Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

Trains and Planes in Pisa

Search

Trains and Planes in Pisa

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 23rd, 2009, 03:36 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Trains and Planes in Pisa

Hi Fellow Travelers

I have maybe not an interesting situation but one that I can use some advice on. My sister is getting married in my parents’ home Town in Italy (2 hours south of Rome) in late August.

After the wedding my husband and I will drop our rental car off in Rome Airport and take the train to Riomaggiore. We are then going to fly out of Pisa on a Sunday. (I think the flight is 1:20 PM, I will double check.)

Here is my research done:
I checked trenitalia to ensure there are trains that get into the Pisa Airport early enough to make our flight. There are trains that leave early but it looks like I can only book those a week in advance. I put in this Sundays date and I would be able to purchase the tickets but anything after that was unavailable.

My question is will we be okay to be booking that train when we get to Riomaggiore? (Please note, no transportation is booked so if you think there is a better way then I would love to hear it)

I appreciate your help on this. Thanks in advance.
Nuttela is offline  
Old Jan 23rd, 2009, 04:06 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 6,157
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Even though it is August, because you are travelling early, I would think it highly unlikely that you would need to book at all. I think you would be safe booking from Riomaggiore.

Most trains to the airport require a change at Pisa Centrale. From there, the shuttle trains run pretty much every 30 minutes from around 5:30am, and take about 10 minutes.
willit is offline  
Old Jan 23rd, 2009, 04:34 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks willit for your help. Sometimes it is nice to just have your suspicions confirmed.

Hope you have a great weekend.
Nuttela is offline  
Old Jan 23rd, 2009, 04:59 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,129
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If you can only book the train a week ahead, that's because it's a train that doesn't have to be booked. If it's a train where seats need to be booked, bookings usually open two months in advance.
Local trains have no seat reservations: you just buy a ticket and get on any train; if the train has no seats, you stand or wait for the next one.
GeoffHamer is offline  
Old Jan 23rd, 2009, 05:38 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 36,792
Likes: 0
Received 14 Likes on 11 Posts
I wouldn't turn my car in at the Rome airport. Keep it and drive to somewhere near Riomaggiore and turn your car in. If you turn it in at Rome airport, you will have to make multiple train changes to get to Riomaggiore.
kybourbon is online now  
Old Jan 23rd, 2009, 10:52 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I agree that you should look to renting your car with a contract that allows surrendering it in La Spezia.

The extra cost will probably be offset by not having to take the train, and it saves you driving to the airport in Rome, then taking the train into Roma Termini and switching to the train for Riomaggiore which will require a switch in La Spezia anyway. Might as well drive straight there.

From La Spezia to Riomaggiore the train only takes 8 minutes - if there is a rental car agency near the station La Spezia Centrale you would be good to go.

About getting to the airport in Pisa: No need to book, these are slow regional trains only, but maybe buy your ticket a day before because early on Sunday the little station may not be manned in Riomaggiore. Validate the ticket by sticking it into the yellow box near the platform access, it timestamps it, then hop on, sit anywhere in the class you bought, 1st or 2nd..

On a Sunday you should take the 8:56 departure from Riomaggiore that gets to the airport at 10:55, with a switch in Pisa Centrale - I see no other train that allows you to make a 13:20 flight.

But look it up at www.ferroviedellostato.it - input Riomaggiore and Pisa Aeroporto and see what comes up (input date as dd/mm/yyyy and time in 24-hr format).
DalaiLlama is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
giadav
Europe
11
Oct 29th, 2017 07:24 AM
AnnPhil
Europe
11
Aug 13th, 2013 03:49 AM
Trudy_Kelly
Europe
4
Sep 1st, 2011 08:17 AM
Noodlehouser
Europe
3
Sep 17th, 2009 08:42 AM
birds4us
Europe
17
Feb 21st, 2009 11:57 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On



Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -