Saturnia Hot Springs: How To Visit These Epic Hot Springs In Tuscany
Ready to visit the most beautiful hot springs in Tuscany? Here’s the ultimate guide to visiting the Saturnia Hot Springs.
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From the first time I saw photos of the Saturnia hot springs natural pools, I immediately added this spot to my bucket list. It had been my dream to soak in these turquoise waters in the Tuscan countryside.
When I finally had the opportunity to take a road trip through Italy, I knew I had to add a stop in Saturnia.
I couldn’t find much information online about how to get here, what to bring, what the water temperature was like, etc.
So I decided to put together this ultimate guide to visiting the Saturnia Hot Springs in Tuscany.
What Are The Saturnia Hot Springs?
The Saturnia hot springs in Tuscany are truly some of the most beautiful natural baths in the world and a perfect stop on a road trip through Tuscany.
The first thing to note is that while these hot springs are known as “Saturnia Hot Springs”, their official name is actually Cascate del Mulino.
The hot springs are actually attached to a spa and hotel with the same name.
However, the springs themselves are completely free to visit and are open 24/7, 365 days a year.
The cascading pools were formed naturally and are heated from the nearby Monte Amiata Volcano.
The sparkling turquoise waters stay at a perfect 37°C (98.6°F) all year round, which means Saturnia Hot Springs is a very popular tourist destination in every season.
Getting To Saturnia Hot Springs In Tuscany
The closest large international airport to Saturnia is the Fiumicino airport in Rome (FCO).
I highly recommend renting a car if you are hoping to visit the Saturnia Hot Springs, as public transportation through the Tuscan countryside is very limited.
From Rome, take the A12 Rome-Civitavecchia motorway, then the Aurelia SS1 main road to Montalto di Castro. At the junction of Vulci, you will head towards Manciano-Saturnia.
Here is the exact location of the hot springs that you can plug in to a GPS: Via della Follonata, 58014 Manciano GR, Italy.
See the exact location of Saturnia Hot Springs on Google maps here.
There is a free parking lot right next to the hot springs. Parking spots are very limited so I recommend getting here as early as possible.
The driveway to enter the parking lot is also pretty tight, so it may be more difficult for larger vans or trucks.
When To Visit Saturnia Hot Springs In Tuscany
The Saturnia Hot Springs are very popular among locals and tourists, so it’s important to plan your trip accordingly if you want to enjoy them without the crowds.
Try to visit the baths at sunrise or earlier to avoid the large crowds. The lighting is also just gorgeous at sunrise — the sun shines through the trees and casts a beautiful glow on the turquoise waters.
If you really want privacy, I suggest getting there a little bit before sunrise. We got there at around 6:15am and there were already a decent amount of people there.
As I mentioned before, the baths are open 365 days a year and are consistently warm all year round. You can visit during any season and you’ll have a pleasant soaking experience.
Helpful Tips For Visiting Saturnia Hot Springs
Be Respectful
Places like these hot springs in Tuscany will only stay free and public if they are taken care of and respected. Please take your garbage with you and be respectful!
Get Here Early
If you want to have the best soaking experience possible, I highly recommend getting here early in the morning.
Because these are free public pools, they tend to get very crowded. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll have the pools to yourselves at any time of day.
However, the best time to visit to avoid the huge crowds of tourists is early in the morning.
We got here right before sunrise and the pools were already starting to get a bit crowded. Luckily, it was mostly locals who were just relaxing quietly in the waterfall areas
As it started to fill up more later in the morning, it was definitely more of the obnoxious tourist crowd.
Leave Valuables Behind
Leave anything valuable at your hotel or locked and hidden in your car.
We didn’t run into any issues with theft here but there were no lockers or secure spots to leave your valuables.
Bring Water Shoes
The pools at Saturnia are naturally formed, which means they can be pretty rough on bare feet. The limestone ridges are super sharp to walk on and the bottoms of the pools are covered in tiny pebbles.
After climbing around to different pools, my feet were absolutely rubbed raw.
I highly recommend packing a pair of water shoes or flip flops for your time at the hot springs.
Pack Food And Water
While there is a small snack bar available during the high seasons, options are pretty limited. If you’re planning on spending awhile here, I would pack a few snacks or a full picnic.
I also highly recommend bringing water. Hot springs dehydrate you faster than you realize.
Plus, if you visit during the day the sun will be beating down on you while you soak. Bring plenty of water and make sure you take a break if you start to feel lightheaded.
There May Be Worms
If you notice tiny red worms in the water, don’t worry! These are called thermal plankton and are completely harmless.
When we visited in August of 2019, there were some worms floating around but it wasn’t too gross.
I’ve heard that winter is the best time to visit if you want to avoid the worms completely.
Expect To Smell Like Sulfur
These hot springs in Tuscany have a slight smell to them due to the sulfur and mineral content of the water.
You may not want to bring your favorite swimsuit because the smell may take awhile to wash off.
What To Bring To Saturnia Hot Springs In Tuscany
Water shoes or flip flops. The floor of the springs are covered in small pebbles that can be difficult to walk on and the limestone ridges that divide the pools are sharp.
We climbed all over the springs to enjoy different soaking spots and our feet were rubbed raw by the end of it. Definitely learn from our mistake and wear waterproof shoes.
Swimsuit and towel. Change at your hotel before you leave as there are no changing rooms or bathrooms at Saturnia Hot Springs.
Drinking water. Soaking in hot springs can dehydrate you quickly.
Make sure you bring a reusable water bottle and plenty of drinking water so you can soak for as long as you want!
Where to Stay Near The Hot Springs
I highly recommend staying nearby so that you can get to Saturnia Hot Springs bright and early.
In Tuscany, the most popular type of accommodation is a farm stay, or an agriturismo.
These are often smaller B&B types of properties that allow you to get a taste for the traditional Tuscan style of living.
We stayed in several different agriturismos during our road trip through Tuscany and loved every single one.
When we were visiting the Saturnia hot springs in Tuscany, we stayed in a beautiful farm stay in nearby Manciano. You can check out where we stayed here.
The room was affordable, the service was incredible, and we loved walking through the vineyards. There’s even a pool!
Looking for some other options for accommodation?
This is the closest hotel to the hot springs: Terme di Saturnia Natural Spa & Golf Resort
This hotel is great value: Il Grottino di Saturnia
Top rated on Booking.com: Agriturismo Le Cascatelle
Where we stayed: Agriturismo Sant’ Antonio
Things To Do Near Saturnia
If you’re making the trip out to the hot springs, I definitely recommend sticking around the area for awhile. This part of Tuscany is gorgeous, and there is so much history and natural beauty to take in.
Here are some of my favorite things to do near Saturnia:
Visit The Town Of Manciano
This little hilltop town is definitely worth visiting while you’re in the area.
Visit the castle in town, enjoy the views of the rolling hills, or just walk around the old town.
Manciano is just 12km from the Saturnia hot springs.
Drive Through Val d’ Orcia
If you have a little more time, I highly recommend heading north to the Val d’ Orcia area.
Just 38km from the hot springs you’ll find some of the most beautiful rolling hills and vineyards in Tuscany.
Trust me, you’ll be pulling your car over every 5 minutes to take in the amazing views.
Soak In Other Hot Springs
Saturnia isn’t the only hot springs in Tuscany. There are plenty of other beautiful hot springs nearby that are definitely worth a visit.
Some of the most well-known hot springs in the area are:
- Bagni San Filippo (68km from Saturnia)
- Bagni di Petriolo (91km from Saturnia)
- Bagno Vignoni (62km from Saturnia)
This post was all about how to visit Saturnia Hot Springs in Tuscany.
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