marks the tail end of pruning season in Chianti, and wineries are genuinely quiet - you'll often have tastings with just 2-4 other people instead of tour buses. The vineyards look stark and architectural without leaves, which locals actually prefer for photography. Temperatures in the 12-14°C (54-57°F) range mean cellar tours are comfortable rather than the cold shock they are in winter. Many estates offer vertical tastings of their Chianti Classico Riserva in March since they're not overwhelmed with visitors. The 10-15 km (6-9 mile) drives between estates through the Chianti hills are stunning even without green vines - you see the bones of the landscape.
Contrade Neighborhood Walking Routes
March weather is perfect for the 2-3 hour walks through Siena's 17 contrade districts that would be exhausting in summer heat. Each neighborhood has its own museum, fountain, and social club - and in March, you'll actually encounter residents who'll chat about their contrada's history rather than rushing past tourist groups. The cool mornings are ideal for climbing to the Fortezza Medicea and walking the walls for 360-degree views. Rain showers tend to hit in late afternoon (around 3:00-5:00 PM based on March patterns), so plan these walks for 9:00 AM-1:00 PM windows. The Torre contrada museum and Oca contrada fountain are particularly photogenic in the softer March light.
Val d'Orcia Landscape Photography Excursions
The UNESCO-protected Val d'Orcia looks completely different in March - the famous cypress-lined roads cut through brown plowed fields rather than green wheat, creating that stark Tuscan aesthetic you see in classic photography. Morning fog sits in the valleys until 9:00-10:00 AM, then burns off for crystal-clear views of Pienza and Montalcino. The 45-60 km (28-37 mile) drive from Siena takes you through completely empty roads - you can stop at the Gladiator road viewpoint or Belvedere cypress grove without other cars waiting. March's variable weather actually helps photography - you get dramatic cloud formations rather than the flat blue skies of summer. The 5-8°C (41-46°F) early mornings require warm layers, but by noon you're comfortable in just a sweater.
Siena Market and Cooking Class Experiences
The Wednesday market at La Lizza and Saturday antiques market are actually functional in March - locals shopping for spring vegetables rather than tourist spectacles. March brings the first artichokes, wild asparagus, and puntarelle to market stalls, and vendors have time to explain what you're buying. Cooking classes in March focus on these seasonal ingredients - you'll make pici pasta with artichoke sauce or ribollita with actual winter vegetables rather than the generic tourist menus of summer. Classes typically run 3-4 hours including market shopping, cooking, and eating what you've made. The cooler weather means standing over a hot stove isn't miserable, and small class sizes (4-8 people in March versus 12-15 in summer) mean actual instruction rather than assembly-line cooking.
San Gimignano and Volterra Day Trips
These two Tuscan hill towns are 30-45 km (19-28 miles) from Siena and absolutely mobbed in summer, but in March you'll have the medieval towers and Etruscan ruins nearly to yourself. San Gimignano's 14 remaining towers look dramatic against March's variable skies, and you can climb the Torre Grossa without queuing. Volterra's Etruscan museum and Roman theater are genuinely atmospheric in the cool, sometimes misty March weather. The 5-8°C (41-46°F) mornings make the hilltop winds brisk, but afternoon temperatures around 13-15°C (55-59°F) are perfect for wandering the stone streets. Both towns have excellent lunch spots that actually cater to locals in March rather than tour groups.
March Events & Festivals
Settimana Santa (Holy Week)
If your March 2026 visit coincides with the week before Easter (Holy Week dates vary - Easter 2026 falls on April 5, so Holy Week is late March), Siena's religious processions and church ceremonies become the main event. The Good Friday procession through the historic center involves all 17 contrade carrying their banners, and the cathedral holds special services with the Duomo's marble floors fully uncovered. This is genuine religious observance rather than tourist performance - locals take Holy Week seriously. Expect some restaurants and shops to close on Good Friday, and book accommodations well ahead as Italian families visit for the week.