Volterra is about 78 km (48.5 miles) southwest of Florence, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes by car or private driver. There is no direct train or bus: by public transport you change at Colle di Val d’Elsa (bus 131 then bus 770, about 2 hours 50 minutes) or take a train to Pontedera and then bus 500 (about 3 hours).
Below we compare every option with the winter 2026-27 bus timetables from Autolinee Toscane, explain why Sundays are the hard day, and show when one of our private tours from Florence is the easier way to see Volterra and San Gimignano together.
At a glance
- Distance: 78 km (48.5 miles) by road, about 1 h 14 min driving (Rome2Rio).
- Bus: line 131 to Colle di Val d’Elsa, then line 770 to Volterra, about 2 h 50 min and $5 to $8 in total.
- Train + bus: regional train to Pontedera-Casciana Terme, then bus 500, about 3 h 8 min and $12 to $19.
- Bus 770, Monday to Saturday: 4 buses a day each way between Colle and Volterra, 46 minutes (Autolinee Toscane).
- Sundays and holidays: one bus each way on line 770 and on line 500, so a day trip by public transport does not work.
- Driving: the old town is a ZTL; park outside the walls from €1.50 to €2 an hour.
How far is Volterra from Florence?
Volterra is 78 km (48.5 miles) from Florence by road, and the drive takes about 1 hour 14 minutes according to Rome2Rio, which estimates $15 to $21 in fuel. The town sits on a high hill in the province of Pisa, west of San Gimignano, and that is the reason it is slower to reach by public transport than Siena or Pisa: no railway line climbs up to it.
For comparison, Siena is a straight 1 h 20 min bus ride from Florence (Autolinee Toscane; see also our guide on how far Siena is from Florence), while Volterra always needs a change.
Can you take a bus from Florence to Volterra?
Yes, but not a direct one. Take Autolinee Toscane line 131 from Florence to Colle di Val d’Elsa, then line 770 from Colle up to Volterra. Rome2Rio puts the whole trip at about 2 hours 50 minutes for $5 to $8, which makes it the cheapest option.
Line 131 is the Florence to Siena bus that runs via Poggibonsi and Colle. Between September 15, 2026 and June 10, 2027 some departures leave from Via Orti Oricellari, near Santa Maria Novella, so check your stop on the line 131 page before you go. The connection at Colle is the part to plan around, because line 770 is not frequent. These are the times of the winter timetable valid from November 2, 2026:
| Line 770 | Monday to Saturday | Sundays and holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Colle di Val d’Elsa to Volterra | 07:00, 09:45, 14:45, 18:25 (arrive 07:46, 10:31, 15:31, 19:11) | 16:45 only (arrive 17:31) |
| Volterra to Colle di Val d’Elsa | 05:55, 08:00, 13:15, 17:20 (arrive 06:41, 08:46, 14:01, 18:06) | 15:15 only (arrive 16:01) |
On a weekday the workable plan is the 09:45 bus from Colle, which reaches Volterra at 10:31, and the 17:20 bus back, which gives you almost 7 hours in town. Use the at bus app or the Telegram channel “AT_Orari in fermata” that Autolinee Toscane prints on the timetable to check real-time times for the 131 leg.
Is there a train from Florence to Volterra?
No. Volterra has no working railway station, so the train only takes you part of the way. The usual route is a regional train from Florence Santa Maria Novella to Pontedera-Casciana Terme, on the Florence to Pisa line, then bus 500 up to Volterra. Rome2Rio gives about 3 hours 8 minutes and $12 to $19 in total.
In the line 500 winter timetable (valid from November 2, 2026), weekday buses from Pontedera leave at 07:50 and 09:35 and reach Volterra at 09:09 and 10:45, with afternoon buses at 15:45 and 17:40. Coming back, buses leave Volterra at 16:09 and 18:00 from Monday to Saturday, plus 20:30 from Monday to Friday (not on December 31). Rome2Rio puts the bus leg at about 1 hour 12 minutes.
A faster mix exists: Rome2Rio lists the train to Certaldo and a taxi from there, about 1 hour 34 minutes but $108 to $143, mostly for the taxi. At that point a private car from your hotel door costs a similar amount of effort to book and saves the change.
Florence to Volterra: all the options compared
| Option | Time each way | Cost (Rome2Rio estimate) | Changes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bus 131 + bus 770 via Colle | About 2 h 50 min | $5 to $8 | 1 | Budget travelers on a weekday |
| Train + bus 500 via Pontedera | About 3 h 8 min | $12 to $19 | 1 | Travelers staying near the Florence to Pisa line |
| Train to Certaldo + taxi | About 1 h 34 min | $108 to $143 | 1 | Couples short on time without a car |
| Rental car | About 1 h 14 min | $15 to $21 fuel, plus parking | 0 | Confident drivers who know the ZTL rules |
| Taxi from Florence | About 1 h 14 min | $200 to $240 | 0 | A one-way transfer with luggage |
| Private driver | About 1 h 15 min | Quote on request | 0 | Families, groups and anyone adding San Gimignano or a winery |
Can you visit Volterra from Florence on a Sunday?
Not as a day trip by public transport. On Sundays and public holidays line 770 runs one bus each way: it reaches Volterra at 17:31, more than two hours after the only bus back has left at 15:15. Line 500 is the same story: the single holiday bus from Pontedera arrives at 20:50, and the only one back leaves Volterra at 13:50.
The holiday buses also skip Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Easter, according to the notes on both timetables. If your free day in Florence falls on a Sunday, a holiday or one of those dates, the realistic choices are a rental car, a taxi or a private driver.
