Things to Do in San Gimignano in Italy & Helpful Family Travel Tips

While we had some issues on our trip to Italy a couple years back, there were some amazing highlights too. One of the towns I enjoyed most was San Gimignano. It’s a very touristy spot with a ton of souvenir shops lining the roads. But, it’s so stinkin’ cute!

San Gimignano, Italy as Your Next Family Travel Destination

I loved the easy going vibe it gave off and how you could just endlessly stroll down this path or that. The fact that the town is built on the top of a hill also adds the appeal of a gorgeous view overlooking the Tuscan countryside. We loved exploring all the nooks and crannies as we spied out historical details. (The story behind the towers and the flags is pretty interesting.) Still, you can fit this visit into a nice little one-day trip on your travel itinerary.

The enclosed town is surrounded by stone walls, paved with cobblestone walkways, filled with looming towers surrounded by birds, and bustling with life in the open squares. Plus, it’s so full of glorious medieval character and charm that your phone and camera memory cards will overflow. And, even in peak travel season, there are numerous alleyways and corridors that it’s easy to find a secluded spot to just sit back and take it all in.

San Gimignano Travel Tips

When visiting San Gimignano Italy with your family, try to arrive in the morning if possible. Shops close up early, parking can be tough, and it gets dark quickly within the stone city walls. I’m telling you this because we have a bad habit of arriving at destinations in the late afternoon. That means we only had a few hours to explore and, by then, the market stalls were already being disassembled. There is quite a bit of walking involved so make sure you strap on your good walking shoes. I’m not too sure how wheelchair accessible the area is, though. The entrance we used from the parking lot was up a long flight of stairs and through a narrow doorway.

There’s plenty of shopping to do including toys, leather goods, and decorative alabaster items. Colorful and enchanting sketches even led us into a tiny art shop on a random side street. The local artist was so friendly and we finally decided on an absolutely adorable pair of prints. We still haven’t gotten frames for them and put them up but that’s another story…

San Gimignano, Italy Photo Tour

It’s hard to describe just how much I enjoyed San Gimignano but maybe the photos below will give you a taste of its appeal. FYI, my sister just got back from Italy and guess which town she really liked? Ding! Ding! That’s right, San Gimignano! Since much of the appeal is vertical (thanks to those towers), here are a few photos in both photo orientations.