Best transportation from Florence to Pisa ?

No, Pisa is a very popular tourist site. The problem is that you are looking too far out on Trenitalia. They are really behind in getting all of there schedule changes online. If you use a day within the next two weeks, you can see lots of trains going to Pisa.

CLICK HERE to see a current morning schedule. There are lots of trains throughout the day. Your half day round trip sounds just fine. There's not much else to see besides the tower and the Field of Miracles.

It's a 30-min walk in from the train station or you can take the city bus from the front of the train station.

Thank you, Larry. Also, I've read about problems in booking with Trenitalia's online site. But I have also seen advice on booking 'ticketless', where I just show printouts of the e-mail they send when I get there.

Would anyone share their experience if the Trenitalia site has worked for you ? It seems convenient if it works. And choosing "Amica" fare could also give savings of 20%

Sonny, on this particular run to and from Pisa, you won't be able to book or reserve seats online on Trenitalia. Both directions to and from are on local R trains. Trenitalia won't sell the tickets online. Not to worry. You can just walk into the Florence station, buy your tickets, get on the next train take any available seat. It's like you local bus system. If you really MUST have a ticket before your leave, it looks like you can buy them on www.italiarail.com They'll mail the tickets to your address.

Sonny - I'm with Larry on this one and we've done it often. Just wait and get your tickets in Florence - and then on your return from Pisa. I think we paid €5.50 one way on a Regionale train with open seating the last time we headed that way.

I would look at the Trenitalia webpage and just print out the page with an estimate of the departures for your return trip... so you will know when the trains return (That was important to us as we had a dinner reservation at Il Latini).

Once you get to Pisa - buy bus tickets (including those needed for your return to the station) at the Tabachi shop inside the terminal, go out the front door, catch the LAM Rosso (red line bus) at the bus stop ACROSS the street from the terminal (NOT WHERE ALL THE BUSSES PARK IN FRONT OF THE TERMINAL), and it will take you to the Field of Miracles and the Tower!

On your return, go back through the gate you entered to get to the Field of Miracles, cross the street and to your left you will find the LAM Rosso bus stop to return to the Station.

If you're worried, just ask the driver "Torre?" and they will tell you if you're on the correct bus and when to get off... pretty easy and no parking worries!

Have fun!
Ciao,
Ron

I would recommend buying "round trip" tickets in Florence. Having your return ticket might get you on an earlier train if you get back to the Pisa station just before a departure. The agent will give you 2 tickets when buying round trip, so double-check and be sure you stamp the correct one before boarding. The trains between Florence and Pisa are regional trains, so your tickets will be good on any train. If you miss one, just take the next.

Thank you all for the replies.

I should have started my online ticketing question on another thread. (Rick's rules ;-( Sorry.

I meant to possibly get online ticketless bookings for the other legs of my trip:

1. Milan to Verona
2. Verona to Venice (maybe local ???)
3. Venice to Florence
4. Florence to Rome

Or should I just buy these at the station as well? I might save time by having my e-mail printouts already of my bookings.