The province of Siena is one of the Italian areas with the highest concentration of natural thermal waters. You do not need to travel far from the provincial capital to find thermal pools, natural springs or well-equipped establishments. Within less than an hour’s drive from Siena - and from Poggibonsi, which is roughly equidistant - you can reach some of the most interesting thermal destinations in Tuscany.
The landscape around Rapolano is that of the Sienese crete: white, rounded hills, cypresses, absolutely no modern construction. Forty kilometres from Poggibonsi, it is the most accessible thermal destination in the area - and among the least known to foreign tourists.
Rapolano Terme: the closest to Siena
Rapolano Terme is probably the most accessible thermal destination for those staying in Siena or the Val d’Elsa. It is only 30 kilometres from Siena and about 40 from Poggibonsi, reachable in under 45 minutes.
The municipality of Rapolano has two distinct establishments:
Le Terme Antica Querciolaia: the larger and more structured of the two, with outdoor thermal pools of various sizes, relaxation areas, spa area and treatments. The water is sulphurous-saline-bromine-iodine, at about 39°C. The setting is pleasant, with lawns and trees surrounding the pools.
Le Terme San Giovanni: smaller and with a more intimate character, set in a wood. The water has a similar composition but the context is more natural and less “resort-like”.
Day entry prices range from approximately €20-28 for adults, with reductions for children and seniors. It is advisable to check times online before going, as they can vary seasonally.
The landscape around Rapolano is that of the Sienese crete: white, rounded hills, cypresses, no modern construction anywhere. A day at Rapolano combines easily with a visit to Siena itself - the two are just over half an hour apart.
Bagno Vignoni: 30 minutes and another world
From Siena, Bagno Vignoni is about 40 kilometres, just under an hour by car along the SS2 Via Cassia. From Poggibonsi, about 60 kilometres and one hour’s drive.
Its most famous feature - the thermal pool in the square instead of a fountain - makes it unlike any other destination in Italy. The water flows at 52°C, but it is not swimmable in the historic piazza pool. The alternatives for bathing are the free thermal pools along the Orcia stream (free of charge) or the private establishments nearby.
Bagno Vignoni is worth visiting not only for the thermal waters but for the context: the medieval village, the Val d’Orcia, the nearby villages of Pienza and Montalcino. It is a destination to embed in a wider day out.
Terme di Chianciano: history and modernity
The Terme di Chianciano are located about 70 kilometres from Siena, towards the Val di Chiana. They are one of Italy’s most historic spa centres, with a therapeutic use documented back to Roman times.
Unlike the natural waterfalls of Saturnia or the pools of Bagno Vignoni, Chianciano is a proper thermal centre: modern establishments, hotels, parks, everything organised around a wellness experience. The waters are classified as oligomineral, recommended for liver and gallbladder conditions.
Chianciano is the right choice for those seeking a multi-day wellness stay, not a day trip. It is less suitable for those seeking the natural, wild experience.
Saturnia: worth the longer journey
Saturnia is the furthest from Siena of the thermal destinations mentioned in this guide: about 90 kilometres, one hour and 15-20 minutes by car. From Poggibonsi, about 110 kilometres and nearly two hours.
The fame is justified: the Gorello waterfalls are truly spectacular, the water is free, the experience is wild and authentic. But the distance needs to be factored in, especially if setting out already in the morning.
An alternative to optimise time: stay one night near Saturnia, or even just in the Maremma, and dedicate the entire day to the waterfalls and the tufa villages (Pitigliano, Sorano, Sovana) which are in the same area.
How to organise a thermal day from Poggibonsi or Siena
The first piece of advice is to choose one destination and dedicate the whole day to it. Trying to visit two thermal baths in one day does not work: you end up rushing and enjoying nothing.
Second piece of advice: start early. For Saturnia it is practically compulsory - the car park fills by 9am. For other destinations it is less critical, but the morning is still the best time to arrive, before the flow of visitors picks up.
Third piece of advice: bring a picnic or plan a stop at a nearby village. The areas around thermal baths are often agricultural zones where restaurants are few, variable in quality and with rigid opening times.
Hotel Alcide as a base for the Sienese thermal baths
Poggibonsi is located exactly at the point where the Val d’Elsa meets Chianti, at a reasonable distance from all the thermal baths in the province of Siena. Hotel Alcide offers a generous breakfast to start early morning excursions, parking for the car, and the knowledge of the territory accumulated over 175 years of activity in the same location.
Since 1849, the Ancillotti family has known Tuscany in its most authentic corners.
Planning a trip to Tuscany?
Hotel Alcide is in Poggibonsi, in the heart of the Val d’Elsa.
25 km from Siena, 12 from San Gimignano, in the heart of Chianti.
The Ancillotti family has welcomed guests here since 1849.
