Struggling to find best options for public transportation from Siena to Rome.
Specifics: dropping off rental car @ Europcar in Siena and headed to Hotel Spendide Royals in Rome. Train? Bus? Rome2Rio recommends Flixbus (but reviews elsewhere are not positive). Trains are either pricey, slow, or go back to Florence first.
Not thrilled about paying a drop fee for the car and do not really want to drive in Rome but wondering if that might be the best option.
Suggestions?
Train probably best and it does mean change in Florence
Regional then a fast train
Are you looking on the actual Trenitalia website?
https://www.trenitalia.com/content/tcom/en.html
Must you drop in Siena?
Chiusi usually works well
Agree with Christine, drop car in Siena, take train to Chiusi-Chiancanio terme 1:23 minutes the on to Rome.
Oh Gerri
That’s brilliant
I meant for OP to drive to Chiusi to drop the car then train to Rome but I like your solution
Depending on where you are staying in Rome, I'd either take the bus to Roma Tiburtina or the train to Roma Termini. The train Via Chiusi if it's faster than via Florence, but note that a transfer in Florence takes 10 minutes and it's is easier than a transfer in any airport.
There so many discounted fares and coupon codes that I'm a little surprised you think both Italotreno and Trenitalia to be pricey.
You could also drop the car in Rome's suburbs and take a cab to the city center.
Given the number of passengers that ride Flixbus buses every day, you could just ignore the reviews and take the risk of having some interesting story to tell home.
FWIW we have never had any issues on FLIX bus. They were quite reliable. Just be sure when booking tickets to pay for an assigned/reserved seat.
Save the location below on your Google maps. This is the Europcar garage where you can return your car. It’s on via Sardegna in Rome. I was there last month. It’s not near the ZTL (restricted traffic zone. Very easy to reach from the Rome Nord exit on the A1 freeway. Your Rome hotel is 5 minutes walk from this garage,. No drop off fee charges. www.AutoEurope.com (which I used to rent the vehicle) told me there would be a €15 one way rental fee charge to be paid to the rental agency. I was not charged anything, like I was never charged any drop off fee in previous years by Europcar.
https://goo.gl/maps/2EtKSjSw15PoYqvC8
Why add stress to your life? Drive the 2.5 hours to Rome and return the car there. Easy peasy.
I am 100% looking for options that are less stressful and simplify our trip!
Does this look like the correct Europcar location in Rome?
Mary,
If you do decide to travel to Rome using public transport, my suggestion would be to use the train. I've found that the buses are not exactly "roomy" so travel by train is usually more comfortable.
Thank you so much for all of those sharing their help!
I also just found this option on RailEurope. Is it another option that would make sense? Not sure if Rome Tiburtina is the train station closest to our hotel (how far, how to get to hotel).
Bus journey: Sections of this journey involve a bus.
Second, Semi-Flexible
$37.60
1 Regionale Bus #FI205
Regionale Bus
09:45 Siena
Mon 10 Oct
11:25 Chiusi-Chianciano Terme
1 hour, 36 minutes interchange
2 Regionale Veloce #4103
Regionale Veloce
13:01 Chiusi-Chianciano Terme
14:30 Rome Tiburtina
Siena to Rome
10 Oct 09:45
Second Class - Semi-Flexible $37.60
Price for 2 seniors
Total $37.60
A $7.95 booking fee will be added at checkout
It looks like Rail Europe is not a reputable company.
Not sure if Rome Tiburtina is the train station closest to our hotel (how far, how to get to hotel).
It doesn't matter, train RV4103 calls at Termini after Tiburtina.
Total $37.60 A $7.95 booking fee will be added at checkout
It looks like Rail Europe is not a reputable company.
I bet it isn't. The real price is E 18.10 per person, with no "booking fee" at checkout. A fee for what?
More, on the official Trenitalia site there is a better option that costs only 0.70 E more.
You could depart at the same time by bus from Siena, take an InterCity with reserved seats from Chiusi to Rome, arrive at 13:27 instead of 14:30... paying E 18.80 per person!
How do you book combo transportation with bus from Siena and train from Chiusi? Two separate websites/companies?
I saw this on Italo for October 10 travel (the date we need). It is a little more expensive but not a big deal. Do you see any problem with the tickets below if I can't make the attractive option suggested (us from Siena, take an InterCity with reserved seats from Chiusi to Rome, arrive at 13:27 instead of 14:30... paying E 18.80 per person!)
