travel suggestions Italy hill towns on public transit

Posted by Mike (Finkle) on 10/06/22 01:22 PM

I am looking at a trip in late April and early may and have most of it stitched together. I have four nights for two Italian hill towns for may 1-through may 5. I would like to go to Montepulicano from Florence for two days and some other town for two days-Pienza, San Gimignano?... 0ther? Buses and trains look erratic and slow. I can see that getting to Florence from or to Montepulicano can be done with bus to Chiusi and train to Florence rather easily but can`t seem to tie another town in very well. I would appreciate your thoughts and suggestions-they are always excellent.

Mike
DC

Posted by DougMac

Rural Georgia

10/06/22 01:51 PM

2114 posts

It looks like you've worked out the Florence - Montepulciano trip.

I think your best bet from Florence to San Gimignano would be to take the train/bus from Florence to Siena and a bus from Siena to San Gimignano. You could also take a taxi, which would take 45 minutes and cost ~50 euro.

We've been to both San Gimignano and Volterra, which is nearby. I think of the two, I'd choose to stay in Volterra. There are Roman and Etruscan ruins there and for me it's just a little more charming. Either is a great choice for a hill town.

It sounds like a great trip!

Posted by Laurel

Forest Grove, OR

10/06/22 01:55 PM

11333 posts

Tuscan hill towns are tough by public transportation, I agree.

Any interest in going to Umbria? Assisi is magnificent and there is a train. The station is a little out of town but the bus is efficient and there are myriad taxis.

Posted by Francis

Eugene, Oregon, USA

10/06/22 04:58 PM

927 posts

To visit the hill towns, we brought along our own helmets and rented a motorcycle out of Florence. It was a bit expensive, but you can get anywhere on a bike, and motorcycles are easy and free to park and appear to be free of ZTLs. I say "appear to be free of ZTLs," because the rules as I have read them, say motorcycles are not restricted, yet one police officer had a different opinion, in one of the hill towns. No ticket, he just said we couldn't be where we were and pointed to a different area to park, though there were plenty of other motorcycles parked at the spot.