I can’t believe that I have been living in Siena for 8 months now and just found this place. It is only a 30-minute bus ride away from the center of Siena. One hot day, I was looking for waterfalls in Tuscany to go to and saw that this river with mini waterfalls was so close. If you are staying in Tuscany and want to experience a small hike with a beautiful waterfall this place is for you. We had the best time exploring this trail and jumping into the water at the various different swimming areas.
How to Get to Fiume Elsa
This beautiful waterfall in Tuscany is called Fiume Elsa. It is connected to many Tuscan towns via bus. There are two bus stops one on each end of the trail. I recommend getting off at Str.Prov.Ang.V.Dellabadia. This way you can start off on the trail head and end the hike at the main waterfall. We did this but then after we got to the main waterfall we went back to some of the swimming areas in the first 1/2. The trail is called the Sentierelsa trail and it goes along the river and to the main waterfall. To figure out the best route to get there from where you are staying I recomend either putting in “Sentierelsa Trail” or “Str.Prov.Ang.V.Dellabadia” into Google Maps. Google Maps on your phone (Desktop version doesn’t show the route) will show you the best bus options.
What to Know Before Heading to This Beautiful Tuscan Waterfall
The hike is very easy, there are some rocks that you have to jump over to cross. As long as you are able to do that and have good balance it should not be an issue. In total, the Swntierelsa trail is 2.5 kilometers. There was a variety of ages hiking from families with toddlers to older couples.
There are many picnic benches throughout the hike so you can pack lunch and eat there. Or bring a picnic blanket and sit beside the river. When we went in May, it was pretty quiet, and only a handful were swimming. There are so many places to jump in the water here that it was no issue finding our own private spot. The water was cold but not terrible.
What I Would Recommend Packing/Bring to Fiume Elsa Waterfall in Tuscany
Because this is a small hike and you most likely won’t spend over four hours there isn’t much that you need. But there are some essential items that I would recommend bringing. You need to pack plenty of water. There isn’t anywhere on this hike to get water so you need to bring lots. I would also bring snacks or lunch in case you get hungry, atleast fruit so you can take a break and enjoy eating a snack next to the river. Sunscreen is an obvious essential. My favorite is Elta MD. Swimming around under the Tuscan sun is a recipe for a sunburn so I would bring your favorite sunscreen so you can reapply throughout the day. When gathering your stuff for your waterfall day you will want to keep in mind the possibility of missing a bus which could make you stay there longer so come extra prepared.
What to Wear to Fiume Elsa
Because the hike is quite mild I would recommend wearing some comfortable clothes that you wouldn’t mind getting wet and a swimsuit. Specific hiking clothes are not necessary but if that is what makes you feel most comfortable bring them. I wore my favorite swimsuit from Vitamin A. I would make sure that you bring a high-quality swimsuit that you feel comfortable being active in and that will stay on. If you plan on getting close to the waterfalls you don’t want the pressure to make your suit fall off. I used my Djerf Avenue shorts and a white button-up as a cover-up. This was perfect because I was comfortable, and all of my clothes were nice and breezy.
