How to get to Siena: train, plane, car and bus

How to get to Siena

Siena, the city of the Palio and Italian Gothic architecture, lies among the Tuscan hills between vineyards and wheat fields. Reaching it is a journey into the heart of Tuscany, made easy by bus, train and car connections.

By train

Siena's railway station is about 2 km from the historic centre, in the lower part of the city. The rail line is not high-speed, so journey times are longer than by bus for some routes.

Florence - Siena: about 1 hour 30 minutes by regional train (via Empoli), ticket about 10 euros
Rome - Siena: about 3 hours with a change at Chiusi-Chianciano Terme
Grosseto - Siena: about 1 hour 15 minutes
Empoli - Siena: about 1 hour

From the station to Siena's centre (Piazza del Campo), you can take the free Antiporto escalators up towards the upper town, then continue on foot (about 15 minutes total). Alternatively, take a city bus or taxi.

Note: there is no direct high-speed train connection to Siena. For long journeys, consider the bus or train to Florence + express bus.

By bus

The bus is often the most convenient way to reach Siena, thanks to fast and direct services.

Florence - Siena: about 1 hour 15 minutes with Tiemme/Autolinee Toscane express buses, departures every 15-30 minutes from Florence station (SITA bus terminal, Piazzale Montelungo). Ticket about 8 euros
Rome - Siena: about 3 hours with FlixBus or Marino
Milan - Siena: about 5 hours 30 minutes with FlixBus
Florence Airport - Siena: direct bus, about 1 hour 15 minutes

Siena's bus station is in Piazza Gramsci, in the heart of the city, 5 minutes' walk from Piazza del Campo. The bus from Florence is generally preferred over the train for its speed and the convenience of the central stop.

By plane

Siena does not have its own airport. The nearest are:

Florence-Peretola Airport (Amerigo Vespucci): about 70 km (1 hour by direct bus). National and European flights with Vueling, ITA Airways, EasyJet
Pisa-San Giusto Airport (Galileo Galilei): about 160 km (2 hours). Larger, with more international low-cost flights from Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air

From Florence airport to Siena:

Direct Autolinee Toscane bus: about 1 hour 15 minutes, ticket about 14 euros
Taxi or transfer: about 130-150 euros
Car rental: available at the airport

From Pisa airport to Siena:

PisaMover train + regional to Empoli + regional to Siena: about 2 hours 30 minutes
Car rental: about 1 hour 40 minutes via FI-PI-LI expressway + Siena link road

By car

Siena is reachable via Tuscany's expressway network, which is toll-free.

From Florence: about 1 hour 15 minutes via the Florence-Siena motorway link (SS674), a comfortable and fast expressway
From Rome: about 2 hours 45 minutes via A1 (Valdichiana exit) + link road to Siena
From Pisa: about 1 hour 40 minutes via FI-PI-LI + Siena link road
From Arezzo: about 1 hour via A1 + link road
From Perugia: about 1 hour 30 minutes via E45 + link road

Siena's historic centre is entirely a limited traffic zone and cars cannot enter. Park in the car parks outside the walls:

Parcheggio Il Campo (Fortezza): closest to Piazza del Campo, paid
Parcheggio Stadio: free, about 15 minutes' walk from the centre
Parcheggio San Francesco: convenient, with escalators to the centre

Getting around Siena

Siena is explored exclusively on foot. The historic centre is a network of medieval streets, climbs and descents, alleys and squares. Piazza del Campo, the Duomo, the Basilica of San Domenico and the contrada palaces are all reachable by walking.

Timme city buses connect car parks and outlying areas to the centre. Single ticket 1.50 euros.

Practical tips

The express bus from Florence is often better than the train: faster and arrives in the centre
If arriving by car, park outside the walls and use the escalators to go up
During the Palio (2 July and 16 August) the city is packed: book everything months in advance
Wear comfortable shoes: Siena is all climbs, descents and medieval cobblestones