Booking trains in italy

Many of the trains from Florence to Pisa are Regionale trains, and those tickets won't be listed until seven days prior to departure, and if bought in advance they come with restrictions. There's absolutely NO reason to book those in advance, and there are no price breaks for doing so.

Simply buy your tickets at Florence either at the staffed ticket office (usually a long queue) or one of the Kiosks (very easy to use). One caution though - BE SURE to validate the ticket prior to boarding the train on the day of travel or you'll risk hefty fines which will be collected on the spot!

Adding to Ken's comment, you can buy these tickets ahead of time at any Italian train station. It is when you validate before departure that it becomes an active ticket. Then you have limited amount of time (but still several hours) to complete your journey. If you want to know the price, just put in the same day of the week within 7 days of now, and you will get the schedules and prices. Now after June 13, there is a European wide train schedule adjustment, so the schedule may change a bit from today, usually not much.

thank you both for your reply. I will buy as you both suggested.

If you're going to Pisa for the day, you may want to take the train to Pisa S. Rossore station instead of Pisa Centrale, as this station is closer to the main sights ( Leaning Tower & Cathedral)

If you're planning to climb the tower, you may want to book your tickets in advance, so you won't have to wait too long.

Here is the website for booking your tickets: http://www.opapisa.it

Enjoy your trip!

I just read on another section NOT to get the Italy rail pass. . . too late. So, I have a saver pass for 2 of us and 2 youth passes. It says that many of our trains require reservations (actually all so far). However, I have a friend who travels abroad frequently and she never has had a "reservation" on a train in Italy. There is a "reservation fee" and a booking fee. On our 3 major days of travel, it is going to cost us an additional $204. I want to make sure I am doing this correctly and that the four of us are able to travel together on these 3 days.

Your friend is either absolutely wrong or only travels on Regionale trains. Regionale trains are the slowest, hitting almost every town, somewhat like a bus on wheels. No reservations you get on and go. No seat available? You stand till one becomes available. Sometimes you have no choice as the only service available is a Regionale trains especially for short runs. ALL other trains - high speed, ICs, IC express, etc., require a seat reservation even with a rail pass. Don't even think about getting on a train without a required seat reservation. If caught, the fine is about 50/60E payable on the spot. The seat fee depends on the train but is about 8 to 10E per leg. That does add up. What web site are using for reservations? (Please don't say Rail Europe.) With four reservations and a couple legs per day, I could see it getting to 204.

PS One other possibility. Your friend was traveling 20 years ago. Curious, what was the price for your passes?

Kristie, you friend may not have been traveling with a rail pass in Italy, but with point-to-point tickets. When you buy an individual ticket for a fast train in Italy, the reservation is included. But if you're using a pass it is not included, so if it's required (and as you've discovered, all the fast trains require them), you have to buy it before travel to avoid the fine Frank is talking about.

There is no quota on Italian train reservations for pass-holders (unlike on French trains), and no discount for buying ahead. So, while there may be ways of getting them ahead, there's no advantage. You can get them from ticket machines in Italy; someone here will know exactly what to look for on the machine. And remember reservations are non-refundable, so don't get them until your plans are certain. But, to avoid missing a train, get them a day or so ahead, or allow time in case there are lines at the station.

Ksafinuk,

I just want to clarify my post above:

If you're going to Pisa for the day, you may want to take the train to Pisa S. Rossore station instead of Pisa Centrale, as this station is closer to the main sights ( Leaning Tower & Cathedral).

• Most trains from Florence do not stop at Pisa San Rossore station but some do (7:53, 9:53, 10:53, etc...)

• If you will be traveling to Pisa with luggage, it's best to travel to Pisa Centrale, because Pisa S. Rossore station does not have baggage storage as Pisa Centrale does.

• If you do decide to take the train from Florence to San Rossore station, this is how you get to the Field of Miracles (from RS Italy 2014 guidebook):

Pisa San Rossore: From this train station to the Field of Miracles, it's just a four-block walk. Take the underground walkway to
Piazza Fancelli and turn left onto Via Andrea Pisano. Continue for
about 150 yards, and you'll see the Tower ahead of you, a few minutes
away.

When we traveled to Pisa a few years ago, we didn't know San Rossore station existed, so we ended up in Pisa Centrale & walked to our hotel which was very close to the Tower.

Have a wonderful trip!