| Florence |
Re: Leaning Tower of Pisa Posted: Thu October 27, 2011 11:27 AM UTC
nothing is as easy and as economical as train.
from Florence SMN station there are umpteen trains a day to Pisa Central station, from where it takes half an hour easy walk to the leaning tower. easier done than said!
for Pisa train, no need to book in advance, just buy the ticket from easy to use, english-speaking, vending machines installed at train stations whenever you like to. tickets are reservation free, i.e. you may board on any train going to Pisa, however, before baording on the train you have to stamp your ticket from the yello machine at the platform, after which your ticket will be considered 'used'
hope this helps
have a great trip
Muzzammil
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| Florence |
Re: Leaning Tower of Pisa Posted: Thu October 27, 2011 12:19 PM UTC
The train is how I would do it. This will also allow for a very nice stroll through Pisa on the way to the tower.
It seems from your posts that you are hesitant to take the train. You will find that the train is one of the best part of visiting Italy.
No traffic, a comfortable seat where you can relax and watch the country side, read and even stretch your legs if you wish. It is also a great place to meet people. for some reason people on trains are often very friendly.
Buying tickets is simple and very cost effective. So go for the train.
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| Florence |
Re: Leaning Tower of Pisa Posted: Thu October 27, 2011 12:26 PM UTC
Train is very ok, inexpensive too but I suggest renting a car. Road trip offers lots of very interesting spots on your way. The only problem is that you could travel several days, (lol), coz its too tempting and you would stop oftenly.
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| Florence |
Re: Leaning Tower of Pisa Posted: Thu October 27, 2011 05:12 PM UTC
I advise against renting a car. Pisa (and florence) both have restricted traffic zones (ZTLs) which you cannot enter without being automatically fined. They are monitored by CCTV camerass, and the fine *will* be taken from your card. Additionally, parking in both places will be neither easy nor cheap.
Take the train. There are regular trains from Florence Santa Maria Novella station to Pisa Centrale station. Train times, details and fares in English here:
http://www.trenitalia.com/homepage_en.html
You do *not* need to book tickets online in advance, not even buy them before the day you travel. Ticket machines are easy to use, accept cash and give change (they do not accept unchipped cards) and have English language options. Make sure you validate (date-stamp) your ticket using the yellow machines on the platform before boarding the train: there are on-the-spot fines for non-validation.
Once at Pisa Centrale you can either take a taxi to the Campo dei Miracoli (where you will find the Tower, the Duomo, the Baptistry and the Camposanto, all of which are worth visiting), or you can catch the LAM Rossa bus from outside the station (travelling to your left). Timetables here:
http://www.cpt.pisa.it/orari/pisa/linea1.htm
click 'mappa' to se the route. You can buy tickets from the newsagent, or from the bus driver.
Or you can walk. It takes about 25 minutes, and will take you through the centre of Pisa (worth exploring in itself).
There is no straightforward bus service between Florence and Pisa. Trains are cheap, safe and frequent, so they are used in preference.
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| Florence |
Re: Leaning Tower of Pisa Posted: Thu October 27, 2011 05:36 PM UTC
Not far from Campo dei Miracoli is huge parking area (5 minutes walking distance), or if one know it, could park in some side streets not far from there and even closer to the Campo.
Train is cheaper, thats for sure, but the best way to explore Tuscany and Italy as well is by the car. Fact is, am in the neighboring country to Italy and travelling by car is more convinient to me. I do speak perfect Italian and the locals always telling me some tricks regarding parkings.
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| Florence |
Re: Leaning Tower of Pisa Posted: Thu October 27, 2011 05:38 PM UTC
Yes, I can imagine that local knowledge about parking is extremely useful. :-)
But for a daytrip (as I think this is) train is by far the easiest and cheapest way, just as bus to Siena is the easiest and cheapest.
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| Florence |
Re: Leaning Tower of Pisa Posted: Thu October 27, 2011 05:45 PM UTC
I agree if day trip, but still, missing all those places along the road and stop wherever one likes is something I would never do. But ofcourse, it's my experience and the way am travelling around, cannot force others to do the same, am only suggesting.
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| Florence |
Re: Leaning Tower of Pisa Posted: Thu October 27, 2011 05:51 PM UTC
Exactly: it's a personal choice.
For me (I drive everywhere in the UK) Italian transport is so good (and ZTLs & parking so very tricky and potentially very expensive indeed) that, for a straightforward trip like this, train (and/or bus, and/or feet) is by far the best way.
In countries where public transport is not good (such as the US) I hire a car.
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| Florence |
Re: Leaning Tower of Pisa Posted: Thu October 27, 2011 06:07 PM UTC
That's why I don't travel to USA, lol
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| Florence |
Re: Leaning Tower of Pisa Posted: Sat November 19, 2011 12:51 AM UTC
That depends on you...if you would be satisfied travelling to Pisa on a bus and returning directly to Florence...it's probably a good idea. But, if you have any desire to see Lucca, Viareggio and more in that area...then you need a vehicle. There is absolutely no problem driving in Italy....getting out of Florence the first time is a bit challenging but Auto Europe will make it quite easy.
Enjoy !!
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| Florence |
Re: Leaning Tower of Pisa Posted: Sat November 19, 2011 07:40 AM UTC
You would not visit Pisa by bus (a trip which involves a change of buses): you use the train. Same for Lucca, same for Viareggio and anywhere else which has a railway station.
You can make daytrips to a huge number of places from Florence using public transport. Once you take into account cost of hire & fuel, and of parking (and add in time taken *finding* parking and avoiding ZTLs) public transport is almost always a cheaper and easier option in Italy. Imo and from my experience without hiring a car (I have never felt the need in Italy)
If you want to just drive the countryside, rather than visit specific places, a car is a better option.
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| Florence |
Re: Leaning Tower of Pisa Posted: Sat November 19, 2011 08:56 AM UTC
Each of us have own travelling style and preferences, what is good for me isn't good for you and vice versa. I like to start my trip when I want, picking my own road, stoping where I feel to stop and ariving as it comes - never looking any timetable. You prefer travelling by train, which is commanding when to start and when ariving. But the most important is that we both enjoying in travellings.
Those who coming from out of Europe should try to see and visit as many places as possible. Public transportation is definately much cheaper but has its limitations too. Travelling is adventure and should give us oportunity to see unexpected, besides those things which we expecting to see.
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| Florence |
Re: Leaning Tower of Pisa Posted: Sat November 19, 2011 09:11 AM UTC
Absolutely agree that it is of course about personal preference. But preferences need to be informed by facts as well (fuel, parking, congestion, ZTLs etc etc).
It's not that I actively prefer to take public transport: I drive all the time in the UK. I have never felt the need to do so in Italy (as opposed to. e.g. the US) simply because the public transport network is so very extensive and the fares so reasonable.
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| Florence |
Re: Leaning Tower of Pisa Posted: Sat November 26, 2011 09:48 PM UTC
Diversity is the spice of life.
Our public transit does suck. I am not sure why such a rich country has no interest in civilized travel. I guess I am a sucker for trains and the relaxed feeling I get traveling on them.
The train from Pisa to Florence was so dead easy and rewarding. I could not be bribed to drive that journey.
Randy
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