Train Florence to Pisa to Lucca

FYI, it's normally not necessary to make advanced train reservations on certain types of Italian trains. In Italy, the Trenitalia trains are of different types. The ones between say Rome and Florence are mostly high speed trains that have reserved seats and tend to cost more if you book at the last minute. But some trains, like most of the trains between Florence and Pisa, are "regional" trains with no reserved seating, and the price is the same if you book 20 minutes before you get on as if you booked months ahead of time. (And you won't have a reserved seat anyway - so if you get on the train just before the doors close for it to leave and there are no seats...you will be standing whether you booked an hour ago or booked months ago.)

And obviously, your plans could change - why not just book the regional train right before you go? (However, you CANNOT buy tickets on a train in Italy! You have to buy them in advance, and if they are "paper tickets," regional train tickets must be validated before you even get on, otherwise you risk a steep fine if caught without validation.

I used my smart phone on the last few trips to book electronic train tickets as I needed them for Italian trains - so no need even to use a ticket machine (which you could do) or stand in line at a ticket window to buy one.

Pisa many would say lacks the charm of Florence (or Lucca). The area around the train station is a little seedy, and the area where the Tower of Pisa is is very tacky-touristy. I found it one of the most obnoxious tourist traps I've ever visited in Europe, with vendors selling cheap Tower trinkets on the sidewalks and every tourist trying to post for a photo "holding up the tower." At the same time, the Tower is iconic of course and kind of a must-see for many Americans who learned about it in elementary school - at least, it was for me.

The area between the Tower (the "Field of Miracles") and the Pisa Centrale train station is more interesting and much less touristy than the Field, however. You'll walk through an old university. You'll cross the Arno River, which is as I said not as charming of an area as the Arno in Florence...but there are some interesting churches and buildings at least. Although I can't quite say I loved Pisa (after spending a few nights there), I did like it much more after spending time away from the obnoxious touristy feel of the Field of Miracles.

The time you need for Pisa depends how much you want to see. Many tourists take the bus from Pisa Centrale right to the Field and see the Tower and that's it and leave. It's up to you if you want to see more.

FYI, there is (or was last time I was there!) a direct bus from the Field of Miracles on to Lucca, so you could just take the bus (assuming it's still going) from there instead of the train on to Lucca...but then maybe take the train from Lucca back to Florence at the end.

Except for 3 daily Frecciargento trains to/from Florence Campo di Marte station that never sell out, the Florence-Pisa railway is served by many Regionale trains that have no reserved seats and that can't sell out. Same for tue Pisa-Lucca line that's served by 2 Intercity and 28 Regionales.

Omio is a re-seller. The 3 Freccia never sell out because Campo di Marte is far from Florence center and because nobody is happy to pay the high speed prices to save 15 minutes. You can buy a Regionale ticket months in advance and you will have the same chances of getting a seat of the guy who got his ticket 15 minutes before getting on the train. Paying the same price.

You can buy tickets on board in Italy. But you must tell conductors you need a ticket asap and not wait for them at your seat. And you must be ready to pay a fee for the service.

All these routes have many trains per day. Also, Pisa is very uninspiring to me. Seeing the tower is of course worthwhile. I would spend much more time in Lucca than Pisa. There is a bus you can take from Pisa Central to the Tower or walk 25 minutes.