Free hot springs of Bagni San Filippo and the White Whale
2 h 30All ages with water shoesAll year; on weekdays and outside August, fewer people
Free hot springs · Short walk through the woods · Free · All year
Stay2–4 nights
AccessCar from Florence or Rome
Hot springsBagno Vignoni and San Filippo
Best timeApr – Jun · Sep – Oct
What to do
What to do in Val d'Orcia
Each plan says how long it takes, who it's for and whether you can book.
Sant'Antimo Abbey and its Via della Luce tour
1 hAll agesAll year; from November to March, 10:30 to 17:00
Abbey · 1 h · Every day · Video guide and high-level tour by reservation
Bagno Vignoni and the Parco dei Mulini
1 hAll agesAll year
Thermal village with a Renaissance pool of 49 °C water in place of a square and the Parco dei Mulini down the slope; free to visit.
Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Day itinerary
The Gladiator fields and Bagno Vignoni
Day itinerary
Free hot springs, Monticchiello and pecorino
Day itinerary
Sant'Antimo, Brunello and the water square
Itinerary · 2 nights
Two nights in the Val d'Orcia, two and a half hours from Rome: free hot springs, Pienza pecorino, Brunello and Sant'Antimo
Plan the trip
Val d'Orcia, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Val d'Orcia
Spring, with the green of the hills, and September and October, with the grape harvest. In summer the heat is strong for walking. In winter the free hot springs are less crowded and Sant'Antimo abbey opens from 10:30 to 17:00.
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Best timeGood timeLow season
How you travel
Val d'Orcia your way
Choose how you're travelling and we'll tell you where to stay, how to get around, where to eat and which services you'll need. We only show the ways of travelling that make sense here.
By car around the valley
The Val d'Orcia is explored by car: villages a few kilometres from one another, minor roads between cypresses and wineries in the countryside. The centres of Pienza, Montalcino and San Quirico are visited on foot, parking outside the walls.
90–220 €per person per day, approximate
- Where to stayAlbergo Le Terme, in Bagno…
- Getting aroundFrom Rome, about two and…
- Where to eatOsteria La Porta, in Monticchiello…
- ServicesElectric car charger at the…
Where to stay
- Albergo Le Terme, in Bagno Vignoni, with free parking
- Hotel Corsignano, next to the centre of Pienza, with free parking and an electric charger
- Agriturismo Il Rigo, in the countryside between San Quirico and Pienza
Getting around
- From Rome, about two and a half hours; from Florence, via Siena and the Cassia
- If you taste wine in Montalcino, the one who does not drink drives
- For the Banfi public visit you follow the guide in your own car to the winery
Where to eat
- Osteria La Porta, in Monticchiello, with a terrace over the valley
- Osteria del Leone, in Bagno Vignoni
- Caseificio Cugusi, pecorino picnic between Pienza and Montepulciano
Services
- Electric car charger at the Hotel Corsignano
Fly to Florence, Pisa or Rome and drive
The Val d'Orcia lies between Florence and Rome, and you reach it by flying to Rome Fiumicino, Florence or Pisa, all three with flights from Spain. From any of the three you need a hire car: the villages are spread over hills and there is almost no public transport between them. From Rome it is about two and a half hours of driving; from Florence, a little less, and from Pisa, a little more.
- Getting thereRome Fiumicino (FCO): A1 motorway…
- Getting aroundHire car at the airport…
- Where to stayAlbergo Le Terme, in Bagno…
- ServicesThermal spa of the Albergo…
Getting there
- Rome Fiumicino (FCO): A1 motorway northwards and minor roads towards Pienza or Bagno Vignoni
- Florence (FLR): motorway to Siena and the Cassia southwards
- Pisa (PSA): motorway to Florence and from there to Siena
Getting around
- Hire car at the airport: essential
- Short distances between villages, but winding roads
- A base in Bagno Vignoni, San Quirico or Pienza leaves almost everything within half an hour
Where to stay
- Albergo Le Terme, in Bagno Vignoni, with a thermal spa for the first night
- Hotel Corsignano, in Pienza, with free parking
Services
- Thermal spa of the Albergo Le Terme, open until late, by reservation
How much does it cost?
People2
Nights3
Who you're with
Val d'Orcia for whoever you're with
A trip with a toddler is not the same as one with a teenager. Pick yours to see what works and what to bear in mind.
Hot pools and small villages
The Val d'Orcia with children works with water: free thermal pools, short walks and villages that can be seen in an hour. Leave the wineries for when there is a plan for the children nearby.
