Gelateria Dondoli is one of San Gimignano's most iconic culinary stops, transforming a simple gelato into a memorable Tuscan experience. It is located in the heart of Piazza della Cisterna, the award-winning gelateria is known for its rich, ultra-creamy textures, high-quality local ingredients, and inventive flavors created by master gelato maker Sergio Dondoli. While classics like pistachio and chocolate are exceptional, the shop is especially famous for creative combinations such as saffron and pine nut cream or pink grapefruit with sparkling wine. We tried Rosemary Baby (Raspberry and Tuscan rosemary) and safron and pine nut cream gelato. Nothing like we ever tasted...The atmosphere is lively and energetic, with long lines that reflect its international reputation. We waited in line about 30 minutes but was well worth it. Despite the long line and higher prices, Gelateria Dondoli remains a must-visit destination. Enjoying a cone beneath the medieval towers of San Gimignano turned the experience into more than dessert...it becomes part of the town's charm, and unique character. read more

Gelateria Dondoli - Gelato Near Me - San Gimignano, SI

Gelateria Dondoli is one of those places that gets a lot of hype, and it definitely draws a crowd in San Gimignano. When we visited, there was a line about 15 people deep out the door, but it moved reasonably quickly. They offer a wide range of unique flavors -- things like rosemary, lavender, and other creative combinations you don't usually see. It makes for a fun experience trying something different. All the flavors we tried were good, and overall the gelato was excellent. We've had some incredible gelato elsewhere in Italy, but this was still very enjoyable. Worth stopping in if you're in San Gimignano. Grab some and enjoy by the well in the center of the piazza. read more

Gelateria Dondoli - All fun and delicious flavors - Gelato Near Me - San Gimignano, SI

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We took a tour of Tuscany and San Gimignano was one of our stops. Our tour guide recommended this gelateria and it was so worth the long line (it moves fast!). I had a scoop of the saffron and pine nuts and a scoop of the thai mango that had black sesame seeds in it. Both flavors were absolutely incredible and I would highly recommend them! Note- the saffron flavor wasn't on the menu but I asked if they had it and they said yes!! read more

Gelateria Dondoli - Gelato Near Me - San Gimignano, SI

Who knew a gelateria on a mountain would be the world's best/ most famous gelateria? I had high expectations for the gelato here (especially after that long line), but it definitely didn't disappoint! Their signature flavor with saffron has a unique taste which is worth trying. I also got their pistachio and their flavor of the day (Thai mango). All three flavors wowed me. The gelato here is so creamy with great consistency. Highly highly recommended. I would do a road trip just for this! read more

Gelateria Dondoli - Gelato Near Me - San Gimignano, SI

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Fantastic! Just get their award winning "Crema di Santa Fina" flavor, and savor it. It's the best! An amazing blend of bourbon vanilla, pine nuts from Pisa, and saffron from San Gimignano. It even tastes expensive, and totally satisfies that sweet tooth. It's located in Piazza della Cisterna in San Gimignano. There are 2 gelaterias in this square. This is the more popular one. There will be a line, but fortunately it moves quickly. The service is very friendly, and the gelato affordable. A great way to cool off while walking around this medieval town in Tuscany. read more

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This is all over TikTok, and our tour guide highly recommended to try it, so we definitely had to. Lines get long, but it moved so fast. Definitely try the special flavors they are known for even though they had SO many to choose from. It was definitely the best creamiest gelato I had in Tuscany, so I'd say it's worth the hype. It's just a little tiny shop to grab your gelato and go explore outside. read more

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Awarded best ice cream spot in the world! I believe this is because of the selection of unusual flavors. Their SAFFRON flavor is most popular. It was indeed good, and an appropriate flavor for Tuscany where saffron is grown. I also enjoyed their RICOTTA CHEESE WITH WILD BERRIES flavor. I like that this flavor wasn't as sweet as normal flavors but had a slight cheese backbone. TIPS 1. Don't fret about the long line. It moves quickly and there is a reason there is a line. 2. Don't go to the wrong gelato place. There must be 5-6 gelateria shops between Johns gate and Dondoli. There is even one kiddy corner to Dondoli that claims they are world famous and had a line, just a bit smaller. Dondoli is in the open square just after public restrooms. read more

Gelateria Dondoli - Half the flavors. Saffron is the most popular. - Gelato Near Me - San Gimignano, SI

