I would like to spend 3-4 nights in Siena. We would like to explore Tuscany the best we can without a car. I know it isn't ideal. Are there bus tours offered from Siena and return to Siena? Or do we have to go to Florence to find a tour bus and take public transportation back to Siena our home base?
Yep, sometimes even the hotel can hook you up with excursions like these from Siena:
https://www.viator.com/Siena/d944-ttd
I am sure there is a tourist information center by the train station in Siena that sell tours of the region
Thank you! I did not thoroughly scan the forum.
That is something you can Google or ask Alexa.
I spent several days in Siena in 2013 and took day trips to Arezzo and San Gimignano by bus from Siena's convenient bus station. I didn't go on tours and ventured to both towns on my own.
If you go to San Gimignano, I recommend you visit its vernacchia "museum." Vernacchia is the white wine native to the region. There, you can sample various vernacchias (for a fee per glass) and learn about the wine while sitting outside and looking out over the beautiful vineyards.
Sam, it's vernaccia. Vernacchia reminds something that deserves a museum (at least in Naples), but that you would never drink.
Also try Tours by Locals ----- /www.toursbylocals.com
We did this in Emilia Romagna and a very nice guy drove us around in his own car to cheese factories, etc. He even, as a bonus, took us to visit his wife's school because I used to be a teacher.
Have you looked into possibilities with Tours By Roberto? My husband and I toured the Tuscan hillside with this Rick Steve's recommended group in October. It was great. Check our the web site: http://www.toursbyroberto.com/