Venice to Siena: Train or Train/Bus Combo?
 

What's the best way to get from Venice to Siena? "Best" means weighing out travel time, ease, and cost.
1. Train from Venice to Florence, then Bus from Florence to Siena
2. Train from Venice to Siena with a stop in Florence

If option 1 - where do we get the bus in Florence? Is it in or near the Florence train station? And would we buy the bus tickets when we arrive in Florence? Do they run frequently?

Thank you.

The bus station is across the street and around the corner from Firenze SMN train station. there are frequent bus departures. You can buy the tickets at the bus station before you board.

For me, it would depend on the length of connection time in Florence to choose train versus bus.

Another consideration, the bus stops in the center of Siena while the Siena train station is outside the center and down the hill.

I guess it would depend on where you need to be once you arrive in Siena. If you will be staying in the historic center, then switch to the bus when you get to Florence (make sure you take the rapid bus). Travel time between Florence and Siena by bus or train is about the same (about 75 minutes) and cost is about the same (about 7€). If you will be picking up a car in Siena, then train might be the better option depending on location of pickup. Page 2 is the schedule for the bus.
http://www.sitabus.it/sita-toscana/F...0-%20Siena.pdf

Once I reach Siena, I need to get to the Europcar Siena City Office at 23/25 VIALE EUROPA. Is the bus stop or train station closer to that location?

I guess that should have been part of my original question. Sorry! I hope I still get responses!

That location is outside the city of Siena, so the train station would be better. However, 23 Viale Europa is still 4 km from the train station, so you'll probably need to take a taxi to the Europcar office. There are also some local buses from the train station that might take you near there, but I suspect a taxi will be much quicker and easier.

I used Googlemaps to discover this information.

Sorry, but it doesn't appear to be close to either. I think train will probably be best and a taxi from there. It appears to be south side of Siena which is towards Montalcino. Unless you want to visit Siena before picking up your car. There is no luggage storage at the train station, but the tourist office under Piazza Gramsci supposedly has storage. I would e-mail Europecar and ask for advice on reaching them from both the train station and Piazza Gramsci.