Outbound
€49.40
Cheapest
2 Seniors
Siena
3h 31m
1 change
12:19
Roma Termini
RE 18278
10:14
Firenze Santa Maria Novella
29m transfer time
10:43
Firenze Santa Maria Novella
€29.80
1h 36m
Italo 9919
WiFi
Electrical socket
12:19
Roma Termini
Flexibility and ticket conditions
Lowest Price
€49.40
Semi-flexible
€7.00
Flexible
€62.00
2 x Seniors
Ordinaria with reservation, eXtra
View exchange and refund conditions
Siena to Firenze Santa Maria Novella
Ordinaria with reservation
Ticket may be exchangeable and/or refundable depending on regional regulations. Ticket valid only for the date and time selected. Check https://www.trenitalia.com/it/informazioni/condizioni_generaliditrasporto.html for details.
Firenze Santa Maria Novella to Roma Termini
eXtra
Non-exchangeable and non-refundable.
Comfort options
Siena to Firenze Santa Maria Novella
2nd class
Standard seat.
Firenze Santa Maria Novella to Roma Termini
Smart
Available on Italo 9919. Includes standard leather reclining seats.
Just search for and purchase the 2 segments separately
1- Siena to Chiusi
2- Chiusi to Rome
What site? I am not finding much on October 20, 2022
The official site
https://www.trenitalia.com/content/tcom/en.html
Mary, on the Trenitalia site purchase Siena to Chiusi-chianciano terme. €8,90
12:15
1h 21min
13:36
Siena
Chiusi-Chianciano Terme
Details
CLOSE
Regionale 19075
You will have 13 minutes to change trains
Then a separate ticket from Chiusi- Roma Termini
€ 9,90.
Intercity 584
SEE SERVICES
13:49
1H 46m
Chiusi-Chianciano Terme
15:35
Roma Termini.
Mary,
The solution suggestion in the previous reply is a good one, and is the least expensive and simplest option. You can either buy the tickets in advance online, or buy them in person at the station. If you buy the tickets in person at the station, they will have to be validated for the first Regionale train before boarding the train on the day of travel. Don't forget as there are hefty fines for unvalidated tickets!
If you use the solution suggested above, the second train is an Intercity and tickets for those don't have to be validated. However a seat reservation is compulsory and that will be provided with the ticket. The ticket will specify your coach and seat numbers. The ticket is valid only for the train specified on the ticket.
You can buy the tickets in advance from Trenitalia or firms such as Trainline. Advance purchase Regionale tickets do not have to be validated.
That's a very easy trip and to take by train and one change is very simple.
I wouldn't bother with Rail Europe as there are better solutions.
Regarding your question on the hotel location and Europcar drop off. Yes the address is correct. Your hotel is less than 5 min walk from the Europcar garage on via Sardegna.
If you decide to return the car elsewhere, the easiest solution is to drive from Siena to Chiusi (all freeway (partially toll freeway), return the car, walk to the station, take a regional train to Rome. Your hotel is relatively close to the Termini station. From there you can take a taxi, I’m sure it will be less than 10€.
Unfortunately it looks like the suggested train from Chiusi to Rome is sold out on October 10 and we would rather not arrive in Rome a lot later. (We have been in Rome twice and are just returning for a brief 2 night stay before going on to Sorrento. We have booked and Scavi tour on October 11 and may book a golf cart tour or otherwise just explore on our own again). Since we will be in Florence for 5 nights and then Siena for 4 nights, we would be OK if we left Siena a day earlier on October 9 but it would mean switching hotels in Rome since our hotel was booked with Hyatt points and not bookable for the 9th. Or--we could leave Siena on the 9th, spend a night in Orvieto, and go on to Rome on the 10th. Or maybe we need to extend our car rental for drop off in Rome as previously discussed and offering more flexibility. Thoughts?
Question--am I correct that even though we are both seniors, the senior discount on Italian trains does not apply to us since we are from the U.S.?
The SuperEconomy tickets are often cheaper than the discounted tickets for seniors, but if you really want Trenitalia's fidelity card for seniors you can ask for one by email.
It seems quite strange that train is sold out only after October 10 and up to the 16, then it disappears from the schedules. It's not sold out tomorrow, not on August 14 but on an odd week in October? If I were you I'd wait for September 11 and check out again the site, it sounds like they are making engineering works on the line and they have blocked the whole week "just in case".
You have been told to make two separate transactions on trenitalia.com first the bus/train to Chiusi then the train to Rome; nothing wrong with it, if you want more time to transfer. Otherwise I'd rather get a through ticket in a single purchase, to have a protected connection.
Is there any lounge access on Trenatalia travel if you book first class rather than second? The other "perks" don't seem very important to us.
Mary,
"Is there any lounge access on Trenatalia travel if you book first class rather than second?"
