Day trip from Florence to Siena: the plan for one day

Outbound 1 h 28 minAbout 9 h for your visit in Siena
Costs for the dayabout €89.60 to €99.60 per person2 adults, recommended sights, with AI Tour Guide and foodWork out your costs ↓
Start the Siena tourSee the day plan
Siena

Siena works well as a day trip from Florence, but it is a long day: a direct regional train takes about an hour and a half each way, and to fit the whole walking tour you ride back on an evening train that reaches Florence late in the evening. With an early start you get nearly nine hours in the old town. That is enough for a full walking tour from Piazza del Campo to the cathedral and San Domenico with a proper lunch in between, though not for lingering in every museum.

Is a day trip from Florence to Siena worth it?

Yes, for most visitors. Direct regional trains leave Firenze Santa Maria Novella through the whole day, there is no change, and almost everything you come for sits close together between Piazza del Campo and the cathedral. A short walk of about 1.5 km links the main sights, so the day goes to the places rather than to getting between them.

Siena gives you something Florence does not: a Gothic city that kept its medieval shape, a town hall and tower that still dominate the main square, and a cathedral complex with its own museum, baptistery and the unfinished wall of a never completed enlargement. The city is still divided into its 17 contrade, and their flags and emblems mark the streets you walk through. Add pici, pecorino and panforte at lunch and the day feels clearly different from another day in Florence.

The price is about three hours on the train in total plus the walk up from the station, and a string of separate tickets inside. One day shows you the core of Siena well; it does not leave room for the countryside around it.

Who this day trip suits

  • First visitors to Tuscany who want a medieval Gothic city as the counterpoint to Renaissance Florence
  • Art lovers, for the cathedral, its baptistery with the font begun in 1417 and the town hall museum
  • Food lovers who want to try pici, wild boar, Sienese pecorino and panforte where they come from
  • Travellers without a car, because the direct train and the compact centre make the day simple
  • Walkers who like to see a whole old town on foot at an easy pace

Go if you want a full day in a medieval city with serious art and food; if you only have half a day or want a short, easy outing, Pisa serves you better.

Other day trips from Florence

How to get from Florence to Siena by train or bus

The recommended way is the direct Trenitalia regional train from Firenze Santa Maria Novella, because it needs no change, runs roughly every hour on weekdays and keeps the day predictable at both ends. FlixBus also runs a shorter direct service from Villa Costanza on the edge of Florence to Siena station, useful mainly if you are staying near that terminal.

Train: Trenitalia Regionale

Regional and Regionale Veloce trains run direct from Firenze Santa Maria Novella to Siena in about an hour and a half. On weekdays and Saturdays there is a direct train about every hour from early morning into the evening; on Sundays there are fewer, with a gap in the morning after the early departures. Other services change at Empoli, which adds a step and gives you nothing. Buy a regional ticket at the station machines or through Trenitalia's own channels before you board. Siena station lies below the old town, so count on the extra transfer up into the centre.

Operator
Trenitalia Regionale
Route
Firenze Santa Maria Novella → Siena
Journey time
1 h 28 min
Morning departures
Monday to Saturday: 7 departures; Sunday: 4 departures
Travel fare
Outward €10.80; return €10.80 (€21.60 return total)

Tickets at Trenitalia ↗

Bus: Autolinee Toscane

Autolinee Toscane line 131R leaves from the Firenze Autostazione bus station beside Santa Maria Novella and takes about an hour and a quarter, with frequent departures on weekdays and far fewer on Sundays. Some departures leave from Via Orti Oricellari just outside the bus station while a temporary stop is in place, so look at where your bus departs. The bus ends at Via Tozzi, closer to the historic centre than the train station. Buying the return ticket in the morning gives you flexibility in the evening, but avoid relying on the very last bus, because a ticket does not guarantee a seat if it is full.

Operator
Autolinee Toscane
Route
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via Tozzi
Journey time
1 h 15 min to 1 h 20 min
Morning departures
Monday to Friday: 13 departures; Saturday: 7 departures; Sunday: 1 departure

Tickets at Autolinee Toscane ↗

From Siena station, take the escalator walkway up to Antiporto and continue on foot into the historic centre towards Piazza del Campo. Plan about three quarters of an hour from the train to the first stop, including the escalators and the walk.

