aurevoir

I will be visiting Italy in early January. Our first stop is Rome and we will be staying near the Spagna Metro station. After that, we will travel by bus to Siena, and I have purchased tickets for a bus that leaves from Tiburtina at 6:30 am. I believe that the Rome Metro begins running at 5:30 am.

Would I be able to go from Spagna to Termini, switch to the B line and get to Tiburtina in ample time to catch the 6:30 am bus?

Thanks for your help!

LJ

This should not present a problem...if memory serves (but you can double-check with your concierge or others here at Fodor's) that is about a 20 minute/1/2 hour janunt, even with the transfer. You have already done the best time-saving thing by buying your ticket in advance. I nearly blew it by lining up at the wrong kiosk at Tiburtina and nearly missing our bus to the Abruzzo!

worldinabag

Hi

Can't help you on your post, sorry, but can you advise what website you used to buy your bus tickets? We'll be doing the same journey in May. Thanks heaps

aurevoir

Yes.

I used this website:

http://www.sena.it/Home/78-1-en.html

By booking early, I was able to get a reduced rate - only 10 euro/ticket.

worldinabag

Thanks so much! That's so cheap! Timetables not yet available for May but have bookmarked. Happy travels.

kybourbon

You should be able to check travel times on ATAC. It can be a bit of trek changing in Termini as there is often underground construction with detours. Tiburtina had a big fire earlier in the year so it might have some walking detours as well.
http://www.atac.roma.it/index.asp?lingua=ENG

The Sena bus might not be right outside the station as that is mostly local city buses. Sometimes other private bus companies (Sena, Marozzi, Curreri, etc.) can be a bit of a trek from the Tiburtina station (across or down the street). Ask Sena where you catch it. Last time I booked a Sena bus (Milan/Siena), the website rolled to Baltour for booking and Baltour answered my e-mail about bus stop location.

aurevoir

Thanks to LJ and to kybourbon

Thank you so much! I searched for a site that would calculate the route time, but I had not come up with anything. Contacting Sena for the location of the stop is a great idea.

Many thanks!

annhig

it's 3 stops on line A followed by 4 on line B.

I'd be very surprised if that took more than 30 mins.

kybourbon

>>>Contacting Sena for the location of the stop is a great idea.<<<

It was Baltour, not Sena that I exchanged e-mails with (Sena website rolled over to Baltour for the booking).

maxfab

Subway trains leave originating stations at 5.30 a.m., so allow at least 15 minutes for the first train to get to Spagna. Consider this time lap if you dont feel comfortable with tight timings.
Going from SPAGNA (A Line) to TIBURTINA (B Line) is easily accomplished in less than 30 minutes. No problem in finding the way since we got two lines, A is red, B is blue, crossing in only one point. Just take the A line from Spagna (direction Anagnina), change at Termini and take the B line (direction Rebibbia), get off at Tiburtina. No problem for past fires in Tiburtina, the station is now brand new and you can walk from the subway station directly to the rail track without passing through the station.

aurevoir

Ooo...I am glad I checked back one more time. Good tip about how long it will take the first train to arrive at Spagna. It still seems like a good way to get to the bus - maybe better than a cab. We leave tomorrow. I can't wait!

Thanks to everyone for your help!

annhig

buon viaggio!

rineurope

The SENA bus stop (and bus station) is about 150 meters (across the street) from the entrance to the metro station - just look of the signage. We've been on the SENA bus many times to and from Siena.

Our last time was during the day of the "great flood" in October. We've always had good experiences until we hit the traffic that specific date.

aurevoir

Just back from a wonderful Italian holiday and I am happy to report that it was an easy trip from Spagna to Tiburtina via metro. Leaving on the first train after the metro opened at 5:50, we had plenty of time to connect with our 6:30 bus. The bus ride from Rome to Siena was very comfortable as was the next bus from Siena to Florence and the cost for these trips was very affordable.

Thanks to all of you who replied to help an newbie. Your advice was greatly appreciated.

worldinabag

Good to hear. Thanks for the feedback Aurevoir or should it be Arrivederci

annhig

glad you had a good time and that the connections worked.

perhaps you could post a "piccolo" trip report to give us a bit more detail on the rest of the trip? [we love detail!}

LJ

So glad OP got back to us...I am always heartened to hear of other Fodorites take the bus when they travel. It always seems to me such a great way to see the world.