Four of us will be flying from London to Pisa in May arriving around 12:00 (noon). Our ultimate destination is an apartment in the Uffizi area of Florence, near the Ponte Vecchio. What is the best way to get there? Train or bus to Florence and then walk or take a cab from the station? Cab all the way? A couple of us are not as young as we used to be and we will be carrying (rolling) suitcases so I don't want to walk too terribly far.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Bob
Two bus companies operate bus shuttles from PSA to Florence (Terravision and Autostradale). The Pisa Airport website has the details on both companies.
http://www.pisa-airport.com/index.php?lang=_en&id_sect=270
If you prefer the train, you need to take the shuttle bus to the Pisa Centrale station (5 min. ride), then from there a train to Florence. Train schedule from Pisa to Florence is below.
www.trenitalia.com
The time of transfer is approximately the same with either train or bus (~75-90 min). Some trains (Regionale Veloce) are faster generally, but there are only few a day and you still need to get to the station first.
I find the bus to be more convenient since it requires no transfers and no need to carry your luggage on board. Simply hand your luggage to the bus personnel and they'll put it in the bus belly.
The cost is also similar (about 5 to 6 euro one way per person).
Unless you have money to throw I wouldn't take a taxi all the way from PSA to Florence. A taxi for that distance costs €150 (US$200)
Both modes of transport will drop you at the Florence SMN station. From there to the Uffizi area is a 15-20 min. walk. If you have luggage I suggest you take a taxi.
Thanks for the advice. I assume we don't need reservations for the bus.
We flew London-Pisa 2 years ago on EasyJet. The train is the best way to get into Florence.
When you come into the terminal, turn left and go to the end of the terminal--maybe 100 yards. There will be a small train station out the end door. You'll also pass some bank ATM's where you can pick up some Euros.
The local train will take you to the main Pisa train station where you swap trains for the 1 hr. ride into Florence.
When you get into Florence, go out the front door, and there will be a line of taxis waiting. They can take your party the mile or so to your accommodations.
For the most part, Florence is very walkable for most people.
hmm.. two conflicting suggestions. Anyone want to break the tie?
The train station at Pisa airport was closed in December. A new people-mover will replace the train connection in the future, but in the meantime, it is a shuttle bus transfer to Pisa Centrale.
Sam is correct. There is no train station at the Pisa Airport anymore.
OK thanks. So bus it is.
Not to complicate this - but you don't have to do a bus if you don't want to. You just have to take the shuttle from Pisa Airport to Pisa Centrale, and then take a train from Pisa Centrale to Firenze Santa Maria Novella (Firenze SMN). Then from there take a cab, like others have suggested, if you don't want to walk too far. It may sound complicated but it won't be!
