Day trip from Pisa to Siena by train via Empoli

Outbound 2 hAbout 7.5 h for your visit in Siena
Costs for the dayabout €92.80 to €102.80 per person2 adults, recommended sights, with AI Tour Guide and foodWork out your costs ↓
Start the Siena tourSee the day plan
Siena

Siena from Pisa works as a day trip, but it is a long day: there is no direct train, you change at Empoli and spend about two hours on the train each way. Take an early train and you get about seven and a half hours in Siena, enough for the whole walking tour from Piazza del Campo to the cathedral and San Domenico without rushing.

Is a day trip from Pisa to Siena worth it?

Yes, if you give it the whole day. Siena is a different kind of city from Pisa: instead of one famous square on the edge of town, the whole medieval centre is the attraction, from the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo with its town hall and tower to the striped cathedral on the hill opposite. The paid sights here are a full programme in themselves: the Civic Museum in the Palazzo Pubblico, the Torre del Mangia, the panorama from the Facciatone, the old hospital of Santa Maria della Scala, the cathedral and its baptistery.

The price is the journey. The trip from Pisa crosses the Tuscan interior with a change at Empoli, so you spend around four hours on trains over the day, and the station in Siena lies below the hill, which adds a short ride or climb at each end. That rules out a half day and makes an early start important.

The other trap is trying to squeeze Siena and a second place into the same day. Siena fills a day on its own; pick the square, the cathedral complex and a long lunch of pici rather than a checklist.

Who this day trip suits

  • Travellers based in Pisa with one full free day who want to see a second great Tuscan city beyond the Leaning Tower
  • Lovers of medieval art and architecture, because the cathedral, the baptistery and the Palazzo Pubblico sit within a few minutes of each other
  • Walkers who like exploring on foot, since the whole tour covers only about a kilometre and a half through the centre
  • Food lovers who want hand-rolled pici, panforte and ricciarelli in the city they come from
  • Anyone who wants a Tuscan city with a calmer feel than Florence

Go if you can give Siena a whole day and do not mind about two hours on the train each way; if you only have a morning or an afternoon, take the short train to Lucca instead.

Other day trips from Pisa

How to get from Pisa to Siena by train

The practical way is Trenitalia's regional trains (Regionale and Regionale Veloce) from Pisa Centrale with one change at Empoli, about two hours in total. FlixBus also runs a direct bus from the Pietrasantina car park to Siena station on some days, but with only a few departures it rarely fits a day trip as well as the train.

Train: Trenitalia

You leave from Pisa Centrale on a regional train to Empoli, about half an hour, and trains on this first section run many times an hour through the day. At Empoli you change to the regional train to Siena, which takes around an hour and runs roughly once or twice an hour on weekdays, noticeably less often on Sundays. The two sections are separate trains and the Siena train does not wait for a late arrival, so choose a connection with a comfortable change rather than the tightest one. Buy at the machines in Pisa Centrale or from Trenitalia; if you hold a paper regional ticket, validate it in the green or yellow machine on the platform before you board, or you risk a fine.

Operator
Trenitalia
Route
Pisa Centrale → Siena
Journey time
2 h
Travel fare
Outward €12.40; return €12.40 (€24.80 return total)

Tickets at Trenitalia ↗

Siena station sits below the old town. Take the free escalators through the Galleria Porta Siena up to the Antiporto or the urban bus line 520 towards Piazza Gramsci, then walk down through the centre to Piazza del Campo; plan about half an hour for the whole transfer.

Example connections by weekday

Full journeys with each leg shown. Times and fares can vary by day and service.

DayOutboundReturn
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday07:38–09:38 · 2 h
  1. Pisa Centrale → Empoli: 07:38–08:07
  2. Empoli → Siena: 08:40–09:38
18:18–20:28 · 2 h 10 min
  1. Siena → Empoli: 18:18–19:20
  2. Empoli → Pisa Centrale: 19:58–20:28
Saturday07:44–09:38 · 1 h 54 min
  1. Pisa Centrale → Empoli: 07:44–08:14
  2. Empoli → Siena: 08:40–09:38
18:18–20:28 · 2 h 10 min
  1. Siena → Empoli: 18:18–19:20
  2. Empoli → Pisa Centrale: 19:58–20:28

Timetable

Train: Trenitalia

Monday to Saturday

DepartureArrivalDuration
07:3808:0729 min
Show all departures (24)

Other suitable trains may have different fares.

