How to Get to Saturnia Hot Springs in Italy!
Saturnia Hot Springs is one of those beautiful places that I randomly came across on Instagram. While traveling through the Dolomites, I did an Instagram search on “Italy” ~ & this insanely gorgeous spot popped up on my feed…one that I’d never heard of: Saturnia Hot Springs. At first, I didn’t even realize it was in Italy. But it turned out that it was located in the southern part of Tuscany, where I was headed next. I couldn’t believe my luck! And because it’s a little off-the-beaten-path, in this post I’ll explain “How to Get to Saturnia Hot Springs in Italy” & everything you need to know about traveling there!
To get a shot ALONE at Saturnia, visit at SUNRISE!! Photo by Stefano Gera @stefanogera.
Map of Saturnia Hot Springs
Saturnia Hot Springs can be found in the small town of Saturnia, which is located two hours south of Siena (by car), two hours north of Rome, & two hours & 30 minutes south of Florence. The best way to get there is by renting a car, as there is no train station in Saturnia. It’s possible to take a bus there, but it requires several changes & will be a journey of several hours.
Saturnia Hot Springs
Rome
Florence
Siena
Quick Facts About Saturnia
- Opening Hours: Saturnia Hot Springs is open year-round, 365 days/year, 24 hours per day. Meaning, you can visit them WHENEVER you want!!
- Entrance Fee: At this time, there is NO fee to enter the hot springs.
- Closest Major Cities: Siena, Rome, & Florence.
- Best Way to Get There: Rent a car in Florence, Rome, or Siena & drive there yourself. There’s NO train station in Saturnia (the closest is in Albinia), & there’s no direct bus there either (you would need to ask the driver to stop outside of town). Driving in the Tuscan countryside is more mellow than in the large cities, with well-marked roads.
- Where to Park: There’s a parking lot next to the springs, off Via della Follonata. Park there instead of on the road ~ there should be plenty of room.
- How Hot are the Springs? About 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, so not SUPER hot. But the springs face the sun most of the day, so they may feel warmer on a hot day.
- Are There Changing Rooms? No. You’ll need to change clothes in the parking lot (along with everybody else).
- Do the Hot Springs Have Another Name? Yes. They may also be called Cascate del Mulino or Cascate del Gorello.
- What is the Closest Hotel: Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort. They also have hot springs you can use at the hotel, as well as a full-service spa & 18-hole golf course.
- What to Bring to Hot Springs: There are very few services at the springs, so bring your own food & water, sunscreen, water shoes (the rocks can be tough on your feet), & a flashlight or headlamp if you’re visiting at sunrise or sunset.
How to Get to Saturnia Hot Springs
Whether you’re starting your journey in Rome, Florence, or Siena ~ instead of typing “Saturnia” or “Saturnia Hot Springs” into your GPS, enter “Cascate del Mulino (o del Gorello)” instead. This will take you to the hot springs, vs. taking you into town or to a hotel. The exact address for the springs is: Via della Follonata, 58014 Saturnia, Manciano GR, Italy.
Expect the hot springs to be busy during the day, & less busy at sunrise & at night.
How to Get to Saturnia Hot Springs from Rome: From Rome, take the E-80 (or A-12) North towards Montalto di Castro for approx. 97 kilometers (1 hour). In Montalto di Castro, exit onto SP-105 North for about 44 kilometers (48 minutes). The road will turn into SP-159 past Manciano. When you pass Montemerano, you’re close: the springs are just south of Saturnia, just past the Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort.
How to Get to Saturnia Hot Springs from Florence & Siena: From Florence, head south to Siena. From Siena, take the SS-223 South towards Grosseto. Just before reaching Grosseto, in Rusellae, take SP-159 South-east through Scansano & Montemerano, to Saturnia.
Where to Stay by Saturnia Hot Springs
You could visit Saturnia as a day-trip from Florence or Rome. But the problem is, you’ll be spending 5+ hours in the car….which doesn’t leave you much time at the hot springs. And if you want to see the springs at sunrise or sunset (for less people & more spectacular photos), definitely spend the night in & around Saturnia.
Your first & closest option to the hot springs is luxurious Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort ($265+/night). It’s the most expensive option, but they’ve got hot springs of their own, along with an 18-hole golf course, spa, water park, pool, & two fine dining restaurants. Another option, just 6 kilometers from the springs, is Relais Villa Acquaviva ($105+/night). The setting is relaxed & luxurious, at about half the price of Terme di Saturnia. Perks include room service, Wi-Fi, free parking, & breakfast.
How to Get to Saturnia Hot Springs
Final tips: 1) Take off your jewelry (sulfur can ruin it); 2) Bring a picnic lunch; 3) Use chemical-free sunscreen; 4) Bring a headlamp or flashlight if visiting at dusk or sunrise; & 5) Consider bringing water shoes, to make walking on the rocks easier, & 6) Bring a good camera to get amazing shots of the springs!
One more thing, for the ladies: sulfur can wreak HAVOC on your hair. This article discusses how to fix hair that’s been ruined by high sulfur contents, like at the Blue Lagoon in Iceland!
xoxo Noelia
Read Next: Where to Stay by Saturnia Hot Springs
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This place is indeed a hidden gem in Tuscany! We learned about it through friends, who encouraged us to spend the night down there & really make a day of it. We took their advice, & stayed at the Terme di Saturnia, and got to enjoy their private thermal hot springs as well as Saturnia. What a fun day! It was one of the highlights of our Italy trip.
Hi Deb! Thanks so much for your comment & feedback ~ & I think your friends gave you very good advice to spend the night in Saturnia, instead of facing a really long day of driving! And thanks for your feedback on the Terme di Saturni Hotel…it’s great to hear from people who’ve been : ) Ciao! xoxo Noelia
We are heading there next week from Rome via car thanks for the tips!
We also are travelling to La Spezia … any places we should stay or highlight of cinque te Terre
Sharon
I’m SO jealous, Sharon!! You’re going to have the most amazing time!! La Spezia is definitely not as picturesque as the “five towns” of Cinque Terre (I too stayed in La Spezia), so I’d recommend spending as much time exploring the five towns as possible. The highlight for me was definitely the hike along the cliffs, through all the towns ~ great for fitness & nature lovers! The prettiest view from above is probably Vernazza, & the best place to eat & enjoy time on the beach is the final town: Monterosso al Mare ~ as its beachfront is the largest. ENJOY, ENJOY!! xoxo Noelia
Hi! I was considering renting a car in Florence and then driving here on the day I plan to go to Amalfi…and then returning the car to the closest major train station w/car rental before catching the bullet train to Naples. Does this sound doable to you? If so, can you recommend the closest major train station where I could do this?
Hi Michelle! I mean…I prefer “slow” travel, so that day sounds kind of hectic to me personally ~ but it depends on your travel style! Also, driving in Florence pretty much sounds like a nightmare! Ha, I’d look for a rental car place on the EDGE of town, not in the town center. I don’t know what the nearest train station is to Saturnia, but my guess is Rome is going to be one of the closest places that has both rental car returns AND fast trains to Naples. But again, driving in Rome sounds pretty awful to me. If you’ve driven in Italian cities before & feel comfortable with it, than maybe you’re u8p for it! Hope that (kind of) helps : ) xoxo Noelia
Hi again Michelle ~ I just consulted with a friend in Italy. He said the closest major train station to Saturnia Hot Springs is at Grosseto; there’s an Avis Rental Car there & from that station, you can take a high-speed train to Naples. Hope that is more help!