Hi after out RS tour of Sicily, we are travelling to Siena for 4 days...What is the most efficient way to get there....fly to Florence or Pisa..? Seems only airline to fly direct is Vueling, which as rather sketchy reviews...anyway, once we get to Florence or Pisa, is bus or train more efficient. I trying to not spend a whole day travelling! Thanks for your ideas.
Posted by
WPB, FL & Firenze
3112 posts
I think flying is the best option. I flew to Florence after my Sicily tour, choosing to connect via Rome to avoid an early departure. I considered an early direct flight from Catania to Bologna as flight time was only about 1.5 hours, but I don't recall which airline.
If arriving at Florence airport, the Volabus goes to the bus station where you can connect to a direct bus to Siena. If your tour is June or later, the new tram line may be operating. It will termnate near the SMN train station, from where it's just a short walk to the bus station. If arriving at Bologna airport, I believe there's a bus from the airport to Florence. Otherwise, it would be a bus to Bologna train station, train to SMN station, short walk to bus station and bus to Siena.
Edit: For my trip, flights to Pisa were the most expensive and flight to Florence via Rome was about the same price as just to Rome. Flight to Bologna was comparable or maybe even slightly less than flight to Florence.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11839 posts
Flying is really your only option. You could fly to Florence, Pisa, Bologna or Roma then train to Siena. Check it out at Rome2Rio. It will take several hours, sorry to say. Rome looks like it will take the longest. Check details on the airline sites then check for trains that might coincide.
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3303 posts
Alitalia has 1 stop flights from Catania to Pisa or Florence. The trip (by bush from Florence to Sienna is shorter than the journey from Pisa. Flight time is just over 2 hours, bus about an hour.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16209 posts
Vueling flies direct non stop to FLR from the following Sicilian airports: CTA or PMO.
RyanAir flies direct non stop to PSA from the following Sicilian airports: CTA, PMO, TPS, CIY
All other options require one or more layovers.
Florence is closer to Siena than Pisa, but not by much. Check your most convenient flight (time wise and/or price wise) and go with it. Forget the reviews online. I'm sure RyanAir gets even worse reviews than Vueling.
From Pisa airport to Siena, the most frequent option is the train. Take the people mover (Pisa Mover) from the airport to Pisa Centrale, then the train to Florence. Along the way get off at Empoli and from there take the train to Siena.
It is also possible to take the Autostradale bus from Pisa Airport to Florence, then the 131R bus from Florence to Siena.
From Florence airport to Siena, take the taxi or Volainbus bus to the Santa Maria Novella station. From here you take the 131R bus to Siena. You can also take the train from Florence to Siena, but the bus takes 15 minutes less and drops you in the Siena city center on top of the hill while the train station is at the bottom of the hill.