DepartureArrivalDuration
05:1906:0142 min
05:3906:1738 min
05:5306:3340 min
06:2906:5829 min
06:5407:3036 min
06:5807:4042 min
07:3808:0729 min
07:4408:1430 min
07:5408:3137 min
08:0308:4643 min
08:3209:0331 min
09:0909:3627 min
09:3210:0331 min
09:5410:3137 min
10:0110:4645 min
10:3211:0331 min
10:5411:3137 min
11:0911:3627 min
11:3012:0131 min
11:5412:3137 min
12:0112:4645 min
12:3213:0331 min
12:5413:3137 min
13:0913:3627 min

Sunday

DepartureArrivalDuration
05:3906:1738 min
06:0106:4645 min
06:2906:5829 min
06:5407:3036 min
07:3808:0729 min
07:5408:3137 min
08:0308:4643 min
08:3209:0331 min
08:5409:5157 min
09:0909:3627 min
09:3210:1644 min
10:5411:3137 min
11:3012:0131 min
12:3213:0331 min
13:0913:3627 min

Timetable: Trenitalia, as of 22 October 2026

Monday to Saturday

DepartureArrivalDuration
06:2107:311 h 10 min
06:5007:551 h 5 min
07:2608:421 h 16 min
08:0609:171 h 11 min
08:4009:3858 min
09:0810:161 h 8 min
09:4010:401 h
10:4011:401 h
11:4012:3858 min
12:0813:151 h 7 min
12:4013:401 h
13:0814:161 h 8 min

Sunday

DepartureArrivalDuration
06:5007:4757 min
08:0609:171 h 11 min
08:4009:3858 min
09:0810:161 h 8 min
11:4012:3858 min
12:4013:401 h
13:0814:161 h 8 min

Check current times at Trenitalia ↗

Alternative · Bus: FlixBus

Monday to Tuesday

DepartureArrivalDuration
07:1509:552 h 40 min
13:2515:402 h 15 min

Wednesday to Thursday

DepartureArrivalDuration
07:1509:552 h 40 min

Timetable: FlixBus, as of 22 October 2026

Check current times at FlixBus ↗

Train: Trenitalia

Monday to Saturday

DepartureArrivalDuration
18:1819:201 h 2 min
Show all departures (18)

Other suitable trains may have different fares.

DepartureArrivalDuration
12:1813:201 h 2 min
12:4113:541 h 13 min
13:1814:201 h 2 min
13:4114:541 h 13 min
14:1815:201 h 2 min
14:4115:541 h 13 min
15:1816:201 h 2 min
15:4116:541 h 13 min
16:1817:201 h 2 min
16:4117:521 h 11 min
17:1818:201 h 2 min
17:4118:521 h 11 min
18:1819:201 h 2 min
18:4219:541 h 12 min
19:1820:201 h 2 min
19:4120:541 h 13 min
20:1821:201 h 2 min
21:4022:401 h

Sunday

DepartureArrivalDuration
12:1813:201 h 2 min
13:1814:201 h 2 min
14:4115:541 h 13 min
15:1816:201 h 2 min
16:4117:521 h 11 min
17:1818:201 h 2 min
17:4118:521 h 11 min
18:1819:201 h 2 min
18:4719:541 h 7 min
19:4120:541 h 13 min
20:1821:201 h 2 min
21:4022:401 h

Monday to Friday

DepartureArrivalDuration
19:5820:2830 min
Show all departures (32)

Other suitable trains may have different fares.

DepartureArrivalDuration
12:1312:5946 min
12:2713:0437 min
12:5813:2830 min
13:2313:5128 min
13:2714:0437 min
13:5814:2830 min
14:0114:4544 min
14:1314:5946 min
14:2715:0437 min
14:5815:2830 min
15:2315:5128 min
15:2816:0436 min
15:5816:2830 min
16:1316:5946 min
16:2717:0437 min
16:5817:2830 min
17:2317:5128 min
17:2818:0436 min
17:5818:2830 min
18:1318:5542 min
18:2719:0336 min
18:5819:2830 min
19:0019:4444 min
19:2319:5431 min
19:2720:0437 min
19:5820:2830 min
20:1320:5946 min
20:2721:0437 min
20:5821:2830 min
21:1321:5946 min
21:2722:0437 min
22:0022:3636 min

Saturday

DepartureArrivalDuration
19:5820:2830 min
Show all departures (29)

Other suitable trains may have different fares.

