Does anyone know the exact Vaibus schedule to Lucca? RS describes an hourly bus outside the wall behind the Baptistery. I found Vaibus orari online but cannot make any sense of it. We'll stop for 1-2 hours at the Campo on the way from Florence to Lucca, mainly to visit the Duomo but also see tower exterior. If we miss the Vaibus by a minute then we stand and wait an hour for the next one, so perhaps would take less time to take the bus back to the central train station to go to Lucca. RS also mentions a different station - San Rossore - 10 minute walk from the tower, but the description of the area is fairly grim - don't know whether it's grim (unsafe) or grim (ugly & confusing). Any feedback greatly appreciated: Vaibus to Lucca? Vaibus schedule? Centrale station to Lucca? Rossore station to Lucca?
Posted by
the Netherlands
2487 posts
I've used the San Rossore station some three years ago. I can't remember anything grim or otherwise unpleasant.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
The San Rossore station is fine, close to the Campo, but I recall the train pulling in at a sloping angle, which made hopping on the train rather difficult for shorter passengers of a certain age and agility.
Posted by
824 posts
I used the San Rossore station last October and it was being re-furbished - it should be complete and fully refreshed by now. The area between San Rossore station and the Duomo was part light industrial / part residential but by no means grim. One thing is for sure, the walk to San Rossore station is a lot shorter than to Pisa Centrale...
I think the train is, by far, the best way to go. It's fairly fast (half the time as the bus) and the Lucca train station is right across the road from one of the town gates.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16894 posts
This PDF version of the E3 bus schedule is pretty straightforward. The top section runs Monday-Saturday (days 123456) and the bottom section runs Sundays (7).
Is this a daytrip without luggage? I don't know whether the San Rossore renovation included adding bag storage, but Pisa Centrale station does have it.
Posted by
OP
North Carolina
362 posts
Thanks all!! I feel much better about San Rossore station! Will we be able to see buildings (exterior) on the Campo after hours? I've switched the order of things and we'll be going to Lucca first, staying there as long as possible and getting to Pisa by 6pm to do RS tour of the Duomo before it closes at 7. In case other buildings also close at 7, can we wander around the Campo to take a look or is there a wall/gate that closes it off? I can't clearly tell from the maps. Thanks again!
PS to Laura - It's a day trip (Oct) from Florence - no luggage - leave in the morning, come back at night.
Posted by
New York, NY, USA
11294 posts
Since you're seeing Lucca and Pisa in the same day, strongly consider doing Lucca first. That's what I did in March of 1989, and it remains one of my most memorable travel days ever. By getting to Pisa in the late afternoon, the souvenir vendors were literally packing up, the crowds had gone, and the marble in the Field of Miracles was lovely in the afternoon light.