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Bologna to Pisa by Train

Posted by (California, USA) on

While in Bologna I'm considering going to Pisa by train. I'm nervous about train travel in Italy - having heard so much about fines and validating tickets. There are multiple things I'm concerned about, so if anyone can talk me through this, that would be great.

It looks like I'll have to change trains in Florence. If I buy a ticket (tickets) in Bologna for this entire trip, will I need to validate the Florence-to-Pisa part of the ticket in Florence, or do I do that in Bologna, or, since I'm buying what seems (to me) like a single trip (Bologna to Pisa), do I need to validate twice?

Also, is it possible to buy the ticket(s) to Pisa in Bologna but stop off in Florence before continuing the journey to Pisa, or will I have to book tickets for a certain time that I'll need to stick with?

I've read that most(?) train tickets to Pisa terminate in Pisa Centrale but that it's better to go further, to Rossore(?). Is it possible to buy a ticket in Bologna that will take me through to that further station, or would I need to purchase that once I get to Pisa Centrale (or take a bus from there)?

I'm sure I sound naive, but I struggle with train travel, even in England where I speak the language, so I'm nervous about doing this.

Posted by
21 posts

Yes - a day trip - so back to Bologna that evening.

Posted by
7921 posts

To make it easier going buy each leg separately since you want to stop off.
Buy Bologna to Firenze direct train (these are labeled Frecciarosa or IC). These tickets do not need to be validated as they come with a seat reservation assignment. Only trains labeled R for regional need validations. You may want to buy this leg in advance for the best price and as it could sell out.

Buy Firenze (Florence) to Pisa Rossore when you are ready to leave and buy it either from a machine or from the ticket window. This ticket needs to be validated in the yellow machine on the platform before boarding.

Coming back do the same thing. Pisa Rossore to Firenze buy it from the machine or from the live person in the ticket window. Validate the ticket in the yellow machine before boarding.

Firenze to Bologna, if it is a Frecciarossa or IC train you don't need to validate these as the ticket comes with a seat assignment. You may want to buy this leg in advance for the best price and it could sell out.

Posted by
26 posts

It's a 2 hour journey each way, so keep that in mind.

Bologna to Florence is a high speed train, so you'll want to book that in advance, but you don't need to validate your ticket since you buy a specific seat on the specific train. Florence to Pisa is a regional train, so there's no advantage to buying in advance (caveat: some regional trains can sell out, double check just in case). Your best option is to buy the return trip to Florence in advance, but only buy each leg of the Pisa-Florence trip when you need it. If you buy the regional ticket at the machine, you have to stamp it in the machine to validate it; if you buy the ticket on your phone, you need to "check in" in the app to validate the ticket.

Posted by
21 posts

Thanks so much to all of you for the fantastic, helpful information!

It is long for a day trip. My focus is the Field of Miracles in Pisa. I'll be in Italy studying math history, so Pisa is a draw (for Fibonacci). But I was just thinking that since I have to change trains in Florence maybe I could just hop off and at least see the Duomo there from the outside - so that bit would just be a quick hop-off/hop-on. Perhaps silly, but I may never be in Italy again and would like to at least see the Florence Duomo since I'll be so close!

Thanks again!

Posted by
20289 posts

It might be better to stop off in Florence on the return. You can get a same day return ticket for a 40% discount off the base fare for the Bologna-Florence segment, you are allowed to make one change on the return trip before your departure, so that gives you a bit of flexibility going back to Bologna from Florence. The ticket has to be bought at least 6 days before the planned trip.
https://www.trenitalia.com/en/offers/same-day_return_offer.html

There is an even bigger discount on Saturdays.
https://www.trenitalia.com/en/offers/same-day-return-special.html

There is a direct train from Firenze SMN to Pisa San Rossare at 53 past the hour starting at 7:53, except 8:53 which requires a connection.

Regarding the history of mathematics in Pisa, wikipedia has this note on the cathedral:

The lamp at the center of the nave is called Galileo's lamp, because a legend says that the great scientist formulated his theory of isochronism of the pendulum while watching its oscillations from the roof of the nave. The original, however, smaller and very different than this one, is found today in the Camposanto.

Posted by
21 posts

Thanks for the additional info, Sam! Yes, not just Fibonacci but Galileo too - hence my trying to squeeze this in despite it being a bit much for a day trip. I teach math history, so am hoping to get this to work.
Really good to know about 40% discount on same-day return!

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