Seventeen animal riddles turn Siena into a game. I love the instant-photo scavenger hunt idea that keeps kids busy, and I love that the Polaguide becomes a keepsake album. The main catch: you should plan extra time on your feet, and finishing all 17 can be tough with very small kids.

This is built for families who want to understand Siena’s heart through the Contrade, not just glance at a map and move on. You follow stages in the Polaguide to locate clues near fountains and spot the fantastic animals hidden around the city. It’s also offered as a private group up to 5, so you can set a pace that works for your crew.

You’ll start at Peace&Road Siena on Via Fusari 20 and end back there after about 3 hours, give or take. The tour uses a mobile ticket, and you’re guided through the Centro Storico with a fun, photo-based structure that feels like a quest rather than a lecture.

Key Highlights You’ll Care About

• 17 photo spots in the Polaguide so you always know what you’ve captured (and what’s next)
• Riddles tied to fountains and Contrade landmarks that help you connect Siena’s layout with the game
• Instant camera option with 10 or 20 films, plus mini or square photo formats
• Private group up to 5 for families who want less waiting around and more control over pace
• A city route that naturally spreads you out so you’re not only stuck in the tightest tourist loops

A Family Treasure Hunt Through Siena’s Contrade

If your kids start wiggle-mode the moment a walk turns into “just another sightseeing day,” this tour is designed for that reality. The format turns the city into a puzzle: you chase clues, stop at points of interest, and take photos as you go.

What I like is that it’s not about standing still and listening. The riddles and fountain references push you to move with purpose. And the Contrada focus helps make Siena feel like it has neighborhoods with identities, not just buildings and streets.

There’s also something very satisfying about finishing a stage and physically placing a photo into the album. It’s small, but it changes the mood: the day feels like progress.

Price and Value: $74.49 Per Group for Up to 5

The price is $74.49 per group (up to 5 people). That matters because you’re paying as a unit, not per adult ticket. For a family of 3–5, it can feel like a smart use of money compared with the cost of multiple separate activities.

You’re also getting more than “a guided walk.” The tour comes with structure (the Polaguide and 17 photo spaces) and the activity hook (finding animals and capturing them right away). For kids, that kind of built-in engagement is often the difference between a short, cranky outing and a longer, happier one.

Value note: the tour’s listed duration is about 3 hours, but with children it can stretch. That doesn’t make it bad value—it just means you should book it when you can afford a longer, slower pace.

The Polaguide + Instant Camera Setup (Why It Works)

The Polaguide is the engine of the experience. For each stage, it indicates where a fountain is and gives riddles you’ll use to locate the fantastic animals. So instead of “walk until something interesting,” you get “walk until you solve.”

The best part for families is the photo system. Travelers use an instant camera (optional to rent) and then attach the photos directly to the Polaguide, turning it into a ready-to-keep souvenir album. The guide has 17 spaces for photos, so the tour has a built-in finish line.

Camera rental and format choices are part of the fun:

• You can choose 10 films or 20 films
• You can pick mini (46×62 mm) or square (62×62 mm) photo size

If you’re traveling with younger kids, I’d lean toward getting enough films (20) so you’re not constantly rationing photos. If you’re trying to keep it simple and fast, 10 films might be enough—but small delays can happen when kids want to retake shots.

Centro Storico Siena: What the Route Feels Like

Your tour starts in the Centro Storico area and meets at Peace&Road Siena, Via Fusari 20. Then you’re walking through the historic center and coming back to the same meeting point when you finish.

The itinerary is built around stages, so you’ll stop multiple times as you solve riddles and photograph the animals. That’s great for attention spans, but it also means this is not a sit-and-stare tour.

Bring good walking shoes. One key theme from real family experiences is that it can become a real walk, sometimes longer than expected, especially with younger children. Even if the tour is listed around 3 hours, it can easily run closer to a half day when you take your time, search carefully, or stop for lunch.

How the 17 Fantastic Animals Hunt Works, Step by Step

You’re effectively doing a multi-stop scavenger hunt. Each stage in the Polaguide gives you:

1) a reference point (a fountain position)

2) a riddle to interpret on-site

3) a spot to find and photograph one of the fantastic animals

From there, you snap a photo and place it into your Polaguide where there’s a dedicated space. Over time, that page-by-page build makes the tour feel like a mission you can complete.

