Florence to Siena Day Trip: How to Do It Right (2026)

Florence to Siena is one of the most popular day trips in Tuscany — and one of the most often done badly. Tour groups roll in at 11 AM, eat overpriced lunch on Piazza del Campo, and roll out at 3 PM having seen nothing.

Here's how locals would actually do it: leave Florence early, eat where senesi eat, stay until after dinner, head back at night. Result: a full real day in Siena for the price of a bus ticket.

How to get from Florence to Siena

You have three serious options:

1. Bus (best for most travellers) **Autolinee Toscane (rapid bus 131)** or **Flixbus** from **Firenze Autostazione** (next to Santa Maria Novella train station) to **Siena, Piazza Gramsci** in the centre.

• Time: 1h15 (direct) — 1h30 (with stops)
• Price: €9-14 one way
• Frequency: every 30-60 minutes from 6 AM to 9 PM
• Drops you: literally inside the historic centre, 5-min walk from the Duomo

This is the option we recommend for 90% of travellers. Cheap, easy, central drop-off.

2. Train (avoid unless you love trains) - **Time**: 1h30-1h45 with a transfer in Empoli - **Price**: €10-15 - **Station**: Siena's train station is **outside the walls** — you then take a free escalator + bus into the centre (10 minutes)

Slower and less central than the bus. Only worth it if you happen to be near a station with a direct connection.

3. Car - **Time**: 1h (75 km) via Florence-Siena ring road (free) - **Parking in Siena**: paid lots outside the walls — **Santa Caterina** (€2/h, escalator into town), **Il Campo**, **San Francesco** - **Cost**: €15-20 in parking for a full day

Worth it if you want to combine Siena with San Gimignano, Monteriggioni, or a Chianti winery on the same trip.

How long to stay

Minimum: 6 hours. Ideal: 10-12 hours (8 AM → 8 or 9 PM, dinner included). Anything shorter and you'll feel rushed; anything longer should probably become an overnight.

The plan: 8 AM → 9 PM

8:00 AM — Leave Florence Take the **8 AM Autolinee Toscane bus** from Firenze Autostazione. Coffee before you leave; sleep on the bus.

9:15 AM — Arrive in Siena (Piazza Gramsci) Walk 5 minutes south to **Piazza del Campo** to take it in early, before the crowds.

9:45 AM — Duomo + Piccolomini Library Buy the **OPA SI Pass** combined ticket online before leaving (**€18**, valid 3 days). Skip the line. Allow 1h30.

11:30 AM — Torre del Mangia The bell tower. **€10**, 400 steps, breathtaking view over Tuscany. Buy at the entrance.

1:00 PM — Lunch in a local trattoria

Walk one block off Piazza del Campo (Via di Pantaneto, Via dei Rossi, Piazza del Mercato). Order pici cacio e pepe or pici al ragù di cinghiale (€10-12), a glass of Chianti (€4-5), and a small dessert. Budget €18-28. See our where to eat in Siena guide for picks.

3:00 PM — Walk the contradas Wander the back streets. **Via di Camollia** (north), or down towards **Fontebranda** and the **Basilica of San Domenico**. This is where the soul of the city actually lives.

5:00 PM — Coffee + gelato A sit-down break. Best gelato spots in our [gelato guide](/articolo/best-gelato-in-siena).

7:00 PM — Aperitivo **Aperol Spritz** (€6-8) or a **glass of Chianti dei Colli Senesi** at an enoteca. Areas: Piazza del Mercato, Via di Pantaneto.

8:30 PM — Dinner Two great options:

• Classic Tuscan trattoria in the centre (€35-50 pp): pici, peposo, bistecca, vino della casa.
• Real Neapolitan pizza (€20-28 pp): La Napoletana 2.0 in Viale Sardegna 37, in the 50 Top Pizza guide. Wood-fired oven, very local atmosphere, 12-min walk from the centre. Try the signature mortadella + fiordilatte + pistachio pesto.

10:00 PM — Last bus to Florence The last direct bus back to Florence usually leaves **around 21:30-22:00** (check schedules the same day). If you miss it, you'll need a car or a hotel.

Pro tip: book the return bus in advance with a flexible ticket. Walking back to Piazza Gramsci with a full belly and no ticket at 9:55 PM is stressful.

What NOT to do on a day trip

• Don't waste time on Piazza del Campo restaurants: pretty view, mediocre food, double prices.
• Don't try to add San Gimignano to the same day: you'll do both badly. Pick one.
• Don't drive into the city centre: it's a ZTL (camera-enforced). You'll get a €100+ fine 4 weeks after you're home.
• Don't book the latest possible bus back: missing the last one ruins the day.

Should you stay overnight instead?

Honestly: if you can, yes. A night in Siena (B&B in the centre, €80-140) gives you the best part of the day — the evening, when day-trippers have left and the city is yours. You also get to see Piazza del Campo lit up at 11 PM, which is unforgettable.

But a well-planned day trip with dinner is 80% of the experience for 20% of the cost.

Comparison: Florence vs Siena for food

Quick honest answer: for food, Siena gives you better value. Same Tuscan cuisine (pici, fiorentina, ribollita, Chianti) at lower prices, in smaller restaurants, with more local customers. We unpack the comparison in detail in Siena or Florence: where do you eat better?.

Keep reading

• Siena in one day: the perfect itinerary
• Where to eat in Siena: a local foodie's guide
• Best pizza in Siena: 7 places locals actually go
• Best gelato in Siena: 6 spots worth the walk

Planning a Tuscany road trip and want suggestions? Email us at redazione@visitsienaguide.it.