We are going from Florence to Cinque Terre. Should we go to Pisa on the way? Best transportation from Florence to Pisa?
Might as well. Pisa is along the rail line from Florence to the Cinque Terre. Take the train to Pisa from Florence (every half-hour).
Very easy to do. Did Pisa last summer as a daytrip from Florence and then headed to the C.T. after our stay in Florence. You will be taking a regional train so you can just get off and visit the tower and then go on to the C.T. Buon Viaggio!
If you take regional trains all the way, then you can be flexible about how long you stay in Pisa because your tickets will be good on any regional train from there to La Spezia. However, the leg from Pisa to La Spezia can be on either regional or IC trains. Tickets on IC trains include a seat reservation and are good only for a specific departure date and time.