Transportation from Venice to Lucca, stop in Florence

The high speed train takes 2h15m to get from Venice to Florence, then you can store your bags at the station, see the sights, and get a train to Lucca. You should book the high speed train (either Frecciarossa or Italo) in advance, but the trip to Lucca is on Regionale trains so you can buy them from the Trenitalia app when you need them. Make sure you book your David and Duomo tickets in advance, too.

Hello crisandmonica and welcome to the forum!

As noted be sure you reserve tickets or a tour guide who will handle tickets or you'll spend your few hours in Florence waiting in line for tickets rather than seeing anything. While you can use a guide if you want there is no need for a driver as the city core is small and walking is as fast as driving most places and the beauty of the city is part of the experience.

There are many local regionale trains to Lucca during the day. Get the Trenitalia app and check the schedule for the one that works for you when you are ready to leave. Be sure to buy your tickets at least 10 minutes beforehand, leave time to collect your lugagge and just get on the train because regionale trains don't have reserved seats.

Have a great trip,
=Tod

As Jeff recommended, take a high-speed train to Florence. It will be faster, not to mention exponentially less expensive than a hired car and driver. And yes, book that ticket in advance as soon as you are sure of the time, to take advantage of discounts. Regionale train to Lucca- just buy a ticket for the next one leaving. Advance timed tickets are a must for the Florence attractions, since your time is limited. A private driver will be of limited benefit in Florence since much of the historic area is either pedestrianized or within a ZTL.

If your time is short, I’d suggest skipping the inside of the Duomo — you won’t have to wait in line to admire the gorgeous exterior!

Rick’s Italy book suggests that the interior of the Duomo doesn’t justify the massive crowds that lineup to get inside — because much of the church’s great art is in the Duomo museum nearby instead of inside the church itself.

Thanks everyone for the tips! Sounds like I need to buy tickets on the fast train to Florence in advance. Once in Florence, we pay to store our bags at the station, and then go see the sites as long as we want (booking tours in advance). Once ready to leave, we can easily buy tickets for the remaining regional 2 trains (Florence to Pisa, Pisa to Lucca), so for now only book the first train?

Yes, fast trains can be booked ahead of time at significant savings. You lose flexibility in ticket refunds or changes but as long as you are in control of what time you leave you can save a bunch of money booking fast trains early. The only reason to pay full price is if you can't control what time you're going to get to the station - like you're coming from an international flight - so you wait to buy day of.

Local Regionale trains are always the same price, don't have reserved seats and never sell out so there's no reason to book them until you need them.

Have a great trip,
=Tod

You don’t need to buy 2 tickets- just buy- Florence to Lucca and it will include the connection.

Typically there are direct trains Florence to Lucca but I believe there is construction on that line now. Don’t know when it will be complete

Got it, thank you!

There are direct trains Florence - Lucca. But because the Florence Pisa line is a lot faster it is sometimes quicker to go via Pisa, which is why you see both direct trains, and trains with a connection in Pisa offered.
I would if possible just take a direct one.

Good to know. Thanks!