Not that I've ever seen. The first train you'll be taking is a Regionale so there is only one class on those.
I'm somewhat puzzled that the train from Chiusi to Rome is sold out for October 10? Try this website - https://www.italiarail.com/?utm_term=italiarail%20com&utm_campaign=Brand-CA&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgIHOkLW7-QIVAhmtBh0xYwYrEAAYASAAEgJjn_D_BwE
You could also try the Trainline website mentioned earlier.
I see this on Italia Rail. Is there any problem with this option? $43 for 2 people
Regional · 19115
08:10Siena
1h 38m
09:48 Grosseto
Frecciabianca · 8605
10:24 Grosseto
1h 39m
12:03 Roma Termini
Is there a particular reason you keep on using resellers' sites? You are paying a 2 Euro fee, the real price is 20.30 Euro per person. Not a big difference, I know.
You are spending 36 minutes in Grosseto, but I assume that's ok for you. If you have red and understood the T&C of the Frecciabianca SUPER ECONOMY tickets, click buy.
It's one thing less to think about before the departure.
You could buy same tix on the actual Trenitalia site
Search and purchase the 2 legs separately
What time does car rental agency open?
I am the first to admit that I am not savvy about figuring out the train tickets in Italy (despite reading message boards, RS books, and other resources) and am very grateful to those kind enough to help me.
The only reason I look at 3rd party sites is because others in this thread have suggested it.
Some of the lower priced options I see that do either leave Siena extremely late or arrive in Rome fairly late have longer connection times than 36 minutes.
Are there advantages for either connecting stop--Chiusi vs Grosetto? I know nothing about either one.
What are the pros and cons of transportation options on the Trenatalia site for bus vs. regional train?
Thank you!
I’m just rereading some of the comments and was reminded that the buses are less roomy and therefore less desirable than trains. That makes sense and will steer us to train rather than bus.
Also in response to the question about opening time at car rental—this is a valid concern but if we take an early AM train, we will drop the car off the afternoon prior so that we do not have any added stress.
Mary,
First of all, about the ticket resellers. I've used Trainline a number of times in the past for travel in many countries in Europe and that's always worked well. I don't mind paying a small surcharge but that's an individual choice.
If you wish to purchase tickets from Trenitalia, that will be the cheapest option as they're the company that operates the trains. I checked tonight and found many departures from Siena to Rome on October 10th, using various trains and with different prices. One of the most cost effective trips will be a departure at 08:13, arriving Roma Termini at 12:48 (time 4H:35M, one change in Chiusi with a layover of 1H:18M). The first train is a Regionale and the second train is a Regionale Veloci (a bit faster), and both are Second Class seating only. The price is shown at 36.20€ (I don't know if that's for one or two people). If you want a faster trip, shorter transfer time or a different departure time, you'll likely pay more. There are all kinds of options. Neither of those trains has reserved seating, so you'll just have to find the first open seats.
The Regionale trains are "no frills" but they will get you where you want to go. You can easily buy the tickets for those locally, since there are no discounts for advance purchase. However if you do that, you MUST validate (time & date stamp) in the machine in the station or risk hefty fines collected on the spot. If you buy the tickets online, I believe they're pre-validated but can only be used on the date listed on the ticket.
One other option would be to travel via Regionale from Siena to Florence, and then connect with a Freccia fast train. Of course the cost will be higher but the trip will be quick and you'll have much more comfortable seating in the Freccia. From Florence you could also use Italo Treno. If you use that option, your departure station will be Firenze S.M. Novella and your arrival station will be Roma Termini.
You might find this video helpful. It's a bit dated but still has some good information - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n8rITO1Eek .
As the rail station is at the bottom of the hill below Siena, you might want to ask your hotel staff to pre-arrange a taxi to get you to the station in the morning.
@ Ken
Thank you for your patience in explaining every detail. I have gone back and forth between train options or returning the rental car near our hotel in Rome (which became very problematic since that location is not open on Monday). It was an eye opener for me to discover how limited the hours are in various Europcar locations in Italy. I currently have a reservation to drop off the car on Sunday with an extra charge (but still quite reasonable for 3 days rental in Siena). I plan to follow the plan you outlined and book on the Trenitalia app.
It has been a learning curve to understand the train systems in Switzerland and Italy. It's not the we have never traveled. We have used trains in various locations in Europe, Australia, etc. but it usually takes some effort on my part to become comfortable with the differences.
Thanks to. you and others kind enough to comment, I think we have a plan that will work.
Mary, regarding second-class carriage seating, it's nothing to be afraid of. We've traveled almost exclusively 2nd class on Italian trains and been far more comfortable than coach seats on airplanes. :O)
