The quickest way to get from Florence to Siena by public transport is the direct regional bus, which takes about an hour and a quarter and stops close to the historic center. The train is slower and arrives at a station outside the walls, well below the old town. By car or with a driver the trip takes about an hour on the toll-free road between the two cities, traffic permitting.
Which one is right depends less on speed than on where you are staying, how much luggage you have and what you want to see on the way. Here is how each option actually works.
By bus: the simplest option
Autolinee Toscane, the regional bus company, runs a fast service between Florence and Siena, line 131R. In Florence it leaves from the coach station on Via Santa Caterina da Siena, a couple of minutes' walk from Santa Maria Novella train station. The timetabled journey is about an hour and a quarter, mostly on the main road.
In Siena, the bus arrives near Piazza Gramsci, on the edge of the historic center, from where Piazza del Campo is an easy walk. That is the main advantage of the bus: you step off within reach of the old city. Bays and stops can change, so check the stop in the operator's app or on its website before you travel.
Buy tickets before you board or through the official app, and keep an eye on the timetable on Sundays and holidays, when services are reduced.
By train: slower, and below the town
There is no high-speed train between the two cities. Regional trains run from Florence Santa Maria Novella to Siena by way of Empoli, some direct and some with a change at Empoli, and the trip typically takes around an hour and a half or a little more. Trenitalia sells tickets online and at the stations.
The other catch is the arrival. Siena's railway station sits down in the valley, outside the walls and well below the historic center. From there you need a taxi, a local bus or a walk uphill. With heavy bags, or if your hotel is inside the walls, the train is the least convenient of the four options.
By car or with a driver: how to get from Florence to Siena door to door
The two cities are joined by the Raccordo Firenze-Siena, a dual carriageway that branches off the A1 motorway on the southern side of Florence. It has no tolls. In normal traffic the drive is about an hour, but the road is often busy at commuter times and has frequent roadworks, so allow a margin.
Driving yourself
Both cities have limited traffic zones, called ZTL, in their historic centers. Entering one without a permit triggers a fine by camera, often months later. In Siena, park in one of the car parks outside the walls and walk in; if your hotel is inside the ZTL, ask it in advance how to register your plate. Drivers with a US license need an International Driving Permit or an official translation alongside it.
The scenic way
Instead of the fast road, you can take the old Chiantigiana road through Greve, Panzano and Castellina. It is slower and winding, but it turns a transfer into half a day through the Chianti hills.
With a private driver
A driver collects you at your Florence hotel and leaves you at the door of your Siena one, or at the edge of the ZTL. It is the most comfortable option with luggage or with a group, and it lets you stop on the way.
Arriving in Siena: what to expect
Siena is built on three ridges, and its historic center is steep, paved and largely closed to traffic. Whichever way you arrive, the last part of the journey is on foot. Pilgrims on the Via Francigena still enter through Porta Camollia, the northern gate, and walk down toward the Campo, the cathedral and Santa Maria della Scala, which are the landmarks everyone heads for.
If you are carrying luggage, find out before you leave Florence exactly where your hotel is in relation to the gates and the car parks. A five-minute walk on the map can mean a stiff climb on stone. Hotels inside the walls are used to the question and will tell you the easiest approach.
Which option to choose
For a day trip from Florence with no luggage, take the bus: it is quick and drops you close to the center. For a transfer with suitcases to a hotel inside Siena's walls, a driver saves the most effort. If you want to see Chianti on the way, drive the Chiantigiana or have someone drive it for you. The train makes sense mainly if you hold a rail pass or are traveling onward from Siena by train.
Whatever you choose, give Siena at least one night if you can. Most day visitors leave in the late afternoon, and the city is at its best in the evening, when the Campo empties out.
Once you are in Siena
Siena is a good base for the south of Tuscany: Monteriggioni and San Gimignano to the north, the Val d'Orcia and Montalcino to the south. Rocca d'Italia's driving days in those areas leave from Siena, so once you have made the trip from Florence, the countryside is close.
Questions about getting from Florence to Siena
Is it better to take the bus or the train from Florence to Siena?
The bus, for most travelers. The direct regional bus takes about an hour and a quarter and stops near the historic center, while the train is slower and arrives at a station outside the walls, well below the old town.
How long is the drive from Florence to Siena?
About an hour on the toll-free Raccordo Firenze-Siena, a dual carriageway between the two cities. Traffic and roadworks can add time, especially at commuter hours.
Where does the bus from Florence arrive in Siena?
The fast bus arrives near Piazza Gramsci, on the edge of Siena's historic center, within walking distance of Piazza del Campo. Check the current stop with the operator before you travel.
Can I drive into Siena's historic center?
Not without a permit. The center is a limited traffic zone, and cameras fine unauthorized cars. Park outside the walls, or ask your hotel in advance if it can register your plate.
Is Siena a good day trip from Florence?
Yes. With the direct bus or by car it is about an hour away, which leaves a full day for the Campo, the cathedral and the old streets. Staying one night is better still, because the city is calmest in the evening.
Is there a direct train from Florence to Siena?
Some regional trains run direct and others need a change at Empoli; either way the trip takes around an hour and a half or a little more. Check Trenitalia for the current timetable.