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The best gelato in the world located in the historic hilltop town of San Gimignano. Our tour guide told us it was the best in the world and I was skeptical but once I tasted it - I knew it was true. They have traditional and experimental flavors, like Saffron! Expect long lines, it is the best in the world after all, but the line moves very quickly. The general ambiance is excited and fun - everyone from patrons to staff are just thrilled and happy to be there. A must do in San Gimignano! read more

Gelateria Dondoli - Gelato Near Me - San Gimignano, SI

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Tourist trap with crazy long lines. The line goes very fast. The servers do a great job getting people in and out. They're helpful and friendly, letting people try samples before picking their flavors. The small offers two flavors. They have a wide variety of flavors. Surprisingly cheap considering it's a tourist trap. Cool tiny spot with photos of famous people who've been there. Right in the center of the piazza. Overall wasn't blown away. It wasn't any better than any other gelato I've had around Italy. Not sure what the hype is about. read more

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Gelateria Dondoli is known as the "world's best gelato," so I had to give it a try while in San Gimignano. I went with pistachio and hazelnut -- both were very good. However, the service felt rushed, and with the line moving quickly, I felt stressed trying to pick flavors. I ended up choosing ones I already knew I liked instead of taking my time to explore something new. It was extremely busy, which is expected for such a world-famous spot. While it was good gelato, I wouldn't say it was the best I've ever had. That said, if you're visiting San Gimignano, it's worth stopping by at least once to see what the hype is about. read more

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We had gelato every day for ten days in Italy and this was the best. I really want to like gelato but have never been that impressed with it on the whole. This place did a great job. Skip the rest and load up here! read more

This is a very touristy place, they are busy all the time. They have plenty of different gelatos flavors. The most interesting ones was Champelmo, Limone IGP, Curva fiesole, and Mango Thai. All of these flavors are unique and organic. They use the best supply from around the town. The first flavor y a combination of grapefruit and sparkling wine. The second is just their famous Italian lemons. The next one have ricotta cheese and blueberries. Yummy. The and the last one on my list has Mango, coconut, and sticky rice. All of their flavors are sweet but not overwhelming sweet which I loved. I personally don't like very sweet stuff. You get to the cashier counter and you order you gelato. I personally recommend the ricotta cheese with the blueberries. But if you want you can get one scoop from each flavor. :) This is a must for all tourists. Let me know which one you tried and what did you think about the flavor. Like I mention before very busy place, be patients with the workers as you may see that they get pretty busy. There is a plaza outside the place and people just stay there or seat around. The streets are very high angle so if you want to eat more than one I am pretty sure you would loose the calories on the way down. Highly recommend. I tried the Crema di Santa Fina. It had a very peculiar taste. My mom got the pistachio and it was super delicious. Thinking about it I recrear not getting another one. read more

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Food: No complaints about the gelato. I also like how they have so many flavors. Service: Line gets very long but it moves fast. Ambiance: The store is crazy busy and small inside like most gelato stores so most people get it to go. read more

One of a kind experience, who knew that the best Gelato in the world is located on a mountain top of a historic town San Gimignano! I never even heard this name before. A day tour bus took me here and I was all in to see new places and try new things. The Mango Thai was best of the best, and so the other flavors. Italy is the best at making Gelatos, because the ones in Florence as well, were the best. The line was huge to I had to pick very fast and walk around the Historic town for a bit while enjoying my Gelato. Absolutely best of best. read more

Average. Over-rated. Too many flavors and piles of so-called gelato in the open air containers with artificial coloring. Look for covered stainless steel containers with neutral colors. It is not customary to have so many flavors. Commercial , not artificial. Lines are long, chaotic inside and servers are impatient. When my Apple Pay didn't go through (but beeped as if it did), they were defensive and rude when I politely asked if I was double charged. San Gimignano runs on tourism so to be visibly annoyed by tourists seems hypocritical. No need to be rude when I was politely asking a legitimate question. There are two other gelato options in this village. Wish I had tried one of those instead. Sad. read more

My family was on a day trip with a stop in San Gimignano. Our tour guide recommended the award winning Gelateria Dondoli and specifically the Crema di Santa Fina flavor. It was 95+ degrees outside and I was staggering around the beautiful neighborhood. I saw the line for gelato and got on. Yes, it's a very long line. Yes, the shop itself is chaotic. Yet somehow the professional staff makes it all work. The gelato itself is worthy of the award it won. The Crema di Santa Fina features saffron and pine nuts and if you're in the know, it doesn't get much more decadent than that! Absolutely delicious! read more

