Sienna - 2 nights & Florence 2 nights - or all Florence with day trips?

I think both places deserve a couple of nights. 2 nights in Florence gives you enough time to see the major sights + some extras, if that is what you are concerned about.

Hi Laura,
these are both wonderful places but even if I was born in Siena and I'm "pure sienise", I must say that Florence takes a little bit more time to be visited.
Usually a normal visit of Siena takes the whole day but it is up to you to decide the kind of visit you want to do: are you visiting museums, pinacotaeca and most interesting entrances? Or may be are going to lose yourself in the net of small streets and alleys in town just curious of the way of living of the local people? Well if so, a 2 days visit is worth
Or you just prefer to see the highlights and most interesting spots? a full day visit is OK.
Remember taht there are busses running very often from and to Florence (1 hour) so may be you can take an early bus in the morning from FLR and get to siena around 9.00. The last bus for the way back is at 8.45 pm from siena.
If you do not like to move all your stuff and luggages once more you can also think of going up and down from Siena to Florence for 2 days instead of changing your hotel in Florence.It could be even easier instead of coming to Siena with bags find the hotel, check in and so and so...
AH! Remember that in Siena till 10th july the renaissance expo is on and if you want to enter the Duomo you must pay the whole ticket that is valid for the exibition, the Duomo, and Museums
Give a look to the english version of WWW.RINASCIMENTOSIENA.IT
cIAO!!
Serena

I agree with Serena. Also, staying in Florence gives you the option on the spot to go back to Siena for a second day or stay in Florence, after you've seen them both. The hour travel time isn't much more (or maybe less) than the time you'd spend packing up and checking out, or checking in and unpacking.

scott has it right. florence may be my favorite city in europe, but siena at night after all the day trippers have left. majestic. you can get florence done in two days and two nights and have a riot. but two days and two nights in siena will be incredible. much smaller, beautiful campo, awesome cathedral, super food, and lovely after dark. day trips don't show the real siena, they are the problem with siena. like day trips to toledo, spain. who doesn't think toledo is better after dark? have fun be safe.

I amgoing to stay in Florence and to enjoy the night in Siena, I will take the bus in and take the last bus out around 10 pm

Thanks everyone... still torn here. We've booked 2 nights in each. But I love to just settle in somewhere, also.

another vote for 4 nites in one place. The more I've traveled, the happier I found myself with my stuff settled into one place for a few nites and me off in the morning carrying just what I need for the day instead of everything I brought to Europe. And even though the 2 towns aren't that far apart, when you walk thru all the steps of packing up & checking out, carrying everything to the new place (which won't have your room ready until 3pm), then unpacking it once you get in -- its a couple of hours you could have spent doing the things you went to Italy for. Florence is a big train hub and you can do lots of day trips from there (or by bus if you're more adventurous); in fact there is a book I recommend called "Daytrips Italy" by Steinbicker for just this purpose.

I think the problem is we want to stay in both of the hotels we have chosen, Residenza il Villino in Florence and the Alma Domus in Siena.

However, the practical side of me is starting to take over. I may let availability at each make our decision. We have two nights at each booked but not sure if the other nights are available.