Hello, I am tentitivly planning a return trip to Italy over the Thanksgiving holiday. My daughter and I went 3 years ago at this time and it was a perfect trip. This time my husband had decided to go. We have to do-over some things that he really wants to do but I want to go to Sienna for at least one night. How long is the train ride from Rome to Sienna? Also is it a direct train or do you have to change trains?

I appreciate any advice.

Thanks,April [email protected]

The train ride from Rome to Siena is a little over 3 hours. You must change train in Chiusi or Grosseto.

check trenitalia.com for schedules.

made this trip just recently and found that taking the bus was much better - the bus drops you at an hotel in the center of siena instead of the train station which is outside the city ... bus trip is just about 3 hours and easy ... i recommend the bus ... the bus is direct - no need to change ... don't miss the FABULOUS shoe store on the piazza del campo - MARUOZZI'S !!! okay, i feel silly telling you this when there is so much to recommend siena - but it truly is WONDERFUL !

Hi AA,

I also recommend the bus. It leaves from the Rome Tiburtina train station.

http://www.senabus.it/

We took the train from Naples to Siena. When we got off in Chiusi to change to the local to Siena, there was a bus there we could take instead. So we did and had a wonderful introduction to Tuscany, swooping up and down and around hills and stopping in other small towns.

But the bus dropped us off at the Siena train station and we had to get a taxi into town.

Try the bus from Rome and hope it doesn't spend all its time on the Autostrada.

We did this trip about 12 days ago and also ran into the bus at the Chiusi train station. It seems they were (are?) doing some major track work near Siena and so they bus passengers from Chiusi. I'd think that would be completed by the time your trip rolls around, though. For others with earlier travel dates, maybe not. It looked like a big job.

On the other hand, it was no particular problem to take the bus from Chiusi to Siena.

Thanks everyone so much for your info!! If we get the time to go I think I will definately take the bus.

adoreroma: Thanks for the shoe store tip. How did you know my 12 year old daughter would rather have shoes than air to breath?? I know we will hit that one!!

Do you Siena experts think a day and a half would be sufficient for Siena? I am really trying to cram alot in but we are going to Naples, Sorrento and Rome and I really want a taste of Tuscany.

Thanks again for the advice, I'm sure I'll be asking about a million more questions in the next few months.

April

I think you can easily hit the highlights of Siena in a day and a half. A longer amount of time would be better, of course, but you can always plan to return again someday!