Gelateria Dondoli - Beautiful gelato shop! - Gelato Near Me - San Gimignano, SI

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We were told this was the "World's best gelato" and the signs all over the entranceway support this. The line is long and intimidating and you do end up waiting in a pretty hot square, which is a bummer. Once you're inside there are a ton of workers and they're all super efficient-quite the business. Ultimately, the gelato was good. Without the hype I probably would've said it's a solid option but given that it was hyped so much with such a wait, I probably wouldn't have chosen to come out of my way again to go back. read more

genuinely the best gelato i've ever had in my life. i cannot get the champagne gelato off my mind. they won all of those awards for a reason! great service, great price. the best. read more

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Very good gelato! This is a very popular spot. The line was pretty long but it was worth waiting for. It was a little chaotic on the inside because we weren't sure who was next or who was currently being served. You kind of just have to jump in and tell them your order. They have some very tasty and unique flavor options. I went to several Gelaterias during my stay in Italy and this place was the most unique and best tasting gelato that I had. read more

Gelateria Dondoli - Gelato Near Me - San Gimignano, SI

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They advertise as the best in Italy and they might be! All the flavors we had of gelato and sober were excellent! read more

Hands down the best gelato I've ever had in my life. World champion is for real. I've always loved ice cream or gelato with alcohol in it. This place sure how to make them! I tried their Malaga flavor, which is a fortified sweet wine. All I can say is, holy amazing!! Can you say delicioso?! If you are visiting the charming town of San Gimignano, please come try this place. You are missing out if you don't! Seriously! read more

Gelateria Dondoli - Gelato Near Me - San Gimignano, SI

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Rated best gelato of 2024! Lots of amazing options in Italy and this one had cool flavors. Blueberry ricotta and vanilla was what we got. Line was long but went by quickly because the staff was efficient. Located right in the heart of historic town. read more

Gelateria Dondoli - Gelato Near Me - San Gimignano, SI

My friend and I were on a private Tuscany day trip and our driver took us to see San Gimignano. Our driver told us to stop by this gelato shop. I'm so glad he did because to date, this is by far the best gelato I've ever had in my life. It was so good, we went for seconds haha. You cannot go wrong with any flavors - some are so unique and I haven't seen anything like it anywhere else. There are lines even when its cold outside, but the staff is very efficient and lines move quick! read more

Gelateria Dondoli - Gelato Near Me - San Gimignano, SI

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This had to be the best place to get gelato in Italy! It's a long walk to this place but so worth it. Our tour guide recommended this place saying even if there's a long line make sure to wait... it will go fast. We lucked out, no line so our group walked right it. Popular place, lots of awards and celebrity photos on the wall. Tried a few flavors before setting on coffee... yum yum yum. A few places to sit outside but most people walk and enjoy. read more

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The gelato is indeed very good! One of the best you can find. But the experience of purchasing is horrible. Maybe the fame of this place didn't do it well. You have to get in line, decide the flavour and pay all under the heat, the attendant shouting at you and pressuring to do it quickly. This makes the experience really stressful. Maybe when the gelateria is empty things are different. The gelato is tasty, but the experience not. read more

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The line moved really fast and there is a very good reason why they won the Gelato world championship. It really was the best gelato we have eaten during our visit to Rome, Florence, and San Gimignano. read more

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I would say the best gelato we had in Italy. We heard that the lines are usually long but it goes by fast cause they work organized as a team. And sure enough before we knew it , it was our turn to order. So many delicious flavors to chose from. I really loved the strawberry gelato, tasted like real strawberries and not just flavoring and color. They use real fruits and quality ingredients. Employees are friendly and work really fast to love the line. We were in that are for three hours so and that line didn't go down for a minute. The whole town of San Gimignano is magical. Grab your gelato and walk around. So pretty. Overall a great decision to try this place out, I highly recommend it. read more

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This is THE spot to go for gelato if you're in Tuscany. We did a walking tour of Siena and San Gimignano and our guide made sure we had a stop here after lunch. Be sure to check out their featured flavors because they have some very unique ones in additional to the more original favorites like lemon, vanilla, Nutella, chocolate, strawberry, etc. They use organic locally sourced milk and also have some dairy free options. Be prepared to wait in line because this is well known as the best gelato in the area. Also scan the QR code to decide what you'd like before you make it up to the counter because they'll expect you to be ready to order. They offer cup or cone and I highly recommend the cones because they are made fresh and they're delicious. read more

