Florence/Pisa itinerary

[PotterofGryfindor]

We are having a family holiday soon, flying into Pisa airport, picking up an hire car and staying nearby. We normally do uk caravan holidays so this is a bit of a departure for us. Children are early teens and happy to see museums and historical sites.
So what I need is an idiots guide to seeing the area. For example if we want to get pictures next to the tower of Pisa will we need tickets, will we need to book in advance etc etc.
We will also have at least one day in Florence, so again, what should we see and what will we need to plan/ book in advance.
We will then also want a few quieter days so is their any particular countryside or coast worth a visit?
Thank you in advance, I really am completely clueless 🤣

Ooh lovely place for a holiday!

Granted I haven't been for a few years but the leaning tower didn't require tickets just for the grounds, think you would need tickets to go inside the tower itself but we didn't bother.

Florence wise, we got one of those hop on hop off bus tickets which was really handy for getting around the place and seeing the important sites and museums. It was really reasonably priced so hopefully still is.

Get a train to Siena for a day.

Cinque Terre is beautiful and a "must see" I feel, but easier to access by train I'd say (it's five very small towns connected by walking trails and a Trainline) ...although you could drive to Levanto and get the train to the five towns from there.

Lucca is a pretty town, and very quiet compared to Florence.

Pisa isn't all that, the only thing worth seeing is the tower really so you don't need to hang about there long!

Book tickets to see Michaelango’s David in Florence. It’s amazing.
We spent a couple of days in Castiglioncello on the coast. Easy to get to from Pisa and very low key but lovely.

100% cinque terre if you can fit that in, it is one of a kind and absolutely worth it

Pisa can be done in an afternoon. No tickets needed unless you want to go inside.

Day in Siena. Siena cathedral is beautiful. The floor is magnificent.

Long day in Florence. Uffizi if you're into art. Book it first. Up the Duomo but don't waste time going in it. Walk along the river and over the Ponte Vecchio. Sunset at piazza Michelangelo. Fiorentina steak at any of the steak places in the San Lorenzo quarter (just down past the Duomo) David at the Accademia.

But back to what you actually asked re Pisa and Florence… I wouldn’t plan on too much time in Pisa, the tower is great but a lot of people are done with a visit within a few hours / half a day and in the evening it is a bit of a gritty area, prostitutes everywhere we turned last time we went. I would have had a much better impression of the place if we had been there just for a morning into the afternoon and then left to move on to somewhere else.

Florence is much nicer and more varied with places to see and visit, David and the viewpoints above and then wander around and museums/galleries and the cathedral is beautiful

Pisa isn’t that nice, just nip in and see the leaning tower then drive on.
The Cinque Terre is lovely, a couple of hours drive up the coast.
Siena is ok. I was underwhelmed personally. I preferred San Gimingnano (at night if you can, when it’s lit up and most tourists have gone).
Lucca is lovely for a wander, the countryside around it is beautiful, and the villas of Lucca.
Flrenze is lovely, but hideously busy in summer (much prefer it in winter).

The Leaning Tower is in a kind of medieval compound called the Campo dei Miracoli, about 15- 20 mins walk from the centre of Pisa (there are buses). As well as the tower there is the cathedral (free to go in), the Baptistery (paying), and a couple of other bits I can't remember. It is all truly stunning, most of it dates from the 11th Century so it's all white Romanesque architecture set in beautiful green grass. But you won't be alone there! 😆

Second the San Gimignano recommendation. Also liked Sienna for a day. Florence needs a couple of days I think...

agree with Siena and Cinque Terra and Pisa for a photo at the tower but nothing else. I loved Certaldo too

Pisa itself is not terribly attractive, once you have done the tower and bell tower which are adjacent. There is a Roman museum with boats nearby. Lucca is more compact and interesting with walls to walk on. Montecatini is a spa resort between Pisa and Florence with thermal baths and activities such as minigolf and a lift up to a small village with views. Vinci, San Giminiano, Volterra (great if you like a walled town with excavations) and Siena are all worth a visit.

You have already had some great suggestions. Can I advise you to be extremely careful with your belongings. Don't use backpacks, and use a cross body bag instead. Pickpocketing is a big problem in Florence.

Unless you absolutely need to drive, have you considered using the trains? There are great connections from Pisa to Florence and Lucca and also to Cinque Terre. I know it's your call, you may prefer the car or need it for where you are staying, bearing in mind that the Italians, bless 'em are wild drivers, and parking can be hard to find in high season.

It's a lovely part of the world, and I hope you enjoy it.

Just back, stayed in Montecatini and used trains so can't comment on driving/parking/routes etc. We did tour from Florence to include Siena interesting but not as much as thought, San Gimigiano quiet when we went but can imagine heaving in season - beautiful church, surrounds and view and Pisa do leave time for seeing the other buildings around the tower. We had a day in Lucca, lovely and two days in Florence; sort of divided into two so top half one day, bottom half to Arno next. Did not attempt Uffizi or over the Arno though. However I cannot walk fast or far! Did book for everything as just not willing to get there (probably won't manage again) to find no access. The outside of the palazzo are grand but plain it is all inside that matters so whilst historic, buildings not necessarily wonderful to look at. We love churches so they were on our list. It depends, are you a wanderer/sit and people watch or a must see this type of group?!

DH reckoned Pisa could be done in a hour. He refused to go back with me so I could go there.

More time in Florence, consider a couple of days in one of the nearby towns like Fiesole or Settignano.

Do your teens really really like art, most of it religious? Because if not they may find Florence a struggle.

Its not that far to Viareggio where Shelley drowned and his body was burnt on the beach. The beach is nice if you fancy some variety.

Do your teens really really like art, most of it religious? Because if not they may find Florence a struggle.

I must admit that after our visit to Florence, Siena and San Gimignano we weren't fussed if we never saw another fresco again.

I adore Florence! Just walking around the city is lovely. Definitely go to see the Duomo cathedral and Piazza della Signoria has some of the main sights including a replica of the David statue (I didn't bother with the original!) Palazzo Vecchio is on the same piazza, which I think is like a city Hall museum, but it's beautiful and worth a look around. Uffizi for art (Botticelli's Venus is a highlight), though not sure how engaged the kids will be. There's a good food market called Mercato Central - lots of great ice cream and pizza!

Boboli Gardens on the other side of the river is pretty beautiful (walk over the ponte veccio), and there's an absolutely stunning viewpoint on the other side of the river - I think it's Piazalle Michelangelo. A steep climb, but worth it! We went around sunset and there was quite the gathering.

I agree with the others about Pisa, you only need an afternoon, but the main square is worth seeing!

Another vote for Siena, just lovely

Use mosquito repellent if you often get bitten! I got covered in bites Florence. Beautiful city though

Lucca , hire tandems and cycle around the walls. Watch out for the price of soft drinks in Florence.

Sienna is interesting because of the Palio and the Contrade. These are the urban zones who take part and you can find clues as to which Contrada you are in by looking at flags and symbols. Sienna is definitely worth a day. As is San Gimignano and all the hill towns.

The Ufizzi in Florence does have a lot of religious art but it also has Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. A “must see”. Do a highlights tour. You don’t have to see everything. Plus: go into the cathedral in Florence!