Since there would be back-tracking if separate days were allocated for visiting both San Gimignano and Volterra, can someone see both towns in a single day ... when we don't have a car at our disposal? What transportation on a weekday would you recommend? Oh, I need to tell you we would be staying overnight in Siena, using this as our "hub" while visiting hill towns in the Tuscany area. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and recommendations!
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
This can be done from Siena. Seeing that there are no train stations in either San G. or Volterra, this will need to be done by local buses. First, take a look at THIS MAP First take bus from Siena via Tozzi to Poggibonsi (45 minutes). This can be done on a SITA bus. Then, I suggest going to San G. also on the SITA bus or on the Trainspa bus. Then, you will need to take the bus back to Poggibonsi. From Poggibonsi you take the bus to Volterra via a bus change at Colle val d'Elsa. When done, you reverse the bus route and go Volterra/Colle vald'Elsa/Poggibonsi and then Siena. Just make sure that you can get a bus back to Siena in the afternoon or evening. It's a lot on the buses but you will enjoy the visits.
Posted by
New York
47 posts
Hi Sam, We are doing the exact same daytrip from Siena. However, instead of taking a bus from San Gimignano to Volterra, we plan on walking through the countryside.. a bit far, but better than a bus... Elle
Posted by
auburn
17 posts
We did this a couple weeks ago WITH a car and found it exhausting. Perhaps, it was the july heat but we felt both cities were deserving of more time.
Posted by
Boulder, CO, USA
719 posts
Your proposed itinerary will put you in both towns at the time with all of the tour busses. They will be overwhelmed, and you may be too. Early and late are the best times to visit either town, but bus travel makes this difficult, so I would encourage an overnight if your plans permit it. Both town are magical after the hordes hop back on the busses and the locals reemerge.
Posted by
Calgary
2297 posts
According to google maps it's about a 5 hour hike from San Gimignano to Volterra. Doable if it's not in the summer heat. Not doable if this is still part of a one-day trip coming from Siena with the intend to see some of both towns ....
Posted by
Lake Forest, CA, USA
1633 posts
As previous posters mentioned, driving, yet alone a bus will be an exhausting day for both towns from Siena. If you have to choose between the two, I would pick Volterra. And walking between the two. That was a joke, right?
Posted by
OP
Redmond, WA
3 posts
I've received some really helpful replies to my original post. You have convinced me that to try to see both San Gimignano and Volterra in a single idea is not a wise plan, especially by bus. So, we will take one day each, from our "hub" of Siena. I'm thinking that by working with helpful people at the hotel we are staying at that maybe there will be mini-bus or mini-van private day tours available from Siena that we could latch onto, that would go to the two hill towns of special interest to us. This would avoid wasted time otherwise in trying to get around by bus, with multiple changes of buses.