We're staying in Florence (3 nights), Sienna (two), Assisi (1) and Orvieto (1) and want to take buses between them to sightsee, maybe stopping for a few hours in towns in between. From Florence, a stop in San Gimignano then onto Sienna seems easy enough. But from Sienna to Assisi, with a stop perhaps in Montepulciano, seems more complicated. And from Assisi to Orvieto schedules seem more limited. I guess we might have to take the train via Chiusi. If anyone has tried something similar, we'd appreciate your advice. Thanks a bunch.
Posted by
US Pacific Northwest
10344 posts
Here's a couple of websites with Tuscany bus schedules/info
Not a lot out there on the web on using buses in Tuscany, between some towns it's tough.
Don't count on regular bus service on Sundays or Italian holidays.
Here's something else on tryiing to do Tuscany hilltowns without a car
http://www.chianti.info/chianti_without_car.htm
Many/most travelers reporting in here find that Tuscany is one of the (few) places in Italy where having a rental car really helps you to do and see more things, and faster.
With buses in Tuscany bring plenty of time and patience (that does not apply to regular bus such as Florence to Siena). And don't plan on covering a lot of ground on Sundays using buses in Tuscany.
Posted by
OP
los angeles, california, usa
77 posts
Thanks, Kent. Very helpful info. It looks like we could take a few milk run buses here and there but will probably wind up getting to Orvieto by train for the last leg.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA
7737 posts
If your topic had been "Help if you've boozed it through Tuscany" you might get some more interesting responses. :-)
Posted by
OP
los angeles, california, usa
77 posts
Well, Michael, that's why we're busing it instead of driving.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15788 posts
It's not so easy to do. For instance, there is a direct bus from Florence to Sienna, but if you want to go to San Gimignano, you take the Sienna bus part way, then take a bus run by a different company (there are THREE in Tuscany) for the relatively short trip to San Gimi. The schedules don't seem to be coordinated and the bus stops are not in the same place. (which is why I didn't get to San Gimi when I was in Florence, sigh).