Day trip from Siena to Florence by regional train

Outbound 1 h 34 minAbout 9 h for your visit in Florence
Costs for the dayabout €154.10 to €164.10 per person2 adults, recommended sights, with AI Tour Guide and foodWork out your costs ↓
Start the Florence tourSee the day plan
Florence

Florence works as a day trip from Siena, but it is a long day: about an hour and a half each way on the direct regional train, an early start and a late evening return. In exchange you get about nine hours in Florence, enough to walk the centre from Ponte Vecchio to Piazzale Michelangelo with short museum visits along the way, not enough for a slow, deep look at the city.

Is a day trip from Siena to Florence worth it?

Getting there is easy. Direct regional trains leave Siena roughly once an hour through most of the day and arrive at Firenze Santa Maria Novella, right on the edge of the historic centre. The catch is the time on the rails: around three hours in total, so the day only pays off if you leave early and stay until the evening.

Florence gives you what Siena does not: the Renaissance city after the medieval one. The Uffizi, the Galleria dell'Accademia, the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with Giotto's bell tower, the palaces of the Oltrarno and the view from Piazzale Michelangelo all lie within one walkable centre. The streets, piazzas and river banks between them are as much the point as the museums.

What it costs you is depth. One day turns Florence into a highlights reel, the city is busier and pricier than Siena, and the museum load is heavy. If you have only a single free day and have not yet explored Siena itself properly, that day is better spent in Siena.

Who this day trip suits

  • First-time visitors to Tuscany who want Renaissance Florence next to medieval Siena
  • Art lovers who have not yet seen the Uffizi or Michelangelo's David at the Accademia
  • Travellers staying in Siena for two or more nights with a free day to fill
  • Food lovers who want to compare Florentine cooking with Sienese, from lampredotto to ribollita
  • Good walkers who do not mind an early train and a late return

Go if you want the essence of Renaissance Florence in one packed day and accept a late return; if you dislike crowds and museums or have only one free day for Siena, pick San Gimignano or stay put.

Other day trips from Siena

How to get from Siena to Florence by train

The direct Trenitalia regional train (Regionale or Regionale Veloce) from Siena to Firenze Santa Maria Novella is the way to do this day, because it runs frequently, needs no change and arrives within walking distance of every stop of the tour. Autolinee Toscane also runs regional buses from Via Tozzi in Siena to the Autostazione next to Santa Maria Novella, about as long as the train and handy if you are staying in the old town.

Train: Trenitalia Regionale

Trains leave from Siena station, which lies below the old town, so allow time to get down there before departure. Most direct regionals take about an hour and a half, the fastest a little less and the slowest close to two hours. On weekdays and Saturdays there is roughly one an hour, with a gap in the late morning, and on Sundays noticeably fewer run, though the morning and evening trains of this plan run every day. Buy your ticket from Trenitalia online or at the station machines, and validate a paper regional ticket in the machine on the platform before you board, because travelling with an unvalidated ticket is fined. There is no food service on board, so bring water and something to eat.

Operator
Trenitalia Regionale
Route
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria Novella
Journey time
1 h 34 min
Morning departures
Monday to Saturday: 11 departures; Sunday: 6 departures
Travel fare
Outward €10.80; return €10.80 (€21.60 return total)

Tickets at Trenitalia ↗

From Firenze Santa Maria Novella you walk south through the centre to the Arno and Ponte Vecchio, where the tour begins. Plan about 20 minutes for the walk.

