Best Things to do in Montepulciano, Italy

Things to do in Montepulciano, Italy

Piazza Grande, Montepulciano

We started our day at the Piazza Grande, the main town center, where the Duomo (cathedral) is located. While we didn’t find its exterior very impressive, we were very surprised to discover some incredible frescoes, tiles, and stained glass inside.

In Piazza Grande, there’s also the Palazzo Comunale, a beautiful clock tower that we climbed to the top of for amazing views!

Wander the Streets

Montepulciano, Italy, is small but perfectly formed; there’s not much to see, but we spent a couple of hours there, which was plenty of time to explore the pretty streets. We loved the terracotta roofs, vine-clad houses, and different-colored Vespas parked at each corner.

Fun fact for our fellow millennials: Montepulciano was used as a filming location for the Twilight movie ‘New Moon’. We spotted some photos of the sets dotted around town.

• Enter via one of the gates into the Historic Center (either Porta al Prato or the Porta Delle Farine)
• Walk up the II Corso, a beautiful uphill street that takes you through town.
• Check out the fancy houses once home to some of the wealthiest families in Montepulciano.
• Stop and have a coffee (or two!). We passed this tea room, which looked great.
• Browse the artisan shops selling ceramics, art, jewelry, and homemade food.

Visit a Viewpoint in Montepulciano, Italy

Because of its high position, we found loads of great viewpoints dotted around town.

• Veduta Panoramica was our favorite at the edge of the historic center walls. We visited during the day, but this spot would be especially beautiful at sunset.
• Medici Fortress is also another great option, a historic ruin with a great terrace viewpoint. We also saw people doing wine tasting here!
• The top of Palazzo Comunale is the highest viewpoint, and on a clear day, you can see Lago di Trasimeno in Umbria and Siena in the distance. 

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Sanctuary Madonna di San Biagio

There are many churches in Montepulciano (Italy), but one of the most beautiful and popular is the Madonna di San Biagio pilgrimage church. Apparently, its large domed roof was inspired by St Peter’s Cathedral in Rome.

Note: This church is a little harder to get to than others in Montepulciano. It’s at the bottom of the hill, so we walked down, but we didn’t think about the challenging (and hot!) walk back up. Some people choose to park here before going into town.

Visit a Wine Cellar

One of the main things to do in Montepulciano is wine tasting!

• The region is famous for its wine, ‘Vino di Nobile di Montepulciano’, made from the Sangiovese grape.
• This type of wine is aged for a minimum of 2 years in large oak barrels in stone cellars deep underground. 
• We recommend joining a wine cellar tour to see the impressive barrels, taste the wine, and learn all about the process from grape to glass.

Tip: Afterward, make sure to buy some wine from the cellar or from one of the many wine shops in town.

Discover the Hilltop Town of Pienza

If you’re staying a night or two in Montepulciano, you can’t miss the charming hilltop town of Pienza. This beautiful town is just a 20-minute drive away, and it’s famous for its Renaissance architecture and pecorino cheese! We might have even preferred this village to Montepulciano ;)

Tip: Visiting in September? Make sure to visit Pienza for the annual Pecorino festival. 

Best Cafes and Restaurants in Montepulciano

We only stayed in Montepulciano for a couple of hours, so we didn’t try any of the restaurants. However, we did grab a quick sandwich at this shop here (they only had one veggie option) and ate it on the city walls, which was bliss.

If you’re staying for lunch, make sure to try the town’s local style of pasta, ‘Pici’. But make sure you always book ahead, especially during high season, as restaurants fill up quickly. Some great-looking spots are:

Alternatively, for something a bit different, book a cooking class.

Where to Stay in Montepulciano, Italy

There’s not much to see in Montepulciano, so you can definitely visit on a day trip (we found an hour or two enough to see the main spots). However, if you want to see the streets really quiet, you could stay overnight once the tour groups have left. Hotels in the historic center look like the best option.

Our favorite hotels in Montepulciano 😴

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Il Tosco

Montepulciano

Lupaia

Montepulciano

CUGUSI BnB

Montepulciano

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How to Visit Montepulciano, Italy

Montepulciano, Italy, sits high up on a hill, so it’s harder to access using public transport. There’s no train station in town; the nearest is a few km away, so you’ll need to catch a bus or taxi to Montepulciano. There is a larger train station in the nearby town of Chiusi, with more trains and regular buses.

By Car

We prefer to rent a car in Italy, so we have more flexibility to explore. There are some reasonably priced parking spots outside the city walls of Montepulciano (we parked here).

By Tour

Alternatively, join an organized tour from bigger cities like Siena or Florence, including return transportation and a guided tour. But be aware that these tours arrive in Montepulciano at peak times, so it will be busier.

How Much Does Montepulciano Cost?

Montepulciano is one of the most popular spots for tourists because of its wine culture. Hotels and restaurants can be a little more expensive, especially close to the main square. We recommend traveling outside of peak season for lower prices, or staying outside of Montepulciano in the valley below.

Best Time to Visit Montepulciano, Italy

Summer in Montepulciano is beautiful, but it’s very hot and overpacked as it’s a prime time for vacationers and tour groups. We visited in late September, which was perfect: cooler and very peaceful (quite a few shops and restaurants were still open, too).