Pisa Travel Guide: Things to Do & Best Time to Visit

Top things to do in Pisa

Pisa’s historic centre is small and walkable, so you can combine its famous square with riverside strolls and quieter corners in a single day.

• Leaning Tower of Pisa — The iconic bell tower, famous for its tilt, which can be climbed on timed visits for views over the city.
• Piazza dei Miracoli — The UNESCO-listed Square of Miracles, a lawn-covered setting for the cathedral, baptistery and tower in white marble.
• Pisa Cathedral and Baptistery — A masterpiece of Pisan Romanesque architecture, and the largest baptistery in Italy, known for its remarkable acoustics.
• Camposanto — The monumental cemetery beside the square, with a peaceful cloister and medieval frescoes.
• Piazza dei Cavalieri — An elegant square decorated with sgraffito façades, home to a prestigious university college.
• Lungarni — The riverside avenues along the Arno, lined with palaces and lovely at sunset, including the small Gothic church of Santa Maria della Spina.
• Florence and Lucca — Florence is around an hour away by train, and the walled town of Lucca makes an easy half-day trip.

Best time to visit Pisa

Spring, from April to June, and autumn, from September to October, are the most comfortable seasons to visit Pisa and the rest of Tuscany. Days are warm and sunny, the countryside is at its most beautiful, and it is easy to combine Pisa with Florence, Lucca or the nearby coast.

July and August are hot and the Piazza dei Miracoli is busiest in the middle of the day, when tour groups arrive. Visiting early in the morning or late in the afternoon is more pleasant. June is a lively month locally, with the Luminara, when thousands of candles light up the riverside buildings, and the historic Gioco del Ponte contest on one of the city bridges.

Winter is mild but can be rainy, and it is the quietest season, with shorter queues for the tower and a calmer atmosphere in the city. It is a good time to explore Tuscan cities and museums without the summer crowds, though some coastal resorts are closed.

Getting from the airport

Pisa International Airport is one of the closest airports to a city centre in Europe, lying only around 2 kilometres south of the historic centre. It is also the main international gateway to Tuscany.

• PisaMover — An automated shuttle train links the airport with Pisa Centrale railway station in around 5 minutes. From the station, the old town is a short walk, and the Leaning Tower is about 20 to 25 minutes on foot.
• Train to Florence — From Pisa Centrale, frequent regional trains run to Florence in around 50 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes, depending on the service.
• Coach to Florence — Direct coaches run from the airport to Florence, taking around 70 minutes depending on traffic.
• Taxi and bus — Taxis wait outside the terminal and reach the centre in around 10 minutes, while local buses serve the city and the area near the tower.

Where to stay

Pisa is compact, so most areas within the old walls are walkable to the main sights. Many travellers also stay a night or two in Pisa before moving on to Florence or the Tuscan countryside.

• Near Piazza dei Miracoli — Ideal for seeing the tower early or late in the day, when the square is quieter.
• Historic centre — The streets around Borgo Stretto and Piazza dei Cavalieri, with cafés, shops and restaurants, suited to first-time visitors.
• Along the Lungarni — Riverside locations with views over the Arno, popular with couples and evening strollers.
• Near Pisa Centrale — Practical for the airport shuttle and train trips to Florence and Lucca, with a good range of accommodation.
• Marina di Pisa — A seaside area west of the city, suited to travellers who want beaches in summer.

Travel tips

• Leaning Tower visits — Climbing the tower is by timed entry and numbers are limited, so book ahead in busy months. Check age restrictions for children before you go.
• Getting around — The centre is easily covered on foot or by bicycle. Validate train tickets before boarding regional services if they are not dated.
• Safety — Watch for pickpockets and street sellers around Piazza dei Miracoli and at the station, especially when crowds gather for photos.
• Payment — Cards are widely accepted, but small cafés and market stalls may prefer cash.
• Tipping — A cover charge may appear on restaurant bills. Tipping is not expected, but rounding up for good service is appreciated.
• Entry requirements — Visa and entry rules depend on your nationality. Check the latest requirements with official sources before you travel.