I will be based in Florence for five days. I would like to take the express bus from Florence to Siena for a day trip. Does anyone have any recommendations for small goup tours that operate in Siena? I have done a board search and google search, and I have gotten information on private guides and bus excursions that go to Siena and San Gimignano, but nothing on small group tours that would be similar to "Walking Tours of Florence". Thanks

ttt

Several years since I've been there but I can't remember much about Siena worth seeing other than the scenic church in the centre of town, where you can climb up the tower, and the square full of strange buildings behind it. Or anything worth going out the way for in San Gimignano. Have you considered Bologna?

http://www.bologna.world-guides.com/

I just tried Bologna walking tours with Google and you're spoilt for choice.

Try something like www.toursbyroberto.com

Also, TheAccidentaltourist.com. For a private guide, I can highly recommend Luca Garapa from Hillsandroads.com who grew up in Siena and also studied at the University in Siena. He's an amazing guide, and very charming.

I absolutely adore Roberto (see BobtheNav's post). We did a day trip out of Siena with him several years ago and last year we did another all day trip with him. He is funny and very knowledgeable. He is passionate about all things Etruscan.

I believe that he has another person working for him who does Siena trips as well. I'm sure she is great.

Having taken the bus to siena on a day trip this october, I would heartily recommend taking the train! allright, it's a bit further out of the town than the bus station, but there's a bus up into town and it avoids getting stuck in the appalling florence traffic.
apart from that, we just wandered round the centre seeing all the sights as we went. Don't miss the other cathedral [sorry, can't remember the name but it's slightly out of the centre] with the most wonderfully detailed nativity scene, plus the miraculous communion wafers - preserved for nearly 300 years, apparently! On second thoughts, perhaps that's a good reason to use a guide - so you don't miss such gems.
Good luck!