JEFF_

Any easy way to get from Lucca to Siena? Know I can the train to Firenze SMN and take the Rapida bus. Taking slow trains all the way puts me outside of town. Other than driving, any thoughts?

Jo

I managed to get a direct train - leaving Lucca at about 0800 and arriving in Siena around 1100. This was a few years ago and the timetables may have changed since then.

Lesli

I have found the bus to be the most convenient way to both Lucca and Siena from Florence (gets you closer to the historic center.) However, I believe you would still need to change busses in Florence, since as far as I know, you'd take the Lazzi bus Lucca to Florence, and the SITA bus Florence to Siena.

This site has links to numerous bus sites that serve Tuscany, including both SITA and Lazzi: http://www.comune.pisa.it/turismo/se...unicazioni.htm

KathyNZ

Check out trenitalia website for timetables but from Lucca I'm pretty sure you'll have to go thru Florence and change to Siena. I have just had three weeks in Florence and used the trains all the time, Lucca twice and Siena once. However some trains to both these centres are faster than others, with more or less stops, check the travelling times on the website. I wouldn't take the bus. Good luck and enjoy, both are superb.

siena_us

Getting to Siena from Florence is best by bus not train. The bus station in Florence is acrosss the street and to the right from the train station. The train station in Siena is more than a km. out of town and all uphill. The bus on the other hand is in town.

JEFF_

Thanks for the good advice, but maybe there isn't an easy way. Using the train involves two or three connections with numerous stops. The train and bus combo seems cumbersome. I think that the Lazzi and SITA bus stations in Florence are in different locations and not sure the schedules work together.

So, what about a taking a packaged day trip bus tour that goes to Siena. When I get to Siena,I just stay? If it stops someplace on the way - like San Gimignano - that I want to see anyway, then that ok. Is this a crazy idea and probably expensive idea or what? Of course,I can always just wait until I get to Lucca and ask at tourist information. Now that would be easy.

Lesli

Jeff -

The Lazzi and SITA bus stations in Florence are in different locations, but only about 2 blocks from one another. (Sort of diagonally opposite corners, with the train station in the middle.) If you check the websites, you can see whether the schedules coincide well enough to make the connections reasonable - they very well might, since both run every hour or so on weekdays.

The bus rides are both fairly scenic as well, and I've enjoyed riding with the locals.

The Lucca TI office may be able to offer you other suggestions, including tours, but the latter will surely cost more than traveling independently. The convenience might be worth the additional cost to you; your call on that. If you do decide to take a tour bus, please let the guide know that you will not be taking the return bus trip, so that they are not looking for you when it's time to depart.

KathyNZ

I totally disagree about the bus having just been there and gone to Lucca twice and Siena once, there is only the connection to be made in Florence and to muck about with checking timetables is just a waste of time, turn up when you want and there will be a train within a short time.

KathyNZ

Also the trip up the hill from the train station take about 10 minutes, what is inconvenient about that and they come along a few minutes after each train arrives.

siena_us

While it may be easy for some, it is not for all. Also, the train takes longer than the bus. I live in Siena and when I want to go to Florence I leave the car at home (why pay for gas and parking and have to deal with Florentine drivers) and take the bus. The train takes too much time IMO and is too far away from the city (Siena). Oh and the walk uphill is 10 minutes but if you are planning on going to another part of town it is much longer and having to drag luggage along is not so fun.

KathyNZ

Thankyou Siena, I mean't the bus up the hill takes about ten minutes, mine did anyway, not the walk, I would not like to walk it when I plan to walk around the town all day.
Sorry but San Gimignano is my favourite.