Pisa is very overlooked city by tourists. Before coming here, I thought Pisa was only the tiny square with the beautiful white monuments. Actually it is much more than that. Very often we are making our itineraries in regards to the closest (read cheap) airports, and Pisa seems like a very good spot for your Italian road trip. Even if you decide to travel by train, it is very well connected. Most destinations are between 20 and 60 minutes away. The airport in Pisa has direct trains to Livorno, where from you can take a ferry to Corsica or Sardinia. The options are so to say endless.
PISA
The white student city offers much more than the monument square and the leaning tower. Once you get off the main train station, it might seem like a weird place, but when you cross the first square, and start getting lost in the tiny streets, you get the vibe. During the day, visit the hidden eateries, or the well known spots. During the night, enjoy a drink on one of the many squares around the city. Both you and the wallet will be thankful for this day,
LUCCA
Lucca is small town in Tuscany, with around 80 thousand people. Thanks to its maze like city structure, you always have the impression that you are alone. The first people are there to be spot at the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro. Even there, it doesn’t feel over crowded as in the sister town Siena. Lucca is the only city in Italy on whose city walls you can circle around. The greenery and mountains add special touch to the already magnificent city.
Pisa – Lucca by train 20 minutes – 3.7euros one way
LIVORNO
Livorno is on the 3rd place in the top most populated cities in Tuscany. Being double the size od Lucca and Pisa, you can already notice that you need more time to reach the city from its train station. Once you arrive it feels like being in Milan, Venice and in some big port town. Structure wise it reminded me more of some Spanish, rather than Italian city. We visited the Mercato Centrale, the fortress and the stunning Mascagni-Terrasse which is the trademark of the city. Had lunch by the water, at Le Botteghe, and ice-cream not once, but twice. The one at Caprilli gelateria naturale in a choco cone really deserves honorable mention.
Pisa – Livorno by train 15 minutes – 2.7 euros one way
VIAREGGIO
Your typical lido style beach town in Italy. Okay, this one had maybe even more beach stores than other, but it also had a big central park – Pineta di Ponente. The Park felt great in the spring sun. Super super long beach board walk, but it also had local’s centre with cute stores and chill bars. Viareggio doesn’t have that Tuscan charm, but for a beach day it is a great place to visit. Due the fact that we’ve spent only half a day here, we only tried one place 4/20 Electricafé, and it was everything that you wish for on a got spring day. Viareggio is not only popular in summer months, it is famous for its Februaray carnival, so it is not completely silent over the winter months.
Pisa – Viareggio by train 20 minutes – 3.7 euros one way
CINQUE TERRE
I think that Cinque Terre do not need big introducing, as we all know it is one of the most popular honeymoon spots in the world. What I really liked about were the hiking opportunities. You can choose if you want to hike through all villages or just through two. I underestimated this hike, but it was hard and breathtaking and I would definitively do it again and again. You can also take the Cinque Terre train pass and see all the villages for 18 euros. Or take a boat between all of them, but in this way you would miss Corniglia as it doesn’t have direct sea access. In this post I have given more details about every village in the Cinque Terre region.
Pisa – Monterosso by train 95 minutes – from 12.5 euros one way
FLORENCE
If we exclude the big players Rome, Milan and Venice, Florence is the most visited city in Italy. I mean it is open air museum with the specific Basilicas, sculptures on every corner. The food options here are out of this world. Do you remember the famous Al Antico Vinaio Sandwich? Now there is a whole street devoted to it, and no waiting lines. Perfection. Even though this is one of the most valued cities in the world, and walking around the endless art is great, my favourite part of Florence is the Piazzale Michelangelo. You need to climb a few stairs, but once you are at the top, nothing beats this view and this party crowd. If it happens that you are there on a sunny day, having sunset view, will create one of the best vacation core memories.
Pisa – Florence by train 50 minutes – 8.9 euros one way
EMPOLI
I haven’t been to Empoli, but I’ve stopped by train so many times so I had to put it here. It is obviously most famous for its series A football, but from the touristy interesting things it is famous for glass-making, and being the nearby home of Leonardo da Vinci. The glass-making is already great reason because the green and blue coloured objects are magnificent. It doesn’t need to be a full day trip, rather like a short stop on your way,
Pisa – Empoli by train 30 minutes – 6.2 euros one way
SIENA
Siena is a bit off the path compared to the towns mentioned above. It is definitively worth going the extra mile, especially on a good sunny day. I’ve been many times here, and it is one of the destinations you do not really want to be on a rainy day. However, on a sunny one sitting at the main square, going endless times up and down the town works its magic. And eating pici on one of the sunny streets is totally unforgettable experience. Get lost in the cozy streets, learn about the city neighbourhoods and just do nothing.
Pisa – Siena by train 1h 30minutes – 11.7 euros one way
Which ever you choose you will have a blast. These are all one day trips from Pisa by train, easily accessible, mostly in less than an hour and you can even do two excursions in a day. Of course these are very doable as road trips from Pisa, but in case you want to have a day off – glass of wine or a spritz then you might consider doing a train trip.
CONCRETE COLLAGE 