Florence day trip to Pisa/Lucca
 

Hello, I'll be using Florence as a base for 10 days next month. We are planning a day trip to Pisa (only to see the Tower, etc) and then on to Lucca and back to Florence.<BR><BR>If anyone has done this, how did it work out for you with the trains? I have the schedules but would like to compare experiences to try and work out the easiest way to do this. Overnighting anywhere near there is sort of out of the question since we are booked into a place in Florence! Any advice welcome, thanks!<BR><BR>Amy

Hi Amy,<BR> We'll be doing the same thing in the Fall. Look forward to your reports.<BR><BR> I have from my notes:<BR>Pisa You can see plenty of the Tuscany region on the train ride from Florence to Pisa (1 hr ride). If you buy a point to point ticket from Florence to Pisa - expect to pay about $8 USD.<BR>You can walk from the train station to the tower in about 30 minutes and see the leaning tower (or else take bus # 1 which you can board just opposite the train station (across the street) – remember to buy your bus tickets (before boarding) from the station newspaper kiosk or bar for about .77 Euro. If you walk to the leaning tower, there are signs that have a picture of the tower and an arrow. Just follow the signs and you will end up at the tower (remember how to walk back to the station!). <BR> Baptistry is open 8:00 - 19:30.<BR>Best trains from FSMN at 13:00, 13:35, 14:00, 14:25, 15:00, 15:25, 16:00, 16:251 <BR> Best trains back at 16:46, 17:17, 17:41, 18:28, 19:03, 19:20, 20:03, 20:39<BR><BR> If you want to climb the tower you have to get tickets in advance. They have a website, but I erased it.<BR><BR> Have a great time.<BR> <BR>

thanks ira and amy<BR>thomasb

There is also good bus service from Florence to Lucca (faster than the train), departing from Piazza Adua (on the North side of the train station).

Thanks everyone. That helps quite a bit. Any one done the circular route I'm thinking of?

In case you are considering other options, we did the same day trip in September but we had a rental car. It's a fairly easy drive to Pisa and then a nice scenic, but short trip, from Pisa to Lucca. Parking in both locations did not present a problem. <BR><BR>The only delay we had was on the ride back from Lucca to Florence as we were caught up in the Sunday night exodus back to Florence from the coastal towns. <BR><BR>At most, the drive is an hour to an hour and a half.

Hello Amy,<BR><BR>I've done it in reverse: Lucca first, then on to Pisa. It's an easy round trip.<BR><BR>Lucca-Pisa (S. Rossore) is only about 20 min.<BR><BR>PISA S. ROSSORE station (NOT Pisa Centrale) is only a 5-mins walk from the Leaning Tower/Piazza dei Miracoli, (- whereas Pisa Centrale is a long walk or bus-ride as Ira says).<BR><BR>Steve

Thank you Steve and Ryan. I hadn't thought of a rental car...hmmmm.