Is Sienna close enough to Florence to be able to get there easily for a day trip using public transportation; if not, could you suggest another Tuscan town that is beautiful but closer and therefor more easily accesible to Florence?
Can we take the train from Sienna directly to Venice; if so approx how long will it take and do they run all day?
thanks...
Posted by
Chicago, Illinois, USA
586 posts
One hour via bus, each way, direct...departs from the SITA bus station next to Florence's main train station, Santa Maria Novella, and drops you near the city center (I think it's Piazza Gramsci, if memory serves me correct). Under 10 Euros per person, I think, one way. Buses are frequent. Still, if you plan to proceed to Rome from Florence, why not take the bus to Siena and stay one night, to see this wonderful Medieval city at night, too? Then it's a direct three hour bus ride from Siena to Roma's Termini Station, with easy train connections throughout the city. As for a train to Venice...the station is not near the city center, and would require a taxi from the station up to the town, I think. Bus is easier in this case.
Posted by
Wichita
831 posts
Jamie,
Florence is about 1:15 away from Siena by bus. Hereis the schedule http://www.sitabus.it/sita-toscana/Firenze%20-%20Siena.pdf
It would be faster to take the bus to Florence and then the train to Venice.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15593 posts
Siena is probably the most accessible. Though San Gimignano is closer, it takes longer to get there because there is no direct bus from Florence.
Possibly Lucca?
The thing is that none of these scenic towns are in the direction of Venice, so you have to backtrack to Florence.
Posted by
Chicago, IL, United States
120 posts
I did Siena as a 1/2 day trip from Florence. It was intended to be a full day trip, but the wine was flowing too freely the night before, so it ended up only being 1/2 a day. It is possible.
No time is enough though. I could have spent a week there, just like everywhere else.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32219 posts
Jamie,
If you're planning to visit Venice as well, I'd do that before Florence and Siena. As mentioned in a previous post, Siena is a VERY easy Bus ride from Florence. Bus is the best choice for that trip, as it drops passengers right in the main part of town, rather than at the bottom of the hill where the train station is located.
I definitely agree with a previous suggestion to take the Bus to Siena and stop for one night before proceeding to Rome. I used a Taxi to get from Siena to the train station when I was departing.
Happy travels!
Posted by
OP
Ventura, CA
31 posts
Thanks all, for the info. There's just not enough time to do all that we want to do. I have to look at this again and reconsider how much we can see in one trip. Have to have some to relax, right?