There will be 4 of us arriving in Rome on a Sunday in October and returning from Rome 14 days later. We will be depending solely on public transport & my itinerary is 4 nights in Rome, 2 nights in Assisi, 4 nights in Siena and 3 nights in Cinque Terre. In that order. I'm thinking train to Assisi, bus to Siena, train to Cinque Terre and then train back to Rome. No experience at all with public transport in Europe apart from flying and organised tours. Is this the most efficient order or would some other order be better! Our traveling companions are elderly( but fit and well) so maybe I should leave out the Cinque Terre- does anyone have a suggestion on another seaside/amazing cliffs/ scenery I could substitute that would limit travel time.
Posted by
Seattle, Wa, USA
663 posts
Rent a car near Siena for a couple days to see the Tuscan countryside, then drop the car in La Spezia before taking the local train to Cinque Terre. You could even rent the car near Assissi.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16234 posts
Not sure about the bus options from Assisi to Siena. You probably need to go to Perugia to catch one. You can take a train to Siena via Chiusi. If you stay in Siena city center don't have a car, because it's all ZTL (restricted traffic zone). But 4 days in Siena alone are too many. One full day is enough. You should use the rest to visit Tuscan hill towns by car. If you rent a car from Assisi and drive to Siena, find a hotel or farmhouse outside of Siena or at least outside the city center (outside city walls). the rental cars near Assisi are at the Perugia airport, about 10 min from Assisi.