Best way to get from Lucca to San Gimignano

Betsy, first, there is no train station in San Gimignano. You will need to take a bus from a nearby town or city. I would suggest the following: 1) take the train from Lucca to Poggibonsi. It's about a 2.0hr-2.5hr train ride from Lucca. 1-2 train changes. Fare ranges from a whopping 9,10Euro to 11.90Euro depending on the type of train you are on. These are all Regionale trains. No seat reservations permitted on Regionale trains. Just go down to the train station, buy your tickets and get on. Or, buy them a day earlier. The tickets will be good for 60 days. Just be sure to validate your ticket before boarding the train. 2) Poggibonsi is a short bus ride from San Gimignano. I'm not sure how far the train station is from the bus station but they shouldn't be too far apart. Here's a link to a picture of part of the early morning train schedule from Lucca to Poggibonsi. http://gyazo.com/6ba8decb755616684f2c77e92ab081c5 You can also take the train from Lucca to either Florence or Siena. Both cities have bus service to San Gimignano.

The best way is the train to Poggibonsi-SG. Then the bus takes you up to SG. (30 min bus ride). Going to Siena and backtracking to SG takes longer and the train to Siena stops in Poggibonsi first anyhow.
www. trenitalia.com

Thank you, Larry. Your information is very helpful. I have not yet traveled by train in Italy. I decided to come here at the last minute from Scotland, which is why I'm not prepared. I know this is very basic info., but where did you get the schedule you offered in the link? Would it make sense for me to get the schedule at Tourist Info. in Lucca? My difficulty has been communicating more than very basic things because I only know a few words in Italian. I have not found the Italian people I've asked to be particularly warm or desiring to help. I have had one "angel," a young woman from Spain, help me get my bus ticket from Pisa airport to the Lucca bus station. Interestingly, the man selling bus tickets at the airport was cold and fairly unhelpful to her as well ... and she was very likeable and spoke fluent Italian. With appreciation,
Betsy

Thanks Roberto. Okay I've found the schedule online. I notice that the train change in Empoli is as short as 5 minutes. Is that enough time to find the next train? Is it obvious when you get off where to catch the next train? In Edinburgh the train station had many platforms on different levels. I never would have been able to ask people, find out where to find the platform and get on in 5 minutes. Maybe the Empoli station is tiny. If it's an issue I could just take the train to Firenze instead, especially if it's a more scenic route? Thanks again for your help!

Betsy, a few things. First, the Trenitalia train website is www.trenitalia.com. Second, you can buy Regionale tickets online and print them out only if you are within 7 days of travel. Second, if you intend to buy from an agent at the train station, I suggest you write down what you want on a piece of paper and hand it to the agent. I have found that most agents that I have encountered in Italy don't speak much English and that English is not their second language either. Just hand them a piece of paper with what you want written out. Date, destination, time of travel, etc. It works. Or, if there is a ticket machine (kiosk) in the station, you can use those. There is an English selection on them and they will accept your U.S. credit card. Third, Empoli has 3 platforms that I can see on Google maps (I have not changed trains there). At best, your next train is arriving on the same tracks behind the one you just got off of or, you may be lucky enough to just walk across the platform to the other track. But, that's no guarantee. Many train stations have underground tunnels or overhead walkways to change platforms. In either case, it stairs up and stairs down or vis-a-versa for the underground tunnel.

Betsy I'm glad that are a little less stressed now. Will you be going after breakfast or a bit later in the day? There are trains that work at 8:31, 9:12, 9:31, 10:12, etc. The xx:31 connections don't go via Pisa and Empoli, they have the change of train at Firenze Rifredi, one of the minor stations in Florence. The xx:12 go via Pisa and Empoli with a change at each but a considerably faster trip to Poggibonsi-SG. If you choose one I can tell you what the signs will say and more information.

