Cruise ship to Pisa DIY

[janny444]

Hi...I have done the Med cruise before but we have taken a ship's tour or just remained local.

 

When in port at Livorno how easy is to get to Pisa? Is it best to take the shuttle into Livorno and then catch the train or is there an alternative...easier...cheaper way.

We just want to visit Pisa and not do Florence...already done Florence.

[kuldalai]

Take taxi or shuttle to Livorno Centrale station. Then by train it is a 20 minute journey to Pisa Centrale . It is a 30 minute walk, or taxi from there to the Leaning Tower.

 

Be sure to book your admission tickets on line for a specific date and time, as persons are admitted in lots of 30 or so at 20 minute intervals . You book via the Leaning Tower official website, print out your voucher at home. Bowl up on the appointed day and 20 minutes before your time. Your voucher is exchanged for your tickets and you are in .

[euro cruiser]

It's very easy to get to Pisa from Livorno on your own. You can get there by bus or by train.

 

If you go by bus the ship's shuttle into town makes sense, as it drops you off right where you need to be to buy tickets and pick up the bus (Piazza Grande). You can see the schedule here (line #10):http://www.cpt.pisa.it/orari/extra.htm. The bus stop is in Largo del Duomo, behind the cathedral that faces Piazza Grande.

 

If you go by train you could use the shuttle, but note that Piazza Grande (the shuttle bus drop off) is a mile and a half from the train station (Piazza Dante). You can use the local bus or walk from Piazza Grande to Piazza Dante. You could also take a taxi directly from the ship to the train station. The fare is about 25 Euro (one way) but you can share that with others.

[John Bull]

Haven't tried Pisa by bus or taxi.

Yes, taxi from ship to station is 25 euros, but taxis hold as many as 8. You should have no difficulty finding sharers on the quayside, but finding sharers for the return to the ship is pot-luck.

Trains run every half-hour or thereabouts, journey time about 15 mins, fare something like 8 euros return.

The walk from Pisa station to the Field of Miracles is 20 mins (we timed ourselves), past shops & over a bridge.

You have time to go to Florence (approx. hourly, 80 minute journey, 18 euros return) & stop off at Pisa on the way or on the way back for a quick visit & photos, though that's probably too rushed if you want to climb the tower. Your Florence ticket is good if you want to break your journey in Pisa.

Do check & write down return train times, the frequency is quite variable. Don't trust either yourselves or the timetable enough to catch the last train back & allow a little longer for the taxi back to the ship cos traffic is likely to be thicker.

 

JB :)

[janny444]

Thank you for the info...we are not used to venturing out on our own...always have used the ship's own tours...so we would just stick to going to Pisa.

[janny444]

Hi..euro cruiser....do you know if the return bus stop to Livorno is at the same stop as when you get off in Largo del Duomo

[euro cruiser]

Yes, you would get off the bus at the same place you got on (Largo del Duomo).

[quakercruiser]

We just returned from visiting Pisa on the local bus. We were so tired from our day in Rome that we wanted a slow day and just visited Pisa. We took the bus behind the church--right where Rick Steves says it is. Goes every hour on the hour with variation if it is a holiday. Cost was 2.70 euros each way. We bought our tickets at a shop around the corner.

When we arrived in Pisa we went into the bus station and bought a ticket to the Campo de Miracles. (Gentlemean at the bar was kind to let us use his bathroom.) City bus was 1.10 euro. A kind soul showed us where the bus stop was. Called Corsia. Pretty obvious where to get off as it is a big plaza with lots of people. The bus ticket is good for one hour and since all we wanted to do was to walk around and take the required photo, we were able to return to the bus station on the same ticket.

We did have a little trouble finding the bus back to Livorno. We got off the city bus at the train station which is nearby and should have waited another stop. The regional buses leave from behind the bus station where there are 3 lanes for buses. The Livorno bus leaves from Lane 2. Again every hour on the hour. We really enjoyed the drive through the country and some nice neighborhoods. Bus takes almost one hour. It leaves you off at the Plaza Grande where McDonalds is.

The port bus was 5 euros RT so the whole trip was 11.60 euros and very pleasant.