bsingerline

Fodorites,
Without boring you with too much detail - here is my question. I will be in Siena on business for a few days. I have one day free during which I want to visit Florence, then I have to go to over to Rome to meet people.

The options I am considering are:
1) Take the bus to Florence in the morning and then back into Siena at night. Stay in Siena and take the 4 hour bus ride to Rome the next day.

2) Take the bus to Florence in the morning, stay in Florence that night, and take the 1.5 hr train to Rome the next day.
I'm leaning towards #2 but was looking for some advice from people who know better. I would lose some time checking into the hotel in Florence, but it appears that I would gain some back the next day with a shorter trip to Rome.
Thanks in advance for help.

annhig

Hi bsingerline,

I'm with you in preferring plan B.

i'm sure that there are many here who can recommend a decent hotel or 6 reasonably close to the station in florence and central to most of what you'll want to see.

remember that your'e not just winning time the next day, but also saving the time you'd have spent getting back to siena on the first day.

BTW if you decided to stay in siena, could you not catch a train to Rome that would be quicker than the bus?

regards, ann

kybourbon

I would do number two. In fact, I am in September. I'm staying in Siena two nights and stopping one night in Florence on my way to Amalfi.

The historic center of Florence is very compact and is a short 10 minute walk from the train/bus station. Get a hotel somewhere convenient to the station.

If you plan to see the Uffizi or Academia, make sure you aren't going to be there when they are closed.
http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/en...usei/musei.asp

bsingerline

Thank you both for the advice. I'll scan the board for hotels near the train station. In the meantime, if anyone has suggestions feel free to post! thanks so much again

knickerbocker

Thirding plan "B" although annhig's question about the bus/train thing is valid.

TuckH

Tweaking #2...

Spend two nights in Florence. Do not "Take the bus to Florence in the morning" - take it the night before and wake up in Florence and get a full day there.

bratsandbeer

Staying overnight in Florence would be preferable to backtracking to Siena.
We stayed at the Hotel Porta Faenza a couple of years ago and will stay there again in October. It is convenient to the train station which is 2 or 3 blocks away. And within easy walking distance to most everything.

http://www.hotelportafaenzaflorence.com/

kybourbon

FWIW - The bus from Siena is 3 hours not four. www.sena.it

dfr4848

I also would take #2. No point in backtracking.

Check out the Grand Hotel Baglioni. I think it's location would work for you. I was at a conference there a couple of years ago. Very nice hotel. 10 min walk to central Florence and the Duomo, etc. Could see station from the entrance, about 2 -3 blocks away. Several people have mentioned that the area immediately adjacent to the station can be a little seedy at night, but we never felt unsafe (and hotel not really adjacent to station anyway). Since we had package deal, can't tell you exact room rate.

italiannotebook

You'll save time with option #2, and you'll get a better feel for Florence if you overnight it there. Dropping off your bags at a hotel not too far from the train station will leave you free to enjoy until you take off for your quick trip to Rome the next day.
Lucky you to have business in Siena and Rome!

Mimar

Well, Siena is closer to Rome than Florence is. Have you looked into taking the train from Siena to Rome? You'd probably have to change at Chiusi.

That said, if you want to see something of Florence, you're better off staying there.