Best way to get to Siena

We're staying in Florence for a week in August and we're then spending 2 days in Siena. Can we get there easily by train or do we have to rent a car?

To get to Siena from Florence, the most convenient way is to take the local bus (the train not only takes longer but the train station in Siena is about 3km away from the city, while the bus drops you right in the city). There is a frequent bus service run by SITA that takes you from Florence's centre to Siena's centre in just over an hour. The SITA bus station is right next to Florence's train station in Via Santa Caterina da Siena.

Hiring a car brings with it the freedom to stop off in other towns on the way but also some inconveniences other than the costs – remember that you cannot drive into the centre of most cities (both Florence and Siena have very strict ZTL – Limited Traffic Zone – rules) and unless you are a resident, parking can be expensive. On the other hand, if you plan to explore the area around Siena too while you are there a car is handy to reach areas that are not as frequently serviced by public transport.