We are planning on taking the train from Florence to Pisa for a day trip. Do I need to purchase train tickets before hand or can we purchase the train tickets easily once we arrive in Florence?

These trains are all unreserved trains, and you're best advised to buy the tickets in the station. If you buy them online, they'll be restricted to be used within a two-hour time frame, whereas if you buy them in the station, either at a ticket machine or from a ticket agent, they can be used anytime within the next two months. To determine when they'll be used, you stamp them in a machine near the trackside just before boarding the train. At that point, your journey has to be completed within several hours. It's important to do this; otherwise you're considered to be traveling without a valid ticket, and will be fined 50 euros.

One final detail: these tickets will probably be on the Regionale trains, noted by R on the schedules. As mentioned, with this ticket you can ride ANY R train traveling between Florence and Pisa in the next two months. The ticket does not show a date or time for a particular train nor are there any assigned seats.

Thank you so much for this information! It is so helpful to know this!

Check the schedules; not every train from Florence to Pisa takes the same time. I know this because I once got on the wrong train from Florence to Pisa and missed my connection! The train I got on was maybe 20 minutes slower than the one I should have gotten on.

You can take a city bus from Pisa Centrale station to the Field of Miracles and the Tower, or you can walk about 25-30 minutes (perhaps take the bus one way and walk the other). The walk is interesting but not amazing. About halfway along you cross over the Arno River; if you want you can detour along the river a bit (it's kind of dirty compared to walking along the Arno in Florence) and see some interesting buildings and churches and sometimes reflections in the river - maybe the most picturesque part of Pisa besides the Field of Miracles. It's an amazing contrast to see almost no tourists wandering along the Arno in Pisa while there are mobs and mobs of tourists at the Field of Miracles.

Thanks Andrew. I think the idea of fewer tourists sounds like a great change. Ideally, I want the best of both worlds, being able to see all the touristy sites without all the tourists. I'm thankful for the advice from people who have been to these places and have used the transportation systems. I'm trying not to over analyze every aspect of the trip and yet don't want to get there and wish I'd purchased train tickets etc before hand. I do plan on purchasing tickets to Pisa ahead of time though. I'd hate to get there and have to stand in line for ages. Thanks again

The automatic ticket machines in Italian stations are simple to use - even I could use them without problem - it's a hassle I believe to buy regional train tickets on trenitalia.com but not sure. Buy a return ticket and be sure to validate your ticket before getting on the train or you'll be considered traveling without a valid ticket.

There are a few IC trains on that route so be sure NOT to board them as you'll pay the IC fare plus a fine perhaps!

There is a train station a short walk from the Leaning Tower which has hourly trains from Pisa Centrale - coordinate with them to save time and transfering to a bus or walking the mile or so from Pisa Centrale to the tower.

Consider taking a train from that station near the Tower after done there to Lucca - a fine fine walled town that also has trains via a different route back to Pisa.

Be sure to book a Tower ascendancy ticket online at the official site to avoid a long LONG wait in line - relatively few folks are now allowed each hour up in the tower.

Pisa S. Rossore is the name of the secondary station very close to the Leaning Tower area and from where you can hop trains to Lucca or back to Pisa Centrale.

>>> I'm trying not to over analyze every aspect of the trip and yet don't want to get there and wish I'd purchased train tickets etc before hand. I do plan on purchasing tickets to Pisa ahead of time though<<<

There is no point buying these ahead of time for regional trains. There is no reserved seating, no discounts and they don't sell out (similar to riding a subway - buy your ticket, validate in the yellow box and hop on). Make sure you get a regional than doesn't require a change somewhere on the way.

IC trains do have reserved seats and some discounts for advance purchase, but I don't see any IC trains listed on this route.

Most trains Firenze/Pisa S Rossore require a change either at Pisa Centrale or Lucca. It's faster to catch the bus from Centrale to the tower than hang around and wait for a train to S. Rossore. If you want to visit Lucca after Pisa, walk to S. Rossore (it's just a few minutes walk), buy a ticket to Lucca (about 25 minutes away). You can later catch a train from Lucca to Florence. Last train Lucca/Florence is about 10:30 (7€).

There's also a bus to Lucca that picks you up right at the end of the Field of Miracles - I took it the last time I was in Pisa. (You can buy tickets as you board the bus.)

I agree - it's not a big deal to take the bus from in front of Pisa Centrale right to the Field and the Tower - it's just a matter of buying a bus ticket and then getting on the right bus. I imagine buses leave more often than trains do to the S. Rossore station. Plus, as I said above, you can walk at least one direction between the Field/Tower and Pisa Centrale if you want to see more of Pisa beyond mobs of tourists at the Field.

There are direct trains from Florence to Pisa S Rossore station every hour departing :53 after the hour according to www.bahn.de/en - so that would be better than getting off at Pisa Centrale and changing to a bus.

Likewise coming back to Florence the most direct way, via Pisa Centrale.

>>>There's also a bus to Lucca that picks you up right at the end of the Field of Miracles - I took it the last time I was in Pisa. (You can buy tickets as you board the bus.)<<<

There's also a bus from Lucca to Florence.

Thanks so much for the detailed responses. This helps tremendously!