RubyTwins

Hello. My flight gets in Florence at 5:30 pm but I am staying in Siena. How do I most easily manage to get from the Florence Airport to Siena and I guess the fastest so I don't check in super late. I figure customs will take a bit of time and then?? bus? or ?

Thank you

Jean

"... most easily manage..."

I'd arrange a private transfer which would also be the fastest and would take you to your lodging in Siena. I believe your trip is in October...? The sun will have set before you get to Siena.

https://www.ciaoflorence.it/en/tour-detail/1868 is one option

Notice rates are "from" 27 euros, not including any gratuity you may wish to provide.

J62

No. Customs is nothing more than a formality of walking out the door after baggage claim.

Florence is a tiny airport. You should be away from the airport in about 30min after arrival if you have checked bags. Less if carry on only.

RubyTwins

Jean have you used this service? it seems Siena to Florence not Florence to Siena. The price is certainly not bad for such a long ride but others I looked were more like over 100 Euro.

Jean

OK, I called a friend who uses public trans in Italy quite frequently.... This is what he recommends:

Taxi from the FLR to the Le Piagge train station. 10-15 minutes. There's also bus service which he's never used for this.

Train to Empoli. Less than 30 minutes. Connecting time is a comfortable 15+ minutes.

Train to Siena.

There are departures from Le Piagge at 6:29p, 6:55p [except Sunday], 7:51p and 9:29p. Overall journey is under 2 hours. Fare is cheap.

scrb11

What about the tram from FLR airport to Santa Maria Novella. It's about 20 minutes and a couple of Euros.

I don't know about the train or bus options from SMN to Siena though, and it would depend on where the OP's Siena hotel is. The Siena train station is quite outside the centro. Not sure where the buses from Florence to Siena stop. May have to take a taxi from the train or bus station to the hotel.

Jean

The last bus Florence to Siena (line 131R) departs at 6:10p. The train from Florence to Siena is the same train that stops at Empoli... mentioned in my post #5... so no need to go into Florence unless you want to. After arriving in Siena, I'd take a taxi anyway. It will be a long travel day, and it will be dark when you get there.

Bus timetable:
https://www.at-bus.it/it/orari.html#

RubyTwins

this is really helpful since I am arriving after a long flight. I thought I would be getting in earlier.

Falcio

Just ignore the silly advice by Jean's friend who has the same knowledge of TP of a Lobster living in Maine.
The Florence-Siena trains are direct, take a cab from Peretola airport to Firenze SM Novella and jump on the first Regionale to Siena. With a little luck you could arrive at the right time to take a Regionale Veloce train, these Regionale trains make less intermediate stops and are a little quicker.

In Siena walk for 10 minutes and take the public escalators to the top of the hill. Or a cab.
​​​​​​

scrb11

How are those escalators if you have luggage?

Jean

Here's how my friend's advice plots out compared to starting at Firenze SM Novella:

Trains from Le Piagge, train numbers and departure/arrival times:

#18313-#19053 [change Empoli], 6:29p, 8:16p
#18193-#18227 [change Empoli], 6:55p, 8:40p
#18315-#18229 [change Empoli], 7:51p, 9:37p

Trains from Florence SMN, train numbers and departure/arrival times:

#4047-#19053 [change Empoli], 6:28p, 8:16p
#18227 [no change], 7:10p, 8:40p
#4051-#19055 [change Empoli], 7:28p, 9:16p [This train doesn't run on Sundays.]
#18229 [no change], 8:10p, 9:37p

Every train traveling from Florence to Siena stops in Empoli. You'll notice the second train numbers in the route from Le Piagge match the train numbers for the trains from Florence.

I will say that if the plane lands a couple of hours late, I'd go to Florence SMN just because I'd rather be in a large station late at night.

scrb11

Can the OP cancel the first night in Siena?

Because the OP either has to spend a long time switching modes of public transportation, possibly with luggage in tow or spend a lot of money to pay for a taxi or a private transfer.

If not for the time of the day, maybe there are direct bus services from FLR to Siena and you would have to switch modes.

Spend the night in Florence near the train station if possible and then go to Siena the next day at a more leisurely pace?

If it can't be canceled, then the choice is between time vs. cost.

Jean

Exactly, although I think if the flight is on time, it's not too-too bad... Certainly far from ideal.

I'm a worrywort, so I wouldn't have set up a situation where everything has to go exactly as planned.

RubyTwins

Thank you. I travel with a carryon bag and a small backpack. It will be a long miserable travel day but I would like to get set up in my apartment and be able to get groceries and oriented on Saturday if possible before a class starts Monday. This is all helpful advice and glad I reached out.

Jean

"It will be a long miserable travel day..." But you'll be in Italy!! Have a great time!

Christina

That transfer service link by Jean isn't cost effective, so doesn't matter if they have the direction you want. That rate is PER PERSON and only if you book a van for 8 people. The cost per car is 180-200 euro total, for any number of people, if you want a private car. 100 euro would be a bargain comparatively.