Last Updated on February 21, 2024
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Pisa, a small city in the Tuscan region of Italy, is mostly know for its iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa. Most people make a quick stop to see the Tower, snap a few silly pictures, check it off the bucket list and leave. Very few venture out to see more of the city, which is a shame, because there are actually more things to do in Pisa besides the famous tower.
You don’t need more than one day to see all of the Pisa attractions, as the city is very compact, walkable and all the places not far from each other. If you get a really early start, you can also squeeze a visit to the nearby town of Lucca.
Pisa if often described as overrated and a tourist trap, but I actually liked Pisa, more than I expected. Although I can see how it can be let down. Piazza dei Miracoli, where the Leaning Tower stands, gets so crowded, that if I was visiting Pisa mid day just for a couple of hours, I’d probably feel the same.
If you are wondering if Pisa is worth visiting, I’d say it’s a definite yes, but you need to plan your visit right, so you don’t leave disappointed.
How to get to Pisa, Italy
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, one of the most beautiful and popular regions in Italy.
Getting to Pisa from many other destinations in Italy is easy, as the city is well connected by train, air and road.
If you decide to fly to Pisa, there is an International airport Galileo Galilei ( PSA ), not far from the city. There’s a shuttle called Pisa Mover, that connects the airport with the main train station Pisa Centrale. It takes just 5 minutes and costs €5. From Pisa Centrale you are about a 20-25 minute walk to the Leaning Tower.
Pisa can easily be reached by train from many major Italian cities like Rome or Florence. The main train station Pisa Centrale is located about a 20-25 minute walk from Piazza dei Miracoli, where the Leaning Tower of Pisa is. If your train makes a stop at San Rossore, get off there, as this station is much closer to the tower ( about a 10 minute walk ).
If Pisa is one of the stops on your road trip in Italy and you plan on arriving by car, there are several parking lots not far from the Leaning Tower.
Day trip to Pisa from Florence
Pisa is one of the most popular day trips from Florence. Both cities are about one hour away from each other, and with the very frequent trains, it’s very easy to visit independently. Trains leave from Santa Maia Novella train station in Florence to Pisa Centrale. The direct train takes less than one hour. Do not forget to validate your ticket!
For those who prefer a more guided trip and leave all the logistics to someone else, there’s no shortage of organized tours from Florence to Pisa. From half day trips, to full day excursions that combine Pisa with other nearby towns in Tuscany, there’s a lot to choose from. Do keep in mind, that by choosing an organized tour, you will most likely visit Pisa when everyone else is and when it’s most crowded.
I recommend staying away from tours, that try to pack in too much into one day. There are several I came across, that offer Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti all in one day. That is way too much for a day trip. Not only a very long day on the bus, but also very rushed.
Below are some of the most popular and highest rated day trip tours from Florence to Pisa:
Day trip to Pisa from Cinque Terre
Pisa is also not far away from Cinque Terre, another one of the most popular destinations in Italy. To get to Pisa from any of the Cinque Terre towns, you first need to take the Cinque Terre Express train to La Spezia. In La Spezia, you will be able to take a direct train right into Pisa Centrale, which is about a one hour journey.
Coming from that direction, a lot of trains stop at San Rossore station in Pisa before reaching Pisa Centrale. If you plan on walking to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, San Rossore is a much shorter walk.
There are also some organized tours, if that’s your preference.
Best things to do in Pisa, Italy in one day
Visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa
You can’t start the list of things to do in Pisa with anything else other than the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It’s one of Italy’s biggest landmarks and why most people visit the small Tuscan city.
The tower was built as a free standing bell tower for the Cathedral. The construction took almost 200 years, and right after it began in 1173, it turned out the ground it was built on wasn’t stable and the Tower started to lean. The construction was halted a couple of times, which allowed the soil to settle and to offset the lean, the 5 upper levels were built at an angle.
So even though the lean was not planned, it turned the tower into a phenomenon and one of the top tourist attractions in Italy.
A lot of people come just to take a photo with the Leaning Tower, but you can actually climb to the top as well. While it’s a bit pricey and one of the most expensive things to do in Pisa, I highly recommend doing it, as there are nice views of the surroundings from the top. It’s also a fun experience walking up, as you can definitely feel the tilt.
