Orvieto or Siena - 2 nights with kids

Haven't been to Siena so I can't comment on it....I wish we could've squeezed it in. It looks beautiful

...did spend three nights at easter in Orvieto (chose it over Rome, which seemed like it would be crazy) and loved. Travelled with 2 older teens and we did a day trip on bikes to civita d'bagnoregnio Easter Sunday (spelling this wrong) and explored orvieto on foot over the other 2. It was my favorite part of our trip (which included florence, venice and whirlwind day to Cinque Terre). My high school junior was smitten -- "people live here?" The ebikes were through Orvieto bike, guide was Sandro? I think?

The train to Orvieto from Rome was dead easy as was our trip on to Florence; I imagine reverse will be fine We stayed at hotel Duomo and walked everywhere. A pool outside of town in July sounds lovely, just not sure how accessible town is from there but Orvieto gets a my thumbs up. There are several cave activities that I imagine would "cool" on hot days and the scenery and views are great.

We bought the Orvieto card which covered almost everything and I think did all nine (?) attractions. You have to make reservation for the underground via email in advance. Its popular...

In your case I think I’d skip Siena and go to Orvieto
The pool will be a nice treat at end of long trip and especially with the expected heat and crumped before and after.

The underground sites in Orvieto should be interesting/ very cool to your tweens

If it is swimming pools you want, I highly recommend the agriturismo Il Mulino de Quercegrossa just outside Siena. They have 7 pools including one with moving water ending at a waterfall.

https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/mulino-di-quercegrossa.html

https://www.mulinodiquercegrossa.it/en/index.html

We stayed here with our two teen daughters and it was a great change of pace after Florence and Lucca. We rented a car in Lucca for 2 days and returned it at Pisa, then continued our travels by train from there.

Is the Siena apartment air-conditioned? Yes, Siena is a busy, heavily-touristed town, but so is Orvieto. I'm inclined to say (OPINION) that Orvieto feels more spacious and airy, due to medieval street patterns, not tourist-count per square meter!? Do you know the Siena Palio is July 2, 2024?

You did not say "we will not be trapped at the pool outside Orvieto because ... car ... city bus ... ? Why would you spend thousands of travel dollars to use a pool in another country and not see the local sights? Orvieto is a VERY attractive destination, smaller than Siena, I think.

I have been to both places, but have not slept in either. There are plenty of dining options in both cities, but you have to expect many of them to BOOK UP in July. I do not have three children, but I feel they might enjoy Orvieto more than Siena. But you have not proposed "showing them Orvieto", I think.

Thanks for the fantastic feedback. The apartment in Siena is air-conditioned but based on the reviews of Orvieto I am thinking I will rearrange our itinary and spend 2 nights in Orvieto instead. The hotel is less than 10 minutes drive from the town centre and we have been advised taxis/transfers can be arranged by the hotel. We will definitely spend time exploring the sites above and below ground. Bikes sound like great fun too!

Be sure to utilize the funicular at least once while there rather than taxi all the way to top of hill every time.
It's fun, inexpensive and possibly a unique experience for your kids.

just chiming into agree -- funicular was a hit with two older kids! also, St Patrick's well and some nice views are right at the top funicular station. I'm pretty sure the funicular ticket includes shuttle bus up even further to the duomo (which is all the way at the top).

we walked several different ways, several times and the entire top section of orvieto is completely manageable on foot. there was also a market set up near the top funicular station -- bought a great vintage leather jacket for $20 -- which I had spent more time digging.

I imagine you could hit most orvieto sites in one VERY full day or slower paced day and a half.....

we did walk out to the necropolis as well -- a bit of a hike, out of the way and could be skipped, but my kids found it fascinating. they didn't love the more convenient st Patricks well -- lots of stair climbing without much of interest at the bottom. I do think it might be more of a hit with younger kids.