My husband and I have an extra day at the end of an organized tour and we would like to visit Pisa and the tower, leaving from Rome. We are staying at a '5 star' hotel in Rome but when I contacted the concierge asking to have this set up, he replied that it is difficult to get a tour of Pisa from Rome and we should take the train on our own. It seems like he could have been of more help. We don't mind taking the train and then meeting a 'skip the line English speaking tour' when we get there. Can we find one easily once we get there? Does anyone have a recommendation? We are going on a Saturday - November 3rd. Would it be crowded at that time? Please send recommendations as to the best way to do this.
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
I agree with the concierge: take the train yourself. Very easy - you don't need a tour. Buy tickets for the tower (if you want to climb it) online here:
http://www.towerofpisa.org/tickets/
If you take the train to Pisa Centrale (more trains stop there) it's about a 30 min walk to the Field of Miracles where the tower is. There are also local buses. It's not a bad walk, not amazing but worth doing, at least in one direction. You can also take a train to Pisa San Rossore station, but that may require more connections - may be easier just to get to Pisa Centrale and go from there.
Expect a lot of people around the Field of Miracles - it's obnoxiously touristy.
Some people will tell you it's a waste of time to go to Pisa from Rome for the day. There is some merit to that argument - it's a long way up from Rome just for the day, and Pisa isn't exactly the most charming town in Italy. The tower is of course iconic - but you'll have to decide if it's worth your time to get up there. There is more to Pisa than just the tower, but it takes a little more time to explore it.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23314 posts
First off, have you looked at a map. Long ways to Pisa from Rome. With a fast train it is at least two and half to three hours. And that is each way. The is a reason why your uncooperative concierge told you that tours from Rome were not available. Who wants to spend six or seven hours on a bus for a couple of hours in Pisa. Second, there is really not much to see at Pisa other than two building including an off balance tower. If you are set on seeing, take the train and spend a couple of hours on the site. In Nov the lines will not be long as the days are pretty short. So go early.
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
I've always thought Buffalmacco's frescoes in Pisa to be as important as the buildings, but I may be wrong.
Strange that a city that's thousands of years old has nothing interesting to see except for a single square, isn't it? One wonders what happened to all the other buildings, palaces anc churches built during the middle-age and the renaissance. Maybe they were moved to Florence in the 50s to fill the holes?
Posted by
Green Bay
20216 posts
If you are serious, you could buy nonrefundable tickets now for fairly cheap. 30 EUR for 2 on the 6:05 am Frecciabianca direct to Pisa Centrale (2 hours 21 minutes), and 40 EUR for the return at 14:07 (2 hours and 56 minutes).
I see Viator (a tour consolidator) showing tickets for 52.42 USD for 2 with entry times at 30 past the hour of your choice. There may be better deals with a little online research.
You could also specify Pisa S. Rossore as your destination for a couple EUR more. Then you would change trains at Pisa Centrale for a short ride to Pisa S. Rossore which is walking distance of the Tower.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8166 posts
Other than The Tower and a beautiful church, Pisa is a secondary tourist destination. I'd just stay in Rome and visit some sights you missed earlier. I always try not to push myself the day before any departure or long flight.
Posted by
Portsmouth
5289 posts
Leave Rome to see Pisa? I certainly wouldn't.
My wife and I visited Pisa in February when we had a few hours to kill before our flight from the nearby airport (we had previously been in Florence). Yes, the tower is iconic, yes it was incredibly overcrowded even in February, was it an amazing experience? No. How long did we stay? About 15 minutes. Would I recommend a visit? No. Would I advocate a long day trip from Rome? Absolutely not.
I actually preferred the walk to the tower taking in all the buildings on the way. Of course there are many people who do enjoy visiting the tower however I suspect many view a visit as something to simply say that they've been there.
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3172 posts
Though Pisa is unique and very popular, I would opt for a day trip to either Orvieto or Tivoli. Much closer to Rome allowing more time for sightseeing.
Posted by
Washington DC
27202 posts
I'm with Philip: My first thought was "Orvieto". That, unlike Pisa, is a full-day destination, and it's only about 75 minutes from Termini Station in Rome--though you do have to hop on the funicular in Orvieto (right outside the train station) to get up to the historic town.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15839 posts
Sherry, it might be helpful to know what is included in your organized tour of Rome? That city has SO many interesting things to see that I sure wouldn't spend the long hours on transport back-and-forth to Pisa when there are so many marvels much, much closer at hand. Yes, you could take nice day trips to Orvieto or Ostia Antica but there are also some pretty great things to see without leaving the city at all, and especially if this is your first time to Rome.
Pisa is a more easily done as a day trip from Florence, and I wouldn't even do that unless one has covered the highlights there.