We plan to visit Florence and Pisa from Rome by train in one full day. What's the "must sees" in Florence and what's the best sequence to see them all, and still have time for the Pisa Tower?

Hi R,

Answer: Forget It

You would not even begin to scratch the surface. Rome to Florence can be done in under 2 hours, but it is an additional hour on to Pisa. You will get an impression of heat, crowds and mayhem - and probably dislike the city for evermore.

As it is your trip, you must obviously do what suits you best, but I would advice spending what time you have exploring Rome, and it's local environment.

It is difficult to make suggestions as you don't list any preferences. If you wish to see the Uffizi and Accadaemia, then it is best to book in advance, otherwise you will spend your entire day in the queues trying to get in.

Don't try to do both. Please.

I would try to pick one or the other. Don't do both; it would make for an exhausting day and you won't see much of anything.

Tracy

Thanks to all.

I'll have to change my plan now, maybe just move from Rome to Florence the night before and stay that night in Florence, then try to squeeze some time for Pisa during the day.

Please forget it.

Okay, if you must:

Spend the night in Florence, somewhere near the train station. Check the train schedule to Pisa in advance and book (in advance! essential!) the earliest time to climb the leaning tower that you can reasonably get to. See the Baptistry and the Church (I think they open a little later than the tower), then take a cab back to the train station.

You can do this and be back to Florence by about 1, I bet. (We didn't take a super-early train to Pisa, and we shopped a bit in Pisa and were still back in Florence by 3 pm.)

You'll have to grab a quick lunch whereever.

The terrific Santa Maria Novella church is very near the train station. Stop in there. (The Rick Steves tour of that church is so funny!). Then go to the Duomo. I don't know if you'll have time to climb it. If not, look in the church and the baptistry, maybe climb the bell tower.

THEN, either go to your pre-reserved late afternoon time at the Acadamia (David) or the Uffizi. If you skip the Uffizi and just drop in to see David, you might be able to squeeze in the Medici Chapel. If you have any energy left, drag yourself over to the Piazza della Signoria and the Ponte Vecchio.

There ... you've seen Pisa and Florence in one day. You can do it IF (1) you are willing to take an early train to Pisa, (2) you book an early tower climbing time in advance, (3) you choose between the Acadamia and the Uffizi, and you reserve a late afternoon time for whichever you choose, and (4) you are willing to grab lunch on the fly. (Note: the Acadamia and the Uffizi are closed on Mondays.)

Good luck; hope you have comfortable shoes!

Florence is not a day trip from rome. I would never spend less than 3 days there - but if all you have time for is a day get the first train out and the last back.

Forget Pisa - you would see nothing but train stations and countryside passing outside the window.

Forget Pisa, and if you can't allow yourself more than one day in Florence, get there on latest train and leave on latest train. See the copy of David in front of Medici Palace, walk the Ponte Vecchio and see the sunrise, don't miss the UFFIZI Galleria, especially the Botticelli and be sure to buy some cashmere scarves at the market after you've toured the Duomo. Then understand why you can't possibly get to Pisa.

I differ from those who suggest you cannot do Pisa Tower and
Florence in one day. You catch the train leaving Rome between 7 and 730 am. you will reach there at around 1130am.You rush to Leaning Tower, the ticket for which you will need to book in advance. Spend there one and a half hour and catch the train of 1.30 pm to Florence which will take around 1 hour. After spending the afternoon and evening in Florence,get the Eurostar train of around 8.30 pm back to Rome. you will reach Termini Station of Rome by 10 pm. Of course, it will be hectic and tiresome.

This thread is 3 years old.

Are we being trolled?

Three-year-old thread... and, with all the great technological advances that have occurred, it still isn't possible to "do" Florence and Pisa in a day trip from Rome.