Hot Springs Havens | A Tuscany Guide
- Jun 30, 2023
- 12 min read
Updated: Mar 8, 2024
One of the best decisions you can make for your trip to Italy is to visit at least one natural hot spring. Obviously there are a few that are more superior than others, but honestly who am I to judge? The best part about a natural hot spring is that it usually funnels to nearby spas and resorts. So yes, that means you are at the part of your trip where you can get some serious RRR (relaxation, restoration, rejuvenation).
I hate to say it, but this is a place you may wanna spend some extra dough on. We worked our budget to spend less in some places so that we could splurge here. And what a good choice that was. Staying at a great Spa Resort is one of the best decisions you can ever make. Luckily, the Tuscany region is filled with TONS of them.
This guide will focus on two main cities in Tuscany (Saturnia and Siena) with heavy emphasis on being close to the natural hot springs there. If you are spending a lot of your time, or even your whole trip in Tuscany, I recommend first reading "The Complete Tuscany Guide".
The Hot Spring Gossip
While soaking in Italy, I realized that I didn't understand or know anything about hot springs. Out of fascination I decided to spend the next hour learning about them. Here's it all summed up for you.
Hot springs typically keep a steady temperature of 37 C. They are constantly heated geothermally, or by the Earth's mantle. Some run at a higher temperature than normal and those are considered hyper-thermal springs. This can happen if water is heated by hot rocks that have come in contact with Volcanic Magma.
The water is filled with thermal plankton which is a treasured and critical piece to creating the many benefits of the springs. This algae is known for it's healing and defense properties, as well as remedial properties for your digestive system.
Other components of the water, like it's abundance of ionic minerals, provide additional healing effects to your body through absorption. Aside from the makeup of the water, soaking can help reduce stress, promote a good night's sleep, relieve pain, and decrease blood pressure.
So, they are not only beautiful but also extremely beneficial. Take your time spent in these areas to really prioritize your peace and health. You'll be glad you did.
Let's start with the locations & details of the natural hot springs so you can see which, or all, to go to. Here are 3 of my top picks:
Cascate del Mulino
Easily the most well know of all of the hot springs, simply due to it's beautiful texture, color, and location. A must see. With popularity can come crowds. If you end up there alone, consider yourself extremely lucky. I'd consider us lucky, but also strategic.
First and foremost, we stayed at the resort closest to the natural springs, Termi di Saturnia. I will rave on about that later. If you happen to stay there, you can walk to the springs. If you are driving, there is a parking lot nearby. Although the hot spring is free to the public, the parking spaces are not. The price varies from season to season, but if you have a car, you have to do it. As if beating the crowds to the springs wasn't reason enough to go early, beating the crowd to secure close parking should be.
If you want the springs to yourself, you need to be there painfully early. I am talking sunrise, or before. We got there a little after and there were already people there. Only 4 total, but still. We also used the rain to our advantage. At our initial estimated time to start walking, we had an alarm go off for 4:30AM. When we woke up, it was an absolute thunderstorm outside. We kept our eye on the radar and knew when we would have a few hours of clear weather. As most visitors are coming from a distance to swim, they may be steered away if they know it's bad weather. Use that to your advantage and get a less crowded hot spring. Italian storms clear up quick anyway.
Check out their website for additional details.
Bagni San Filippo
A slightly smaller, but rockier, version of Cascate del Mulino. You'll also have a much quieter experience as this is not as well known as the above. More likely, this public hot springs bath will be filled with a good amount of locals taking full advantage of the magic water. Located in a very small village, you will have a peaceful trip while traveling to and from.
Because these springs are not as well known, you have a higher chance of having them to yourself very early in the morning. As the day progresses, it will slowly fill up, but not like the immediate stampede of Saturnia. There is a parking lot that is a 10 minute walk away for you to leave your vehicle if you have one.
Here's their website to give you some more info.
Bagno Vignoni
Technically, an entire village, this is a place you won't want to miss. Right in the middle of the city center is a giant pool filled with water from the natural hot springs. That is a must see in itself, but there are also some hot spring pools to soak in just a few minute walk away.
"Park of the Mills" is where you will find the baths here because they are located by the remains of the old mill. You'll find the path leads you just below the town, over the cliff. These paths are interesting because there are small "canals" of water that run along the walk there. They are the perfect width to put your feet in for a soak if you don't want to fully submerge.
These specific hot springs are actually considered "hyper-thermal" which means they are hotter than most average hot spring temperatures. So, this may not be where you spend the longest soak, but it's fun to know you visited the hottest springs in Tuscany. Running around 52 C, make sure that is a temperature you are okay with prior to going.
Located in Val d'Orcia, here is some more information from the city.
