Has anyone had experience seeing Pisa and Lucca on the way to Florence from the Cinque Terre? I'm planning on going by train from Levanto to Florence and I have to change trains in Pisa. I'm wondering if it's possible to see some of Pisa and Lucca on the way to Florence or if I should just go straight to Florence and do a day trip to both towns while in Florence.
I'm staying 3 nights in Florence... over a weekend. I was planning on taking the 8:53 AM train out of Levanto on a Saturday. That gets to Pisa around 10:30 AM. Or I could keep going and get to Florence a little after noon.
If I do go to Pisa on the way, should I go straight to the station closest to the Field of Miracles and then go from there to Lucca? In that case, I'd miss out on Rick's walk thru town but I'm thinking I would have to sacrifice that if I want to see some of Lucca as well. In any case, would you do both towns on the way or as a day trip from Florence? Grazie.
Posted by
Detroit, MI
1106 posts
I didn't make time for Lucca. I saw Pisa as a day trip from Florence. Going to Pisa on the way could work if there are lockers at the train station in Pisa that you can store your luggage in. I would be sure to make time for Rick's recommended walk or at least another suggest walk past various landmarks. I vaguely remember that it took me 20 minutes or more to walk from the train station in Pisa to the Leaning Tower. You don't have time to go to both Pisa and Lucca in one day if you want to see both properly. Make sure you give yourself time to walk past various landmarks and see the historic parts of the towns properly. Are you going to climb the Leaning Tower or just observe it from the ground?
Posted by
OP
San Francisco, California, USA
188 posts
Hi Mike - Thanks for your advice. I'm undecided about climbing the Pisa tower. Did you do it? If so, was it worth it?
Posted by
New York
333 posts
There are people on both sides of the "is it worth exploring Pisa beyond the Field of Miracles?". Just my opinion but I say no. If you can manage it, I would suggest spending a couple of hours at the Field of Miracles, then heading to Lucca. Your post doesn't mention when you'll be making this journey, but I think some work is being done at Montecatini train station, so there may not be direct trains between Lucca and Florence so you may need to to back to Pisa to get train to Florence. Be sure to check if you choose to stop in Lucca. Enjoy.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA
1182 posts
We did not climb the tower but we did climb the baptistery and go in the cathedral at Pisa. Great way to spend a couple hours and get excellent pics of the tower from the baptistery.
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
1492 posts
I like Lucca but I think trying to do both with luggage in tow seems like less fun to me. Pisa is a good stopover because you'll probably head through there on the train anyway and it'll be too early to check into your place in Florence anyway. If you wanted to do it I would suggest looking at storing your luggage once touring Pisa, touring Lucca and swinging back through Pisa before collecting it and heading to Florence. Keeping mind that this would probably consume the entire day.
You could take a day trip to Lucca (and/or Pisa) from Florence but with only 2 full days in Florence you'll probably be busy the entire time. I like Lucca but it lacks blockbuster sights and generally just an interesting medieval town that straddles real life Italy and accessibility to tourists. It will give a glimpse into that part of Tuscany although someplace like Siena is much more dramatic. It comes down to what you want to see in Florence versus around Florence since you're trading time in Pisa/Lucca for time in Florence. If it is, realistically, your chance to visit it this trip would you rather spend the train travel time to see another town or towns or get into Florence and see more there?
Also note that if you want to stop in Pisa you will need to book a ticket to Pisa and then a separate ticket later to Florence. Get the Trenitalia app for checking schedules and buying tickets as needed.
My $.02, hope that helps,
=Tod
Posted by
21 posts
If you never been to Florence, u want to spend most time there. If you will travel to Florence in the future, and Pisa is where you switch train, do it this time. Two weeks ago, also a Sat, we left CT arriving Pisa around 11:00 am, queued to store bags ( 5e per bag, not cheap), (go to your right as you're approaching main building, platform 1?), took taxi to Field of miracles, taxi back to station, retrieve bags around 4. You can take bus but it's quite crowded. I climbed the tower (pre booked, with time slot) it's fun and felt dizzy, different from climbing others), I think it's worth it. Museum of Duomo is very well curated and have good photo ops of the leaning tower with no one around. Fields of miracles was VERY busy but you can find calmness inside other attractions.
For CT to Pisa, and Pisa to Florence, better to book IC trains or any with seat reservations, very busy with regional trains unless you don't mind standing.
Posted by
OP
San Francisco, California, USA
188 posts
Wow... thanks to everyone for your thoughts. A lot to chew on. I'm planning on being there in mid-September so hopefully the train from Lucca to Florence will be fixed by then. I understand I can leave my bag (for a fee) at the TI office at the Field of Miracles. I have been to Florence before but it was almost 50 years ago. Anyway... thanks again. Gonna give this a good think.