hi,
There are 4 of us w large luggage flying Dublin to Pisa (we started from Chicago, USA) on Saturday. We arrive around 5:30 pm. We are not planning on sight seeing in Pisa. We would like to go straight to Florence.
Should I purchase tickets for the train before we go or purchase them in Pisa?
Also what station would be best? We are staying near Plazza Santa Maria Novella.
Same Question For Rome. Should I purchase before we leave for Italy?
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I would not purchase train tickets in advance for flight arrival day. Firenze Santa Maria Novella is the main station, your hotel should be very nearby.
Advance purchase from Firenze to Roma should be fine.
Posted by
WPB, FL & Firenze
3112 posts
Trains from Pisa Centrale to Firenze SMN are almost exclusively regional trains. There's no advantage to buying regional train tickets in advance - no discount available and trains can't sell out. There are 2-3 regional trains per hour to Florence, so just buy those tickets once you arrive.
There was a recent posting about the new now-operational people mover from Pisa Airport to Pisa Centrale. You may want to take a look at that posting. EDIT: It was posted 06/12 and is currently on page 4.
Posted by
Green Bay
20199 posts
For the most part, trains from Pisa to Florence are Regionali, price is always the same, they are cheap (8.40 EUR 2nd cl, subsidized by the regional taxpayers), there are no reservations, and they are fairly frequent, like 3 or 4 every hour at your arrival time. And they all go to Santa Maria Novella station.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15215 posts
The People Mover (PosaMover) goes from the airport to the Pisa Centrale station. In between it stops at a parking facility where you could also catch the shuttle buses to Florence. They drop you off in front of Florence SMN station. Either option works. The advantage of the buses is that the luggage goes under the belly of the bus.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15835 posts
The advantage of the buses is that the luggage goes under the belly of
the bus.
We have taken the shuttle bus that runs between Pisa airport and S.M. Novella in Florence only we did it the other way around. The buses are like touring coaches, are very comfortable, and it was nice having our bags tucked in underneath. I'd give it a shot?
http://www.terravision.eu/airport_transfer/bus-pisa-airport-florencebus/
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32219 posts
The Coach shuttle to Firenze SMN is certainly one option, but the seating tends to be a bit "tight" compared to trains. As you have "large luggage", the bus may be a better option as with the train you'll be responsible for hauling luggage on & off the train. With luggage placed in the hold under the bus, be sure to keep an eye on it, as I've heard of a few cases of luggage "disappearing" from buses at intermediate stops. That can also happen on trains.
Regarding tickets it's just as easy to buy your train tickets at the station at Pisa Centrale. Many of the trains between there and Florence are Regionale, so there's no benefit to buying those in advance. DON'T forget to validate before boarding the train, or you'll risk hefty fines!