Florence vs. Siena

Siena is loaded with foreign students, so the nightlife reflects that. However, it's not as big as Florence, as you know.

I agree, Siena is a wonderful home base for several great hill towns and the duomo is not to be missed, either. It will offer a good amount of nice restaurants and nice piazzas and, of course, Il Campo at night. That said, it is definitely smaller.

ok ....I guess I need to figure out my day trips. I do enjoy nightlife but not the type that involves being with a younger crowd...been there and done it years ago. I just want the best of both worlds...wineries in the day and great eateries at night...in walking distance! Is it a drag to bus into Sienna for the winery tours? I am looking into private tours and/or small group tours...no more than 6-8 people...including myself and partner.

From Siena, you can tour with Roberto http://www.toursbyroberto.com. 8 people in the van so very small group. You decide the date and join another group, or if you are first, you decide the tour and others join your itinerary. He picks you up at your lodging. It is high energy, educational, and fun! In October we skipped Florence (sacrilege!) in favor of Siena and other Tuscan locations. (I did Florence a hundred years ago in college.) Saw lots of art/churches/museums in Venice, Siena and Rome this trip, so museums of Florence did not appeal. We used Siena as a way to see some of the rest of Tuscany.

Siena is a wonderful home base for any trip, especially one looking to visit the Tuscan hill towns in the area. You can take wine trips to Chianti (Gaiole, Monteriggioni..), or head out to Volterra, Arezzo, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, Montalcino... so many choices! And what's great, none of them will disappoint you! Do remember that Florence and Siena are about an hour or so drive apart (and if you don't know the way, it can take longer!). Are you driving? Siena has great nightlife, but it depends on what you're looking for. There are many wine bars and beer halls for the student population that are open late. The western-style dance clubs that you can find more than a few of in Florence are less of the norm in Siena. Planning this type of trip you may need some guidance in what to book (hotels, cars, guides, wine tastings, etc...), so asking questions or having a look at one of these sites: Walks of Italy or facebook.com/WalkingTours can perhaps steer you in the right direction. Hope that helps!

Thanks Laurel,
I am looking into Tours Around Tuscany with Gianni. The tour is private and can originate from my hotel in Florence or I can bus into Sienna. I decided on the hotel I booked in Florence because I think the nightlife in Sienna is not for me...so I am hoping to plan 2 day trips to the Chianti region and possibly Montepulciano...I appreciate your response.

I, too, am deciding between Florence and Siena as a base for 3 nights. Are hotels less expensive in one vs. the other? If we choose to stay in Siena, can we take bus to Florence for a day trip? Can we take buses to other towns for day trips or would the private tours be better? We are not nighttime partiers! Instead would enjoy walking, relaxing, eating and observing.

When we looked, we were able to find adequate places in both towns for roughly the same prices. I think in the end, Siena may be cheaper by a bit (food, etc too), but not significantly. Bussing between Siena and Florence is very easy, to get to a lot of the hill towns, the bus departs from the train station, which if you don't have luggage is a breezy 5 minute city bus ride from where you will likely be. The problem you will have with bussing to the cities (vs a tour) is that you will really only have that town for the day. A tour can take you to several towns and to an actual winery. Florence is beautiful at night from atop the hill at Piazzala Michaelangelo, Siena has the Campo at night. It's a wash, really, though Siena will be easier to bus to the hill towns.