Getting from Florence to Siena (and Vice Versa)
· Updated · BootsnAll
Maybe you're heading from Florence to Siena for a day, or maybe you're moving on for a few nights. Either way, this is one time when I'm not going to tell you the train is your best option.
Shocking, I know.
Most of the time in Italy, the train is the easiest, cheapest and quickest way between two cities. Not here. Siena has a perfectly good train station, but it sits at the bottom of the hill, well outside the walls, while the bus drops you inside the old city. So take the bus.
(No, really, take the bus.)
Florence to Siena at a glance
| Option | Time | Arrives |
|---|---|---|
| Bus 131R | About 1 hour 15 minutes | Via Tozzi, inside the walls |
| Train | About 1 hour 30 minutes direct; longer with a change at Empoli | Siena station, below the city |
| Car | About 1 hour 15 minutes on the raccordo | A car park outside the walls |
Taking the bus from Florence to Siena
Autolinee Toscane has run Tuscany's regional buses, including the old SITA routes, since 2021. The bus you want is the rapid line 131R, which runs Florence to Siena with a stop at Poggibonsi.
- In Florence it leaves from the Autostazione, the bus station right beside Santa Maria Novella train station.
- In Siena it stops on Via Tozzi, next to Piazza Gramsci, well inside the city walls. From there it's an easy downhill walk of 10 minutes or so to the Campo.
- Coming back, the 131R to Florence starts from Viale Rinaldo Franci, a couple of minutes from Via Tozzi, and ends at the Florence Autostazione.
Slower 131 buses on the same corridor stop in more towns, so check that the one you're boarding is the R (rapid) if you want the quick trip. Buses run throughout the day, with fewer on Sundays and holidays. Regional fares are set by distance, and you buy your ticket before you board. The current timetable and fare are on the Autolinee Toscane 131R page.
My one warning: on summer weekends the buses fill up with day-trippers. Get to the Autostazione early, or take an earlier bus than you think you need.
Taking the train from Florence to Siena
Trains from Florence to Siena leave Santa Maria Novella station roughly once an hour on most days. A direct train takes about an hour and a half; others need a change at Empoli, which makes the trip longer. The one real perk of the train is the view, which is prettier than the bus route.
These are regional trains with fixed fares, so there's no reason to book far ahead. If you buy a paper ticket at the station, validate it in the machine before you board. A digital ticket from trenitalia.com or the Trenitalia app is for the train you chose, but you can change it for free until departure.
Siena's station is below the city, about 2km from the historic center, and the walk is mostly uphill. You have three ways up:
- The escalators. Across the square from the station, a chain of escalators (the risalita) climbs up to the Antiporto di Camollia. From there it's a pleasant 15 to 20 minute walk through the city to the Campo.
- A city bus from the station into the center, a ride of about five minutes. Buy a Siena urban ticket (about €2 in 2026, more on board) before you get on.
- A taxi from the rank outside the station, if you have heavy bags.
Driving from Florence to Siena
If you're traveling with a rental car in Italy and have tried driving around Florence, you already know the historic center just wasn't meant for cars. If you can, don't pick up your rental until the day you leave Florence. Both cities have camera-enforced limited traffic zones (ZTLs), and a wrong turn through one costs €83 to €332 per camera in 2026, plus the rental company's admin fee.
The fast route is the Firenze-Siena raccordo, a four-lane road with no tolls. It covers about 70km and takes around an hour and a quarter. It's not the prettiest road in Italy, but it runs along the western edge of Chianti.
The better drive, if you have half a day, is the SR222, the Chiantigiana, which winds south through Greve, Panzano and Castellina in Chianti before dropping into Siena. Stop for lunch and a glass of Chianti Classico on the way (the driver sticks to one; Italy's legal limit is 0.5 g/l). Your phone's navigation will handle it, but a paper road map is useful when the signal drops in the hills. A Michelin Tuscany regional map is detailed enough for the back roads.
In Siena, park outside the walls. There are several big car parks around the edge of the old city, and some connect to the center by escalators.
>> Before you leave home, read up on the rules of the road for driving in Italy.
Flying from Florence to Siena
Does Siena have an airport? Kind of. There's a small airfield about 9km outside the city.
Does Florence have an airport? Oh, yes.
But should you fly from Florence to Siena? Oh, no.
There aren't any flights between the two cities, and there never will be. They're 70km apart.
Day trip or overnight?
Siena works as a day trip from Florence, and the bus makes it easy. But the city is at its best in the evening, after the tour groups leave, when the Campo fills with locals. If you can spare a night, spend it.
Plan around the Palio, the horse race run in the Campo every 2 July and 16 August. The days around it are thrilling, packed and expensive, and buses and hotels fill up. Either book well ahead or pick another day.
And now that you're in Siena…
- Here's a Siena travel guide, including the top sights in the city.
- Looking for a place to stay? Here are cheap hotels in Siena and Siena hostels if you're on a tighter budget.
- Heading on by bus? Our guide to bus travel in Italy covers the regional and national coach networks.
original photos, top to bottom, by: Beat, Thomas.L, ryangs, kmkuehler, PPoHio