Siena Travel Guide

Siena, Italy — Travel Tips

Getting There By Air

Galileo Galilei Airport (PSA)
Tel: (050) 849 300/111.
Website: www.pisa-airport.com

Siena has no airport of its own. Quickest links are from Pisa airport, in the north of Tuscany, which provides easy onward access to the city by road or rail.

Airport facilities: Facilities include a bank, bureau de change, ATMs, baby changing facilities (situated on the ground floor), restaurants, shops, beauty center, tourist information, and a post office. Car hire operators include Avis, Europcar, Maggiore and Sixt. There is also a dedicated business center, the Galilei Business Center (tel: (050) 849 200). Business-class travelers also have access to the Galilei VIP Lounge.

Transport to the city: The station is just beside the airport, where trains run approximately hourly to Empoli where you change for Siena. There are more frequent services from Pisa Centrale, a five-minute train ride away. Siena station is 2km (1.2 miles) outside the historic center. Journey time is around two hours 30 minutes. Trains also run direct to Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station, from where it is a short walk to the SITA bus station. Blue SITA buses run direct to Siena, journey time one hour 15 minutes. There are also two direct buses a day from the airport to Pisa, run by TRAIN, journey time around two hours.

Getting There By Road

Italy has an excellent network of motorways (autostrada), designated by 'A'. Speed limits are 130kph (81mph) on motorways, 50kph (31mph) in urban areas, 90kph (55mph) on ordinary roads, and 110kph (68mph) on dual carriageways. All motorways are tolled. Random breath tests can be imposed - the maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio is 0.05%. Dipped headlights are compulsory outside built-up areas during the day. All vehicles must carry a red warning triangle. Seat belts are compulsory. Fines for driving offenses are on-the-spot and particularly heavy. The minimum age for driving is 18 years old. All those without an EU license must carry an International Driving Permit.

Autostrade (tel: (06) 4363 2121; www.autostrade.it) provides information on motorway traffic in Italy.

Emergency breakdown services
ACI: (tel: 803 116).

Routes to the city
The SS2 motorway connects Siena to Florence, as does the slower, but prettier, A222 or Chiantigiana (Chianti route). The S326 connects Siena to the A1, which runs south to Rome.

Coach services
The main coach operators are SENA (tel: 05772 83203; www.sena.it), Sita (tel: 05547 82870; www.sitabus.it) and TRAIN (tel: 05772 04225/8; www.trainspa.it). Destinations include Milan, Rome and Florence. Services depart from the central bus station on Piazza Gramsci, in the city center.

Getting There By Rail

There are good rail links from Siena.

Rail Services
Siena is on a branch line. Services run to Pisa via Empoli and Rome via Chiusi. Trains also run to Arezzo. Florence SMN has direct services to Milan, Pisa and Genoa, as well as Paris, Munich and Brussels. Siena station is 2km (1.2 miles) outside the city at Piazza Fratelli Roselli. However, main international services operate from Florence, Santa Maria Novella (Firenze SMN), Piazza della Stazione. Buses run from here direct to Siena.

Rail Operators
The Italian state railway is Trenitalia (tel: 892 021, in Italy only; www.trenitalia.com or www.ferroviedellostato.it) which is reliable and fairly priced. Passengers must validate tickets by stamping them in the yellow machines on the platform before boarding.

Getting Around in Siena, Italy

Public Transport

The city center is pedestrianized and the limited Pollicino bus service is operated by TRAIN (tel: 05772 04225/8; www.trainspa.it). Services cover different areas, from outside the city walls then a few central streets, and run at around 30 minute intervals. You can find timetables on the website or in tourist information offices. The main bus station for routes outside the city is on Piazza Gramsci. Information offices for various bus companies are in the pedestrian underpass La Lizza below. Tickets are available from tobacconists or the La Lizza information center. You can also buy a day pass for city bus travel within the central zone (Tariffa A Urbana) from the tourist information office.

Taxis

Siena's main taxi rank is on Piazza Matteotti, and there is another one outside the train station. Taxis can be booked by telephone from Radio Taxi (tel: 0577 49222) or Taxi Merci (tel: 05772 89044).

Driving in the City

Essentially the whole of the historic heart of Siena is pedestrianized and the only car parks are outside the city walls. A few hotels have private parking areas. The Pollicino bus service links some car parks to the city center.

Car Hire

Car hire companies with outlets in Siena include Avis, Via Simone Martini 36 (tel: 05772 70305; www.avisautonoleggio.it), Hertz, Viale Sardegna 37 (tel: 0577 45085; www.hertz.it), and Maggiore, Viale Diaze (tel: 0577 46354, www.maggiore.it). In order to hire a car, drivers must be at least 23 years old, depending on company policy. All drivers without an EU license must carry an International Driving Permit.