We are flying from Holland to PISA. Arrive Sunday afternoon and depart from PISA 5 days later on Friday at 9 AM. 3 of us. Having hard time on itinerary and costs for car versus bus/train. Either going from Pisa up coast to Portofino area (my choice) or going Pisa to Florence to Sienna back to Pisa (my wife and sister-in-law's choice). Am trying to get costs for train from PISA to Florence - train or bus from Florence to Sienna - and no clue how to get back from Sienna to Pisa to make the return flight early Friday morning, but could make Pisa the last leg and take bus or train from Sienna on Thursday to Pisa. General thoughts and cost estimates would be help me compare cost versus rental car. Thanks. Mike
Posted by
Edmonton, AB, Canada
668 posts
Mike: Cannot help you make the decision, I have only been on the Pisa-Portofino route. If you are doing that, forget about driving. Trains and a bus will take you at minimal cost. I won't guess the exact amount, but trains in that area are very cheap. Buy a CT pass and it includes train travel within CT for, I think 5 days. Do not stay in Portofino, or plan to spend ANY money there! A beautiful place to visit, buut expensive. You need to take a bus from Santa Marghareta (SP?) You can stay at any of the CT villages, We stayed at Manorolo, but they each is unique and quite scenic. I would not loiter in Pisa, apart from the tower, Cathedral and Baptistry, there is not much there.
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
First, the Pisa airport has a train station. It's a 5-minute ride to Pisa Centrale. Most of the train runs that you describe will be Regionale trains although you could be on a high-speed from Pisa to Santa Margherita Ligure. The fares on the Regionales are really cheap. I'll provide some fares but you can see the same thing I see on www.trenitalia.com the Italian train website. Pisa to Florence is 5.80Euro. Florence to Siena is 6.30Euro. Siena back to Pisa is 7.30Euro. Pisa to Portofino is 8.30Euro on the Regionale. There are better trains on this run. IC train fare is 13.50Euro. The Eurostar is 19.80Euro. Trains are everywhere.
Posted by
somerset, ky, United States
4 posts
ONe other thought; there is a truly exquizite chef with a bed/breakfast in a little town, Tellaro just south of Lerici and an easy trip from Pisa. The hotel is Locanda Miranda has a web site english speaking son who is concierge and a Michelin star for the best food I've ever had. From there you can take a taxi or bus to Lerici, catch the water taxi to all cinque terra towns. I've been to Portofino, Santa Margherita and Siena. of three, Siena is special but not more so than cinque terra and Locanda Miranda. A lot depends, of course, on whether your first trip to Italy or not. If first, do Florence, Siena because they are important. Otherwise, I'm for Tellaro and I've been 3 times!