We'll be finishing up a bike tour of Tuscany on July 8th around 11:30 in Siena. We are dropped of at the bus station there. From Siena, we go to Venice. My ten year old would really like to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa. . When I look at it on a map, it seems most logical to take a bus or train to Pisa from Siena that day, tour the Tower, and then take a train from Pisa to Venice. Several questions: Is there a bus from the station, if not, we have to leave the bus station to get to the train station? Is this difficult? Also, we will be carrying our luggage so is there a place in the bus station (if there is a bus) to store it? Also double checking there is a place in the train station to store luggage if we have to take the train? Is this the best route? Is it realistic to leave Siena around 12:00 or so, arrive and tour the Tower, get on a train, and arrive in Venice around 6:00ish? Lastly, is it worth the hassle? By that I mean, is it a fairly easy thing to do, or you have to be really motivated to want to see the tower to make it worth it? (scale of 1 - 10 in terms of hassle)

The overnight train from Pisa to Venice is probably your best bet. You cant go from Siena to Pisa to Venice by 6pm.

I'm not sure, but the last time I researched this, most bus and all train routes from Siena to Pisa involve a bus/train change in Florence. I'd be tempted to get a car and drive.
The Pisa train station has luggage storage.
The florence bus and train stations are close by.(bus to florence and train to Pisa)
>Is it worth it? <
To me, no. To your son, probably yes
Yes, you do have to fairly motivated. That said, if you can get a car and the overnight train, its not that much of a hassle (planning hassle - 8, enroute hassle - 3). If you have to take a bus and change in florence, hassle factor enroute would 8/9 for me. (Check the opening hours of the Basillica)

I don't know the answers to the rest of your questions.

Hi cronen,

It is not all that difficult to do, but you won't get to Venice by 6:00 PM.

There is a SITA bus leaving Siena at 11:50 and 12:10.

You arrive in Florence about 1 hr later.

You walk up the street and around the corner to the train station.

Trains for Pisa at 12:57 13:27 13:57. It takes about 1:15 hr.

Train from Pisa to Venice requires changing trains in Florence.

ES* trains for Venice San Lucia leave at 18:39 20:39. It takes about 3 hr.

See www.trenitalia.com for train schedules.

>...there is a place in the train station to store luggage..<

There is a left luggage office in the train station in Florence. It is to your right as you face the trains.

Thanks for the help! I posted this before but my reponse didn't show up. I figure will get to the Tower by 4:00 if we're lucky. Is it a 10 minute ride from the train station? We don't want to stay overnight as we have plans in Venice. Our other option is to try and see it when we are leaving Rome on July 1st to go to Florence. We'd have only 2 and half days in Rome (not including the July 1st) and I thought we want to spend as much time as possible there. We could however, leave earlier on that morning. Is the best way is to go to Pisa from Rome through Florence. So many things to see, so little time!

Easy to go by rail but don't go to Florence - the best route is to go to nearby Empoli from Siena, with about hourly trains, then change for Pisa - 30 min Siena-Empoli and 40 min Empoli-Siena. No baggage storage in Pisa station last time i was there but could be - was subject of a post not long ago - supposed to be one but don't count on it. Empoli is a stop on the Florence-Pisa rail line so it makes no sense to go to Florence and then come back out thru Empoli - just take the train there from Siena. bus may be better Siena-Pisa but i don't have info on that (search for SITA buses, Italian national network that serves most routes it seems. But if bag storage a problem then you may want to go to Florence just to stash your bags. Note that the small San Rossore station in Pisa is right by the Tower - no luggage storage here - have to change at Pisa Centrale to reach San Rossore. Long lines can form at Tower - when i was there recently they said only two groups of 70 let up an hour - had to go with a guide leading the pack - supposedly can reserve online - just showing up could be a long wait. There is baggage storage by the Tower at least when i was there. Yes i would definitly accommodate your sons desire - an incredible sight even if you don't go up the tower!

Here's the best advice - tell your kid tough darts. It is am insane idea to got from Siena to Pisa for the hour it takes to see the leaning tower only to then double back all the way to Venice.

Hi C,

>I figure will get to the Tower by 4:00 if we're lucky. Is it a 10 minute ride from the train station?<

I think you can get there by about 3:00.

I believe that the bus from Pisa Centrale to the tower takes about 10 min.

Some folks have recommended walking - about 1/2 hr - just to see the town.

Thanks again! True, it might be crazy but my husband has indicated he'd really like to see it as well! I did check into trains from Rome to Pisa and Siena but it is over a three hour journey! They must be all local trains, the Eurostar can get to Florence in less than half the time! From there I figured I could take a train to Pisa. In reality, I figure it will take me a couple additional hours, since I am going to Florence anyway. That said, I know these things always take longer than you think. Anyone else have any other suggestions?