One helpful detail: the Polaguide includes all the stages you need for the hunt, so you’re not guessing where to go next. That reduces decision fatigue for parents and keeps kids from drifting.

Practical reality to plan for: finishing all 17 may depend on your group’s pace. If you move quickly and your kids enjoy scanning for details, you can often get a lot done. If you’re slower with breaks, the tour can end with a handful still left to find—then you can do a bit more exploring on your own afterward.

Timing, Crowds, and Getting Around Without Stress

This tour is a clever way to structure sightseeing because it naturally spreads you out. Instead of aiming for a single “big highlight” and getting stuck in dense areas, you’re traveling between clue points, which tends to reduce the feeling of being trapped in crowds.

Still, it’s Siena’s historic center. Streets can be uneven, and the pace can be fast when everyone wants to solve the next clue. I’d plan to treat this as an activity that uses most of your energy for a morning or afternoon.

If you start with small kids, expect it to take longer than the listed time. It’s not a flaw—it’s the point. The camera, photo placement, and puzzle stops are built for slower, more playful travel.

Also, note that it requires good weather. If Siena is in a rainy stretch, you’ll want to watch forecasts and be ready to reschedule if needed.

Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who Might Prefer Something Else)

This is clearly aimed at families with kids, especially those who do better with hands-on tasks. The format works for a wide age range, from toddlers who like the camera moment to older kids who can help interpret riddles and navigate.

It also works well if you’ve been to Siena before and want a different lens. The Contrada angle can refresh your understanding of the city, even if you already know the big sights.

Who might not love it:

• If your group wants a classic, slow, commentary-heavy walking tour, this is more game than lecture.
• If your party has mobility constraints, you should consider that it involves walking around the historic center and can run longer than expected.
• If you’re strict about completing exactly all 17 without skipping, you’ll want a relaxed pace and enough time buffer.

If you’re flexible and want your kids to feel like the stars of the day, it’s a strong match.

Practical Tips Before You Go

A few things I’d do to make the experience smoother:

• Plan more time than you think. The listing says about 3 hours, but family pace can stretch it. Give yourself breathing room in the day.
• Choose films based on your style. 20 films helps if kids want multiple shots. 10 films can work if you’re calm about photo count.
• Pack for walking. Good shoes matter. You’ll be moving between stops and searching for animal clues around the city.
• Use the Polaguide actively. The tour runs on the riddles and fountain references. When you read the clue and act on it, the tour clicks.
• Keep weather in mind. The experience requires good weather, and poor weather can trigger a different date or a full refund.
• Language expectations. One thing to note is that you might not find materials in French, so if that matters for your planning, it’s worth checking in advance.

The good news: the whole system is designed to reduce guesswork for families. Once you start, you’re not constantly wondering what to do next.

Should You Book the 17 Fantastic Animals of Siena?

Book it if you’re traveling with children and want a Siena activity that keeps them actively involved. The instant-photo element and the 17-space Polaguide album setup make it feel like a real quest, not a forced lesson. It’s also great for families who want to see more of the Centro Storico without turning it into a stressful “tour must-do list.”

Skip it (or at least consider a different format) if you only have a tight time window or you prefer a traditional guided commentary style with minimal walking and no puzzle component. This experience asks you to move and play along.

If you do book it, give yourself half a day and treat the hunt like the point. That’s when it feels most rewarding: you leave Siena with photos, an album, and a mental map of Contrade and corners you might not have visited otherwise.

FAQ

How long is The 17 Fantastic Animals of Siena?

The tour is listed at about 3 hours.

What does it cost?

It costs $74.49 per group, up to 5 people.

Is it a private tour?

Yes, it’s private. Only your group participates.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Peace&Road Siena, Via Fusari 20, 53100 Siena SI, Italy, and ends back at the same meeting point.

Do I get a mobile ticket?

Yes. The tour uses a mobile ticket.

Do I need an instant camera?

You’ll be equipped with an instant camera as part of the experience, and you can rent it if you want. The option includes film choices.

What film and photo format options are available?

You can choose between 10 films or 20 films. You can also choose mini (46×62 mm) or square (62×62 mm) photo formats.

How many photos does the Polaguide have space for?

The guide has 17 spaces for photos.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Are service animals allowed?

Service animals are allowed.