Timetable

departures by weekday
RouteDaysDepartureArrivalDuration
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia08:1809:521 h 34 min
Show all departures (38)
departures by weekday
RouteDaysDepartureArrivalDuration
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaMonday to Saturday · Trenitalia05:4307:231 h 40 min
Siena (Stazione FS) → Florence (Villa Costanza)Monday to Thursday · FlixBus06:1007:0555 min
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaMonday to Friday · Trenitalia06:1307:541 h 41 min
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaSaturday · Trenitalia06:1307:561 h 43 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane06:1507:301 h 15 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Saturday · Autolinee Toscane06:2007:351 h 15 min
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaMonday to Saturday · Trenitalia06:2507:361 h 11 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Saturday · Autolinee Toscane06:3507:501 h 15 min
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaSunday · Trenitalia06:3608:041 h 28 min
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaMonday to Saturday · Trenitalia06:3608:321 h 56 min
Siena (Stazione FS) → Florence (Villa Costanza)Monday to Tuesday · FlixBus06:4007:3555 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Saturday · Autolinee Toscane06:5008:051 h 15 min
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaMonday to Saturday · Trenitalia07:0208:591 h 57 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane07:1008:251 h 15 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane07:1008:301 h 20 min
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaSunday · Trenitalia07:1508:591 h 44 min
Siena (Stazione FS) → Florence (Villa Costanza)Monday to Thursday · FlixBus07:5008:4555 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Saturday · Autolinee Toscane07:5509:121 h 17 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneSaturday · Autolinee Toscane08:1009:251 h 15 min
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia08:1809:521 h 34 min
Siena (Stazione FS) → Florence (Villa Costanza)Monday to Tuesday · FlixBus08:3009:2555 min
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia08:4810:171 h 29 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane08:5010:071 h 17 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Saturday · Autolinee Toscane09:1010:251 h 15 min
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaMonday to Saturday · Trenitalia09:1810:521 h 34 min
Siena (Stazione FS) → Florence (Villa Costanza)Monday to Tuesday and Thursday · FlixBus09:2010:1555 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Saturday · Autolinee Toscane10:1011:271 h 17 min
Siena (Stazione FS) → Florence (Villa Costanza)Monday and Thursday · FlixBus10:4011:3555 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane11:1012:251 h 15 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneSunday · Autolinee Toscane11:1012:271 h 17 min
Siena → Firenze Santa Maria NovellaMonday to Saturday · Trenitalia11:1812:521 h 34 min
Siena (Stazione FS) → Florence (Villa Costanza)Monday to Thursday · FlixBus11:4012:3050 min
Siena-Via Tozzi → Firenze AutostazioneMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane11:5013:051 h 15 min
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-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

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
Firenze Santa Maria Novella → SienaMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia20:1021:391 h 29 min
Show all departures (34)
departures by weekday
RouteDaysDepartureArrivalDuration
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
Florence (Villa Costanza) → Siena (Stazione FS)Monday and Thursday · FlixBus13:4514:4055 min
Florence (Villa Costanza) → Siena (Stazione FS)Monday to Thursday · FlixBus14:0014:5555 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Sunday · Autolinee Toscane14:1015:251 h 15 min
Firenze Santa Maria Novella → SienaMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia14:1015:371 h 27 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane14:4016:001 h 20 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Sunday · Autolinee Toscane15:1016:251 h 15 min
Firenze Santa Maria Novella → SienaMonday to Saturday · Trenitalia15:1016:401 h 30 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane15:4016:551 h 15 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Saturday · Autolinee Toscane16:1017:251 h 15 min
Firenze Santa Maria Novella → SienaMonday to Saturday · Trenitalia16:1017:381 h 28 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane16:3017:501 h 20 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane17:0018:151 h 15 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziSaturday · Autolinee Toscane17:1018:251 h 15 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane17:1018:261 h 16 min
Firenze Santa Maria Novella → SienaMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia17:1018:401 h 30 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziSaturday to Sunday · Autolinee Toscane17:2018:351 h 15 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Friday · Autolinee Toscane17:3018:451 h 15 min
Florence (Villa Costanza) → Siena (Stazione FS)Monday to Thursday · FlixBus18:0018:5555 min
Florence (Villa Costanza) → Siena (Stazione FS)Monday and Thursday · FlixBus18:1019:0555 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Friday and Sunday · Autolinee Toscane18:1019:251 h 15 min
Firenze Santa Maria Novella → SienaMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia18:1019:381 h 28 min
Florence (Villa Costanza) → Siena (Stazione FS)Monday and Thursday · FlixBus18:5519:5055 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Sunday · Autolinee Toscane19:1020:251 h 15 min
Firenze Santa Maria Novella → SienaMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia19:1020:401 h 30 min
Florence (Villa Costanza) → Siena (Stazione FS)Monday to Tuesday · FlixBus20:0520:5550 min
Firenze Santa Maria Novella → SienaMonday to Sunday · Trenitalia20:1021:391 h 29 min
Firenze Autostazione → Siena-Via TozziMonday to Saturday · Autolinee Toscane20:1521:351 h 20 min
Florence (Villa Costanza) → Siena (Stazione FS)Monday to Thursday · FlixBus21:2522:2055 min