Timetable

departures by weekday
RouteDaysDepartureArrivalDuration
Firenze Santa Maria Novella → SienaMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia08:1009:381 h 28 min
Show all departures (24)
departures by weekday
RouteDaysDepartureArrivalDuration
Firenze Santa Maria Novella → SienaSunday · Trenitalia06:2007:471 h 27 min
Firenze Santa Maria Novella → SienaMonday to Saturday · Trenitalia06:2007:551 h 35 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Saturday · Autolinee Toscane06:4508:001 h 15 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane07:0008:151 h 15 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane07:1508:301 h 15 min
Florence (Villa Costanza) → Siena (Stazione FS)Monday to Thursday · FlixBus07:4508:4055 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane07:4509:001 h 15 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Saturday · Autolinee Toscane08:1009:251 h 15 min
Firenze Santa Maria Novella → SienaMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia08:1009:381 h 28 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane08:5010:051 h 15 min
Florence (Villa Costanza) → Siena (Stazione FS)Monday to Thursday · FlixBus09:0009:5555 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Sunday · Autolinee Toscane09:1010:251 h 15 min
Firenze Santa Maria Novella → SienaMonday to Saturday · Trenitalia09:1010:401 h 30 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Saturday · Autolinee Toscane10:1011:251 h 15 min
Firenze Santa Maria Novella → SienaMonday to Saturday · Trenitalia10:1011:401 h 30 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane10:3011:451 h 15 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Saturday · Autolinee Toscane11:1012:251 h 15 min
Firenze Santa Maria Novella → SienaMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia11:1012:381 h 28 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Saturday · Autolinee Toscane12:1013:251 h 15 min
Firenze Santa Maria Novella → SienaMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia12:1013:401 h 30 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Saturday · Autolinee Toscane13:1014:251 h 15 min
Firenze Santa Maria Novella → SienaMonday to Saturday · Trenitalia13:1014:401 h 30 min
Florence (Villa Costanza) → Siena (Stazione FS)Monday to Thursday · FlixBus13:3014:2050 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane13:3014:501 h 20 min

Timetable: Trenitalia, as of 22 October 2026

Timetable: FlixBus, as of 22 October 2026

Timetable: Autolinee Toscane, as of 22 October 2026

departures by weekday
RouteDaysDepartureArrivalDuration
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia20:1821:521 h 34 min
Show all departures (37)
departures by weekday
RouteDaysDepartureArrivalDuration
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Saturday · Autolinee Toscane12:1013:271 h 17 min
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia12:1813:521 h 34 min
Siena (piazza Gramsci) → Florence (Villa Costanza)Wednesday · FlixBus12:3014:001 h 30 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane13:1014:251 h 15 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneSaturday · Autolinee Toscane13:1014:271 h 17 min
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia13:1814:521 h 34 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Sunday · Autolinee Toscane14:1015:251 h 15 min
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaMonday to Saturday · Trenitalia14:1815:521 h 34 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane14:5016:051 h 15 min
Siena (viale Toselli) → Florence (Villa Costanza)Monday to Thursday · FlixBus14:5116:001 h 9 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane15:1016:251 h 15 min
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia15:1816:521 h 34 min
Siena (Stazione FS) → Florence (Villa Costanza)Monday and Thursday · FlixBus16:0517:0055 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Friday and Sunday · Autolinee Toscane16:1017:251 h 15 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneSaturday · Autolinee Toscane16:1017:271 h 17 min
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaMonday to Saturday · Trenitalia16:1817:521 h 34 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneSunday · Autolinee Toscane16:4017:571 h 17 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane16:5018:071 h 17 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane17:1018:251 h 15 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneSaturday · Autolinee Toscane17:1018:271 h 17 min
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia17:1818:521 h 34 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneSunday · Autolinee Toscane17:4018:551 h 15 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane17:4018:571 h 17 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Saturday · Autolinee Toscane17:5019:051 h 15 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneSunday · Autolinee Toscane17:5019:071 h 17 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane18:0019:171 h 17 min
Siena (Stazione FS) → Florence (Villa Costanza)Monday to Thursday · FlixBus18:1019:0555 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneSunday · Autolinee Toscane18:1019:251 h 15 min
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia18:1819:521 h 34 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Saturday · Autolinee Toscane18:2019:371 h 17 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane18:5020:071 h 17 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Sunday · Autolinee Toscane19:1020:271 h 17 min
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaMonday to Saturday · Trenitalia19:1820:521 h 34 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane20:1521:321 h 17 min
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia20:1821:521 h 34 min
Siena (Stazione FS) → Florence (Villa Costanza)Monday to Thursday · FlixBus20:2521:1550 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane20:4522:021 h 17 min

