Pisa or Florence for short break.

[Mumdiva99]

Hi,

After following MN advice and having an amazing time in Valencia, please can you help with an Easter trip for 2025. We are
wanting to go on a short break to Italy with husband and 3 teenagers.
Which would be better to stay in Pisa or Florence? We are anticipating going to both. (Or is there somewhere else more suited to us).

We want to see some history, eat some pizza, maybe see the sea. We like a museum and a few things to do. (I think Rome might be too built up for me to enjoy - although going to The Vatican is appealing.).

We are happy with nice self catering if enough rooms/beds and easy to buy food.
Or a hotel with b&b available.

Small to medium budget please. But I want it nice - so would rather pay a little more to ensure this.

Thanks in advance.

Lucca and Florence. Great choice.

We are currently on our trip. Thanks so much for the recommendations. Lucca is beautiful and exactly our cup of tea. Not too hectic and lovely to wander and walk. We did a great walk along the aquaduct the first day. Tower and walls the second day. Today we have been to Florence - much much busier. We are on the train 'home' to Lucca - where we can relax for the evening. Tomorrow we will go to Pisa and Saturday maybe off to the coast. I can't wait to ask you all for recommendations for next year's trip. Thanks Mumsnet.

@Mumdiva99 glad you are having a lovely time!
Reading with interest as we are staying in Pisa in a few weeks, using it as a base for a couple of day trips.
Do you have any practical tips re using the trains, buying tickets etc?

@Mumdiva99 also if you have any recommendations for somewhere at the coast?

We bought all our train tickets through The Trainline. I couldn't see any difference in price in buying early or for buying returns. So I bought singles just before we travelled - they activate automatically at the departure time. (Although every time i had to put in the travellers names and ages on the app).
We didn't carry our passports around - but I did take a photo of them. In Florence they checked ID before we went up the Duomo - so I was glad I had them.
We bought tickets for Florence Duomo and other attractions about a month before going. We bought tickets for Leaning tower about a week before going. Both were sold out when we got there. Don't wear rucksacks or carry bags up the Leaning tower or Duomo. (There are free lockers at the Leaning tower.)
Trains were easy to navigate using the Trainline. It usually was right about the platform too.
We went to Viareggio which was the closest sea side to where were were. Massive beach. Promenade. Seafood boats. And lots of clothes shops. - Cinque Terre was about a 2 hour train ride....looked beautiful but we hadn't planned it this trip. You need tickets to walk some of the paths, to plan getting from one town to the next etc. Another time we will do that.
Lucca was beautiful. An easy day trip from Pisa. (Or even half day if you are short of time). We found it more laid back than Pisa or Florence. It did get loads busier on the Saturday than during the week.
Have a great time.

This is all incredibly helpful thank you so much!
Why do you not take bags up the Tower, are you not allowed or is it to avoid pickpockets?

You are not allowed. I knew we couldn't take rucksacks up in Florence so I had a small cross body bag which was fine and the rest had nothing. I had forgotten in Pisa - daughter and I put rucksacks in lockers and I had a phone sized cross body purse/very small bag. They told me that wasn't allowed. Although she let me take the strap off and put it in my pocket and carry the purse. (Or i could have put it in the locker but this was quicker).
Fyi You also go through airport style xray machines at some places so have to empty pockets out.

That's so useful to know, thank you! We are staying nearby so can walk round hands free!