Understanding Tuscany
Tuscany is an entire region located in central Italy. So when people talk about visiting, they could ultimately be hours apart but still be in Tuscany. The region is known mostly for it's wine, but the many hot springs are quite the attraction as well. Regarded as the birthplace for the Italian Renaissance, you will be surrounded with authentic Italian culture all around you.
I would highly recommend having a car to use for your time spent in Tuscany. An hour drive here is nothing like driving in a big city or on an interstate. Roads wind through far spread landscapes and you will stumble upon many local shops that produce and sell the area's famous products: wine, cheese, and olive oil.
Where to stay
If you are choosing any or all of the hot springs that I recommended above, I will suggest staying in either Saturnia or Val d'Orcia. Not only do you want to stay somewhere close to the natural hot springs themselves, but typically the resorts near them provide private pools that are funneled from that water.
If Tuscany is your entire trip or only part of it, I can not recommend enough splurging as much as you can on a place to stay here. If that is not an option, I get it - international travel isn't cheap. Fortunately, some of those resorts offer day passes to experience a piece of their offerings.
Here are some places to consider:
Saturnia
I will rave about this resort heavily, as this is where we stayed. It is absolute magic. Not only does the hotel sit on a giant pool of natural hot spring water, but surrounding that are several personal pools, waterfalls, and a vast amount of lawn chairs spread over green grass. Here, you will spend 90% of your time in the resort's staple - a robe and slippers. You can spend your day outside soaking or enjoy the many saunas, meditation and emotion rooms, or book a service at the spa or hair salon. Oh, it's situated on a full golf course too.
The included breakfast is absolutely delightful with a spread of local products and fresh coffee and juices. The bar is open almost all day for lunch, snacks, and drinks that you can enjoy outside or anywhere in the many quaint sitting rooms inside the hotel. They have two restaurants to choose from for dinner and that is, quite literally, the only time they prefer you not dressed in your robe.
One last important thing to note - this is the closest resort to Cascate del Mulino. It is a 20 minute walk or 2 minute drive, at most. If you don't choose to stay here, I highly recommend booking a day pass to experience it.
Other great nearby options:
A 10 minute drive from Cascate del Mulino, this is an absolutely beautiful spa & resort that will keep you close by. Although their pool is not funneled from the springs, it is situated perfectly to give you one of the best views of Saturnia while you swim. As a guest here, you also receive special rates for a day pass to Termi di Saturnia's resort and their neighboring Parco Termale (Thermal Park). They have a delicious restaurant to enjoy dinner nightly, a beautiful veranda and terrace with a stunning view, breakfast, and their own spa offerings: sauna, "rasberry jacuzzi", herbal tepidarium, and more.
This hotel will allow for a short 5 minute drive to Cascate del Mulino. Being it's so close to the springs, this is a smaller hotel that offers a thermal pool on the property. This hotel offers a slightly more authentic feel than other resorts and emphasizes on Tuscan style. There is a restaurant located within the hotel that offers a varying menu designed with local staples. Enjoy dinner and wine on the terrace overlooking the vast green fields and surrounding olive trees. Although you will pay less for this hotel, you will to pay separately for services included at other resorts. For an additional charge, you can rent a bathrobe, use the infrared sauna, and book massages.
There are several other hotels and gorgeous Airbnbs to choose from that are not only great, but more budget friendly. Most of these places will not offer the services and private pools, but with the combination of a day pass to Termi di Saturnia and the public & free natural springs of Cascate del Mulino, you can still experience the magic.
Siena
You can't get closer to Parco dei Mulini than this. This hotel is front and center of Val d'Orcia with a terrace restaurant that overlooks Bagno Vignoni. You will be given a bathrobe and slippers which you will be recommended to stay in for the majority of your stay. Enjoy the unlimited access to the hotel's Le Terme Wellness & Spa where you can find a variety of thermal pools and a Roman sauna. Even if you do not stay here, you can book a day pass for €38 to have a chance to enjoy a private relaxation in their gorgeous facilities.
If you want the feeling of staying in an authentic Tuscan mansion, this is your place. With existing 16th century charm still in place, they have found the perfect blend of history with modern enhancements. The mansion overlooks the Sienese Hills so you have a stunning view from your bedroom window. As a guest, you receive a discount on the day pass to nearby Le Terme Wellness & Spa and if you visit between mid March to December 1, you can book a truffle hunting experience with them. You will get the best of Tuscan cuisine and wine here, as they maintain ancient recipes and prioritize local products.
