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Ever wanted to visit beautiful hot springs in the dreamy region of Tuscany, Italy? Here are the two best hot springs in Tuscany! (best of all – they are free to visit)
The beautiful region of Tuscany is famous for rolling green hills, wineries, and hot springs. While another post will have all the recommendations for things to do in Tuscany, this post will focus on how to find the best hot springs. You can find several hot springs in Tuscany, however, the majority will not be free, as they will be a part of a spa complex. Since we want to explore nature and experience natural thermal pools I will focus only on the two free options.
The best time to go to the hot springs in Tuscany is going to be anywhere from fall to spring. This is because Italy is very warm in the summertime, so it may be a bit uninviting to hop into 37° celsius water. If you do visit during the summer, make sure to arrive as early as possible, so you can still enjoy the pools before the weather gets too hot. In the fall and winter, these thermal pools make for an extremely pleasant morning dip!
The two best hot springs in the region are undoubtedly Saturnia and Bagni San Filippo. I will explain below how to get to these places. In addition, I will also give some tips that are good to know prior to arrival and my honest ratings of these pools.
This post is all about the best hot springs in Tuscany, Italy
The Two Best (and Free) Hot Springs in Tuscany
1. Saturnia
You have most likely encountered several (if not many) photos from this beautiful spot. After seeing it many times in photos, and dreaming about visiting, I had high hopes for Saturnia. I am happy to report back that it is just as beautiful in real life!
Although this, there are some things you should note regarding a visit here. It is extremely popular, we came before 7 AM and there were quite a few people. It was not full or anything, but we had definitely hoped for fewer people at this hour, after driving almost 2 hours to get here. This was during May which is before the high season, so if you visit during peak season, aim to get here around 5:30 – 6:00 to have it almost to yourself.
Another very important note is that the rocks are both very slippery and sometimes not so pleasant. This is because there are lots of pebbles. Therefore, I highly recommend bringing water shoes. It would have completely ruined my experience had I not brought them with me. So don’t forget this crucial detail!
Lastly, the water is at a very pleasant temperature and you could easily spend some hours here. However, I have a small disclaimer that caused me not to stay in the water for more than 20 minutes. This is because there are actually a lot of tiny worms in the water. This is natural due to the thermal properties here, but I found it a bit gross. They are usually closer to the stream, so try to find a spot lower down the pools. The worms are completely harmless, so don’t be alarmed, just be aware that they are there.
How To Get To Saturnia:
Now the important question left is how to get to this beautiful spot. When staying in Tuscany, renting a car is an absolute must. We rented all our cars through Sunny Cars and definitely recommend them! They have the cheapest deals, as well as complete insurance included in the price at checkout. This means you don’t risk having to pay extra when picking up the rental car.
The location of the hot spring of Saturnia can be found here. There should be free parking along the road leading up to the thermal pools. In addition, there are bathrooms at the kiosk on the way, but they typically only open at around 8 AM, so you may have to use mother nature.
The area around here is quite remote, as it is not very close to other known places in Tuscany. Therefore, I would not suggest making this your base, but rather coming to Saturnia for a day trip and exploring the region around it. Typically, there are more activities in the center / northern region of Tuscany but that’s for another post. If you value having the hot springs to yourself early in the morning, consider sleeping overnight in a nearby Airbnb or hotel. Otherwise, keep in mind it will probably take a 1-2 hour drive to get here, depending on your base location.
Is Saturnia Worth It?
This is a tough question, to be honest. While the location is beautiful, it is hard to get to, and the worms really bugged me personally.
I would rate it 7/10
This rating is mostly due to its beauty, however, I do think it is still a must-visit location in Tuscany. Simply be aware that you might be a bit disappointed.
2. Bagni San Filippo
This second hot spring was our personal favorite between the two. Although Saturnia is beautiful, Bagni San Filippo is also an impressive sight. Not only this, but the water here is much cleaner (no worms!). We stayed around an hour in the water and it was incredible.
This hot spring is located in a small town, however, it is tucked around nature, whereas Saturnia was just in an open field. In addition, this spot is way less known among tourists, making it the perfect place to relax and enjoy nature. Although the pools here as not that large, you can still come at around 10 AM and have plenty of space to enjoy them.
Once again, I would recommend bringing water shoes here, although the surface is smoother. The spring is located in a forest, and therefore it is more comfortable to have shoes on the minute you get out of the water.
A little fun fact is Bagni San Filippo is also called “La Balena Bianca” (the white whale) due to its unique limestone rock formations.
How To Get To Bagni San Filippo:
This hot spring is located much more centrally in Tuscany. During our stay, we made Campiglia D’orcia our base, which was just a 10-minute drive from here! In addition, it only takes around 1 hour to drive here from Siena. The location of La Balena Blanca can be found here. There is paid parking on the main road just by the spring. It only costs around 3 – 4€ and the hot spring itself is free.
As mentioned above, you don’t need to feel as pressured to arrive early to be able to enjoy this spot. However, the earlier you come the more likely you are to have it to yourself.
Is Bagni San Filippo Worth It?
A 100%!! This was one of our favorite spots in Tuscany and the water here was much nicer than in Saturnia.
I would rate it 10/10
Not only is it more centrally located, but the water is also cleaner, it is less crowded, and the location is very serene. Not to mention that the limestone rocks make the white whale a very unique location. Do not miss this spot!
Overall, both hot springs are beautiful and unique experiences that in my opinion are must-sees when visiting Tuscany. Although they are a bit far from each other, you can use this as an excuse to explore more areas in the Tuscan region. If you visit these springs, please make sure not to leave any waste behind, and let me know which one you preferred below!