Timetable: Trenitalia, as of 22 October 2026

Timetable: FlixBus, as of 22 October 2026

Timetable: Autolinee Toscane, as of 22 October 2026

Siena to Florence day trip itinerary for one long day

Day plan for: Tue–Wed, Fri–Sat

The day hangs between two trains, one out of Siena shortly after eight in the morning and one back from Florence shortly after eight in the evening, and the walking tour fills everything in between.

  1. Morning08:18 – 09:52

    Take the direct train from Siena shortly after eight, arrive at Firenze Santa Maria Novella just before ten and walk through the centre to Ponte Vecchio.

    After this train the next direct departures come in the late morning, which would cost you a large part of the day, and this early train runs on every day of the week.

  2. Tour10:15 – 12:45

    Open the tour in the browser on Ponte Vecchio. The AI Tour Guide greets you, tells the stories of the bridge and leads you across the Oltrarno to Palazzo Pitti and up into the Boboli Gardens, then back over the river to Palazzo Strozzi, asking you questions along the way.

    The palace and the gardens on the far bank take the most time and energy, so they come first while you are fresh and the light is good for the garden.

    1. Ponte Vecchio in Florence, stop 1 on the self-guided walking tour1Ponte Vecchio
    2. Palazzo Pitti in Florence, stop 2 on the self-guided walking tour2Palazzo Pitti
    3. Boboli Gardens in Florence, stop 3 on the self-guided walking tour3Boboli Gardens
    4. Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, stop 4 on the self-guided walking tour4Palazzo Strozzi

    Start the Florence tour

  3. Lunch12:45 – 13:45

    Have lunch after Palazzo Strozzi and before the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella: a ribollita or pappa al pomodoro, with cantucci and vin santo to finish.

    It splits the walk into two halves of similar length and gives you a rest before the long loop through the northern half of the centre.

  4. Afternoon13:45 – 19:15

    The guide continues to the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, Mercato Centrale for a lampredotto or a gelato, the Galleria dell'Accademia, then the cathedral from outside, Piazza del Duomo, Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, the Loggia dei Lanzi and the Uffizi Gallery. Santa Croce is seen from outside before the last climb to Piazzale Michelangelo.

    The museums here work with timed tickets, so book the Accademia and the Uffizi ahead and time them to this order; the cathedral and Santa Croce stay exterior stops because their visiting hours do not fit the walk.

    1. Basilica of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, stop 5 on the self-guided walking tour5Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
    2. Mercato Centrale in Florence, stop 6 on the self-guided walking tour6Mercato Centrale
    3. Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence, stop 7 on the self-guided walking tour7Galleria dell'Accademia
    4. Florence Cathedral, stop 8 on the self-guided walking tour8Florence Cathedral
    5. Piazza del Duomo in Florence, stop 9 on the self-guided walking tour9Piazza del Duomo
    6. Piazza della Signoria in Florence, stop 10 on the self-guided walking tour10Piazza della Signoria
    7. Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, stop 11 on the self-guided walking tour11Palazzo Vecchio
    8. Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence, stop 12 on the self-guided walking tour12Loggia dei Lanzi
    9. Uffizi Gallery in Florence, stop 13 on the self-guided walking tour13Uffizi Gallery
    10. Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, stop 14 on the self-guided walking tour14Basilica of Santa Croce
    11. Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence, stop 15 on the self-guided walking tour15Piazzale Michelangelo
  5. Return19:15 – 21:39