DepartureArrivalDuration
12:1312:5946 min
12:2713:0437 min
12:5813:2830 min
13:2313:5128 min
13:2714:0437 min
13:5814:2830 min
14:1314:5946 min
14:2715:0437 min
14:5815:2830 min
15:2315:5128 min
15:2816:0436 min
15:5816:2830 min
16:2617:0438 min
16:5817:2830 min
17:2317:5128 min
17:2818:0436 min
17:5818:2830 min
18:1318:5542 min
18:5819:2830 min
19:0019:4444 min
19:2319:5431 min
19:2720:0437 min
19:5820:2830 min
20:1320:5946 min
20:2721:0437 min
20:5821:2830 min
21:1321:5946 min
21:2722:0437 min
22:0022:3636 min

Sunday

DepartureArrivalDuration
19:5820:2830 min
Show all departures (24)

Other suitable trains may have different fares.

DepartureArrivalDuration
12:1312:5946 min
12:5813:2830 min
13:2714:0437 min
14:1314:5946 min
14:2715:0437 min
14:5815:2830 min
15:2315:5128 min
15:2816:0436 min
15:5816:2830 min
16:1316:5946 min
16:2717:0437 min
17:2818:0436 min
17:5818:2830 min
18:1318:5542 min
18:5819:2830 min
19:0019:4444 min
19:2319:5431 min
19:2720:0437 min
19:5820:2830 min
20:1320:5946 min
20:2721:0437 min
21:1321:5946 min
21:2722:0437 min
22:0022:2828 min

Check current times at Trenitalia ↗

Alternative · Bus: FlixBus

Monday and Thursday

DepartureArrivalDuration
14:2516:402 h 15 min
18:1020:452 h 35 min

Tuesday to Wednesday

DepartureArrivalDuration
18:1020:452 h 35 min

Check current times at FlixBus ↗

Pisa to Siena day trip itinerary, from the early train to the evening return

Day plan for: Mon, Wed–Sun

The day hangs on an early train out of Pisa and a relaxed one back in the evening, with the walking tour, a lunch break and the cathedral afternoon in between.

  1. Morning07:38 – 09:38

    Take the train from Pisa Centrale shortly after half past seven, change at Empoli and arrive in Siena a little after half past nine. Ride the escalators or the bus up into town and walk to Piazza del Campo.

    This early connection gives you a full morning in Siena; anything much later costs you the end of the tour.

  2. Tour10:15 – 12:45

    Open the tour in the browser on Piazza del Campo. The AI Tour Guide greets you and leads you through the first part in tour order: the Campo, the Civic Museum in the Palazzo Pubblico, the climb up the Torre del Mangia and then round the back of the town hall to Piazza del Mercato, which you see from outside.

    The town hall and the tower stand right on the square, so the morning needs almost no walking, and you climb the tower before the midday crowds.

    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. Lunch12:45 – 13:45

    Have lunch after Piazza del Mercato and before you head on to the Facciatone. The streets around Piazza del Mercato have trattorias such as Antica Trattoria Papei; order pici, the thick hand-rolled local pasta.

    You are just off the Campo here, where the restaurants on the square itself are overpriced for what they serve, and you rest before the cathedral afternoon.

  4. Afternoon13:45 – 17:30

    The guide picks up where you left off: up to the Facciatone for the view over the city, then Santa Maria della Scala, Siena Cathedral and the Baptistery of San Giovanni, and finally the walk across to the Basilica of San Domenico, the last stop. With the time you have left, buy panforte or ricciarelli at a proper pasticceria such as Nannini.

    The cathedral complex fills the afternoon, and you reach it early enough to take your time inside.

    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. Return17:30 – 20:28

    Leave San Domenico by about half past five at the latest, head down to the station and take the train from Siena at around a quarter past six, change at Empoli and arrive at Pisa Centrale at around half past eight.

    This leaves time for the transfer down the hill and a buffer at the station, and the change at Empoli on this connection is unhurried.

Arrival to return departure: 8 h 40 min. Time for your visit: about 7.5 h.

Arrival 09:38, tour start 10:15: 30 min to walk to the start, 7 min spare.

You get about seven and a half hours in Siena; if you arrive late, cut the walk out to San Domenico at the end of the tour rather than the cathedral.

Best day to visit Siena from Pisa

  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

The tour runs from Piazza del Campo through the civic heart of Siena and up to the cathedral, ending at the Basilica of San Domenico: nine stops on about a kilometre and a half, with only around 25 minutes of actual walking between them. The AI Tour Guide leads the walk as a conversation, telling the stories of each place as you arrive and answering whatever you want to know along the way.

