Luggage on public intertown bus in Tuscany

Posted by zhuen08 on 10/13/21 07:58 PM

Hi all,
I'm planning to travel from Siena to Orvieto by public transport (to have a taste of Val D'Orcia, rather than going back to Florence for the onward train to Orvieto and then Rome).
This looks to me like the following route:
Siena-Buonconvento: train
Buconvento-Pienza: bus
Pienza-Montepulciano-Chiusi: bus
Chiusi-Orvieto: train

Wish to ask if taking luggage on the public bus in these areas is likely to be a problem?
And whether people think it would be safer (both on the bus and in the cities), in terms of guarding against pickpockets, to use a backpack vs. a hard suitcase?

Thanks for your advice!

Posted by jmauldinuu

New Orleans

10/13/21 08:10 PM

1206 posts

When I've taken the public bus in Tuscany (Florence/Siena/Florence and during part of a trip Florence/Volterra/Florence), the bus driver would open the bottom, luggage storage area of the bus at each stop and travelers would put their own luggage into the luggage area, and then retrieve it at their stop. No one seemed worried about doing so, but I still got off the bus at a midway stop enroute to Volterra, just to make sure that no one else "retrieved" my small rolling bag. There was no room for luggage in the passenger area of the bus, except for day bags, big purses, small day-backpacks, etc., that could fit under the seat or in the very shallow overhead storage space.

Posted by Dario

Italy

10/13/21 08:23 PM

3812 posts

Since standing is forbidden and the stops are far away on extra-urban buses, a pickpocket would have no way to reach your pockets unnoticed in the crowd and no way to quickly get off the bus.

While riding city buses and trams, Keep your backpack on your belly in crowded places. This way pickpockets won't be able to reach it.

A hard suitcase has no pockets to unzip, so it would be safer. Unfortunately going around with an hard suitcase would be as cumbersome in Tuscany as it is in your hometown.

just to make sure that no one else "retrieved" my small rolling bag.

I can almost hear the spicy comments with the Tuscan accent...

Posted by Jean

Idaho, USA

10/13/21 10:07 PM

7283 posts

I’ve been on this bus route: Pienza-Montepulciano-Chiusi. I had a small daypack with me and placed my carry-on suitcase (soft sided w/ wheels) in the storage under the bus. Just sit on the right side of the bus if you want to double-check out the window that no one mistakenly took your suitcase.

One thing to keep in mind: be sure to validate your bus ticket when you board, and keep your ticket handy. We had some inspectors board our bus briefly in between the towns, and they wanted to see everyone’s validated ticket. I fumbled a bit trying to remember where I stashed it - purse pocket or daypack front pocket.

And a bonus hint: be sure to have some gelato at Buon Gusto in Pienza! Friendly owner and fantastic gelato. He has orange chairs out front.