Museums in Siena range from the large Santa Maria della Scala complex opposite the Cathedral to the Diocesan Museum and the smaller Stanze della Memoria.
Choose by the collection or site you want to see, then check opening patterns and ticket conditions before you set your route. A walking route to nearby churches and palaces can help you plan other cultural stops.
- Large museum complex: Santa Maria della Scala is at Piazza del Duomo, opposite Siena Cathedral.
- Sacred art: The Diocesan Museum collection spans the 13th to the 19th century.
- Opening pattern: Santa Maria della Scala has seasonal hours and closes on Tuesdays during part of the year.
- Ticket check: Combined-ticket prices differ between the Santa Maria della Scala and Museo Civico ticket pages.
Choose a museum by interest and available time
The best museums in Siena for your plans depend on whether you want a broad museum complex, sacred art, or a visit to Stanze della Memoria. Santa Maria della Scala sits near Siena Cathedral and Piazza del Duomo, making it easy to pair the two on a detailed visit.
Santa Maria della Scala gives you a large complex to explore, while the Diocesan Museum focuses on sacred art from churches in the Diocese of Siena.
If you’re planning a route between cultural sites, the Siena walking route to nearby churches and palaces can help you consider other stops. A broader one-day itinerary in Siena can help put a museum visit in context.
Santa Maria della Scala and the cathedral district
- Ticket
- office closing are 45 minutes before closing
Santa Maria della Scala is a museum complex at Piazza del Duomo, directly opposite Siena Cathedral.
Its hours follow a seasonal pattern. From 15 March to 31 October, it is open daily from 10:00 to 19:00, with last admission at 18:15.
From 1 November to 14 March, it is closed on Tuesdays; on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday it opens from 10:00 to 17:00, and on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 10:00 to 19:00. Last admission is 45 minutes before closing.
Admission is €9 full price, or €8 with reservation. Reduced admission is €7, or €6.50 with reservation; the family ticket for two adults and minors over 11 is €20, or €18 with reservation.
Groups of at least 10 pay €5 per person, or €4.50 with reservation. Free and reduced admission categories include different age, residency, school, student and other groups, so check the official terms if you may qualify.
There are exceptions to the regular schedule: from 23 December to 6 January, the museum opens daily from 10:00 to 19:00, except on 25 December, when it is closed. It also closes early on 2 July and 16 August. Last admission and ticket-office closing are 45 minutes before closing.
Santa Maria della Scala says its museum route is accessible. Staff assistance may be needed to use the elevator and some passageways, and wheelchairs can be provided on request.
The Diocesan Museum and Oratorio di San Bernardino
The Museo Diocesano d’Arte Sacra and Oratory of San Bernardino bring together sacred art from the Diocese of Siena.
The collection includes works dating from the 13th to the 19th century. The Oratory’s named works include episodes from the life of Saint Bernardino by Ventura Salimbeni, Rutilio and Domenico Manetti, Bernardino Mei and others, alongside a Madonna and Child by Sano di Pietro and works by Sodoma, Beccafumi, Girolamo del Pacchia and Matteo di Giovanni.
The address is Piazza Duomo, 8, 53100 Siena; the information and booking number is +39 0577 286300.
A separate Opera Duomo ticket covers the Cathedral roofs and all museums in the Duomo complex. It is valid for three consecutive days from the date of issue; full-price admission is €21, with reduced admission of €6 for children aged 7–11 and free entry for children up to 6.
Stanze della Memoria and museum-ticket checks
Stanze della Memoria is a separate museum stop, while ticket conditions for Siena’s combined museum options need a quick check.
Stanze della Memoria is about a 15-minute walk from Domus Il Palio. Check the museum’s site for its opening hours, admission price and collection details.
For Santa Maria della Scala and the Civic Museum, the combined ticket costs €14 without reservation or €15 with reservation on the Museo Civico ticket page, which says it is valid for two days.
Santa Maria della Scala gives the combined price as €14. These combined tickets are not sold on the first weekend of each month. A separate ticket for the Civic Museum, Torre del Mangia and Santa Maria della Scala costs €20.
Before you go, check the official site for current opening hours, prices and ticket conditions.
FAQs
Which museum in Siena is opposite the Cathedral?
Santa Maria della Scala is directly opposite Siena Cathedral, at Piazza del Duomo, 1.
Is there a Siena museum pass?
Combined tickets are available for the Civic Museum and Santa Maria della Scala, and for the Civic Museum, Torre del Mangia and Santa Maria della Scala. The Opera Duomo ticket covers the Cathedral roofs and museums in the Duomo complex.
Is Santa Maria della Scala accessible?
Its museum route is described as accessible. Staff help may be needed for the elevator and some passageways, and wheelchairs are available on request.
What is the Diocesan Museum collection about?
The Museo Diocesano d’Arte Sacra collection includes sacred art from churches in the Diocese of Siena, with works dating from the 13th to the 19th century.