Carolyn

In mid-Sept.I will be training Florence to Siena. There are so many daily trains for the short trip that I am wondering about the necessity of reservations for 2nd class. Help from those who know, please.

garry

Reservations are only needed if you want to be aure of a seat. You want to stand then save your money and take a chance. If you travel early like 6:00 or 7:00 you probably get a seat. If you want to ride first class and besure you have a seat in first class get reservations. You want a fast train get reservations and pay the supplement. <BR>Many way to go depending on your comfort. Most likely you will ride the train but seat or not could be another question. Get your reservation in Europe. Get them at least 4 or 5 hours before you need them. You miss your reservation you are out the reservation and the money. <BR>Garry

Garry

If you are going to Siena besure you get a guide to read. Also, you best bet to Siena from Florence is the Sita Bus. About $12.00 if I remember right or less. Fastest easiest and best way. Go to the bus station. Sita office is behind the train station in Florence some what hard to find if you don't know where it is. <BR>Garry

Carolyn

Garry, you are great! Many thanks for the train/bus info! The last time I was in Italy was 20+ years ago leading a group of unruly teenagers. This trip is for my husband and me to enjoy after a scary health year. Thanks again!!!

helper-bee

I’ve been to Florence. Been to Siena. But not gone from one to other via public transport. <BR> <BR>Seen many posters on this forum who agree that it’s better to take bus than train. Keyed in search to locate SITA bus schedule and came up with following: <BR> <BR>http://goeurope.about.com/library/we...getting_to.htm <BR> -- “Getting to Siena <BR>If you're coming from Florence, as most visitors are, the SITA bus is your best option. Trains also connect the two cities, but Siena's railroad station is outside of town, and it's a long uphill walk or an expensive taxi ride to the city center. (Minibuses run several times an hour, but they're often crowded and aren't practical for travelers with luggage.) <BR>Buses leave the SITA bus station in Florence (near the main railroad station) and arrive at Siena's Piazza Antonio Gramsci, which is one short block from Siena's main pedestrian thoroughfare. For more information on buses from Florence and Rome, see the bus section of my Siena Photo Gallery and the transportation links below. <BR> <BR> <BR>Below is a link that I found providing schedules to/from Florence-Siena. Website is actually one from several hotels in Florence. <BR>http://www.tiac.net/users/pendini/bus.html <BR> <BR>(NOTE: this is only a partial list --- check w/URL above for complete info) <BR> <BR>BUS SCHEDULE FLORENCE - SIENA <BR> Firenze -- Siena <BR> ------- --------- <BR> 7,15 -- 8,30 W <BR> 7,45 -- 9,00 WS <BR> 8,05 -- 9,20 W <BR> 8,30 -- 9,45 WS <BR> 9,15 -- 10,30 W <BR> 10,10 -- 11,25 <BR> 11,20 -- 12,35 W <BR> 12,00 -- 13,15 <BR> <BR>W = weekdays only <BR>WS = Mondays to Fridays. <BR>The Bus company that organized the sevice Florence-Siena is called SITA Tel. 48365. <BR>Time tables are subject to changes without advance warning. <BR> -------------------------------------------------------- <BR> <BR>Perhaps someone else has URL for the SITA busline (if there is one)??? I couldn’t find it. <BR>

Carolyn

Thanks, helperbee! You really went out of your way for me. How kind!

KT

If you do want to take the train for some reason (like if you have a railpass) it's not such an ordeal to get to the center of Siena. There are city buses that take you close to where you'll end up if you take th e bus all the way. <BR> <BR>I'm not sure, but I don't think the little local train that runs from Florence to Siena even takes reservations. I've taken it a couple of times (without reservations), but that was a while back.