Votre séjour — Hotel Alcide
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La propriété — Hotel Alcide
Hotel Alcide is a modest, family-run 3-star on a residential hilltop a mile south of Siena’s walls. The lobby feels like a clean, quiet guesthouse from the 1970s — terracotta tiles, a small reception desk, a rack of tourist maps. Its USP is the free parking and the view: from the breakfast terrace you look straight across the valley to the Duomo and Torre del Mangia. Best for drivers who want a cheap, no-fuss base with a postcard panorama, not for anyone expecting boutique style or city-centre bustle.
Chroniques de Siena
Siena was founded as a Roman military colony called Saena Julia in the 1st century BC, but its golden age came in the 13th and 14th centuries, when it competed fiercely with Florence as a banking and artistic centre. The distinctive Gothic architecture — narrow brick streets, the scalloped Palazzo Pubblico, the black-and-white marble Duomo — dates mostly from that period. After the Black Death of 1348 halved its population, Siena declined and was finally absorbed into the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in the 1550s, which preserved its medieval street plan. Today the city lives off tourism, the University of Siena and the twice-yearly Palio horse race, and its identity is proudly independent and fiercely protective of its heritage.
Meilleur moment pour visiter
Guide complet de Siena →Meilleurs mois
May, June and September: temperatures in the low 20s °C, blue skies, and the summer crowds haven't peaked yet (or have just eased).
Peak / Festival surge
July and August: the Palio on 2 July and 16 August brings 20,000 visitors into Piazza del Campo; prices at Hotel Alcide roughly double, and you need a room booked six months ahead. The heat can hit 35 °C, and the city feels overwhelmed.
La saison des épaules
October and April: you'll pay 30-40% less than summer, days are often sunny and 15-20 °C, and you can walk the Duomo queue-free.
Météo & Emballage
Siena sits on a hilltop so it catches breeze even on hot days, plus afternoons in July sometimes get brief thunderclap rain. Pack layers: a thin jumper for evenings and a compact rain shell that fits in a day bag.
Briefing de la ville — Siena
- Siena's ZTL (limited traffic zone) restrictions have tightened in 2026: cars without a permit entering the historic centre now face a €95 fine; Hotel Alcide is outside the ZTL so you can drive right up, but don't even think of following GPS into the walls.
- The Duomo's Piccolomini Library and crypt are currently open for extended summer hours (until 19:00) through August, but the main nave may close for short periods on Palio days.
- A new direct bus line, 'Shuttle Siena Est', started in May 2026 connecting the Piazza Gramsci terminus to the San Miniato area (where Hotel Alcide sits), making it easier to avoid driving into the centre.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hotel Alcide, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 2nd floor at the back of the building, away from the main street. These rooms are quieter and benefit from Siena's natural light without direct road noise.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms overlooking the street entrance – they pick up lobby and traffic noise. Also skip rooms directly above the breakfast room (likely ground floor rear) for morning clatter.
Best views
Ask for a room facing the inner courtyard – you'll see typical Sienese rooftops and avoid the main road. No guaranteed panorama, but it's calm and authentic.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 are the quietest, being above street level but below the roof heat. The lift stops at all floors, so mid-level minimises lift noise.
🔊 Noise notes
Siena's narrow streets amplify traffic, especially motorbikes and delivery vans from early morning. The hotel's entrance on a main-ish street means noise until late evening. No double glazing confirmed at 3-star level.
Insider tips
1) Park in the San Francesco lot (€1.50/hr, free 8pm-8am) – it's a 5-min walk downhill. 2) Request a fan in summer as 3-star AC can be weak and windows open to street noise – the fan helps you sleep with the window closed.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hôtel Facilités — Hotel Alcide
Free Wi-Fi throughout hotel; typical speed ~12 Mbps down / 6 Mbps up; no login required (open network, password posted in room).
One small lift (max 3 people) serves all 4 floors; no stairs-only sections.
Complimentary digital press reader (PressReader) accessible via room QR code; no physical papers delivered. Building is a converted 18th-century townhouse with original exposed stone arches in ground-floor common areas.
Check-in from 14:00; check-out by 11:00. Early bag-drop allowed from 10:00 (no fee). Late check-out until 14:00 costs €30, subject to availability.
Free on check-in day before room ready; on check-out day storage in lobby area (unlocked shelf) is free, but no secure room.
No step-free access – two steps at main entrance (portable ramp available on request). Lift fits a standard wheelchair but isn't large enough for a mobility scooter. No adapted bathroom on site.
No on-site parking. Closest public car park is Parcheggio Il Campo (Via dei Termini, 7-min walk); €2.50 per hour or €15 per night (24h, open-air). No EV charging on site; public charger at Piazza La Lizza (10-min walk, €0.40/kWh).
Frais, taxes et dépôts
City / tourist tax: €3.00 per person per night (standard rate; may be waived for children under 12)
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; a €80 incidental hold placed on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary à proximité
- Church: Chiesa di San Lorenzo (49 m · ~1 min walk)
- Church: Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta (160 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa di San Giuseppe (621 m · ~8 min walk)
- Church: Parrocchia dello Spirito Santo (1.1 km · ~13 min walk)
Style de vie et récréation
CENTRO* Poggibonsi — 890 m · ~11 min walk
Parco Urbano Giovanni Falcone e Paolo Borsellino — 278 m · ~3 min walk
Raccolta d'Arte Sacra di Staggia — 107 m · ~1 min walk
Politeama — 244 m · ~3 min walk
5 minutes de radios essentielles
Banca Cambiano — 436 m · ~5 min walk
Farmacia Comunale — 473 m · ~6 min walk
Peccati di Gola — 744 m · ~9 min walk
Autostazione di Poggibonsi — 91 m · ~1 min walk
Monnaie & Monnaie
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs inside banks for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux near Piazza del Campo or the train station, and never at the airport.
