Should I budget a whole day for Pisa?

[snorkelman]

Here is what I think:  For most people, Pisa is a photo-op, and not worth more than a few hours if this is your first time to Europe.

If you plan on going to Florence, you can leave you big backpack in the hostel in Florence and take a quick day trip to many places such as San Gimignano, Sienna, Lucca, or Pisa.  

In Pisa you can walk from the train station about 30 minutes and see the leaning tower (or else take bus # 1 which you can board  just opposite the train station (across the street) – remember to buy your bus tickets (before boarding) from the station newspaper kiosk or bar for about 1500 LIRE). If you walk to the leaning tower, there are signs that have a picture of the tower and an arrow.  Just follow the signs and you will end up at the tower (remember how to walk back to the station!).  They are expecting to reopen the tower to visitors (to climb up) in November 2001.

You can see plenty of the Tuscany region on the train ride from Florence to Pisa (45 minute ride) and that is really about it.  If you buy a point to point ticket from Florence to Pisa  - expect to pay about 9,500 ITL(About $4 USD).  

Dave - a.k.a. snorkelman

[Kim]

Once again, I agree. There isn't a whole lot there besides the Tower. We went to see that and walked around for a while and within a few hours were back on the train.

If you are in Florence, I do recommend Sienna. We stayed there for a few days and it's very charming. It can be done in a day trip but we did stay there and really enjoyed it.

[nitsansh]

Pisa has some other sites beside the Tore Pendente, but even Michelin guide suggests that 3 hours are all that needed to spend there. There's nothing wrong with that... I visited several 2-hours towns in Europe, and you can hop on the train for the next place once you had enough. Pisa and Lucca are a nice day-trip together, or you can go to Sienna or anywhere else you like...

[Cat]

Didn't visit Pisa, but I did visit Sienna. It's a one-hour busdrive from Florence (great sights!). We spent the day there, it's beautiful, but I should )'nt spend more then one day. 8)

[nitsansh]

I've been to Siena and San Gimignano, which is on the route from Firenze. I think both can be done in one day.
We actually arrived to Siena in the afternoon after travel from Roma airport, and stayed there overnight. On the next morning we stopped in San Gimignano for about 2 hours on way to Firenze. We didn't have time for other places in Toscana.
Pisa is a good stop if you travel from north-west Italy to Firenze or Roma. It's ideally located for a stop between Cinque Terre and Firenze.
Siena is a good place to stop between Firenze and Roma.

Just curious: What bus did you take to Siena? If it takes one hour, that's faster than train that takes 1.5-2 hours, and sometimes need a change at Empoli. Do you know which is cheaper?

[Cat]

The bus company is called SITE, I don't remember how much the tickets were. I do know they were cheaper then the traintickets (and you get there faster!). This was a tip, given by the  warden of the HI hostel in Florence.

[nitsansh]

That's what hostels are for... Invaluable information source...
I don't know of that company, but Italy has many regional bus companies which are useful for short trips. I'm not surprised it's cheaper, bus is normally cheaper than train.
The major problem is to dig out the info on buses.
If you're not lucky (or smart to choose a good hostel) to have a friendly and knowledgable warden, tourist information offices might be helpful.
Some links to buses in Italy are here:
150.217.9.3/ie/citybus.htm

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Definitly go to San Gimiano and make sure you check out the torture museum it is crazy. Also make sure you check out the chapel at the top of the square it has some of the most amazing frescos I've ever seen. A awesome depiction of the seven deadly sins!