Pisa to Florence – Trains & Tickets

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How to get to Florence from Pisa

  • Booking Train Tickets in Italy: The top site for booking Italy train tickets is ItaliaRail.com. It’s typically how I book train tickets.
  • By rail: From the airport, take the brief 5 minute PisaMover train to Pisa Centrale train station. Then travel by train toward Florence, a 50 to 80 minute ride depending on velocity and number of stops. This option presents an ideal blend of affordable pricing, flexible schedules, more spacious seating areas and simple luggage storage. Additionally, experiencing Italy by rail is totally authentic. More info and photos below regarding train travel. I recommend booking train tickets in advance.
  • By bus: Daily bus service runs directly from the Pisa airport to the Santa Maria Novella, the main train station in Florence. Buses operate hourly and fifteen minutes from 9 a.m. until 12:40 a.m. The fares are €14 for adults and €7 for children. Bus trips take approximately 70 minutes, but timing can vary based on traffic flow. While bus costs compare to trains, seats are smaller and overall trip durations are less predictable due to traffic. Large luggage is stowed in a compartment under the bus with space for some smaller items above the seats.
  • By taxi: Taking a taxi is a more expensive option than the train or bus, but if you are traveling with young children or cumbersome luggage, this is the easiest and most adaptable way. A taxi costs around €180 one-way, contingent on distance and timing. There are always taxis waiting outside of the airport. This is a suitable choice for groups of up to four individuals.
  • By private transfer: Daily shuttles travel from the Pisa airport to Florence. This option is cheaper per traveler than a taxi, though still more costly than train or bus. Booking ahead is advised. Sun Transfers is the best private transfer service connecting Pisa to Florence. Rates shown are round trip, starting at €281 for up to three passengers, with costs per person decreasing for larger groups up to eight.
  • By road: Leasing a vehicle in Florence works out cheaper in the long run than taking taxis, and Italy`s road regulations are similar to the U.S.`s. The trip from Pisa to Florence will take roughly an hour, incorporating toll fees. Driving is a good choice if your time in Tuscany includes several day trips to other cities or into the wine country. But if most of your travel days will be spent within Florence itself, then a car is more trouble because of limited and expensive parking and the fact that many hotels in Florence are inside the pedestrian-only zone.

Pisa-Florence Train Schedules

The PisaMover runs between the Pisa International Airport and the Pisa Centrale train station every 5 to 8 minutes each day from 6 a.m. to midnight. The 2 km journey takes approximately 5 minutes total and makes a single halt (at San Giusto Aurelia, where there are two parking lots) before continuing on to Pisa Centrale. The timetable remains consistent on weekdays as it does on weekends and holidays.

Trains running from Pisa Centrale Station to Firenze Santa Maria Novella (Firenze SMN, the main train station in Florence), run nearly continuously, approximately every 7 to 30 minutes, depending on the time of day. The initial train of the morning is an exception, with an hour after its departure until the next one. Pisa to Florence train service begins at 4:15 a.m. and ends at 10:30 p.m. Train timetables are identical on weekdays, weekends, and holidays.

Pisa-Florence Train Fares

The PisaMover transportation service charges €2.70 per adult for a one-way trip or €5.40 roundtrip. Tickets for the PisaMover can be purchased using either a credit card or cash (in Euros) from any of the four kiosks located at the airport station. Cash transactions can also be made through one of their offices, however none are situated at the airport. One child under one meter in height rides free when accompanied by an adult. Likewise, two adults may bring along two children under one meter tall each, with both children riding at no cost. But if one adult is travelling with two or more children, only one child is permitted to ride free – the remaining must pay the standard fare.

Tickets from Pisa Centrale to Firenze SMN cost €8.40 per adult for a one-way journey; Trenitalia runs this route. Youngsters at or below 4 years of age ride totally free if they sit on an adult’s lap. Children between 4-11 are charged at a 50% low cost off full fare and get their own seat. Seats can be purchased for children under 4 at the standard kid rate, too (do that if using a car seat). Trains are rarely filled, so if the train starts moving and there are empty seats near, it is alright for the more youthful kids to use them.

