where to buy tickets for bus and trains out of Florence

Hi Barbara, I was just in Florence last week. We stayed near the train station, which is also where many buses arrive and depart. For train times and rates, check the trenitalia.it website. There's a Union Jack symbol for English language. If you're using the train, remember to validate your ticket (there are machines on every platform) before you get on the train. there's a hefty fine if you don't. We weren't taking the bus anywhere, so I don't know where you'll get that information.
Have a great time!

For side trips out of Florence, you have both train and bus options. For many, the top side trips are Siena, San Gimignano and Pisa. A bit further would be Pisa, Lucca or in the other direction - Perugia and Assisi. Pisa, Lucca and Assisi are best reached by Train although Grayline has bus tours to Lucca, Pisa and Siena. For bus lines, I would suggest that the top choice to Siena and San Gimgnano would be the SITA bus. www.sitabus.it. It's in Italian. They have a great express bus to Siena. You can also get to Volterra via bus transfers. For Grayline, here's a link. Lot's of bus tours http://www.grayline.com/Florence/View_All Also Grayline has an operator in Florence called CAF Tours. www.caftours.com. They have lots of one-day tours on their website as well. The bus stations or stops for all of these buses are close to the main Florence train station. For the Cinque Terre, not many side trips out of there although you could jump up to Portofino or places like that. No big buses in the CT - only the train. You'll see why when you get there. For Bologna, there are at least 2 side trips that I know of that are tours of the great Bologna/Parma area. These tours focus on the Parma ham, Parmigiano cheese and other great food items. You're in Fair Oaks. Our Sacramento RS travel group will be meeting this Saturday at 10:00am at Panera's in Natomas. Come on by. I'll be there as will 6-8 others who can assist you by showing you the many possible websites that we know about.

Thanks so much for the reply. Actually, we're in Florence right now so we won't make it to the Sat. meeting. We're going to head to the station tomorrow and get schedules etc.
Grazie a mille e Buena sera

We just got back & took a bus ride to Siena. The bus station is just down the street from the train station. Think it was 16 euros round trip.

Does anyone know the best bus line to bus from Florence to Siena and on to Montalcino...I'm having a hard time finding the appropriate bus schedules and a website to actually buy the tickets.
Lisa