I've been to Venice multiple times, never to Siena. Time constraints and already booked hotels preclude my staying a night in Siena, which has me wondering: Are there chartered day trips leaving Venice early morning to Siena and returning late afternoon? It's a 4:45 train ride one way with 2 changes, so going via rail isn't feasible.

Spare me the howls of disapproval, but under these circumstances, I would happily settle for a couple of hours in Siena.

I think you know the answer.
8 hours RT is not a day trip.

Let me start by saying that I adore Siena - it is one of my favorite places in Italy. That having been said, what you are suggesting would be like saying, "I will be in New York City for a few days but I've already been there so I think I'll take a day trip to Washington DC because I've never been there."

Certainly it is possible, though I doubt there are regularly scheduled charters that go there and back. If you are willing to pay the price you should have no trouble hiring a car and driver to take you there and back. Even by car it will still take at least 4 hrs. each way. As much as I like Siena, I would stick to Venice and make a point of getting back to visit Siena on another visit when you will have more time to enjoy it.

You've answered my question! Grazie. Now I start working on my fallback day trip: to Hemingway's 'Farewell to Arms' country on the Italian/Slovenian border.

Hi Logan - Logistically it is feasible by public transport ... if you don't mind a long day.

The best way would be to take a very early train to Florence (2hrs 50' approx), then bus to Siena.

If you were to catch the 05.19 (- arr. Florence 08.11) - you could be in Siena by 10.05.
(Bus from Florence to Siena - journey time: 1hr 15').

The next train 06.32 (- arr. Florence 09.23) would allow you to be in Siena 11.25.

If you were to leave Siena mid-afternoon, you could be back in Venice mid-evening.

For train timetables
www.trenitalia.com

For bus timetables Florence-Siena:
http://www.sitabus.it/sita-toscana/Firenze-Siena06.pdf

Steve

Thanks a lot, Steve. Great info. Had not realized there were no direct trains between the two cities, though, or I'd have planned an extra day. As I didn't, Siena will have to wait until next trip.
You were so helpful with this, are you as knowledgable about planning a day trip from Venice to Kobarid (Caporetto), Slovenia, and back? I have a separate posting about this challenge.