Siena Questions (travel and tours)

The bus from Siena to Rome is the quickest way (2 hours 40 minutes) depending on what time; you can catch by the old town or the train station which is below the old town.
https://www.flixbus.com/bus-routes/bus-rome-siena

The bus from Florence is faster and goes to the Piazza Antonio Gramsci, which is fairly central. I took the train, and discovered that across the way there is a series of escalators that take you up into town. Less daunting than I expected. There is an extensive bus network, so you could visit neighboring towns without relying on a tour.

Thank you Both.

I just looking on Flixbus and it looks like they do not go from florence to sienna on the weekend. The way our trip is scheduled our plan is to go to Siena on Saturday. Looks like the train might be our only option!

FYI there is another long established operator other than Flixbus on the route from Florence to Siena. I used them to go to San Gimignano last summer. https://www.sitabus.it/en/florence-siena-bus/

It runs on Saturday
https://www.sitabus.it/tiemme_131r_r-firenze-siena_rapida_dal110616/

Hello kncrotty. Lucky you. We love Siena!! We took the train to Siena fall 2019. The station is a bit away, but there are taxis. However, there were so many people wanting taxis that we had to wait awhile. Make sure you get in line quickly. We took a wine tour booked through Viator. According to my email confirmation: tour operator Tuscan Escapes by Papilio Tours +393890487652. It was fun, and we bought a case of delicious wine that we had shipped home. I thought the tour was pretty expensive for what it was, but they all are. Ours was called " small-group Brunello di Montalcino wine tasting trip from Siena. We stayed at a cute b&b right outside the entry arch. I thought the train was very easy.

No experience with but Tours by Roberto is based on Siena and recommended by RS
www.toursbyroberto.com

And yes to Sita bus

Getting into town from the train station is pretty straightforward - grab a taxi to your accommodation for about 12 Euro. It's a bargain, especially when you're encumbered with luggage.

We are doing the same in early/mid May (leave Florence on the 8th for 3 nights in Siena then on to Rome). I opted to take the train since we have a pass. I will try to remember to come post about our experience, unless you are there ahead of us? Or same time, lol.

We booked a wine tasting and lunch at La Lastra Winery a short cab ride outside of Siena proper. It has good reviews and was easily booked online. We are doing a day trip via train to Montepulciano and doing wine tasting there as well. And also taking the train to Rome (that was odd to book, as in order to get the high speed train we have to go back to Florence, change trains, and then the high speed to Rome Termini). We could have planned the bus for all of these trips, but we have a train pass, my husband prefers being able to move around a bit for circulation so he can visit the bar car, and also having continuous access to a restroom while enroute (no idea what is available on the bus), and for me it was just easier to stick with one form of transport for this trip (which includes Paris, Brussels, and several Italian cities).

@ecetera
Tell me more about this Train pass? I am unfamiliar and wondering if it is something my husband and I should get as we will be training most of the trip!

Thank you for the recommendation-- we plan to go to Siena on May 7th only until the 9th which is know making me feel like its too short! AH tough decisions to make!

Thank you everyone else on the bus info and tour suggestions!

It is just a Eurail pass, which I think would have been better to have not gotten, but oh well. I got it pretty far in advance, and once the train schedules came out I felt it would have been more cost effective to not have gotten it. But since I have it, I’m going to use it.

And I hear you about time limitations — I would happily double our time just about everywhere, but that would double a lot of costs too and sadly, we have yet to win the lottery. We are just trying to balance our time with some reservations, some free/down time, and realistic goals for how much we can see. We are also starting to take daily walks and adjust our sleep schedules now, to help minimize jet lag, and increase our ability to really be up for the first several days in Paris.

OP
The Eurail pass is rarely useful or cost effective for a short 1 country trip. ( from you other post looks like you are there for just 2 weeks)
If you are only going to Italy and taking a few trains just get your tix from

www.trenitalia.com ( fast trains and regional)
OR
www.italotreno.it ( limited lines, fast train only)

Both have easy to use apps

The train from Florence to Siena is a regional train, only a few euros and does not need to be purchased in advance

www.maninseat61.com has all the info you’ll need on train travel

Also here:
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/italy-rail-passes

We stayed in Siena for three weeks in 2017. We day tripped to Florence on two days very easily on the bus. The bus station in Florence is right next to the train station. We also took the bus to Rome, which was easy. The bus station was an easy walk from our apartment in Siena.

Op, In fall 2019 we traveled around Italy for 4.5 weeks, by train. We priced out tickets and compared with pass, and found the pass not worth it. We bought a few trips in advance, but had no problems getting tickets at the station for impromptu day trips.

Thank you all for the train/bus info!

Tours by Roberto does small group wine tours to different areas of Tuscany from Sienna and is recommended by Rick Steves.

We took the bus to Siena from Florence and back. It was very easy.

When you're in Siena, make SURE you go inside the cathedral. I've been all over the world, and the inside of that cathedral- the floor, the walls, the ceiling, the architecture, the works of art- is one of the top-10 things I have ever seen. It is absolutely drenched in some of the greatest art works ever.

Yesterday we took the direct bus from Florence to Siena and return. It was the “rapida” bus, which goes direct with no other stops, to plaza near San Domenica. We had quite an adventure tryingvto buy tickets. No ticket sales at the actual bus station. No staff to provide info. A bus driver tried to explain. Tickets had to be purchased at some building a few minutes away (I didn’t go, granddaughter ran to get them for us and for another traveler). Bus almost left with me on board but without 2 others in party. So, everyone says it’s easier and quicker, but I guess we should have bought tickets ahead of time

Strongly agree with seeing the inside of the Cathedral - including the Piccolomini Library. So beautiful. Also, in the event you find yourself interested in the Palio tradition and the contradas, you could visit a Contrada museum, of which there are several. I stumbled upon the museum of the Onda Contrada, and learned a lot from my visit. I loved Siena a lot. For a day trip, I took the bus to Monteriggioni, which was delightful.