gillybrit

Hi. I see plenty of companies advertising private tours but are there any that do larger bus trips? The private tours are a bit pricey as there will only be two of us. Interested in maybe a wine tour, but also looking to visit sienna and San gim. I know we can do both by public transportation from lucca but neither seems particularly easy. Thanks.

bvlenci

Lucca isn't the easiest base to visit Siena and San Gimignano by public transportation. As for bus tours, Florence would be a better base for those. Maybe you can find a tour leaving from Florence and get there early enough, by train from Lucca, to take it.

gillybrit

Thanks. I will check in to that. Do you know of any tour companies that are out of Florence? How long is the train from lucca to Florence ?

Jean

The travel time by train from Lucca to Florence depends on the train, but most take 90-100 minutes. I think you're going to have to leave Lucca very early to arrive in time to check in for a tour. Thankfully, most bus tours originating in Florence start at/near the main train station (where you will arrive from Lucca).

It's easy to check train timetables online. Just use Italian spellings of towns. You can't buy these tickets online in advance; just buy them before you get on the train. You could stay in Florence for dinner after the tour, but make sure you know the departure time of the last train to Lucca that evening.

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/inde...0080a3e90aRCRD

You can Google the various tour options, but I know Viator offers a day trip from Florence by bus to Siena and San Gimignano.

gillybrit

Looks like a company called come and see Italy offers a tour from lucca. Anybody had any experience with them?

kybourbon

Lucca isn't a good base for those cities and would require multiple changes. I don't think it would be easy to day trip to either by public transport. Florence would be a better base. There are a lot of group tours that depart from Florence. CAF has several fairly economical tours. Unfortunately, Florence is an hour+ away from Lucca so it's not easy to catch those tours.

This one incorporates everything you mentioned in one tour. I don't think that is enough time to do all of that, but I've stayed in most of those areas more than once and think they deserve more time.

http://www.caftours.com/excursion-to...andscapes.html

http://www.caftours.com/excursions-and-day-trips.html

sandralist

No personal experience, but here is another tour starting from Lucca that includes Siena and San Gimignano, plus a winery visit

https://www.vayable.com/experiences/...o-wine-tasting

Don't know if you can find reviews. Might try on Tripadvisor

gillybrit

Thanks. I found a tour that does sienna san gim and a wine tasting that will pick us up at our hotel. Mini bus so the group won't be too large. The company is Bella Italia. Anybody have any experience with them?