Timetable: Trenitalia, as of 22 October 2026

Timetable: FlixBus, as of 22 October 2026

Timetable: Autolinee Toscane, as of 22 October 2026

Florence to Siena day trip itinerary from the morning train to the evening return

Day plan for: Mon, Wed–Sun

Take the early direct train, start the tour on Piazza del Campo by mid morning and let the tour order carry the day to San Domenico before the evening train.

  1. Morning08:10 – 09:38

    Take the direct train shortly after eight from Firenze Santa Maria Novella, arrive in Siena just after half past nine, ride the escalators up to Antiporto and walk into the centre. Be on Piazza del Campo around half past ten.

    On weekdays the next direct train comes an hour later and on Sundays not until late morning, so every later train costs you afternoon time, and the town hall, tower and cathedral open in the morning.

  2. Tour10:30 – 13:00

    Open the tour in the browser on Piazza del Campo. The AI Tour Guide greets you on the square, tells you its stories, asks what interests you and leads you to the Palazzo Pubblico, up the Torre del Mangia and round to Piazza del Mercato behind the town hall.

    The square and the tower are best early, before the day crowd builds, and the three stops around the Campo are only a minute or two apart.

    1. Piazza del Campo in Siena, stop 1 on the self-guided walking tour1Piazza del Campo
    2. Palazzo Pubblico in Siena, stop 2 on the self-guided walking tour2Palazzo Pubblico
    3. Torre del Mangia in Siena, stop 3 on the self-guided walking tour3Torre del Mangia
    4. Piazza del Mercato in Siena, stop 4 on the self-guided walking tour4Piazza del Mercato

    Start the Siena tour

  3. Lunch13:00 – 14:00

    Lunch after Piazza del Mercato and before the Facciatone: pici all'aglione, wild boar or a plate of Cinta Senese and pecorino. A few streets away from the Campo and the Duomo you eat better for less.

    The morning stops end right at the market square, and the walk to the cathedral quarter afterwards is the longest leg of the tour, so this is the natural break.

  4. Afternoon14:00 – 19:15

    The guide continues with the Facciatone, Santa Maria della Scala, the cathedral, the Baptistery of San Giovanni and finally the Basilica of San Domenico. You finish around a quarter to six with about an hour and a half to spare, enough for panforte from a bakery, a gelato or an aperitivo before you head back.

    The cathedral quarter stops stand within a couple of minutes of each other, and the paid interiors stay open through the afternoon, so you can take your time there.

    1. Facciatone in Siena, stop 5 on the self-guided walking tour5Facciatone
    2. Santa Maria della Scala in Siena, stop 6 on the self-guided walking tour6Santa Maria della Scala
    3. Siena Cathedral, stop 7 on the self-guided walking tour7Siena Cathedral
    4. Baptistery of San Giovanni in Siena, stop 8 on the self-guided walking tour8Baptistery of San Giovanni
    5. Basilica of San Domenico in Siena, stop 9 on the self-guided walking tour9Basilica of San Domenico
  5. Return19:15 – 21:52

    Walk back to Antiporto and down the escalators to the station, keep a short buffer and take the direct train shortly after eight, arriving at Firenze Santa Maria Novella shortly before ten.

    The way back to the platform takes about as long as the morning transfer, and leaving by a quarter past seven keeps you relaxed for the train.

Arrival to return departure: 10 h 40 min. Time for your visit: about 9 h.

You get nearly nine hours in Siena; if you arrive later, shorten the end of the tour by skipping San Domenico or the Baptistery rather than changing the order.

