My wife and I will be taking a bus from Florence to Siena. How early do we need to arrive to the Florence bus station in order to buy tickets for the time that we want (9:10 a.m.) and be assured of getting seats together?
I've read that it's recommended to buy the return tickets. Do I buy them in Florence or in Siena?
Finally, is there an English version of the bus timetable?
Thanks,
Craig
I have noticed that there are times where ticket counter in florence at the bus station is quite busy. Also there is one bus that makes fewer stops. If traveling on a Sunday note there are less buses running.
If you're in the neighborhood, such as arriving by train at Florence SMN station, then you might walk over to the bus station and buy tickets at that time for a day or two later, and get the lay of the land.
Great idea Laura. Yes, we do arrive in Florence via train from Salerno. Before we go to our hotel, we can walk over to the bus station. Maybe I can even buy my tickets in advance.
Thanks,
Craig
Craig,
My suggestion would be the same as Laura. Buy the tickets at least the day prior to travel, rather than on the day of travel. However, be sure to validate them prior to boarding the Bus on the day of travel.
One other minor point to mention is that you may want to check the schedules and use a Corse Rapide (Express) Bus, which makes fewer stops and will get you there a bit quicker.
You can also take the train. It does not drop you in the city center, but there is this crazy array of escalators that you get across the street in the mall, and then they continue on outside and take you up. Or you could take a taxi from the train station, but the escalators are free.
You don't need a timed ticket -- any ticket will do. You can buy tickets to and from Siena at a Tabak for example and then take the trip when you feel like it and the weather is good. Definitely have return tickets as there is no sales point at the bus stop on the edge of the historic quarter (at least the one we always used) There is a list of bus times; we always jotted down the second to last bus time as well as one or two others so we could return when we wished and not miss the last bus.
If you get on the bus at the bus station in Florence near SMN you are unlikely to not be able to get seats; we have also picked it up at Port Romana where the risk is greater, but we did get seats.