    Leave Piazzale Michelangelo by about a quarter past seven, walk back across the river to Santa Maria Novella and take the direct train shortly after eight, which arrives in Siena around half past nine.

    About 40 minutes for the walk to the station plus a 15-minute buffer keep the evening train safe.

Arrival to return departure: 10 h 18 min. Time for your visit: about 9 h.

Arrival 09:52, tour start 10:15: 20 min to walk to the start, 3 min spare.

Realistically you get about nine hours in Florence with only about half an hour of slack, so if your train or the morning runs late, cut from the end of the tour, Santa Croce and Piazzale Michelangelo, never from its order.

Best day to visit Florence from Siena

  1. Monday: better not
  2. Tuesday: recommended
  3. Wednesday: recommended
  4. Thursday: better not
  5. Friday: recommended
  6. Saturday: recommended
  7. Sunday: better not
  • Monday: The planned interior visits (Palazzo Pitti, Galleria dell'Accademia and Uffizi Gallery) do not fit the opening hours on this day.
  • Thursday: The planned interior visits (Palazzo Vecchio) do not fit the opening hours on this day.
  • Sunday: The planned interior visits (Mercato Centrale) do not fit the opening hours on this day.

A Florence walking tour in one day

The walk starts on Ponte Vecchio, crosses into the Oltrarno for the Pitti palace and the Boboli Gardens, then runs north through the centre to the cathedral and back down to Piazza della Signoria and the Uffizi, ending above the city on Piazzale Michelangelo. It covers almost ten kilometres, about two and a quarter hours of pure walking on cobblestones, so wear comfortable shoes. The AI Tour Guide leads it as a conversation, so you hear why each place matters instead of reading signs between souvenir shops.

The Florence tour: your guide leads you from stop to stop.
  1. Ponte Vecchio
  2. Palazzo Pitti
  3. Boboli Gardens
  4. Palazzo Strozzi
  5. Basilica of Santa Maria Novella
  6. Mercato Centrale
  7. Galleria dell'Accademia
  8. Florence Cathedral
  9. Piazza del Duomo
  10. Piazza della Signoria
  11. Palazzo Vecchio
  12. Loggia dei Lanzi
  13. Uffizi Gallery
  14. Basilica of Santa Croce
  15. Piazzale Michelangelo

Start the Florence tour

Opening hours as of 1 October 2026.

  1. Ponte Vecchio in Florence, stop 1 on the self-guided walking tour
    1Stop 1

    Ponte Vecchio

    The medieval stone bridge over the Arno, whose name simply means Old Bridge, is where the walk and the story of the city begin.

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

    Palazzo Pitti

    An imposing Renaissance palace on Piazza Pitti in the Oltrarno, only a short walk from Ponte Vecchio.

    Hours
    Mon: closed
    Tue–Sun: 08:15–18:30 (last admission 17:30)
    Price
    €16
  3. Boboli Gardens in Florence, stop 3 on the self-guided walking tour
    3Stop 3

    Boboli Gardens

    The historic garden began as the grand-ducal garden of Palazzo Pitti and connects up to the Forte di Belvedere, once built to protect the ruling family.

    Hours
    Daily: 08:15–16:30 (last admission 15:30)
    Price
    €10
  4. Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, stop 4 on the self-guided walking tour
    4Stop 4

    Palazzo Strozzi

    A Renaissance palace between Via Strozzi, Piazza Strozzi and Via Tornabuoni, in the elegant heart of the centre.

