pomparr27

Tuscany from apr 20-27

I want to do a day trip to Pisa.
So far I'm taking the train from Bologna to Florence on the 20th.
Florence 20th night - 24th
Lucca 24th day/night 25th leaving for the day trip to Pisa
Siena 25th night-27th day

I don't really know if i'm planning this correctly. I've allotted 20th-24th to Florence because I'm assuming that's the time we will need for Florence. Also, that would allow me to make more day trips from Florence to cities I haven't read about in guidebooks or websites.

Please let me know if you have any advice.

Thank you all for your help.

bobthenavigator

Are you driving?

pomparr27

We are moving by train, /I've read that driving is difficult in the region. Do you suggest it?

kybourbon

I would drop the night in Lucca as you can easily train to Lucca from Florence. You can visit both Lucca and Pisa in a day (they are only 25 minutes apart by train). Add that night to either Florence or Siena. Where are you going after Siena?

charlesg

Driving is not bad outside of Florence itself. We drove from Elba ferry to Pisa and then to Lucca in one day without stressing out and are in our 60's. Spent the night in Lucca.

Have not used the trains, except into out of Flr, so don't know where terminals are and how easy it is to get to the sights. We drove through Pisa without any problems. Saw the Leaning tower, etc., but didn't notice anything else we wanted to see there.

Lucca is a very short drive from Pisa or Florence. I was so so on Lucca. My spouse wants to go back. We stayed inside the walls which is must if you spend the night.

I agree with kybourbon about adding a night somewhere else.

A car outside of Flr and Siena will give you much more flexibility and Chianti is beautiful. We live in Houston and I had rather drive in Italy because you know what everyone is going to do. They whip in and out, drive too fast, assume you will stop, etc, so you are ready. While in Houston you have to guess.

We will be in Flr about the same you are. Have a good trip and if this is you first trip, I hope you get to go back several more time.

bobthenavigator

Trains are fine for Pisa and Lucca---a bus is better for Siena. San Gim. is not easy to access.

kybourbon

>>>San Gim. is not easy to access.<<<

You can catch a bus to San G from either Florence or Siena (perhaps not on Sunday from Siena)

http://www.trainspa.it/EXTRAURBANO/130A.pdf

Bus map.
http://www.sienamobilita.it/mappe/Mappa_EXT.pdf

Enter your towns (Italian spelling) and change the date (it defaults to today) to get a bus route/times. You might not be able to put a date very far in advance as those schedules might not be loaded yet.
http://www.busfox.com/timetable/

pomparr27

Thank you all so much!!
Kybourbon, we are going to Rome after Siena. I am definitely going to be using that bus timetable thanks !!!!

kybourbon

From Siena to Rome, you want catch the Sena bus at Piazza Gramsci.

http://www.sena.it/Home/78-1-en.html