where is a safe area for a single female student to stay for a few days after study abroad in either Florence or Pisa. I was thinking a hotel right across the street from Pisa Centrale and be in hotel before dark? She'd need to be close to station with suitcase in tow. I recall the Florence station area was not desirable. If she were near the Pisa station, she could walk to meet a few tours that depart from there. Is that a safe area during the day? thanks, Elaine
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8120 posts
We flew into Pisa and took the train immediately over to Florence. The hotel we stayed at was 1 block from the train station--behind the McDonald's. I checked now, and it's a little too expensive for our pocketbook.
You might want to look at Rick Steves' guidebook for Italy to see his room recommendations. Just about anywhere in the city center will be a safe area--with all the foot traffic from tourists. Booking.com also has all kinds of accommodations including B&B's.
I often will go to Google Maps and pull up a center city. Then I hit "++" and a bunch of hotel icons will pop up with prices noted. Click on the icons and it'll get you to their direct websites or reservations. And I can read what past guests have to say about the property.
Posted by
Paris
9530 posts
I can not imagine needing to be in one's hotel in major (or middling) Italian city before dark. It's just not necessary.
Italians are on the street at all hours, and while of course a random act of horrible violence is always possible anywhere, I would find if you researched that the actual chances of something like that happening in Italy extremely low (so low as to not influence my thinking or make me be in my room before dark!). And certainly many times lower than the rate of violent crime in Washington !
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15119 posts
Anywhere in Florence or Pisa is very safe. Where do you think you are going? To Washington DC? I don’t even think Florence had 5 murders in the whole of 2021.
Posted by
Land of La
8625 posts
Where is she coming from? Where is she going?
Never been to Pisa so can’t comment. Been to Florence. Do not recall the neighborhood near Santa Maria Novella as undesirable.
Depending on budget I’d suggest Relais Luce Florence or Hotel Albani.