Florence is the main city in the Tuscany region, central Italy. It’s renowned for its stunning architecture, distinguished cultural heritage and famous artworks. Florence boasts a long history and wealth of cultural attractions that always leave you wanting more. This means a trip to Florence is a must, and if you’re based in Siena, you have many easy options to travel between these two beautiful destinations in Italy.
How to Get to Florence from Siena
Florence and Siena are only 72 km apart, and they’re easily accessible by road or train. The choice of transportation depends on how much time you have and if you’re planning to drive around the region or prefer public transport. Regardless of your reasons for visiting Florence, taking a train can make things simpler. However, bus or car trips are faster compared to the train.
Why Should You Visit Florence
Florence has a range of fabulous attractions, world-famous sights and museums, great shops and beautiful vistas. The myriad things to eat, discover, do and see makes a trip to this amazing city totally worthwhile.
=> See the 10 Unmissable Attractions in Florence
Rich History and Culture
Florence is home to some of Italy’s most famous world-class galleries and art museums containing numerous masterpieces from renowned artists like Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Sandro Botticelli. Notably the Uffizi Gallery, which is among the top museums in the whole of Europe. This gallery hosts an amazing artwork collection including “Annunciation” by Da Vinci and “The Birth of Venus” and “Primavera” by Botticelli.
At the Accademia Gallery you can admire the iconic statue of David by Michelangelo. Together with its other museums, like Bargello and Pitti Palace, Florence has Italy’s greatest collection of Renaissance art.
Stunning Architecture
If you’re interested in architecture, Florence is an ideal destination. The city’s stunning buildings are a blend of Medieval and Renaissance styles, from the severe-looking Palazzo Vecchio, to the romantic Ponte Vecchio and many churches filled with frescoes.
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, with the famed Brunelleschi’s Dome, is one of the iconic buildings to visit in Florence. You can learn about its long and complex history – the construction started in 1296 – in the Opera del Duomo Museum, and climb to the top of the Dome for incredible views of the city.
Lively Piazzas
You only need to sit back and enjoy the atmosphere to really get a feel for a place. In Florence, you can find many public spaces or piazzas where you can unwind and soak up the atmosphere. Florence’s beautiful squares are great places for locals and tourists to grab a drink and socialise at the alfresco cafes. The city’s most famous piazze are Piazza della Signoria -that has a replica of Michelangelo’s David, Renaissance sculpture and Palazzo Vecchio – and Piazza della Repubblica, with its historic cafes.
How Can You Get to Florence from Siena?
Whether you’re travelling from Siena to Florence for a few days or on a day trip, you have multiple transport options you can choose from. You can go by road or rail. If you’re travelling by road, you’ve several alternatives, each with its pros and cons.
Public Bus
If you want a comfortable yet affordable means of travel from Siena to Florence, a public bus is the way to go. It’s a suitable alternative for those visiting for a single day and those with luggage. There are at least two bus lines from Siena to Florence. The fastest line 131R (‘Siena-Firenze Rapida’) takes approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. The normal line, 131O/A, takes about 1 hour 30 minutes since it makes a few stops along the way. Make sure you check the arrival point in Florence – some buses arrive near the train station S.M. Novella, others arrive at Villa Costanza, on the outskirts of Florence, from where you can get the tramvia to reach the city centre.
By Train
The train station in Siena is located at the bottom of the hill, 2 kilometres from the town centre. To reach it, you need to take a bus, a taxi or walk. A train can be a comfortable option, especially when you are travelling with children, but consider first how you’re going to reach the station, especially if you’ve luggage with you.
Direct trains run from Siena to Florence every hour, and the journey is 1 hour 35 minute long. There are other trains that take a bit longer, 1 hour 45 minutes, that require a transfer at Empoli. The main train station in Florence is called Firenze Santa Maria Novella (Firenze S.M.N), and it’s located in the historic centre, 10 minute-walk from the Cathedral.
Rental Car
If you want to spend your holidays exploring the scenic roads of Tuscany, rent a car. This way you have the freedom to choose your destination, departure time and the time to stay in every place along your trip. The rate of renting a car will depend on the time of stay and the company you choose.
To drive to Florence from Siena the quickest way is via the superstrada (Raccordo Autostradale3 Firenze-Siena). The journey takes roughly an hour and 15 minutes. But of course, you can easily spend a few days exploring the scenic landscapes of the Chianti, the beautiful wine region located between these two cities.
Keep in mind that you’ll have to pay for parking in Siena and Florence. There are a number of parking lots (on streets or enclosed) near or inside the city centre (average price for parking is between 2 euro to 3 euro an hour, some parking areas offer long term rates).
Guided Group Tour
For those looking for convenience or who’d like to visit multiple attractions in a short amount of time, a group tour is the ideal option. You wouldn’t need to worry about anything other than the rate for the tour, which is very affordable. Travelling alone in a rental car or bus can be a bit expensive and stressful compared to a group tour. Moreover, this option is suitable for people who want to spend less than 24 hours in Florence, and to see the main sights with a guide.
In a Nutshell
As Florence and Siena are around 72 km apart, your journey will take a minimum of 1 hour and 15 minutes depending on the means of transport you choose.
If you’re based in Siena, visiting Florence is a must, and can really enhance your trip. Whether you spend a day or longer in the city, the journey from Siena to Florence is easy and offers many options.
