The Saturnia Hot Springs in Tuscany have become world-famous for their unique and mysterious look. After our own visit, we can definitely say they live up to the hype! However, there are a few things to know before you go to ensure a great trip. Here’s advice from our personal experience at the Saturnia thermal baths, with tips for how to beat the crowds!
What Makes the Hot Springs in Saturnia Special?
Legend has it, that the god Saturn was angry with the people for their never ending wars. One day he threw a lightning bolt down to earth, which created the Saturnia thermal springs.
Saturn’s bolt created a gift to the people to bring peace in the region, and the story is still told by locals today! With the strange appearance of the cascading light blue thermals, it’s easy to imagine why such a myth would come to be.
The water actually flows from a crater on the hills of Mount Amiata all the way to the Saturnia thermal baths. An old mill named Cascate del Mulino sits behind the bathing area and was in operation until the 1960’s.
The baths have been known since Etruscan and Roman times and used for their therapeutic properties. In fact, the waters are known to help with respiratory, inflammatory, muscular, and digestive systems.
You may even see people spreading the mud from the hot springs in Saturnia on themselves, as it’s fantastic for your skin.
How to Get to the Saturnia Hot Springs in Tuscany
Now that you know a little bit about the hot springs in Saturnia, it should come as know surprise that they’re a very popular tourist destination.
Tuscany itself is one of the most visited regions in Italy. Many travelers come here on a day trip from the nearby cities and small towns around Saturnia.
To best see the area, you will need a car to get around. Check out this website to find the best deals and compare companies before your visit.
We recommend picking up your vehicle in one of the larger cities like Florence, Pisa, or Rome. From there, you can take a multi-day Tuscany road trip through the gorgeous countryside. There are buses available, but you’ll have much more freedom to explore by renting a car.
There are so many amazing towns to visit in Tuscany that you could spend weeks without getting bored. Some of our favorites include Montepulciano, Pienza, and Cortona.
The Saturnia thermal baths are quite small. So to have the best experience, you’ll want to visit without it being swarmed with others. Here’s a few tips for beating the crowds on your first trip!
→ 10 Tuscany Italy Travel Tips For An Amazing Holiday
7 Tips For the Saturnia Hot Springs
1. Arrive Early
One of the best parts about the Saturnia Hot Springs is that it’s completely free! That’s right, you don’t need to pay to enter.
There are also no set entry and exit times, which means you can come as early or late as you want. If possible, we highly recommend getting to the baths first thing in the morning.
We arrived in late August around 8am, and by 10:30am it was completely packed! Honestly, looking back on it, we would probably should’ve arrived before 7am to get the most out of our visit.
Getting to the Saturnia thermal baths early is also important for parking. There is a large dirt lot just a few minutes walk away (location here).
You do have to pay a few euros per hour, but it’s so worth it. During peak hours, the lot can fill up and some tourists are forced to park on the street. We don’t recommend doing this as you can face a hefty fine.
2. Stay Nearby in Tuscany
There are so many beautiful towns just a short drive away from the hot springs in Saturnia. We stayed about 20 minutes away in Pitigliano, an ancient Etruscan town perched high on the cliffs.
Three days was the perfect amount of time to see the town and surrounding areas of Tuscany. It also allowed us to get to the Saturnia Hot Springs bright and early in the morning!
There are plenty of nice boutique hotels and bed and breakfasts to check out in Pitigliano. A few highly-rated ones right in the old town are Da Titta, La Torre della Piramide, and Il Girasole Storico.
Other towns to consider staying in near Saturnia are Manciano and Montemerano. You can even stay in the old town of Saturnia if you want to be even closer. For larger cities, look into Grosetto, Montalto di Castro, and Albinia as well.
3. Visit the Saturnia Hot Springs in Off-season
Another great thing about the Saturnia Hot Springs is that you can go year-round! The most popular time to visit is during the summer, when the thermals can often be packed all day with tourist.
As we mentioned, you can still avoid the crowds by arriving early in the morning. However, the best time to visit Saturnia is the shoulder season of spring or fall.
Some weekdays you may even feel like you have them to yourselves! You can even visit the hot springs in Saturnia during the winter. Just know the spring are warm and comfortable, but not steaming hot.
We can’t imagine how magical it would be to be soaking in the hot baths with snow falling around you. Just make sure to bring a robe or something warm to cover up when you’re not in the water.
4. Rent a Locker
One of our best tips is to rent a locker for your visit. It was so nice to have a place to leave our valuables and not have to worry about them while we were in the Saturnia thermal baths.
They cost 5 Euros for the day and you’ll be given a bracelet with a waterproof key attached. Know that you’ll have to leave an additional 5 Euro deposit in cash and some type of ID with the attendant at the bar.
5. Wear Water Shoes
If we made one mistake on our trip to the Saturnia thermal baths, it was not bringing water shoes! The swimming area is very rocky and you’ll be climbing in and out of the different pools.
We did have flip flops that came in handy. Yet, they weren’t ideal for walking in the actual water and on the slippery rocks.
It’s easy enough to buy some cheap water shoes before your trip. Really, you just need something simple like this. You won’t regret having them when spending a day at the hot springs in Saturnia.
Also, having the shoes will make it way more comfortable to explore. You can easily go further to one of the more secluded pools that not many people make the effort to get to.
6. Dip in All of the Saturnia Hot Springs
That brings us to our next point! Having water shoes will also help you get around to entire thermal park. The main section is at the top directly in front of the bar and restaurant area.
There is a path that wraps around the restaurant back of the restaurant that leads down to separate area underneath the falls. The bottom part of the Saturnia Hot Springs offers an alternative view of the water coming down.
It was a great area to lay your stuff set up chairs for the day and spread out. The view from here is really cool because you’ll be looking up at the pool and the old mill.
7. Bring Your Own Food & Drinks
Our last Saturnia Hot Springs tip is to bring some snacks with you! Most importantly, you should have lots and lots of water. The thermals can quickly make you feel dehydrated, so it’s good to come prepared.
There is a bar and restaurant if you get hungry for lunch, or need a beer or coffee. Nevertheless, it’s great to have your own food to snack on and spend as long as you want at the Saturnia thermal springs.
We saw some pretty elaborate set ups with chairs and full picnics here. There is an area behind the restaurant with picnic tables as well. Another option is to head up to the town of Saturnia for a meal before or afterwards.
Have any questions about this article or want to share your own tips for the hot springs in Saturnia Italy? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
Pin for Later ↓
We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