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 Siena, a sloping shell of brick that has been the stage of city life and the Palio for centuries.

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

    Palazzo Pubblico

    The Gothic town hall on the Campo, where the Civic Museum shows the rooms the city republic was governed from.

    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 slender tower next to the town hall, built in the fourteenth century, with a view over the rooftops for those who climb it.

    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 centre, right behind the Palazzo Pubblico, and historically the city's market square.

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

    Facciatone

    The unfinished façade of a planned new cathedral, whose top terrace gives a view over Siena that rivals the Torre del Mangia.

    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 former hospital turned museum complex 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 dedicated to the Assumption of Mary, the centre of Siena's art and the place most visitors come for.

    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

    A Gothic baptistery beneath the cathedral choir, known for its baptismal font begun in 1417, a key 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

    A large Cistercian Gothic church, also called the Basilica Cateriniana for its link to Saint Catherine of Siena.

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

Your guide for the Siena tour

On this walk the AI Tour Guide leads you from the Campo to the cathedral, tells the stories behind the Palazzo Pubblico, the contrada flags on the walls and the Palio, and asks what you want to hear more about. It remembers whether you lean towards art, food or city history and shapes the rest of the walk around it. You start it in the browser on Piazza del Campo.

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 →

Pisa to Siena day trip cost

The day costs you the regional train fare via Empoli there and back, plus the bus up from the station if you do not take the free escalators, then the paid sights and lunch. The default selection includes the Civic Museum, the Torre del Mangia, Santa Maria della Scala, the OPA SI pass for the cathedral complex and the Basilica of San Domenico, because they are the core of the tour; skip the Torre del Mangia if the view from the Facciatone is enough for you.

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 backTrenitalia2 adults × €24.80€49.60
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€185.59 to €205.59
Split between peopleabout €92.80 to €102.80 per person
Sights
  • €10
  • €10
  • €9
  • €0
  • €14
Buffer and private guide

The OPA SI pass covers the cathedral, the Facciatone and the baptistery in one ticket, so you need no separate tickets for them; for lunch, eat in the side streets rather than on the Campo.

Prices as of October 2026.

Getting back from Siena to Pisa

The way back mirrors the morning: a regional train from Siena to Empoli, then a change to one of the frequent trains to Pisa Centrale. Allow about 25 minutes on foot from the last stop to the station, plus a quarter of an hour of buffer, because the station is below the old town.

Trains to Empoli run roughly hourly into the evening, and on the connection in the plan the change at Empoli is relaxed. On Sundays fewer trains run, but the connection in the plan runs on Sundays too, so the plan stays the same.

If you run late, drop the walk out to San Domenico first and head down from the cathedral. If you miss your train, take the next one from Siena to Empoli; trains from Empoli to Pisa Centrale run several times an hour, so the second leg is rarely the problem.

Recommended returnTrenitalia: departs 18:18, arrives 20:28Leave the last stop of the tour by 17:30

Latest return that fits the day: 20:18

  • Trenitalia from Siena, Monday to Saturday: departs 20:18, arrives 22:36
  • Trenitalia from Siena, Sunday: departs 20:18, arrives 22:28

Questions about the day trip from Pisa to Siena

Is there a direct train from Pisa to Siena?

No. Every train connection changes at Empoli. The change is simple, but since the two trains are separate and the connection is not guaranteed, pick one with some minutes to spare.

Is there a dress code for Siena Cathedral?

Yes. Shoulders and knees must be covered inside the cathedral, so bring a scarf or light layer if you are in a sleeveless top or shorts.

Should I drive from Pisa to Siena instead?

Only if you have a car anyway. The historic centre is a restricted traffic zone with cameras and fines; if you drive, park at the station car park and use the free escalators up to the Antiporto.

Can I combine Siena with another town on the same day?

Not from Pisa. The journey and Siena's sights already fill the day, and adding a second stop means cutting the cathedral or the town hall.

What should I eat in Siena?

Pici, the thick hand-rolled pasta, with garlic and tomato sauce or wild boar ragù, and for something sweet panforte or ricciarelli from a proper pasticceria rather than a souvenir shop.

More day trips from Pisa

Florence in a day 1 h Lucca in a day 30 min San Gimignano in a day 1 h 13 min

Sources

Timetables, fares and opening hours come from these operators:

Image credits
AI Tour Guide
Researched and curated by the AI Tour Guide team
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