Train from Rome to Siena

Most people go from Rome to Florence on their Italy trip but often overlook Siena. Since Siena is on the way from Rome to Florence, it makes Siena a perfect day trip destination between these two bigger cities.

The train makes it easy to cover the 145 miles (233 km), though it’s not a direct route. It may seem counterintuitive until you see the route on a map, but this is a case where the slower trains actually make the trip more quickly than the high-speed trains. 

Frequent Trains from Rome to Siena

There are 32 trains departing Roma Termini station each day that will get you to Siena, some of which are the high-speed trains. The rest are Regionale or InterCity trains, which don’t get anywhere close to the top speeds of the AV trains, but on the trip from Rome to Siena they may actually be the faster option.

There are no direct trains from Rome to Siena, so you’ll need to change trains at some point along the way. The AV trains go from Rome to Florence, and then in Florence you’d switch to a Regionale train for the trip to Siena. Since Florence is north of Siena, however, this makes for a longer trip. If you choose to take a Regionale or InterCity train instead, from Rome to the town of Chiusi, you can then take a Regionale train to Siena, and the duration of the whole trip can be 25 minutes less than the Rome-Florence-Siena route.

The trip from Rome-Florence-Siena takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes, and the Rome-Chiusi-Siena route can take as little as 2 hours and 55 minutes. The other option for a transfer station is Grosseto, but that trip takes about 3 hours and 40 minutes. Ticket prices range from $22-46.

If you want, you can also take an Italo train from Roma Termini to Firenze Santa Maria Novella, and then switch to a Regionale train for the remainder of the journey to Siena. The Italo train from Rome to Florence takes about 1.5 hours, and then the Trenitalia leg from Florence to Siena takes another 1.5 hours.

Note that weekends and holidays typically mean less frequent service and sometimes longer travel times.

Direct Trains from Rome to Siena

There are no direct trains from Rome to Siena.

Amenities on Trains from Rome to Siena

The top of the line AV trains are Frecciarossa, and these train cars are all equipped with air conditioning and power outlets in your seat for your convenience. There are both 1st class and 2nd class cars. First class passengers get a free drink and a choice of newspaper. A cafe car is available to all passengers.

There are sometimes 1st class and 2nd class cars on Regionale trains, but not always. Because reservations are not required on these trains, you simply find an available seat on a car in the appropriate class for your ticket. There is no food service or cafe car on these trains, and although they are supposed to be air-conditioned it isn’t always functional.

Rome and Siena Train Stations

Roma Termini is the city's largest station, and also a major transportation hub within Rome. Many bus lines stop right outside the station, and there is also a Metro (subway) station inside Termini.
Siena’s train station is located outside the city walls, and although it’s not necessarily far from the historic center, it is an uphill walk. There are local buses connecting the train station with Piazza Gramsci or Piazza del Sale in the historic center.