Going from Florence to Pisa for a day to see all the tourist sites. I am planning on arriving in Pisa around 9:30 or 10:30. We are not in a hurry.
How long to allow for Pisa, some of the squares, the shopping streets, etc. Maybe even dinner. Worth staying in Pisa for Dinner?
Try to figure out when to book a train back to Florence.
Thanks
Jon
Hi Jon -
I don't see a need to pre-purchase tickets back to Florence. Many of the trains back are regionales and you're not going to save anything buying in advance for these trains. As well, if you just buy a paper ticket for a regionale train at a Pisa station when ready to go home, all you have to do it time-stamp it before getting on the train, eliminatng an online check-in process for regionale etickets that can be a bit confusing.
https://www.trenitalia.com/en/purchase/digital-regional-ticket.html
So relax and spend as much time as you wish to as long as you make note of when the later trains depart. :O)
No booking. Only Regional (commuter) trains travel that route and there is no need to book those type of trains, they are likely a subway or a commuter train in the US, Just purchase ticket on the spot (also via Trenitalia app).
Once in Pisa you need less than 30 min to walk (or bus) to the Piazza dei Miracoli (or less by taxi, but more expensive). Once there the things to see are the leaning tower, the cathedral, the baptistery, and possibly the camposanto (monumental cemetery). You will be done by lunch. Have lunch in town, then make your way back to Florence, I see no reason to stay beyond that for dinner.
However many people couple the visit in Pisa with a visit of nearby Lucca, which in my opinion is prettier and more interesting. If you plan to do the same, I would start with Lucca in the morning, then proceed to Pisa in late afternoon (a couple of hours or three are enough for Pisa). Then you can have dinner and head back to Florence. There are over 60 trains a day in each direction between Pisa and Florence, the last one after 11pm.
Should I prebook the initial trip from Florence to Pisa?
Nope. Just buy tickets the morning of your trip.
(But take a moment to consider Roberto's reco for spending half of your day in Lucca?)
I will take a look at Lucca.
I should not purchase round-trip then correct? Since my return trip back to Florence would be fora specific time if I bought roun-trip?
You can buy a round trip. If it’s a paper ticket you need to validate it (date stamp it) at the machine before boarding.
Hi Jon, we visited Pisa as part of the RS tour in 2006. In the last few years I have stayed four nights in Lucca, and I stayed overnight in Pisa on a different trip to attend a local festival. So I have seen a lot of both of those cities.
I would take the train to Pisa in the morning as you’re planning. Shortly after lunch, take the train to Lucca. Or, if you’re done with Pisa early (which I would be), have your lunch in Lucca. Be sure to enjoy strolling or renting a bike for the medieval wall in Lucca and enjoying the streets, shops, Anfiteatro interior, the Torre Guinigi, Ilaria del Carretto, any museums that interest you - Puccini, etc. and have a nice dinner before returning to Florence.
Pisa is a very short trip , maybe one to two hours , nothing beyond that, very convenient to visit Pisa from Florence, easy train and then bus right outside the station.