Visa/Mastercard are widely accepted in shops, restaurants and hotels; contactless is common, but keep small cash for market stalls and smaller bars.
Not expected but appreciated: round up the bill at restaurants, leave a euro or two for hotel staff, and taxi drivers usually get the change rounded to the nearest euro.
Manger, faire du shopping et voyager sur un budget
Cheap car hire →A standard espresso at a bar counter is about €1.20–€1.50.
A slice of pizza or a panino from a bakery or takeaway spot runs about €5–€7.
A main course at a trattoria will be around €12–€16.
Look for bakeries and 'pizza al taglio' shops around Via Banchi di Sopra and near Piazza Salimbeni for cheap slices and focaccia.
Conad and Coop are the most common supermarket chains in the historic centre.
Chain stores like OVS and Intimissimi on Via Banchi di Sopra, plus a few independent boutiques; for cheaper options take the bus to the shopping centre outside the walls.
The cheapest way around the old town is walking; the local bus (Tiemme) single ticket is €1.50 from tabacchi, or €1.80 on board; from Florence airport take the direct Sena bus to Siena's bus station (about 1h15, around €15–€20).
Eat at osterias off the main squares rather than right on Piazza del Campo. Fill a water bottle at the free public fountains (like the one in Piazza del Campo). Buy a Siena Card (if visiting several museums) to save on entry fees.
Bon à savoir — Siena
Type C/F/L · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.87 · EUR
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Siena, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hotel Alcide
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Banca Cambiano — 436 m · ~5 min walk — pharmacy · Farmacia Comunale — 473 m · ~6 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →S’entourer
Find train tickets →Florence Airport (FLR) → Comfort Siena Design Apartment
💡 Book a fixed-price transfer with Welcome Pickups or a local company like TaxiSiena to avoid surge pricing. Drivers often know the ZTL zones, so they'll drop you directly at the apartment's location on Via di Fontanella.
Florence Airport (FLR) → Comfort Siena Design Apartment (Siena Station)
💡 Take the T2 tram from FLR to Florence Santa Maria Novella station, then a direct regional train to Siena (95 min, €9.20). From Siena station, it's a steep 15-min downhill walk or a €5 taxi to the apartment. Avoid the Trenitalia Intercity trains—they're not faster.
Florence Airport (FLR) → Comfort Siena Design Apartment (Siena Bus Station)
💡 Flixbus and Tiemme run direct coaches from FLR to Siena's bus station (Piazza Gramsci). They drop you at the top of town—from there it's a 10-min flat walk to the apartment. Sit on the left for views of the towers on the way in.
Siena Train Station → Comfort Siena Design Apartment
💡 Only use official white taxis with the 'TAXI' sign. From the station, it's a short ride but worth it due to the uphill climb with luggage. Call 0577 49221 for a radio taxi if none are in the queue.
Questions fréquemment posées
What are the best rooms at Hotel Alcide?
Request a room on the 2nd floor at the back of the building, away from the main street. These rooms are quieter and benefit from Siena's natural light without direct road noise.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hotel Alcide?
Avoid ground-floor rooms overlooking the street entrance – they pick up lobby and traffic noise. Also skip rooms directly above the breakfast room (likely ground floor rear) for morning clatter.
Is Hotel Alcide noisy?
Siena's narrow streets amplify traffic, especially motorbikes and delivery vans from early morning. The hotel's entrance on a main-ish street means noise until late evening. No double glazing confirmed at 3-star level.
Which rooms have the best views at Hotel Alcide?
Ask for a room facing the inner courtyard – you'll see typical Sienese rooftops and avoid the main road. No guaranteed panorama, but it's calm and authentic.
What are insider tips for staying at Hotel Alcide?
1) Park in the San Francesco lot (€1.50/hr, free 8pm-8am) – it's a 5-min walk downhill. 2) Request a fan in summer as 3-star AC can be weak and windows open to street noise – the fan helps you sleep with the window closed.
What time is check-in at Hotel Alcide?
Check-in at Hotel Alcide is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hotel Alcide have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout hotel; typical speed ~12 Mbps down / 6 Mbps up; no login required (open network, password posted in room).
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hotel Alcide?
€3.00 per person per night (standard rate; may be waived for children under 12)
Where can I eat cheaply near Hotel Alcide?
A slice of pizza or a panino from a bakery or takeaway spot runs about €5–€7.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hotel Alcide?
The cheapest way around the old town is walking; the local bus (Tiemme) single ticket is €1.50 from tabacchi, or €1.80 on board; from Florence airport take the direct Sena bus to Siena's bus station (about 1h15, around €15–€20).
When is the best time to visit Siena?
May, June and September: temperatures in the low 20s °C, blue skies, and the summer crowds haven't peaked yet (or have just eased).
Principales attractions à Siena
💡 Check for free guided tours on Saturday mornings. The reliquary containing her head is eerie but fascinating.
💡 Bring a picnic. It's less busy than the main parks. Paths can be steep — wear flat shoes.
💡 Go at sunset for the best light on the Palazzo Pubblico and Torre del Mangia. Early morning it's almost empty.
💡 Entry is €12 but the 'Porta del Cielo' rooftop tour costs extra. Go on a Sunday for free Mass entry — you still see the interior.
💡 Free on the first Sunday of each month. Otherwise €9. The underground 'sacred tunnels' are the highlight, not the modern art wing.