The old town in the morning, countryside and cellar the next day. A relaxed itinerary for seeing San Gimignano without rushing, with some practical tips.
San Gimignano can be seen quickly, but it is better enjoyed slowly. Day visitors tend to rush from one tower to the next and miss the best part: early morning and evening, when the tour groups leave and the town goes back to being a Tuscan village. Sleeping outside the walls, in the countryside, helps a lot.
Day one: the old town
Start early in the morning, before the streets fill up. The old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is compact enough to walk in a few steps: Piazza della Cisterna, Piazza del Duomo, the Collegiata with its frescoes. If you have the energy, climb the Torre Grossa, the tallest, to see the hills from above.
Have lunch in one of the trattorias on the side streets, where prices and crowds suddenly drop. In the afternoon, walk along the walls and look for the spots with a view of the vineyards: they are among the most beautiful in the area.
Day two: the countryside
On the second day, leave the car parked for a while. If you are staying with us, 4 km from the towers, you can spend the morning in the cellar: we walk through the vineyards together and you taste three Vernaccia wines with new olive oil on bruschetta. It lasts about 2 hours and is a good way to understand what lies behind the wine you then find in the restaurants of the town.
The afternoon is made for the pool, open from May to September, or for a walk among the olive trees. There is no need to fill every hour.
When to go
Spring and early autumn are the most comfortable times: the weather is mild, the days are long and the hills change colour every week. In summer it is best to plan visits for early morning and leave the afternoon for the shade or the pool. In winter the town is quieter and the cellar is a good place to stay warm.
A third day, if you have time
With an extra day it is worth widening your view. A short drive away are Volterra, with its Etruscan and medieval history, and Certaldo, a compact and well-kept village. They are very different from San Gimignano and from each other: worth seeing without hurrying.
Some practical tips
- Get to the centre early in the morning or after 17:00: it is the quietest time.
- Wear comfortable shoes: the streets are cobbled and steep.
- Book ahead if you want to do the tasting or the cooking class.
- Stay at least two nights: the minimum stay in the Camera Vernaccia is 2 nights anyway.
If you are planning a trip to Tuscany, send us your dates through the request form: we will tell you which rooms are free and help you organise your days.