San Gimignano
Visitors come to San Gimignano for its medieval stone towers, the frescoes in its Collegiata and Vernaccia, the local dry white wine.
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San Gimignano is a walled hill town in Tuscany, in the province of Siena, known for the medieval stone towers that rise above its rooftops. Fourteen of the towers built in the Middle Ages survive. The historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the sights cluster around two squares: Piazza del Duomo and Piazza della Cisterna.
Visitors come for the frescoes in the Collegiata of Santa Maria Assunta and for Vernaccia di San Gimignano, a dry white wine. The streets are steep and paved in stone, so shoes with good grip help. Buses run to San Gimignano from Florence and Siena, and Poggibonsi is the nearest train station. Spring and early autumn suit walking best. A single day covers the main sights, and a night inside the walls lets you see the town after the day groups leave.
San Gimignano in five
- Arrive early or stay the nightDay-trip coaches fill the main street from late morning to mid-afternoon. A morning arrival or an overnight stay gives you the towers and lanes with far fewer people.
- Climb the tower in the town hallThe Torre Grossa above the civic museum is the one tower you can climb for views over the roofs and the hills. Check the official museum page for hours and ticket rules, since they change by season.
- Take the train and bus, not the carThere is no station in town. Take the train to Poggibonsi-San Gimignano, then a local bus up the hill, or drive and park outside the walls, where the center is restricted to traffic.
- Book a cellar visit for VernacciaThe town's white wine is a DOCG, and estates around the hills offer tastings, usually by appointment. Book ahead, and decide who drives before you taste.Tuscany
- Pair it with Volterra or SienaSiena and Volterra both sit within about an hour, so you can chain hill towns in a day by car. Do not try more than two a day, since each rewards a slow walk.Siena
Things to do in San Gimignano
See all attractions in San Gimignano
Need to know
- Airport
- Florence (FLR) or Pisa (PSA), about 1.5 hours by road
- Getting there
- Train to Poggibonsi, then a local bus up the hill
- Getting around
- On foot inside the walls; parking outside
- Best base
- Inside the walls for evenings, or a farm stay nearby
- Time needed
- Half a day, or 1 night
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh10°Low3°Cold, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh13°Low4°Cold, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh15°Low6°Early springMarchPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 88 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Early spring
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh19°Low8°Green, mildAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Green, mild
- MayRain13 rainy daysHigh22°Low12°Warm, wildflowersMayRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 98 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, wildflowers
- JuneClear7 rainy daysHigh29°Low17°Hot, long daysJuneClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 60 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, long days
- JulyClear4 rainy daysHigh32°Low20°Hot, crowdedJulyClear
Best
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 28 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, crowded
- AugustClear6 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh33°Low20°Hot, FerragostoAugustClear
Good
- High
- 33°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, Ferragosto
- SeptemberClear9 rainy daysHigh27°Low16°Harvest, mildSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 121 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Harvest, mild
- OctoberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°Autumn colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 114 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberRain13 rainy daysHigh15°Low8°Rain, quietNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 146 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, quiet
- DecemberPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh11°Low4°Cold, lightsDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 101 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, lights
Average daily high and low in San Gimignano, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in San Gimignano
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
13
- Feels like
- 9°
- Humidity
- 64%
- Wind
- 22 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
San Gimignano
11:01 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today14°8°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue15°8°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed15°7°23%Wednesday: Rain. High 15°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 23%.
- Thu15°8°3%Thursday: Cloudy. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Fri15°8°21%Friday: Rain. High 15°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 21%.
- Sat14°8°20%Saturday: Rain. High 14°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Sun16°5°21%Sunday: Rain. High 16°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 21%.
Updated 06:58 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Feb–MarCarnival of ViareggioLucca, a day trip
- Apr–JunMaggio Musicale FiorentinoFlorence, a day trip
- Jun–SepSaracen JoustArezzo, a day trip
- Jul–AugFestival PucciniPisa, a day trip
Before you go to San Gimignano
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Rules for San Gimignano, checked
- Most non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check entry rules on the Italian visa site before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
- Cover shoulders and knees before entering the Collegiata and other churches in San Gimignano.
- Check with the Italian Ministry of Culture before you export antiques or art, since some objects need an export licence to leave the EU.
- Traffic inside the walls is limited to permit holders in a restricted traffic zone (ZTL). Read the signs at each gate before you drive in.
Plan around San Gimignano
Regions, cities and the rules every visitor needs
Read the guideSienaA Gothic city about an hour away
Read the guideVolterraAn Etruscan hill town west of the Chianti
Read the guideFlorenceThe usual gateway for Tuscany day trips
Read the guideTuscanyCities, hill towns and wine country
Read the guideEES, explainedEntry checks at Schengen borders since April 2026
Read the guideSan Gimignano FAQ
Is San Gimignano worth visiting?
Yes, for the skyline of towers, the frescoes and the setting among vineyards. It is touristy at midday, so plan an early or evening visit, or stay a night to see it when it quiets down.
Can you visit San Gimignano as a day trip from Florence?
Yes, by train to Poggibonsi and a local bus, or by car, in about 1.5 hours each way. Leave early and keep the return bus time in mind. A night in town is more relaxed.
How many days do you need in San Gimignano?
A half day covers the towers, the Collegiata and the main lanes. One night adds a quiet evening and a morning walk on the walls, and two nights work if you tour nearby wine estates.
How many towers does San Gimignano have?
A dozen or so medieval towers survive, though many more once stood. The Torre Grossa above the civic museum is the one open to climb. Check its hours and ticket rules before you go.
Is San Gimignano better than Siena or Volterra?
It has the best-known skyline, while Siena is a much bigger city with more sights and Volterra is quieter. Pick San Gimignano for the view and wine, Siena for art, and Volterra for calm.