We are flying into Pisa airport at 11:25 am. We need to catch the train to Corniglia at 14:56 or 15:33. Will that give us enough time (3-3 1/2 hours total) to get out to the Tower, spend a little time there and the surrounding area, and then return to the train station? Or will we feel like we've been racing at breakneck speed to see anything and it wasn't even worth it? Also, do I need to buy the train tickets in advance or just show up and get them that day?
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
what site are you using? Trenitalia.com shows a train at 15:38, not 33, but the most important thing is that there are tons of later trains to Corniglia. You could depart at 15:54, 16:56, 17:42 etc. etc. Pisa S. Rossore station is closer to the Square than Centrale, but it is served by less trains.
You never need to purchase in advance italian trains tickets, but on INTERCITY trains you'll have to pay the full walk-up fare instead of the discounted one. Not a big problem on that route.
Posted by
Portland, Oregon, United States
907 posts
The train station and the airport are close to each other and the Tower is across the Arno River a little way. If you taxi to and from you could make it. The train won't be a problem, getting through the airport might be. Take the later train, stay loose, and decide when you get out of the airport. Luggage might also confound things.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16522 posts
Also, do I need to buy the train tickets in advance or just show up
and get them that day?
It's never a good idea to pre-purchase train tickets for flight-arrival day: a delayed flight or other airport-related problem could throw a wrench in that machinery. Tickets for this journey will be relatively inexpensive so just buy them when you get to Pisa.
Trenitalia.com shows a train at 15:38, not 33...
Hmm, Dario, Trenitalia is showing me trains at 14:56, 15:33, 16:32, etc. from Pisa Centrale, and all with a change in La Spezia. Are you using a different departure station?
Anyway, beagles, there's no "need" to take either of the first two trains listed unless you have some pre-arrangements in Corniglia? Personally, I don't know as this would be what I'd want to do right off a long international flight but you could play it by ear. There is luggage storage at Centrale, and you DO need to pre-purchase tickets if you want to climb the tower.
If all you really want to see is the Field of Miracles complex, you probably don't need more than a couple of hours.
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
Hmm, Dario, Trenitalia is showing me trains at 14:56, 15:33, 16:32, etc. from Pisa Centrale, and all with a change in La Spezia. Are you using a different departure station?
How strange, this a screenshot of trenitalia.com
https://postimg.org/image/ogu7tui9x/
I entered Pisa tutte le stazioni (Pisa any station) to see trains leaving from both Centrale and San Rossore.
Same departure hour on Sundays. What day of departure did you enter? What site are you using, trenitalia.com/tcom-en?
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16522 posts
Buongiorno, Dario-
I used http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en but ONLY Centrale as a departure station, as I'm guessing our OP has. I used that one because I knew for sure it had luggage storage and I don't believe San Rossore offers that service. Pretty sure they're going to need that if coming straight from the airport?
Because I can't access the station information from a screenshot, I can't tell which stations the train schedules on it depart from.
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Sorry, I made a typo on the train times. Thanks for the info everyone. I have to take one of the earlier trains I mentioned because we have to meet someone.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16522 posts
Sorry, I made a typo on the train times.
Just curious, what was the typo? I'm seeing the same departure times from Pisa Centrale as you originally posted.