Best day to visit Siena from Florence

  1. Monday: recommended
  2. Tuesday: better not
  3. Wednesday: recommended
  4. Thursday: recommended
  5. Friday: recommended
  6. Saturday: recommended
  7. Sunday: recommended
  • Tuesday: The planned interior visits (Santa Maria della Scala) do not fit the opening hours on this day.

Siena walking tour in one day: from the Campo to San Domenico

The walking tour is how you see Siena on this day: nine stops on a one way route from Piazza del Campo through the cathedral quarter to the Basilica of San Domenico, about 1.5 km and only around 23 minutes of pure walking. With the visits inside it fills about six hours, an unhurried walk through narrow lanes where the AI Tour Guide leads the way as a conversation, stop by stop.

The Siena tour: your guide leads you from stop to stop.
  1. Piazza del Campo
  2. Palazzo Pubblico
  3. Torre del Mangia
  4. Piazza del Mercato
  5. Facciatone
  6. Santa Maria della Scala
  7. Siena Cathedral
  8. Baptistery of San Giovanni
  9. Basilica of San Domenico

Start the Siena tour

Opening hours as of 21 October 2026.

  1. Piazza del Campo in Siena, stop 1 on the self-guided walking tour
    1Stop 1

    Piazza del Campo

    The main square of the historic centre and the stage of the Palio horse race, where the town hall and its tower face the sloping piazza.

    Price
    Free
  2. Palazzo Pubblico in Siena, stop 2 on the self-guided walking tour
    2Stop 2

    Palazzo Pubblico

    The medieval town hall on the Campo, one of the principal landmarks of the old city and home of the Civic Museum.

    Hours
    Daily: 10:00–18:00
    Price
    €10
  3. Torre del Mangia in Siena, stop 3 on the self-guided walking tour
    3Stop 3

    Torre del Mangia

    The tower beside the town hall, built between 1338 and 1348, which you can climb above the main square.

    Hours
    Daily: 10:00–16:00
    Price
    €10
  4. Piazza del Mercato in Siena, stop 4 on the self-guided walking tour
    4Stop 4

    Piazza del Mercato

    One of the largest open spaces in the city, right behind the Palazzo Pubblico and long the place of Siena's market.

    Price
    Free
  5. Facciatone in Siena, stop 5 on the self-guided walking tour
    5Stop 5

    Facciatone

    The huge unfinished wall of a cathedral enlargement that was never completed, part of the cathedral complex.

    Hours
    Daily: 10:30–17:30 (last admission 17:00)
    Included
    OPA SI PASS
  6. Santa Maria della Scala in Siena, stop 6 on the self-guided walking tour
    6Stop 6

    Santa Maria della Scala

    A large museum complex in a former hospital directly opposite the cathedral on Piazza del Duomo.

    Hours
    Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri: 10:00–17:00 (last admission 16:15)
    Tue: closed
    Sat, Sun: 10:00–19:00 (last admission 18:15)
    Price
    €9
  7. Siena Cathedral, stop 7 on the self-guided walking tour
    7Stop 7

    Siena Cathedral

    The medieval cathedral, a Marian church from its earliest days and dedicated to the Assumption of Mary.

    Hours
    Mon–Sat: 10:30–17:30 (last admission 17:00)
    Sun: 13:30–17:30 (last admission 17:00)
    On public holidays: 09:30–18:00; last admission 30 minutes before closing. Religious services may change these hours.
    Price
    Combined ticket: €14
  8. Baptistery of San Giovanni in Siena, stop 8 on the self-guided walking tour
    8Stop 8

    Baptistery of San Giovanni

    The Gothic baptistery beneath the cathedral choir, known for its font begun in 1417, a major work of Renaissance sculpture.

    Hours
    Daily: 10:30–17:30 (last admission 17:00)
    Included
    OPA SI PASS
  9. Basilica of San Domenico in Siena, stop 9 on the self-guided walking tour
    9Stop 9

    Basilica of San Domenico

    The Basilica Cateriniana, one of the city's most important churches and an example of Cistercian Gothic.

