La Spezia->Pisa->Lucca->Florence?
 

In April '14 we will be traveling by train from the CT to Florence for a 5 night stay. We wonder if it might make sense to take an early train to Pisa to see the tower before it gets busy, and then go on and spend the day in Lucca (while we stow our bags in or close to, the train station)? Or should we visit one on the way to Florence, and then do the other as a day trip once we are settled in Florence?

Sounds like a reasonable plan. We enjoyed our stay in Lucca this year. There is a place that will hold your luggage outside the station.

Where did you stay Jamikens?

Depending on how much time you want to spend in Lucca, your plan will work. However, I probably would stop in Pisa and continue on to Florence. Then visit Lucca as a day trip from Florence. More relaxed, more time to enjoy Lucca. Pisa is easily covered in 2-3 hours.

We stayed at Al Porto di Lucca which is just outside the historic centre because we had a car. Quick 5 min walk to centre. Would highly recommend it!

I agree with mamcalice. Trying to see both Pisa and Lucca that one day might be too much. We missed Pisa but you really need a day (or more) in Lucca. We did somewhat of the reverse a few years ago. Florence (3 nights) to CT (3 nights) to Lucca (1 night) to Pienza (5 nights)to Rome (2 nights). Due to a train strike, we only got one night in Lucca, but really enjoyed it. In Lucca we stayed at Piccolo Hotel Puccini. Nothing fancy, but reasonably priced and great central location.

If you are going to pop by the Leaning Tower and want to go up it you may faced a long long queue so book ahead on the official site (other sites charge more for the same booking) to maximize your time.

More time in Lucca the better.

A secondary train station in Pisa - S Leandro (?)_is served by regional trains from La Spezia and has regional trains to Lucca but it has no left-luggage though there is one at the Leaning Tower area just a few blocks from this station - makes it easier timewise if you can roll your bags a short distance.

For lots on Italian trains check out www.seat61.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com. www.trenitalia.com should have all the schedules - fares on reginal trains are dirt cheap - no reservations possible so just board any train with a ticket - if you take the sporadic IC train from La Spezia to Pisa Centrale (not stopping in Pisa-S Leandro I think) you will get a seat reservation when you buy your ticket as they are mandated I believe on any but regional trains.

Thanks for all the great advice!

>>>- fares on reginal trains are dirt cheap - no reservations possible so just board any train with a ticket - if you take the sporadic IC train from La Spezia to Pisa Centrale (not stopping in Pisa-S Leandro I think) you will get a seat reservation when you buy your ticket as they are mandated I believe on any but regional trains.<<<

Don't board just any train. If you buy a ticket for a regional train (mostly what is on this route), it is only good for the regional train and must be validated trackside before boarding. If you buy a ticket for an IC train, it's only good for that particular train (has a seat assignment/train # on the ticket). Same for Frecce trains (you are buying for that particular train/seat). Tickets with seats are checked on board so you don't have to validate trackside.

bourbon I read I believe from Man in Seat 61 that IC trains now have some unreserved seats - do you know anything about that?

And when I said board any train of course I mean any regional train with a regional train ticket.

If going to Lucca and interested in Pinocchio then the birth place of Pinocchio is in a village perched just a few miles high above Lucca - Collodi and they tred on the relationship with lots of Pinnochio things around town.

https://www.google.com/search?q=coll...=1600&bih=1099

The secondary Pisa station a stone's throw from the Leaning Tower (well a long stone throw) is San Rossore station or S. Rossore not S Leandro as I thought. It has 2 trains an hour to Lucca that take about 20 minutes and also to Pisa Centrale at least hourly.

S Rossore is where the train tracks split with the Lucca sideline veering off from the Rome-Pisa-La Spezia-Genoa coastal mainline.