    Hours
    Daily: 10:00–20:00
    Price
    €15
  5. Basilica of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, stop 5 on the self-guided walking tour
    5Stop 5

    Basilica of Santa Maria Novella

    The great Dominican church, begun in 1290 and finished almost 200 years later, is counted among the most important Romano-Gothic churches in Tuscany.

    Hours
    Mon–Thu: 09:00–17:30
    Fri: 11:00–17:30
    Sat: 09:00–17:00
    Sun: 13:00–17:00
    Website
    smn.it ↗
    Price
    €7.50
  6. Mercato Centrale in Florence, stop 6 on the self-guided walking tour
    6Stop 6

    Mercato Centrale

    Florence's covered market hall, where the city's signature lampredotto sandwich is sold alongside Tuscan produce.

    Hours
    Mon–Fri: 09:00–15:00
    Sat: 09:00–17:00
    Sun: closed
    Price
    Free
  7. Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence, stop 7 on the self-guided walking tour
    7Stop 7

    Galleria dell'Accademia

    The art museum that art lovers come to Florence for, above all for Michelangelo's David.

    Hours
    Mon: closed
    Tue–Sun: 08:15–18:50
    Price
    €16
  8. Florence Cathedral, stop 8 on the self-guided walking tour
    8Stop 8

    Florence Cathedral

    Santa Maria del Fiore is the city's main church and its symbol, and its exterior alone makes the trip from Siena worthwhile.

    Hours (optional interior visit)
    Mon–Sat: 10:15–15:45
    Sun: closed
    Price
    Free to enter the cathedral basilica itself (no ticket or reservation required)
  9. Piazza del Duomo in Florence, stop 9 on the self-guided walking tour
    9Stop 9

    Piazza del Duomo

    The square in the heart of the old town is dominated by the cathedral, Giotto's bell tower and the Baptistery of San Giovanni.

    Price
    Free
  10. Piazza della Signoria in Florence, stop 10 on the self-guided walking tour
    10Stop 10

    Piazza della Signoria

    The irregular, W-shaped square in front of Palazzo Vecchio, named after the palace of the Signoria that governed the city.

    Price
    Free
  11. Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, stop 11 on the self-guided walking tour
    11Stop 11

    Palazzo Vecchio

    The Old Palace is still Florence's town hall and overlooks the square where a copy of Michelangelo's David stands.

    Hours
    Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun: 09:00–19:00
    Thu: 09:00–14:00
    Price
    €18
  12. Loggia dei Lanzi in Florence, stop 12 on the self-guided walking tour
    12Stop 12

    Loggia dei Lanzi

    The open loggia on the corner of Piazza della Signoria next to the Uffizi works as a free outdoor gallery of statues.

    Price
    Free
  13. Uffizi Gallery in Florence, stop 13 on the self-guided walking tour
    13Stop 13

    Uffizi Gallery

    The state museum at the core of the Gallerie degli Uffizi, which also include the Vasari Corridor, the collections of Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens.

    Hours
    Mon: closed
    Tue–Sun: 08:15–18:30 (last admission 17:30)
    Price
    €25
  14. Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, stop 14 on the self-guided walking tour
    14Stop 14

    Basilica of Santa Croce

    The principal Franciscan church of Florence, seen from its square on this walk.

    Hours (optional interior visit)
    Mon–Sat: 09:30–17:30
    Sun: 14:00–17:30
    Price
    Optional entry · Basilica of Santa Croce: €10
  15. Piazzale Michelangelo in Florence, stop 15 on the self-guided walking tour
    15Stop 15

    Piazzale Michelangelo

    The panoramic terrace on the hills of the Oltrarno gives you the view of Florence known from countless postcards, a fitting end to the day.

