Pisa vs Lucca

Lucca is vastly a better place to stay as it is a truly beautiful town. Pisa is the biggest tourist trap in all of Europe. Why do you think that either of these places is unsafe?

Pisa is really not worth the bother, my wife and I took a walk there whilst waiting to check in for our flight. Must have spent 20 minutes there and then left feeling slightly underwhelmed. Lots and lots and lots of tourists all taking the obligatory 'holding up the tower' photo and then settling down at one of the many overpriced restaurants in the vicinity.

You'd struggle to fill half a day in Pisa let alone 2.

I also have to question the query about safety. Reading these forums one would get the impression that Europe is a hotbed of crime and violence when really it's quite the opposite.

In doing research on Pisa I have read of incidents of pick pockets and gypsies targeting tourists especially at the train station. Since we plan on day trips from Pisa we would be taking the trains and coming back at night. It was a thought that Lucca might be a nicer and safer option. I'm open to all feedback and experiences of people that have been there.

The learning Tower is a tourist trap and the area surrounding it is a circus of crappy restaurants an souvenir shops. But the baptistary and cathedral are worth a visit and the rest of Pisa is a nice city.
That being said I liked Lucca better and stayed there as well when I visited a few years back.

Pisa has a long and interesting history, was once one of the four naval powers of Italy (Venezia, Amalfi and Genova were the others). Most people only go to the Campo dei Miracoli.

Overall, I prefer Lucca for a couple of nights. Easy to daytrip by bus into Pisa for a half day.

If you do stay in Lucca, stay inside the walls.

If your objective is the Cinque Terre, you said "day trips", why not stay there for the 2 days 1 night. Then take an afternoon train to Pisa. Photos are better in the late afternoon and the site is less crowded.

Spend your last evening in Pisa. With easy access to the airport.

I totally agree with the comments above. Pisa is not worth much time--and we did encounter pick pocketers around the train station. Lucca is a really nice town and worth a couple nights. We enjoyed several good meals there and biking and exploring.

Why are u not considering staying in one of the Cinque Terre towns? Also u don't mention when u intend to travel..if it's from May to October then the Cinque Terre is packed to the gills during the day and most enjoyable early and late in the day when it's only the people staying in the town. I stayed in Vernazza and it's beautiful after dark. If you are traveling in the off season it can get rainy and windy and most establishments are closed, so u have to consider that.
If you have to choose between Pisa and Lucca then it's Lucca any day. Beautiful town and walking the walls with the residents early morning is a must do experience. In Pisa the field of miracles is worth just a few hours, the town has other sites but Lucca is more picturesque and memorable. Staying inside the walls is a must in Lucca. As you can walk around the town at night and see structures all lit up. You can stay in Lucca all year round.

We had a great time in Lucca too..so it depends on what time of the year u are traveling.

Have a great trip!

We are traveling mid October. We have two days in between Florence and Sicily with our flight leaving Pisa to Sicily. I thought Pisa would be a good home base for two nights so as to be close to the airport for our early flight. Concerned about train station in Pisa being an issue with gypsies and pick pockets, so I'm questioning that option.And Lucca sounds so nice, I've been rethinking our itinerary.
Thank you all for your thoughts and advice.

Safety is not an issue in either place, but I think there is more to see in Lucca than Pisa. Pisa needs a couple of hours, that’s it. Also consider visiting Barga.
The Lucca-Aulla railroad is very scenic too.

Lucca, Lucca, Lucca!

I agree with staying in Lucca. My wife and i did a day trip to CT from there in 2007. It was a long day, but do-able. I am sorry we did not have more time in Lucca, nice town. Pisa just seemed kind of dusty and drab to me outside of the area right around the leaning tower.

The only thing good about Pisa is the Compound with the leaning tower. The city is not a pretty sight.
Stay in Lucca, but spend a few hours visiting Pisa.

We ended up staying in Lucca for 2 nights and loved the town! We took the train to CT for a day trip which was so beautiful! Lucca was close enough to Pisa airport for our flight to Catania, so we took a cab. Worked out perfectly! Lucca is a lovely town!,

Thank you for coming back and reporting how things turned out.

Glad you loved Lucca. It's one of my favorite towns in Italy. Am planning a longer stay there very soon.