Thank you Larry, for your specific suggestions. And thank you, Nigel, for offering to help me find the train. Today I took the train from Lucca to Monterosso (Cinque Terre) and knowing which platform to go to for the 2 changes was very confusing. I was lucky to have a family sitting near me that was going to the same place and they helped me make the first change. We had about 8 minutes to get the next train. They were running and waving me along but I still can't see how they knew which platform it was. I didn't see any specific notice but I also wasn't looking that closely because I was running after them! :) Then for the next change a group of young Italian travelers helped me. They thought it was one platform and that changed a couple of times while we were waiting. Fortunately we had about 50 minutes to sort it all out. So a 5 minute change seems like a gamble to me. That said, you're right Nigel, the train with the changes in Pisa and Empoli is considerably shorter travel time. Here's the one I would take: Lucca 10:42 Pisa Centrale 11:09 Travel with train change Regionale 6708 Pisa Centrale 11:32 Empoli 12:03 Regionale Veloce 3110 Empoli 12:08 Poggibonsi-S. Gimignano 12:48 Regionale 23469 If I get your response before 9:30 am, I will follow your instructions. Thank you so much! You are so kind to offer such great help. With appreciation,
Betsy

Betsy, enjoy your trip today. Check the screens on the platforms, check the yellow sheets, verify on the platform screens, when you arrive at the station in Lucca and Pisa check the main screens. The first train starts at Lucca so you can get on as you arrive, as long as it isn't TOO early. Make sure that the train you are getting on is the right one - check the screen along the platform. The easiest way to be sure is that the screens and yellow sheet will reference the same train numbers you have. The train at Lucca will be signed to Pisa Centrale and is only 2nd class. Make sure you VALIDATE your Regionale ticket before you get on the train. It will make 5 stops and Pisa Centrale is the last stop. The train to Empoli, the R3110, will have come quite a way before it arrives at Pisa Centrale. It will have been going over 2 hours, and only is scheduled to arrive 3 minutes prior to departure and will be marked as the train to Firenze SMN. Empoli is only 2 stops. This train has both first and second class carriages. The R 23469 starts at Empoli so will be waiting on the platform. Undoubtedly lots of others will also be going there. It will be posted to Siens, its final stop. It will stop at: Ponte a Elsa 12:17 Granaiolo 12:22 Castelfiorentino 12:28 Certaldo 12:35 Barberino di Val d'Elsa 12:43
Poggibonsi-S. Gimig. 12:48 This train also only has second class. If you have questions ask the train conductor or one of the locals walking quickly, "per Poggibonsi?" or "per Siena?" I'm sure they will help....

Thank you, Nigel! You are so generous to give me such detailed information. And thank you to Larry and Roberto as well for your help. I am grateful. As travel often goes, I woke up after a full day/evening journey to Cinque Terre and decided I couldn't leave til after Noon time. So I took the train with only two stops that stopped in Firenze. I had a fantastic conversation with a family from England very sweet people that made my day. In fact, we were so engrossed in conversation I almost missed my stop! The second train from Firenze to Poggibosni was a nearly empty almost new train and a very peaceful, contemplative journey. I checked the map of the lines on the train to know when my stop was coming up. Because they don't announce the stops, you really have to be aware and ready to hop off at your arrival point. Once in Poggibosni, I looked for the TI office that the guidebook said is there, but it wasn't. But a man came up to me and asked if I was Jen, which gave me a chance to ask someone who spoke English and Italian where I could get the bus to San G. He took me into the train station store that sold magazines and newspapers and interpreted/spoke in Italian to the store clerk who sold me a bus ticket. I even had time to find a little caffe for a quick lunch before getting the bus. It's beautiful here in San G after an all-night dramatic thunder storm. My single room is the size of a walk-in closet but I do have a view of the Tuscan countryside from my tiny balcony. The french doors are open wide, the breeze is flowing in and I can hear the birds having a lively conversation on the rooftop. Today I will wander and explore off the beaten path to rejuvenate after two days of train travel. I am learning a lot and becoming a more confident traveler in the process. Thank you so much for helping me get there! Cheers!