We are traveling in May. We arrive in Rome then to Assisi, then to Siena, then to Florence, then to Venice, and end up in Milan.
What is the best way to travel to these cities. Train or Bus
Steve

train, of course...much faster..
Check trenitalia.com for schedules and fare..
Buon viaggio,
kismet

The best (fastest, cheapest, most convienent) way to Florence from Siena is by bus.
The reason is no direct train service. Siena to Florence goes to Empoli first (not on the way), additionally the buses leave from the town while the train station is two kilometers outside of town.
Henry

Take a train. I went to every one of those cities you've mentioned by train. Never took a bus. Trains are economical and much faster than a bus. I only utilize a bus (if needed) upon arrival. In the case of Assisi, the train station is at the base of the town, there is a local bus that stops regularly in front of the train station that can take you up to the city. Same goes for Siena.

Catch 22! Train travel is more comfortable and may be faster but it is subject to increasing personal safety hazards. Bus travel is usually less expensive and certainly is safer personally.

GSteed, I do hear about European train accidents every now and then, but I wasn't aware trains were considered unsafe. Could you elaborate?

Do you mean personal security? Theft etc?
If so, I would say that there is far more talk about compromised security than actual events. The one or two incidents of baggage theft per thousand passenger rides by train in Italy live far longer in the mythology of this website than in statistical occurence and are, for the most part, preventable.

Having lived here in Itlay for some time now, I am unaware of what I would define as safety issues, i.e. train collisions or even near misses/hits...am I missing something?

Train travel in Italy, as in other European countries, is extremely safe and certainly safer than road travel. Bus services in Italy generally operate where there is no railway, or where the train service is poor. For most journeys between the big cities, trains are faster, cheaper and more comfortable, and are the only sensible way of travelling.

Hi Steve,

Rome - Assisi
Take the train. See www.trenitalia.com/en

Assisi - Siena
The train requires 2 changes and take almost 4 hr
The bus is direct and takes under two hrs. The bus station is more conveninet than the train station.

See http://www.turismoverde.com/italia/t...t/bus2peru.htm
Siena - Florence
Take the SITA bus. It is direct and mre convenient. The bus station is about 2 blocks from Florence SMN.

Florence to Venice to Milan
Take the train.