    Price
    Free
AI Tour Guide in Florence

Your guide for the Florence tour

From Ponte Vecchio to Piazzale Michelangelo the AI Tour Guide leads this walk as a spoken conversation: it tells the stories of the grand-ducal palace and gardens, the cathedral square and the Uffizi, asks you questions and remembers whether you care more about art, architecture or food. You start it in the browser on Ponte Vecchio, and the free route map takes you from stop to stop.

stops
15
route
9.8 km
walking only
2 h 17 min
with visits
7 h 22 min
  • 100 free credits to start
  • €19.99 once for the whole group
  • Travel and admission tickets are not included
Start the Florence tourSee the whole tour →

What a Siena to Florence day trip costs

The day's cost comes from the train both ways, the entrances and lunch, and the entrances weigh most: the plan includes seven paid sights, from the Uffizi and the Accademia to Palazzo Pitti, the Boboli Gardens, Palazzo Strozzi, Santa Maria Novella and Palazzo Vecchio. Florence is pricier than Siena, so the easiest saving is to pick the two or three museums that matter most to you and enjoy the rest from the outside.

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 Pitti, Boboli Gardens, Palazzo Strozzi, Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, Galleria dell'Accademia, Palazzo Vecchio: Museum and Uffizi Gallery2 adults × €107.50€215
AI Tour Guide touronce for the whole group€19.99
Food (estimate)€15 to €25 per person€30 to €50
Total€308.19 to €328.19
Split between peopleabout €154.10 to €164.10 per person
Sights
  • €16
  • €10
  • €15
  • €7.50
  • €16
  • €18
  • €25
  • €10
Buffer and private guide

Street food such as lampredotto at Mercato Centrale keeps lunch cheap, while a bistecca alla fiorentina at a trattoria is a meal for two that costs far more than the estimate.

Prices as of October 2026.

Getting back from Florence to Siena

The way back mirrors the morning: from Piazzale Michelangelo you walk back across the Arno to Firenze Santa Maria Novella, so plan about 40 minutes for the transfer and keep a buffer of a quarter of an hour at the station to find the platform and validate your ticket. Direct regional trains back run roughly every hour into the evening.

The train arrives at Siena station below the old town, so allow some extra time at night to get back up to your accommodation.

If you run late, drop Santa Croce and Piazzale Michelangelo first and head to the station from Piazza della Signoria. If you miss the evening direct train, the later FlixBus from Villa Costanza is the way back from Monday to Saturday; a late direct train also runs on those days, but it reaches Siena only shortly before midnight.

Recommended returnTrenitalia: departs 20:10, arrives 21:39Leave the last stop of the tour by 19:15

Latest return that fits the day: 21:25

  • Trenitalia from Firenze Santa Maria Novella, Sunday: departs 20:10, arrives 21:39
  • Autolinee Toscane from Firenze Autostazione, Friday to Saturday: departs 20:15, arrives 21:35
  • FlixBus from Florence (Villa Costanza), Monday to Thursday: departs 21:25, arrives 22:20

Questions about the day trip from Siena to Florence

Should I drive from Siena to Florence instead?

Better not. The historic centre is a restricted traffic zone watched by cameras that fine unauthorised cars, and the car park at Santa Maria Novella station charges by the hour with no daily flat rate. The train takes you straight into the centre.

Do I need to book the Uffizi and the Accademia in advance?

Yes. Without a booking the queues can take hours in high season, which a day trip cannot afford. Book timed entries that match the plan: the Accademia in mid-afternoon and the Uffizi in the late afternoon.

Is there a dress code for the churches?

Cover shoulders and knees for Santa Maria Novella and any other church you enter. A light scarf in your bag solves it on warm days.

When is the best season for this trip?

Spring and autumn are the most pleasant for a full day on foot. In summer the heat makes a long walking day hard, so carry water and plan shaded breaks.

Can I take my luggage along?

The plan is a full walking day on cobblestones, so travel light and leave larger bags at your accommodation in Siena.

More day trips from Siena

San Gimignano in a day 1 h 10 min Pisa in a day 2 h 5 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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