For anyone who's done a BOE tour~ Pisa?

If you were on your way somewhere and passed by Pisa, yes it would be worth it. To miss
The Uffizi...NO!!! Unless you don't like art.

Lisa, no one did that on my BOE but you certainly could if you wanted to since you have a full day in Florence. I am not all that in to Renaissance Art, but I enjoyed the Uffizi with the local guide. Much more interesting to see it with someone who can help focus in that huge place!

Do let your guide know what you are doing so s/he won't spend the money on a ticket for you and also let your RS buddy know not to look for you.

You can visit Pisa in a few hours from Florence but honestly, why? It's a bell tower that is tilted. Beautiful architecture in the rest of the complex, but compared to Florence (if you don't like art that much, take the bus up to Piazzale Michelangelo for views of the city, or go to Fiesole by bus for some ruins and a small-town atmosphere).

Florence to Pisa is only an hour by train and you only need a couple of hours (unless you need to climb the tower) to see the main sights on the Field of Miracles, therefore its doable in a half-day. So, if you can work it around the group activities in Florence it could be done. For instance, if the group does something together in the morning (Uffizi, walking tour, etc) then you could do it after lunch in the afternoon - or vice versa. It depends entirely on what's important to you.

EDIT: it looks like you visit the Uffizi in the afternoon so if you're an early riser you could go to Pisa in the morning as long as you plan the return trip to get you back to Florence in time for the group visit to the museum.

Lisa, on the BOE Tour you have very little time in Florence, so I would use that fully, and not leave town for part of a day. If I were to take time somewhere nearby, I would definitely prefer to stroll around Siena than go to Pisa. By the way, the Leaning Tower of Pisa looks just like a good photo of it, generally taken on a picture-perfect day. Visiting with your own eyeballs might not occur on such a bright and perfect day. But, as they often say, we often say, it's YOUR trip, so do YOUR own thing!

Thanks for the replies. Pisa was just an idea I was throwing around. I love art and archetecture and certainly I don't want to shortchange Florence. But I know we have a free morning and evening so debated as to the possibility of a morning trip to Pisa or going to the Uffizi on my own in the morning and Pisa in the afternoon. I guess I think of the tower as an icon, like the eiffel. I won't cry if I don't see it, but if there was a reasonable way to squeeze it in...

My favorite places to round out your Florence sightseeing during your free time are the Medici Chapels, Monastery/Museum of San Marco, the Galileo Science Museum, and perhaps the Mercato Centrale.

I probably wouldn't short Florence, but I would work Pisa in if I could possibly. It's a little cliche, but it's still pretty darned amazing to look at! You can do it quickly and efficiently -- don't bother going up it, that's time consuming, although kinda cool.

Like someone else said... take an early train, hot tail it to the tower, be in awe for a few minutes and take some pix, then get back to Florence. Do it!

Have fun!

I probably wouldn't short Florence, but I would work Pisa in if I could possibly. It's a little cliche, but it's still pretty darned amazing to look at! You can do it quickly and efficiently -- don't bother going up it, that's time consuming, although kinda cool.

Like someone else said... take an early train, hot tail it to the tower, be in awe for a few minutes and take some pix, then get back to Florence. Do it!

Have fun!

I've been to Pisa three times. Total tourist trap, can't stand it, want to leave as fast as possible. Stay in Florence and enjoy it!

yup.....your trip, your choice. to climb the tower takes and advance ticket and an hour or so in line..... you can buy a cheaper ticket for the baptistery or the cathedral and just dash in and out......amazing carvings in that marble....

Hi -- I did the BOE last summer. I would strongly encourage you to spend your free time exploring Florence! It's a wonderful city, and very easy to navigate on foot, not nearly as touristy as Venice or as overwhelming as Rome. If you are interested in architecture, get up early on your free morning and climb to the top of the dome -- an incredible feat and the first ever constructed closed dome. Go to the covered market building and wander the food stalls. If there's a particular Italian food you're craving, you'll probably be able to find it. Florence is also a great opportunity to relax your pace just a tad...when you hit Rome on this tour, you will have the single most intensive day of walking and sightseeing on the entire BOE.