Fun fact: because of the 3.97 degree tilt, there are 294 steps on one side and 296 on the other.
To climb the Tower, I recommend booking your ticket online in advance. These are timed tickets and if you can get the first spot at 9 am, that’s ideal, as you’ll be in the first group allowed to go up. Be sure to show up on time, otherwise you will be denied entry.
Tickets are some tickets also available at the ticket office on site, but since the number of visitors is limited for each 15 minute time slot, I wouldn’t recommend waiting. Especially if you visit Pisa in high season.
Backpacks and purses are not allowed, and you will need to store them in the lockers, which are free of charge and can be found in the Cloak Room behind the Fallen Angel statue.
Also, children under 8 years old are not allowed to climb the tower, which is something to keep in mind, if you are visiting Pisa with kids.
As far as the most popular attractions in Italy go, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is at the top of the list, which means it gets insanely crowded. Go very early in the morning or late in the afternoon/evening to enjoy it without the crowds. This can easily be done when you travel independently. Unfortunately, if you go with a group tour, you will most likely be arriving in the busiest part of the day, with many other people and tours.
PRO TIP: Book the 9 am slot for climbing the Tower. Show up around the 8 am to take pictures with no or very few people in them.
PHOTO TIP: Walk through the Piazza to the back of the Tower. Most people tend to stay near the front, and there is noticeably less people in the back and more chances for photos without the crowds.
Visit the rest of Duomo complex
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is actually just one part of the Duomo complex, which includes more amazing buildings worth visiting. They are all located in the Piazza del Duomo, also known as Piazza dei Miracoli ( Field of Miracles ). The group of monuments is listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy.
Even though you can buy individual tickets for each one of them, a combined ticket is your best option if you want to see it all. Below are all the ticket options:
- Complete Ticket + Tower – €27 ( allows entry to all the monuments within Piazza Duomo and the Tower )
- Complete Ticket – €10 ( grants access to all the monuments EXCEPT the Tower )
- Single Ticket – €7 ( for each monument , except the Tower ).
Plan between 2-3 hours to see it all. Do check the opening hours, as they vary between the monuments and time of the year.
Pisa Cathedral
Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta, known as Pisa Cathedral, is right next the Leaning Tower and it’s one of the most impressive churches in Italy. Even though the Tower steals the spotlight, it was actually built as the bell tower for the Cathedral.
The Cathedral itself is a great example of the Romanesque architecture. Be sure to step inside, as it’s just as impressive inside as on the outside.
Pisa Cathedral is free to visit, but you still need a ticket to enter. If you bought the combined ticket to visit all the other attractions, you are all set and can enter at anytime. If not, you can pick up your free ticket at the ticket office, which will have a timed entrance.
Baptistery of San Giovanni
Another impressive building within the Field of Miracles is the Baptistery of San Giovanni, which is the largest baptistery in Italy. It’s actually even a bit higher than the Leaning Tower. It also has a slight tilt, although at 0.6 degrees is barely noticeable, especially compared to the famous tower.
The baptistery is a blend of two architectural styles, Romanesque and Gothic. The inside is much simpler than the outside and is known for amazing acoustics. Two things that stand out inside are the large baptismal font and the impressive pulpit. The baptistery of San Giovanni is where Galileo Galilei was baptized.
Be sure to also go to the second floor, where there’s a window with a little cut out with a great view of the Cathedral.
Camposanto Monumentale
The Monumental Cemetery is another part of the Duomo Complex that is definitely worth visiting during your one day in Pisa. It’s a burial place for many famous people. It’s full of impressive tomb sculptures and beautiful frescoes, with the most famous being The Triumph of Death.
Take a walk on the ancient Pisa Walls
Pisa Walls ( Mura di Pisa ) were build in the 1200s to protect the city and keep out the invaders. The Pisa walls are 11 meter high and stretch for 3 km, surrounding almost the whole old town.
For a small fee, you can walk the walls and get some nice views of the complex from a different perspective. It was one of my favorite things to do in Pisa later in the day, when the massive crowds already arrived and filled the Piazza del Duomo. Surprisingly, with all the people in Pisa at the time, there was hardly anyone up on the Walls.