Bimbi Gratis: Children below 15 can ride for no cost as part of Trenitalia’s Bimbi Gratis program. To benefit from this, tickets must be bought two days in advance as part of a family group of 2-5 people, with at least one adult. Adult fares remain unchanged, just the child tickets are free.

Trenitalia tickets can be purchased at any of the kiosks or ticket counters at the train station on the day of travel. They can also be purchased online 24 hours or more before the train’s scheduled departure

Wait Times and Delays

Italian trains (and buses also) are frequently delayed by a few minutes. Delay can occur at any time, but they are most common near the major holidays of Christmas and Easter when more passengers are present.

Delays can also come from employee demonstrations, though these are never without warning. All strikes must be declared two weeks ahead of time, cannot last more than 24 hours, and are never allowed in July, August, late December, early January, or around Easter or election days. If a strike happens, trains still operate but on a limited schedule.

If a delay results in a passenger missing a connecting train, their ticket can be used to board the subsequent departure within an hour of the first train`s scheduled time. The conductor may hold the last train of the evening if needed to make the connection.

Pisa to Florence with Kids

  • Museo del Novecento: Situated in the austere Palazzo Arengario, a structure built during the fascist period, the gallery’s comprehensive collection of 20th-century Italian art is nearly overshadowed by the perspectives of the Duomo from within. A spiral ramp similar to the Guggenheim leads up to the galleries and also the excellent Giacomo restaurant on the top floor. • Map

In general, all children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Those between 12-16 may travel independently with a signed consent form from their parent or legal guardian. Contact Trenitalia directly for more details regarding unaccompanied minors.

Food On Board or at the Station

As the train ride from the airport to Pisa is brief, no food is offered during the trip.

There are several choices for obtaining a quick meal at the airport on the way to the PisaMover station. Walking straight from the arrivals hall, making a left follows a long hallway to the PisaMover station. Along this hallway, there is a pizzeria, pasta restaurant, and several cafes, mixed in with shops. An escalator to the left a short distance down climbs one floor to additional restaurants and shops.

Pisa Centrale station on the ground floor facing the Piazza contains several dining establishments, including a Chef Express snack bar/buffet, McDonalds, and a few cafes; while filling, the quality is not great. Vending machines can be found on Platform 1. Though, exiting the station and crossing the Piazza reveals several excellent restaurants nearby, the best being Pizzeria Da Filippo and Istanbul Bar Kebab, located adjacent to each other.

Location of the Train Stations

The PisaMover train station is less than 40 meters from the passenger terminal at the airport, connected indoors through a hallway and outdoors by a covered walkway. The route from the arrivals area to the station is clearly marked. If facing the airport exit to the Piazza with the gates behind in the arrivals hall, the train station will be to the left. Walk straight and continue to follow the signs, which will lead outdoors. Continuing straight will take one to the station, marked with a large sign where stairs or elevators go up to the platform.

Pisa Centrale station is situated on the south side of the Arno River, walking distance to most of the city’s attractions, which area all north of the station. Heading due north, it is just a 2 km (23 minute walk or 10 minute taxi ride) to the Leaning Tower and the Duomo. Palazzo Blu Museum, the Royal Palace, and Santa Maria della Spina church are only 1 km north of the station, while the Piazza dei Cavalieri and the Botanical Garden are in between the aforementioned attractions and the Leaning Tower.

Pisa Centrale offers storing luggage. If time allows, it`s worthwhile to leave your bags there, and see the sights (the Leaning Tower at minimum!) before continuing toward Florence.

Getting to Florence from the Pisa Airport or Pisa Centrale

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• Booking Train Tickets in Italy in Advance

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Welcome to my travel website! I’m Mary Howard, an American who has been exploring the world full-time for 8 years.

Together with my husband, Intan, we often find ourselves in our second home, Bali, but our adventures take us to exciting destinations all over the globe.

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