Pisa Airport Exploration – A Guide to Pisa Airport
As the central point of entry to the stunning Tuscany region of northern Italy, Pisa airport is unsurprisingly a bit busy. Last year around 4 million passengers passed through its gates and the number is expected to grow in the coming years. It received its full name Galileo Galilei Pisa Airport as a tribute to the Italian physicist, philosopher and astronomer who was born here and whose greatest claim to fame was his claim that the earth revolved around the sun.
Galileo Galilei Airport can be reached from 8 airports in the UK, including Gatwick, Edinburgh and Liverpool, and there are also flights from Dublin, provided by budget airlines such as Thomson Flights, easyJet and Ryanair.
When considering subsequent transport, keep in mind that there is much to see and do in the Tuscany region. This makes renting a car worthwhile so you can plan your own adventure. Pisa airport car rental companies are based in the car rental terminal which is connected to the airport by a shuttle bus service. Travelers are picked up outside the Pisa airport arrivals area and taken to the pick up counters. Firms based here are Autoeuropa, Avis, Budget, Easycar, Europcar, Hertz, Liberty, Locauto, Maggiore, Sixt, Targarent and Thrifty. If you intend to take an extensive road trip through Italy, several of these companies allow a different pickup and drop-off location.
Those who do not intend to rent a car, but wish to reach their final destination calm and quiet, should select Pisa airport transfers, which involves being met at arrivals by a driver and taken directly to the waiting car . By reserving a seat on a private shuttle bus at Pisa airport, you can have a similar service but for less money, although you are sharing with others, so be aware that the bus will be diverted to your stops. As usual, taxis are located outside arrivals, but be aware that in the height of summer this can mean queuing in the heat. The average taxi fare from Pisa airport to the city center ranges from EUR 5.70 to EUR 8.00 (plus EUR 2.30 additional fee on Sundays and public holidays).
Nozzles are a great and cost effective way to get around, but of course they are also the most time consuming and labor intensive option. Fortunately, there is a great bus network and Pisa airport buses travel to major Tuscan cities such as Florence and Siena. For those who just need to get to the city center, buses run every 20 minutes, cost EUR 0.95, and have a journey time of just 10 minutes. Unlike many airports, Pisa also benefits from a train station located outside the departure hall. Trains from Pisa Airport run approximately every half hour and go to Pisa Central Station, which can also be reached by bus, which has connections to destinations further afield and to Florence.
When you’re traveling by plane, it helps if there are plenty of good places to eat and drink and some decent shops to pass the time while you wait. Fortunately, Pisa airport has given in and at La Corte shopping center there is plenty to keep even the most avid shopaholic busy. Located on the ground floor of the main room, the outlets range from designer clothing to books and leather goods. sportswear, costume jewellery, footwear and photographic material and are even open on public holidays. Once past security, there are places to shop for souvenirs, local produce, duty-free items, and clothing.
Whether you can’t resist one last Italian pastry before you leave or hungry enough for a full meal, there are a number of restaurants and cafes to cater for. Among them is the Mascagni Restaurant on the first floor that has waiter service and a variety of delicious Tuscan dishes. While if you’re looking to grab a quick last bite before boarding, there’s a bar on the ground floor at the departures that offers drinks, snacks and pizza and has an outside garden.
Other points to mention are that the Information Office and the Lost Property Office are located in the arrivals area, while if you want to store luggage here you can do so for a daily charge of EUR7.00.