There are four access points to the Walls, Porta Nuova, Porta a Lucca, Porta San Zeno and Porta Calcesana and that’s where you can get the ticket for €5. If you are in Piazza dei Miracoli, Porta Nuova is your most convenient access to the Walls. It’s located in the corner right near the Camposanto Monumental. You can do the full 3 km or just part of it and exit at any of the four points.
The Walls are open daily from 10 am – 5 pm.
Visit Piazza dei Cavalieri
Piazza dei Cavalieri, also known as the Knight’s Square, is another must see in Pisa, Italy. Historically, it’s one of the most important squares in the city.
In the center of the Piazza you can see a building with a beautiful facade, that dominates the square. It dates back to the 16th century and was built as the headquarters of the Knights of St Stephen. Today it’s part of the prestigious Normale di Pisa University.
Even though the building is not open to public, the exterior is beautiful enough, that the Piazza is a must stop and one of the top things to see in Pisa. And again, another one of the spots in the city, that many people miss.
Take a walk along Arno River
If you are looking to get away from the crowds in Pisa, head towards the Arno river for a nice stroll along the river banks. This is the same river that runs through Florence and there are some nice buildings and views on both sides of the river.
Stop at the Church of Santa Maria della Spina
As you stroll along the Arno River, you can’t miss Santa Maria della Spina, a small Gothic church. The church was first built right next to the river, but was later moved a bit higher to prevent flooding from the rising waters of Arno.
Despite it small size, the church really stands out, due to its beautiful exterior and unusual location right on the river. The interior is much simpler, but worth seeing, if you are able to go in.
Both times I walked by, the church was closed, so I was not able to go inside. The opening days and hours are not clear. The church often hosts different exhibits, so that would be the time to go in. You will most likely find more information on the exhibition schedule at the Tourist Office in Pisa.
Make a gelato stop
No matter where in Italy you go, your trip is not complete without some gelato. You’ll find many gelato places in Pisa, but one that especially stood out to me was Gelateria De’ Coltelli. You won’t find your typical flavors there, instead they offer some crazy combinations. If you’d like to try unique flavors, this is a must stop. They also have several vegan options.
Gelateria De’ Coltelli is located along the Arno River.
Top tips for visiting Pisa, Italy
Get to Pisa early to beat the crowds – if you plan on visiting Pisa as a day trip, I recommend arriving REALLY early. And by early I mean 7-8 am. By 9 am, the area around the Tower is already packed with people. Especially if you visit in high season, which these days stretches all the way through early October.
Stay overnight – if your schedule allows, do stay overnight. This will allow you to see Pisa early in the morning and in the evening, without all the day trippers and tours. If you are an early riser, head out and the the sun rise behind the tower.
Visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa first thing in the morning – whether you want to just see it from the outside or plan on climbing to the top, make the Leaning Tower of Pisa the very first thing on your Pisa itinerary. See it with the least people possible, then explore the rest of the city, when the crowds arrive.
Rossore train station is much closer – if you are getting to Pisa by train and it makes a stop at Rossore station, that station is much closer to the Leaning Tower of Pisa than the Pisa Centrale.
Where to stay in Pisa, Italy
The Rif – beautiful boutique hotel in excellent location, very close to Rossore train station and a short walk to the Leaning Tower. Rooms are lovely with big comfortable beds. Beautiful gardens and patio out back.
Hotel Roma – no frills, simple, but clean and convenient option if you want to stay near the Leaning Tower of Pisa and are on a budget. Breakfast is included in the rate. From some of the rooms, you’ll be able to see the Tower.
Hotel Pisa Tower – location can’t be beat, as the hotel is just a stone’s throw away from the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Grand Hotel Duomo – this hotel is in an amazing location, just down the street from the Leaning Tower and the Duomo Plaza. So close, you can see the Tower from your hotel room. There is a roof top terrace with great views and breakfast is included in the room rate. Plenty of restaurants and shops around as well.
READ MORE:
- How to visit Pisa and Lucca in one day – day trip from Florence
- 2 days in Florence, Italy – the perfect itinerary for your first visit
- 21 Amazing Things to do in Cinque Terre, Italy
- First timer’s guide to Venice – 18 best things to do in Venice, Italy
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