A beautiful spa & hotel that offers a variety of ways to experience the benefits of the nearby springs. While they offer thermal pools on site, there are also hydromassages, saunas, halotherapy, and a Turkish bath. Enjoy the relaxation rooms, infusions, or book any of the spa offerings. Stroll through the hotel's gardens that extend pass the pool and admire the beautifully manicured lawn, play a game of tennis or bocce at the courts, or grab some snacks at the shaded hut. Of course, the hotel restaurant is no exception to the rest of the high quality offerings here. Enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner eating traditional Tuscan cuisine.
What to do
This may seem quite obvious from everything that I have already said, but Tuscany is more than just soaking and drinking. Although, those are two of the best things. Here are some of the best ways to enjoy your time in the wine country.
Enjoy the natural hot springs. As if this isn't what this entire blog is about. Remember, I only recommended my top 3. There are others in different parts of Tuscany that are also beautiful. Here are Italy's top picks.
Spend a day at a thermal spa. If you are not staying at one of the hotels listed that have this, I would highly recommend doing a day pass for one. While soaking at the natural springs are beautiful, there is an added benefit when you have other amenities at your convenience. Plus, you may find that the behaviors of the surrounding participants at a paid resort compares highly to those of a free attraction.
Play a round of golf. How many people get to say they teed off in Tuscany?
Take a wine tour. Tuscany is famous for their wines and if you like to drink it, this is the place. Try to book through a local winery and not a tour company - you'll get a more authentic tour.
Book a farm stay. If you're feeling a little more adventurous about where to stay, search farm stay and villa options. This may mean you are staying as a guest in someone's actual home and you can have a fabulous, personal experience.
Take a "Vintage Tour". Rent a vintage style vespa or car to drive around Tuscany in style.
Take a trip to Pisa. Not incredibly far from the locations I recommended is Pisa. Go visit the Leaning Tower and explore the city.
Visit the Siena Cathedral. While in Siena, it's a great idea to explore the town surrounding the Cathedral. It's a better idea to explore inside and admire the Renaissance era up close and personal.
Drive through Val d'Orcia. Obviously, this is recommended for those with a vehicle - but the roads of Val d'Orcia are stunning to drive through. The town itself is also beautiful.
Take a cooking class. If you want to learn about cooking with the best ingredients, take a class while here and learn to make fresh pasta.
Closing Tips
While, like many places in Europe, Tuscany has many picturesque landscapes and desirable locations...pictures don't tell the tale of reality. It's always better to venture into your trip with proper expectations. Still to say, you should have high ones for Tuscany and being there will exceed them. Here are some things I learned beforehand and while there that I feel should be passed along.
Hot Spring Tips
Consider wearing shoes in the natural springs. It's slippery and rocky, but once seated, rub your bare feet on the rocky marbles for a massage. I love the ones I wore - they are fine in water and even float. Plus, comfortable for a 20 minute walk there and back.
Try to bring as little as possible with you. The natural springs are free and open to the public 24/7. That leads to crowds. You don't want to be looking over your shoulder all day trying to watch your belongings and may not even be able to see them from in the water. Keep as many valuables as you can at home. (For the record, I have never had an issue - but we ended up leaving Cascate del Mulino earlier than wanted because I didn't enjoy the feeling of not seeing things like my phone and drone).
If you must bring valuables with you, add some safety nets.
Don't wear any jewelry unless it's 100% metal. The natural presence of all of the minerals in the hot spring waters really prove themselves if you wear gold-filled, gold-plated jewelry. This could honestly be a gold-filled jewelry stan blog, just so you know. But, regretfully I wore them in the miracle water of Zeus himself and they crusted to hell.
The water color can dramatically change. I am sure there are scientific or factual explanations for this, but that is not what's important. When we arrived at the hot springs before 6AM, the water was a bright, deep blue. No more than 30 minutes later, it's much lighter with a green undertone. Some springs don't even get much of a colorful tint and some just eventually lose the color later in the day. If why that happens is important, know I don't have that answer. But if you're like me and want to see the deep blue color (specifically referring to Saturnia)...go early.
Yes, it smells strongly of eggs. It hits you in the face everytime you get near a thermal spring or pool. I swear you just never get used to it, but you sort of love to hate it. It's not the most pleasant smell but in a way...it just adds to the hype. The smell makes it *real*.
Do not shower after. I read and was told that you should not shower following a soak for...really as long as you can. Give your body as much time as possible to continue to absorb the benefits from the water. Sucks, because you stink of eggs, but that's why this is also a robe and slipper stan blog.
Leave it better than how you found it. These springs, resorts, spas, farmland, …everything, are so beautiful and a wonderful source of healing for so many people. Italy remains to leave these natural parks completely free which is a blessing and a curse. Don't litter or tamper and if you can help clean any up, always try to.
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