- What works bestThe lukewarm pools of the…
- Where to sleepAgriturismos with a pool and…
- Where to eatPienza pecorino and bread for…
- Keep in mindThere are no facilities at…
What works best
- The lukewarm pools of the Parco dei Mulini, below Bagno Vignoni
- Bagni San Filippo and the Balena Bianca, with water shoes
- The Fiera del Cacio al Fuso in Pienza, at the end of summer
- Sant'Antimo with the video guide
Where to sleep
- Agriturismos with a pool and space around
- San Quirico d'Orcia or Pienza, in the middle of the valley
Where to eat
- Pienza pecorino and bread for a picnic
- Pici, the thick local pasta, in any trattoria
Keep in mind
- There are no facilities at the free hot springs: bring water, towels and bags
- Stone with lime is slippery: water shoes for everyone
- In summer the heat bites at midday: hot springs first thing
What to do as a family
Where to stay
Where to stay if you're drivingif you're flying
We show you what suits the way you travel.Change how you travel
Albergo Le Terme
Why we like it: Thermal hotel in a 15th-century palace next to the water square of Bagno Vignoni, with 36 rooms, a hot-water spa and free parking.
Hotel Corsignano
Why we like it: Four-star hotel a few steps from the centre of Pienza, with free parking, 24-hour reception, a terrace with hydromassage tubs and an electric car charger.
Agriturismo Il Rigo
Why we like it: Organic farm stay of nine generations between San Quirico and Pienza, with rooms in two farmhouses, home-made breakfast and dinner with produce from the farm.
Where to eat
Where to eat in Val d'Orcia
From set lunch menus to Michelin stars. We mark the price level and what to order at each place.
Osteria La Porta
What to order: pici all'aglione della Val d'Orcia on the terrace, and the cheek braised in Vino Nobile
Osteria del Leone
What to order: hand-made pici with piennolo tomato and pecorino, and the Cinta Senese shoulder with saba
Takeaway and markets
Caseificio Cugusi, Montepulciano
Nearby
Near Val d'Orcia
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
42.72° N · 12.11° E
Orvieto
Car-freeBy carBy plane
42.56° N · 11.93° E
Lake Bolsena and Tuscania
By planeBy car
42.63° N · 12.11° E
Civita di Bagnoregio
43.07° N · 12.62° E
Assisi
Car-freeBy carBy plane
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Wild water and tamed water
Do Bagno Vignoni and Bagni San Filippo on the same day: both are on stage 36 of the Francigena.
- 2Brunello with common sense
If you're going tasting in Montalcino, have someone who doesn't drink do the driving. The roads are winding.
- 3Sant'Antimo at the end of the day
From November to March it's open until 17:00; in spring and summer, until 18:30.
Trying to see all the villages in one day
Pienza, Montalcino, San Quirico, Bagno Vignoni and Castiglione d'Orcia are close, but each needs its time. Two or three per day.
How do you get there from Spain?
Fly to Florence, Pisa or Rome and hire a car. The valley lies south of Siena, halfway between Florence and Rome, and the villages (Pienza, Montalcino, San Quirico, Bagno Vignoni, Castiglione d'Orcia) are spread across hills with no convenient public transport between them.
How do you get around the valley?
By car, from village to village, with short distances but winding roads. A base in San Quirico d'Orcia or Pienza leaves almost everything within half an hour. If you walk or cycle, the Via Francigena crosses the valley along tracks and minor roads from San Quirico to Radicofani.
What do you need to book in advance?
Visits to Montalcino wineries, such as Castello Banfi's, and the Via della Luce tour at Sant'Antimo are booked. The free hot springs at Bagni San Filippo and the Parco dei Mulini aren't booked or paid for. In spring, September and October, rural accommodation fills up early.
Where to sleep and eat?
In Bagno Vignoni, the Albergo Le Terme occupies a 15th-century palace above the water square and has a thermal spa. In Pienza, the Hotel Corsignano lets you park for free a few steps from the centre. In the countryside between San Quirico and Pienza, the Agriturismo Il Rigo is an organic estate with dinner at the house.
For eating, the Osteria La Porta, in Monticchiello, has a terrace over the valley and pici all'aglione; the Osteria del Leone, in Bagno Vignoni, is good for dinner after the water, and the Caseificio Cugusi, between Pienza and Montepulciano, does pecorino picnics from spring to autumn.
Plans and getaways
From Rome you have a Sunday of free hot springs and Monticchiello, Montalcino with Banfi and Sant'Antimo and two nights with hot springs, pecorino and Brunello.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need?
Three nights: one day for Pienza and San Quirico, another for Montalcino and Sant'Antimo, and another for the hot springs at Bagno Vignoni and Bagni San Filippo.
Are there free hot springs?
Yes. Bagni San Filippo are free hot springs in the woods, and in the Parco dei Mulini at Bagno Vignoni there are pools of warm water.
Is it a good destination with children?
Yes: the thermal pools, village festivals such as Pienza's cacio al fuso and Sant'Antimo abbey with a video guide work well.
Can you walk it?
Yes, along the Via Francigena. The stage from San Quirico to Radicofani is 33 km with 908 m of ascent: very demanding.
When is the Pienza cheese festival?
The Fiera del Cacio al Fuso is held at the end of summer, with a week of tastings and the cheese-rolling game in the square.