I'm currently a study abroad student in London and am interested in taking a weekend trip to Florence (Leaving Friday around noon and returning Sunday evening). Most flights to Florence directly are expensive but via EasyJet to Pisa you can fly cheaper. However, I would have to get a train ticket into Florence. You can only get these tickets a week in advance on the website I looked at and they seemed cheep (10 Euro). Is it easy to get to Florence from Pisa and what are the baggage fees for this airline? I understand if you go over the weight limit there's a hefty fee. Any advice from EasyJet flyers who have flown to Pisa to get to Florence? Do you recommend getting to Florence this way?
Posted by
Pensacola
9110 posts
Trains run hourly and take about an hour.
If you're just going for the weekend you should be able to make it with a carryon. They allow exactly one piece that's not more than 50 x 40 x 20 and they don't weigh it. If you have anything more/different you'd better study their web site. They're a good outfit as long as you follow every single one of their rules.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32206 posts
Dylan,
EasyJet would be a great choice for a weekend flight to Pisa and Florence. They're my preferrered budget airline in Europe and I've always been pleased with their service.
For a weekend trip, you shouldn't need much luggage and can probably get by with carry-on only. if that's the case, you won't have to worry about the fees for checked baggage. The EasyJet specifications for carry-on are:
"easyJet allows ONE item of cabin baggage per passenger. If you bring ONE piece of cabin baggage no bigger than 50 x 40 x 20cm including handles and wheels, we guarantee it will always travel with you either in the overhead locker or, if necessary, under the seat in front of you. If you choose to bring ONE bag that is slightly bigger than our guaranteed size but to our maximum allowed size limitations, 56 x 45 x 25cm including handles and wheels, on some busy flights your bag may have to go into the hold."
They are very strict about the one carry-on bag rule, so keep that in mind when you pack. There is a size limit with carry-on but no weight limit.
It is very easy to get from the airport in Pisa to Florence. When you arrive at the airport, take the shuttle bus to Pisa Centrale rail station. Don't bother buying a ticket in advance, as tickets are very easy to buy locally, and there's no reason to purchase those in advance as there's no price break.
At Pisa Centrale, buy a train ticket either using one of the automated Kiosks or at a staffed ticket window (fare is currently listed at €8 PP each way). Note that your destination station will be Firenze Santa Maria Novella and the trip from Pisa to Florence is about an hour. NOTE that most of the trains on that route are Regionale, so you MUST validate your ticket prior to boarding the train on the day of travel or you'll risk a hefty fine, which will be collected on the spot!
Buon Viaggio!
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8141 posts
We took the flight from Gatwick to Pisa a couple of years ago. It's a 2 hour flight, and as previously mentioned you need to carefully read EasyJet's rules. When they say one carryon bag, they mean it.
When we arrived, we picked up our train tickets. We walked the length of the airport lobby, and the train was waiting at the end of the terminal. It took us downtown where we changed trains to the regional train over to Florence. No problem.
Pisa is actually a larger airport than Florence, and this is the preferred way to go from London area to Florence. You should get used to using EasyJet for weekend get-a-ways as long as you're living in London. They go to some great cities for very reasonable prices.
My only complaint was with Gatwick Airport and their confusing way of putting you in a big hall and posting gate numbers with short times to get to the gates. I don't like being herded around.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32206 posts
Dylan,
A few points to add to my earlier reply.....
"We walked the length of the airport lobby, and the train was waiting at the end of the terminal."
Only Bus transport is available from the Pisa airport at the present time. They're currently building a new fully automated people mover to serve the airport from Pisa Centrale, but it's not ready yet.
Another option to travel from Pisa airport to Florence would be the TerraVision Bus which stops at Firenze SMN rail station. The price is sure reasonable!
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15165 posts
There are actually two bus companies that provide shuttle buses from PSA To Firenze.
One is Terravision, given above, the other is Autostradale, linked below.
http://www.autostradale.it/pdf/festivitaaereoporti/PIFI18.pdf
Print the timetables and depending on the time of arrival decide whether to take the train or one of the buses. The total transfer time is about the same once you include the time on the bus from the airport to Pisa Centrale and the wait at the station. It really depends on when you arrive and what is available first.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Good plan. You're on the right track with the advice above.