Siena to multipiciano

A rental car would be the best option because it will give you flexibility and the ability to see several nice towns in the area like Pienza, Buonconvento, Montalcino, San Quirico D'Orcia.
The only other option is taking a bus. Buses to those small towns are not very frequent and very very scant on Sunday. If you go by bus go on a weekday as buses are for commuter needs not so much for tourists. Google 'Siena Mobilita' for the bus network website in the area. Then select 'linee extraurbane'

I've driven it a number of times. It's a nice easy drive. Get on the road heading east and it runs right into Montipulciano. You need a car to fully appreciate the beauty of Tuscany.

I was just looking into doing a day trip to Montepulciano from Siena by bus for our trip in November. The schedule changes on 9/15/2015, and the earliest bus will leave Siena at 13:10, arriving Montepulciano at 14:45. Looks to me like a day trip won't work, so now we need to decide whether to overnight there, or day trip to somewhere else.

Meredith,
Look at a train to Chiusi then bus to Montepulciano.

just returned and highly recommend renting a car. it's an easy and beautiful drive. we drove around montalcino and montepulciano and it was beautiful! we also drove around radda in chianti and cortona. as with most of these towns, you park just outside in the easily identifiable parking areas and then walk around town, leaving any possible parking in town to the locals. it is, in my opinion, the only way to truly appreciate the tuscany countryside and gives you the freedom to spend your day as you please and not be on a schedule.

I'm interested in renting a car to tour around the hill towns. Does anyone have a suggestion as to whether Orvieto or Chiusi would be better to get off the train from Rome and rent a car?
Thanks, Fred

Fred,
I would use Hertz at Chiusi. There have been problems reported at the Orvieto office and Autoeurope has dropped them as a location.

I agree with Henry, Chiusi is so convenient. Right across the street from the train station. And the people there are really nice. Just make sure they know when you are arriving so they will have a car waiting for you.

Chiusi is closer to Montepulciano. Use the consolidator www.autoeurope.com or www.kemwel.com for best pricing.
Besides Hertz, also Europcar and Avis have offices in Chiusi. Choose the best deal.

We ran into the same thing in 2013. The bus schedule in the summer would have worked for a day trip but not in September. The RS guidebook was not clear on this point. We went by bus to San Gimigano instead and it was delightful in spite of the dire warnings about the crowds. Would have been a shame to miss it.