Transferring from Florence to Pisa and from Pisa To Florence

It’s possible to spend an entire week in Florence without seeing everything. But most people don’t want that, especially with so many day trips available. The most popular day trip from Florence to Pisa is by far. Both cities are historical rivals. Pisa was once a powerful city-state like Florence. Florence receives the majority of overnight visitors, while Pisa is home to all day-trippers. Every single one of them heads straight for Pisa’s leaning tower.

This information will help you plan your day, whether you’re a daytripper heading to the leaning tower of Pisa or a long-term resident of Pisa. For your convenience, I have included information about how to get there.

Although technically there is a way to travel from Florence to Pisa, or Pisa and Florence by bus, it is more common to use the service between airports than in cities. I am skipping the bus information because the train is so simple and cheap that it is really not necessary to complicate things by trying to make it work.

How to get from Florence to Pisa

Trains from Florence to Pisa

You know how much I love Italian trains. It shouldn’t surprise me that I believe taking the train from Florence to Pisa is the best way to travel. It takes approximately an hour to travel one-way on an Italian regional train. High-speed trains are my favorite and I take them whenever possible. However, Pisa is not on their route map. Regional trains are cheap – usually between $10-12 – and there are no seat reservations. There is frequent service from Florence Santa Maria Novella to Pisa, with up to two trains an hour between Florence Centrale and Pisa Centrale.

To avoid getting stuck, be sure to know the return time if you are taking a day trip.

Driving from Florence to Pisa

The 51-mile (82 km) drive can take approximately an hour and 10 minutes. Traffic aside, it’s possible to rent a car and take some spontaneous errands along the way. Pisa and Florence, like any other historic Italian city, are difficult to navigate due to narrow streets and limited parking spaces. While it’s easy to forget the mundane things, such as rush hour, when you’re vacationing, I can tell you that trying to get into an Italian city during rush hour can be a hassle.

Undaunted? You are not to be discouraged.

How to get from Pisa To Florence

Trains from Pisa and Florence

For getting from Pisa, to Florence, I still prefer the train over other modes of transport. The journey takes approximately an hour, and tickets for regional trains typically cost between $10-12. On most days, there are 45 trains that leave Pisa Centrale to arrive at Florence Santa Maria Novella station (SMN).

You should follow the same advice as the one above about getting from Florence to Pisa. If you are taking a day trip, make sure you know the return train schedule so that you can get home at the end of the day.

Driving from Pisa, Italy to Florence

It doesn’t make sense to me to tell travelers who have rented a car that they will drive the whole trip through Italy. It is important that drivers are prepared to drive in the historic heart of a city that can be quite anti-car. Parking rules are important – Ask your hotel for suggestions on where to park if possible.

Again, I recommend getting a car equipped with a GPS unit to get a sense of the trip in advance via Via Michelin and Rome2Rio.

Guided Day Trips to Pisa and Florence

If you don’t mind the hassle of trying to navigate Tuscany’s roads and railways, then you’re in luck. There are over a hundred billion day trips from Pisa to Florence. These are just a few to consider.

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