| Tips for getting around Siena posted by real travelers and Siena locals. Siena Map |
 | Siena Transportation | Tips 1 - 10 of 43 |  |
Italy has a reputation for crazy drivers, particularly in places like Rome and Naples. As we were not visiting any big cities during out visit in Sep 2006, we decided to brave driving in Italy, and I am pleased to say it all went without a hitch. Though, I must admit that driving in the teaming rain on the truck-infested autostrada wasn't my idea of fun....however being able to really get off the beaten track in Tuscany was so worth it!
Driving into Siena is a little bit daunting....but we managed ok and ended up getting to one of the large parking stations without too much stress. We decided to head for the first parking station that we saw signs to as didn't want to end up driving around for hours looking for the "best park". By fluke we ended up in Il Campo parking area, which was one of the closest to the centre of the action.
If you are not driving to Siena, you can get there by train. Siena isn't on a main train line, so you will have to change at Chiusi (to/from Rome) or Empoli (to/from Florence).
There are plenty of buses into Siena, arriving/departing from Piazza Gramsci, from places such as Florence, San Gimignano, Rome & Milan (and plenty of other smaller places). There are several services a day. Leave a Comment
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 where to now!? by sue_stone
Once you get the hang of it, train travel in Italy is easy. It is also a great way to see the beautiful countryside on the way to your next destination.
I have travelled a couple of times using a rail pass, but the last couple of visits have just purchased tickets for each individual trip as we went.
That said, we often have purchased tickets a day or two in advance - particularly if the particular train requires a seat reservation, or if it is a busy time of year.
Purchasing a little in advance also means that you don't miss the train you want to catch due to a huuuuuge queue for tickets....
You could try buying your tickets from the automatic ticket machines at the stations - we have found them quick and easy to use.
Also, I have travelled both first and second class, and didn't really find much difference - travel second class and you can use the extra money to buy more wine/food etc
Just remember with all tickets that you need to validate them in the small yellow ticket machines before you board your train. Leave a Comment
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 Sienna Bus Stop by smschley
Because buses from Florence are faster and let you off right in town, they're more convenient than trains. Tra-in runs express (19 daily; 75 min.) and slower buses (18 daily, 90 min. to 2 hr.) from Florence's SITA station to Siena's Piazza San Domenico or Piazza Gramsci. Siena is also connected with San Gimignano (hourly Mon-Sat; change in Poggibonsi; 55-65 min. not including layover), Volterra (3 daily; change in Colle di Val d'Elsa; 40 min. each leg), Massa Marittima (3 daily; 80 min.), Perugia (2-4 daily; 85 min.), and Rome's Tiburtina station (5-7 daily; 2 hr. 47 min.). Leave a Comment Theme: Bus
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To go to Siena from Florence, the quickest and most convenient way is the SITA bus which you can get at the SITA Bus Terminal at 17 Via S. Caterina da Siena across from the train station. There are two busses, SIENA DIRETTA' and the 'SIENA RAPIDA. One of them takes about an hour and the other a couple of hours so make sure, before you board, that you ask which one takes the least time. The train takes more time, stops outside the walls, and will take you about 20 minutes to walk into the center. Leave a Comment
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 Bar in Chiusi by rexvaughan
I always kid myself that I am a savvy traveler. I knew in Rome I wanted a train bound for Chiusi and in the station there I saw many ticket windows with signs saying "Chiuso." I thought this little place I never heard of must be qute a transportation hub until I finally realized it was "chiuso" (closed in Italian) and not "Chiusi," the town. So much for my Italian!
I don't learn easily as later in the trip I decided to bone up enough to ask my question in Italian since I assumed most clerks in train stations would not necessarily speak English. As far as I know I asked the question properly in Italian, but he answered me in Italian and I have no idea what I was told! Lucky I am not still in some left luggage compartment in Milan or Rome or wherever. Leave a Comment Theme: Train
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 Approaching Siena - thrice
round the city walls by karenincalifornia
Go early! Leave a Comment Theme: Car/Motor Home
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 Fiat for a day by rexvaughan
A sidelight to this is that in 1961 we had planned a trip to Italy and were going to buy a Fiat to take back home. I don't know if we could have swung that deal, but the whole trip eventually fell through. In 1996 when we went to get the rental car, I told my wife, "I am over 30 years late, but here is your Fiat!" She thought it was funny - that is how she can stand to be married to me for so long. Leave a Comment Theme: Car/Motor Home
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Costs 6,50€ and takes 1.15 hours to get from Siena to Firenze. Very convienient. Just take a bus from buscentral (near fortezza) with a text Firenze rapido. There is another bus with txt Firenze direta but this bus goes through Poggibonsi and Colle di Val d'Elsa (and is some 20 min slower).
Rapide goes like twice in an hour: 7.10; 8.00; 8.10; 8.50; 9.10; 10.10; 11.10; 11.50 (you will get a time table from the ticket office down below the bus station).
Remember to buy your ticket beforehands and validate it when you step in. You can buy two tickets at the same time (in both directions) Theme: Bus
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If you want to go to Siena from Florence don't take the train cos it will leave you outside the walls of Siena and you have to walk along way. Instead just go with SITA bus, it is more convenient. There are two types Siena Rapida and Siena Diretta. The Rapida does not stop at any place i.e. goes directly to Siena while the Diretta stops in various places such as Poggibonsi (where you can take a bus to San Gimigniano), Colle Val D'elsa and others. Approx. they take 1hr 20 mins and if you find a driver like I found you will surely arrive a bit earlier :)
The SITA bus stattion is located in front on the Santa Maria Novella station near the bank and believe me they are really helpful and nice. You can purchase a ticket there and when in Siena just go in the offices underground near bus stop and buy a ticket from there.
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 by smschley
Trying to drive into the one-way and pedestrian-zoned center isn't worth the massive headache. Siena parking (tel. 0577/22-871) is now coordinated, and all the lots charge 2,500L (1.30€, $1.25) per hour or 40,000L (21€, $20) per day--though almost every hotel has a discount deal with the nearest one for anywhere from 40% to 100% off--and are well signposted, with locations just inside city gates' Porta Tufi (the huge and popular Il Campo lot, though it's a 20-minute walk from the Campo!), Porta San Marco, and Porta Romana; under the Fortezza (another large lot) and around La Lizza park (the latter closed market Wed and soccer Sun); and at Piazza Amendola (just outside the northern gate Porta Camollia). Ask your hotel about parking when booking--many have deals with one of these lots to get you anywhere from 50% to 100% off. You can park for free a bit farther away around the unguarded back (northwest) side of the Fortezza all week long. There's also free parking outside the southeast end of town at Due Ponti (beyond Porta Pispini) and Coroncina (beyond Porta Romana); from both you can get a pollicino (minibus) into Leave a Comment Theme: Car/Motor Home
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