Driving from Florence to Volterra: ZTL and parking
Driving is the fastest way, about 1 hour 14 minutes. Most routes run down the Florence to Siena highway to Colle di Val d’Elsa and then west on the SS68, the same road bus 770 uses (Autolinee Toscane). From Colle to Volterra it is about 27.5 km (17.1 miles) and 29 minutes (Rome2Rio). The last stretch climbs and winds, so allow a little extra time in rain or fog.
Inside the walls Volterra is a limited traffic zone (ZTL), with permits for residents and local businesses (Comune di Volterra). Visitors should park in the pay car parks around the walls. According to the Volterra tourist consortium:
- Gioconovo, Porta Fiorentina, Piazzale Boscaglia and Viale Porretti: €2 an hour from 8am to 8pm, €1 for the first 30 minutes, €12 for the day.
- Stazione (the former railway station) and Viale dei Filosofi: €1.50 an hour, €10 for the day.
- All car parks ask you to enter your license plate at the pay machine.
If you are new to Italian ZTL cameras, read our guide to ZTL zones and rental cars first. With a private driver none of this is your problem: we drop you at the edge of the old town and pick you up there.
Volterra and San Gimignano in one day, without the bus changes
Our English-speaking drivers pick you up at your hotel in Florence in a private Mercedes (E-Class, S-Class, V-Class for up to 7 or Sprinter for up to 8) and build the day around you: San Gimignano in the morning, Volterra in the afternoon, a Chianti winery if you like. See our San Gimignano tours from Florence or ask us for a quote. Tastings, meals and entry tickets are not included.
How much time do you need in Volterra?
Half a day covers the highlights; a full day lets you add a museum or two at an easy pace. The heart of the town is Piazza dei Priori with the Palazzo dei Priori, and Volterra is known for its alabaster workshops and its Etruscan and Roman past (Visit Tuscany). Twilight readers may know it as the home of the Volturi in New Moon.
In winter, check opening days before you plan. From November 2 to March 8 the Guarnacci Etruscan Museum opens Monday and Wednesday to Friday 10am to 4pm and weekends 10am to 6:30pm, and closes on Tuesdays; a single ticket is €10. The Roman theater opens only on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 4pm in that period. The 72-hour Volterra Card (€23, reduced €18) covers the Guarnacci Museum, the Pinacoteca, the Alabaster Ecomuseum, Palazzo dei Priori, the Diocesan Museum, the Roman theater and the Etruscan acropolis (Musei di Volterra).
A sample day: Florence, San Gimignano and Volterra by private driver
This is how we would plan the day for most first-time visitors. The order changes with the season, museum days and where you want lunch.
- Morning pickup in Florence. Your driver meets you at your hotel, so there is no walk to the bus station with children or bags.
- San Gimignano first. An early start leaves you more time in town before lunch. Our San Gimignano from Florence guide covers what to see.
- Lunch or a winery on the way. Add a winery tasting if you like (paid separately at the winery).
- Volterra in the afternoon. Piazza dei Priori, the alabaster workshops and the view from the walls toward the Roman theater.
- Back to Florence in the evening. Door to door, with no last bus to catch.
Prefer wine to towers? Our Chianti wine tours from Florence can also finish in San Gimignano and Volterra.
When is a private driver worth it for Volterra?
If you are traveling alone or as a couple on a weekday, with time to spare and light bags, the bus via Colle works and costs very little. Be honest about the rest of your plans, though. A private driver makes sense when:
- your day is a Sunday or a holiday, when the buses do not allow a return trip;
- you want San Gimignano, Volterra and perhaps a winery in one day, which the bus timetables cannot fit;
- you are a family or a group of up to 8, where taxis or two rental cars add up;
- you are moving hotels and carrying luggage, for example from Florence to a stay near Volterra;
- you would rather not drive winding hill roads or worry about ZTL fines.
One-way trips are possible too: see our private transfers in Florence and Tuscany.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct bus from Florence to Volterra?
No. You change once: bus 131 from Florence to Colle di Val d’Elsa and bus 770 to Volterra (about 2 hours 50 minutes), or a regional train to Pontedera and bus 500 (about 3 hours).
How long does it take to get from Florence to Volterra?
About 1 hour 15 minutes by car, taxi or private driver for the 78 km. By public transport allow about 2 hours 50 minutes to 3 hours 10 minutes each way, plus waiting time for the connection.
Can I visit Volterra on a Sunday by bus?
Not as a day trip. On Sundays and holidays line 770 has one bus each way (arriving in Volterra at 17:31, leaving at 15:15) and line 500 also has one each way, and there is no holiday service on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day or Easter.
Where do I park in Volterra?
Outside the walls, because the old town is a ZTL. Car parks such as Gioconovo, Porta Fiorentina and Viale Porretti cost €2 an hour (€12 a day); Stazione and Viale dei Filosofi cost €1.50 an hour (€10 a day).
Can you visit San Gimignano and Volterra in one day?
Yes, by car or with a private driver: it is a natural pairing for a day from Florence. By bus it is hard, because line 770 runs only four times a day from Monday to Saturday and once on Sundays.
Is Volterra worth a day trip from Florence?
Yes, if you like quieter hill towns: Piazza dei Priori, the alabaster workshops, the Etruscan museum and the Roman theater fill half a day to a full day. In winter, check museum days first; the Roman theater opens only on weekends from November to early March.
Are tastings and entry tickets included in a private tour to Volterra?
No. Wine tastings, meals and museum tickets are paid separately unless we agree otherwise in writing when you book.
Book a private driver from Florence
Tell us your date, how many you are and whether you want Volterra alone or with San Gimignano, Siena or a winery, and we will plan the day from Florence with a private Mercedes and an English-speaking driver. Send a request through our booking form, call us on (+39) 333 857 8412 or email info@mundolimousine.com. Tastings, meals and entry tickets are not included unless we agree otherwise in writing.
