Travel options to and from Siena

If you want to mix transportation modes, bus from Florence to Siena and train from Siena to Rome sounds fine. The train station in Siena is outside the walls and down the hill - I wouldn't want to walk it in either direction, but regular buses connect the train station to various parts of Siena. Ask at the TI offoce at the train station for bus number and stop locations (routes can be reshuffled from time to time).

Debbie, the SITA Corse Rapide bus from Florence to Siena is a non-stop. It takes you to the via Tozzi which is near the Piazza Gramsci. It's inside the city walls. For many, it's better than the train. The SITA bus station is about 800'-1,000' directly south of the main Florence train station. You can see the location in the Rick Steves Florence book.

From Siena to Rome, you also have the choice of a train or a bus. Both take about 3.5hrs. For the train, you change trains at Chiusi. Again, you have the choice of leaving from inside the city walls (bus) or down the hill for the train station. The train goes to Rome-Termini and the bus goes to a large bus area adjacent to the Rome-Tiburtina train station.

I used the bus for both. It's just so much easier, and a bit cheaper. And once you get to tiburtina, you can hop on the metro and go strait to the colosseum stop.

I was just there in Oct. and took the train from Florence to Siena. I stayed a few blocks from the Duomo (opposite direction from train station) and I walked to the station. Not too far as I remember it. I much prefer the train over the bus. When I arrived in Siena I thought I had to take a bus or taxi to the city center, but someone told me to go over to the mall across the street and take the escalator:)? Sounded a little crazy, but that is what I did and after traveling up on about 10 or so escalators I was there. You child will love it. Same way back down to the train to get back to Florence. Much more unique than a bus.

I believe there are now more direct trains than there used to be between Florence and Siena - now running about hourly, in addition to the departures that require a connection. I see that the escalator option for connecting to/from the train station is also now in the book. If departing from Siena to Rome, trains connect either at Florence or at Chuisi and arrive at Rome Termini station. Buses run direct from Siena to Rome's Tiburtina station. Subway Line B in Rome takes two stops between Termini and Colosseo or just four stops longer on the same train if coming from Tiburtina.