Gelateria Dondoli - Gelato Near Me - San Gimignano, SI

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I agree with some other reviews that this place has more fame than it seems worthy of. They did have a multitude of flavors that make it hard to make a decision. But our group tried a good amount of different ones and none were special enough to deserve the title of Best gelato, in fact, we agreed that gelato we had in Rome and Pompeii from a little stand was better. On top of that, the service was not very friendly and was rushing to push us all through the line and out the door. read more

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Literally the best gelato in all of Italy! Award winning repeatedly. Definitely stop here if given the opportunity. read more

Gelateria Dondoli - Gelato - Gelato Near Me - San Gimignano, SI

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Best Gelato! We were expecting a long wait, we got lucky and only had to wait a few minutes. Everyone there was very nice, helpful and patient while we made our selection. read more

This gelateria makes BY FAR the best gelato I have ever tasted. I got the lemon and mango gelato together in a cone and the price was super reasonable (about 3 euros) and the portion was huge. There was a line out the door when we initially got there was but the line moved pretty quickly and we were to the front within 5-10 minutes. This gelato was so good that the next time I go to Italy I am going to plan around coming back here. The only negative about this place is that no gelato will ever be able to compare to how good this is now. Fun fact: I learned from a tour guide that when the Obama's were in town they hosted a party and had this gelateria provide the gelato and since then it is also Michelle Obama's favorite gelato spot. They even have a gelato flavor named after her! read more

Gelateria Dondoli - Sign to look for - Gelato Near Me - San Gimignano, SI

We came here on a day trip to San Gimignano and was not disappointed. While there are many gelato options in this town, this one is the one to go to. If the line is any indicator, I knew this place would be great! The line was long outside the shop and chaotic, but it did move pretty quickly. Many of the gelato shops tout their awards, including this one, but this is the real one. We got our gelato, which was well priced. I think they could charge more given the demand, but I digress. There is no place to sit inside, but have no fear, as it is located on one of the main squares and there are places to sit nearby outside. This could be a problem if it is hot out, which it was the day we were there. The selection of flavors was great and it tasted awesome! Very fresh! read more

We were part of a tour group in Tuscany and our guide brought us here and handed us vouchers good for a scoop. The lines were long but moved very fast. She told us they had won numerous awards, even though the gelateria down the street claimed they were better (nice local rivalry). We opted for more exotic flavors like pine nuts and pistachio and were not disappointed. Was it the best gelato we've ever had? Hard to say, but glad we stopped by. read more

All I can say is amazing. To meet the owner who mingles with those in line and shakes hands. The lines move very fast with about 5 workers behind the counter. I went caramel and it was amazing. Don't be fooled by the place across the street that advertises as being # 1 anyone can claim that. read more

Gelateria Dondoli - ENTRANCE - Gelato Near Me - San Gimignano, SI

Worth the long line. Go get some gelato and walk around the square. Eat calories, burn calories. Great choice on our visit here. read more

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There was a line when we went but it went by pretty fast. Lots of options and unique flavors so it was great to try different flavors. Highly recommend! read more

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Kind of touristy but good gelato with a large selection. The service was prompt and friendly. My husband really enjoyed the saffron flavor. read more

Gelateria Dondoli - Gelato Near Me - San Gimignano, SI

This gelateria has won twice the title of gelato world champion and they want you to know it. It's on their shop sign , on signage as you walk in the door and even on complimentary postcards you can mail to your friends . If you're on a tour your guide may even mention it. Unfortunately I would not have thought I was eating world champion gelato just by judging the flavor . There was a line and I was rushed without sampling the flavors I was interested in . All of these elements combined for an average experience.....perhaps the place is overhyped and my expectations were too high. Saffron is big in this area and their winning flavor is saffron. To me this flavor was just okay at Dondoli. Disappointed with Dondoli gelato in hand I stepped into the other gelato shop in the square and sampled their saffron gelato (they were so nice even despite I had the competitor's gelato in hand). This place had a better saffron gelato! And they also had a cheesecake flavor and several other tasty looking flavors Dondoli did not offer . There was also no line! Their sign said "world's best ice cream." Take a look at both and then decide but just don't buy into the hype like me. read more

Gelateria Dondoli - Gelato Near Me - San Gimignano, SI

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Best gelato in the world???? YES PLS!!!! Had to go here after hearing all the ravings and seeing the awards! Honest opinion: amazing but not best I've ever had! Still a must go since it has the award if you're in the area! Amazing variety of flavors and very unique! They are really quick so know what you want before you come in or you'll end up like me and with 2 flavors you didn't mean to get haha! Amazing gelato! I would've eaten more of these if I could! read more

Gelateria Dondoli - Gelato Near Me - San Gimignano, SI