    Hours
    Daily: 07:30–18:30
    Price
    €0
AI Tour Guide in Siena

Your guide for the Siena tour

On Piazza del Campo the AI Tour Guide greets you and leads the whole walk as a conversation: it tells you about the Palio, the town hall's tower and the cathedral that was meant to grow even larger, asks what you want to know and remembers what interests you for the next stops. You start it in the browser at the first stop, and the free route and map take you from the Campo to San Domenico.

stops
9
route
1.5 km
walking only
23 min
with visits
6 h 1 min
  • 100 free credits to start
  • €19.99 once for the whole group
  • Travel and admission tickets are not included
Start the Siena tourSee the whole tour →

What a Florence to Siena day trip costs

The day is driven by the return train fare and above all by the paid sights: the town hall museum, the tower, Santa Maria della Scala and the Basilica of San Domenico at the end of the walk each come with their own ticket, and the OPA SI pass covers the cathedral complex with the Facciatone and the Baptistery. Lunch is where you save most easily: a few streets away from the Campo and the Duomo prices drop and the food is often better.

Adults
Children

One device is enough for the whole group: two people listen on two connected headphones, larger groups use the phone speaker.

Cost breakdown

Costs for 2 adults · planned visits

Travel there and backTrenitalia Regionale2 adults × €21.60€43.20
SightsPalazzo Pubblico, Santa Maria della Scala, Basilica of San Domenico, Torre del Mangia and OPA SI PASS2 adults × €43€86
AI Tour Guide touronce for the whole group€19.99
Food (estimate)€15 to €25 per person€30 to €50
Total€179.19 to €199.19
Split between peopleabout €89.60 to €99.60 per person
Sights
  • €10
  • €10
  • €9
  • €0
  • €14
Buffer and private guide

Look at the combined tickets before paying stop by stop: one covers the tower, the Civic Museum and Santa Maria della Scala, and the OPA SI pass gets you into the cathedral, the Facciatone and the Baptistery with a single ticket.

Prices as of October 2026.

Getting back from Siena to Florence

The way back mirrors the morning: walk to Antiporto, ride the escalators down to Siena station and take a direct regional train to Firenze Santa Maria Novella. Allow about three quarters of an hour from the last stop to the platform plus a short buffer, since the walk and the escalators take longer than the map suggests at the end of a long day.

On weekdays and Saturdays direct trains leave about every hour into the evening, so missing one costs you an hour, not the day. On Sundays there are fewer, with longer gaps between them in the late afternoon and evening, so keep to the planned train.

If you run late, drop San Domenico first and then the Baptistery, as they close the tour. If you miss the last convenient direct train, one more direct train leaves later in the evening and reaches Florence late at night; line 131R from Via Tozzi also runs into the evening on weekdays, but do not count on the very last bus.

Recommended returnTrenitalia: departs 20:18, arrives 21:52Leave the last stop of the tour by 19:15

Latest return that fits the day: 20:18

  • Trenitalia from Siena, Saturday to Sunday: departs 20:18, arrives 21:52
  • Autolinee Toscane from Siena-Via Tozzi, Monday to Friday: departs 20:45, arrives 22:02

Questions about the day trip from Florence to Siena

What should I wear for Siena Cathedral?

Cover shoulders and knees. In summer a light scarf or shirt in your bag solves it.

Do I need to book tickets in advance?

Between May and September book the cathedral online, and if you choose a Gate of Heaven time slot, arrive about 20 minutes early. Torre del Mangia tickets often sell out by midday in peak season, so buy them first thing and reserve a later slot if needed.

Can I drive to Siena instead?

You can, but the historic centre has restricted vehicle access with cameras, and fines arrive by mail. Park outside the centre, for example at the station car park, and walk in.

Should I go on a Palio day?

Only if you come for the race. On 2 July and 16 August the horse race on Piazza del Campo makes the city extremely crowded and the tour hard to follow.

Is it easy to eat vegetarian in Siena?

Yes. Oasi Verde near the centre is mostly vegan, and Osteria Permalico is affordable and vegetarian friendly. Ask about ribollita, as some places add pancetta.

More day trips from Florence

Rome in a day 1 h 25 min Pisa in a day 50 min Venice in a day 2 h 14 min Bologna in a day 37 min Lucca in a day 1 h 20 min San Gimignano in a day 1 h 30 min Assisi in a day 2 h Perugia in a day 2 h Orvieto in a day 2 h 10 min

Sources

Timetables, fares and opening hours come from these operators:

Image credits
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