Pisa

Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Italy, best known for its world-famous leaning tower. But the tower isn't the only thing to see – there are other architectural and artistic marvels in this beautiful city. The half-hour walk from the Campo dei Miracoli to the train station runs through a pedestrian street with many interesting sights, shops, and restaurants. The best way to visit Pisa is walking the streets, as the city centre is small and cosy, and enjoying the sight and the atmosphere.

Understand
Pisa would not be Pisa without the university. The city is animated by the students, who organize parties, shows, and cultural events, and fill the central street of the city at night. The University of Pisa has 60,000 students in a city of 90,000 inhabitants (200,000 in the metropolitan area). You'll notice the student flair in the city once you leave the touristy Campo dei Miracoli.

Climate
The climate of Pisa is something in between the one in the north and in the south of Italy.

Winters are mild: not as warm as in Catania nor as cold as in the Po Valley in the north. Temperatures almost never drop below zero. Snow is very rare.

Summers are warm, if hot, and sometimes very humid, although they are nowhere near as intolerable as in cities such as Milan, Turin and Ferrara, because they are mitigated by the wind and the sea (which is about away from the city centre). Rainfall in July and August is rare.

Spring and autumn are very pleasant, although most rainfall occurs in these seasons.

Tourist information

 * Pisa Tourism website

By plane
The airport is very close to the city centre, only south of the main railway station. Transport between city and airport:


 * Pisamover is a pair of automated cable-drawn trams that shuttle between the airport and Pisa Centrale railway station. They run daily from 06:00 to 00:00 at 5-8 minute intervals, taking 5 minutes. Buy tickets from the self-service machines next to the platform gates (not from Trenitalia machines or kiosks): €6.50 per person. The airport station is 200 m from the terminal. At Pisa Centrale, follow signs through the subway to Platform 13, which looks desolate, but turn right to find the Pisamover platform and ticket machines. The two trams meet at a midway station, which is the Park & Ride area of Aurelia and San Giusto.
 * City buses don't reach the airport, but stop on Via Sant'Agostino, a 5-10 minute walk north. They're often a better option than Pisamover for parts of the city away from the railway station, eg the Leaning Tower area. Head towards the Pisamover station then turn right, walk under the highway bridge and bear left to come onto Via Sant'Agostino. LAM verde, the green line, pass there every 10-15 minutes, from 06:00 to 21:00 (from 07:30 Sundays). Evening buses (Line 21) stop there every 30 minutes between 21:00 and 23:00, (online timetables). Buy tickets from the information desk in the arrivals hall.
 * Direct buses to Florence and Lucca run from outside Arrivals.
 * A taxi to the city centre will cost around €10-20. Going from the airport to the train station it’s cheaper to take a taxi than taking the pisamover if you are 3+ people. Otherwise, as an alternative, you can book an airport transfer in advance. This service is especially convenient for large groups.
 * Easy Private Taxi has Pisa Airport to the city at €36 for a Mercedes E class, €43 for a minivan
 * 123 Transfers has Pisa Airport to the city at €37.50 for a sedan (3 people), €50 for a minivan (8 people)
 * Kiwitaxi has Pisa Airport to any part of the city at €33 for a comfort-class for 4 people, €40 for a minibus for 7 people, €108 for a premium-class for 3 people.
 * Walk: it's less than to the railway station, and  to the leaning tower. The route is through a residential area, uninteresting but safe to walk.

By train


is the main railway station, just south of city centre. Rome to Genoa trains stop here; most other destinations involve changing at Florence (SMN or Rifredi) for the regional trains through Pisa Centrale to Livorno or Viareggio. There's a Left Luggage service here, open from 08:00-21:00, costing €5 for the entire day. This station is also the city terminus of the "Pisamover" tramway from the airport and Park & Ride.

To visit the area around the Leaning Tower, which is at the northwest corner of the old centre, station is much closer. It's on the branch line from Pisa Centrale to Lucca and Pistoia, with trains at least hourly.

By road
Flixbus run direct between Pisa and Milan, Genoa and Rome. Don't use them for Florence, as the pick-up / drop-off is way out on the western edge of Florence.

With your own car, Pisa is easy to reach by autostrada, but city parking is the problem.

Get around
In the city centre, just walk.

By bus
The LAM or city buses run frequently to 18:00 then sparsely to 23:00. The most useful route is LAM Rossa, the red line, between railway station, riverside (stop Lungarno Pacinotti 2) and Leaning Tower (stop Piazza dei Miracoli). LAM Verde runs near the airport.

Tickets for both LAM and out-of-town buses are €1.50 single, a pack of ten is €14. Single tickets can also be purchased from the bus driver for €2.50. Tickets must be validated on boarding the bus; they are then valid for 70 minutes.

By bicycle
Pisa has a public bicycle service called Ciclopi which allows travellers pick up and drop cycles to and from 15 points around the city. They have a mobile app Bicincittà, but the only way to register is to come in person to their point of sales: INFOPOINT piazza del Duomo 7 (in front of the Cathedral), every day 09.30 - 17.30; LA GALLERIA DEL DISCO via San Francesco 96, every day 09.00 - 20.00; SOLFERINO TABACCHI piazza Solferino 11, from Monday to Saturday 08.00 - 13.00 and 15.30-20.00. Possible subscriptions: Subscriptions include unlimited free rides up to 30 minutes. And then €0.9 for the second half hour, €1.5 for the third half hour, €2 for all subsequent half hours.
 * Daily: €5, including €1 of credit.
 * Weekly: €10, including of credit.

By car
Not in the city centre: many streets are either pedestrianised or restricted to residents (ZTL, Zone a traffico limitato, camera-enforced but easy to stray into accidentally). Those streets that you can drive into are narrow, one-way, congested, and with next-to-no parking. Ask ahead at your accommodation for parking and permitted approach routes. For day-trips, Pisa Tower Parking is €1.80 per hour and close to the main sights.

You do however need a car to explore the villages in the hills of Tuscany. Consider hiring from the airport and either picking up late or dropping back early there, and just use public transport for Pisa, Lucca and Florence.

By taxi

Taxis can be an expensive way to move around the city. They aren’t really needed in the center due to the size of Pisa, but if you are arriving at the airport and don’t want to walk they are a good option. If going to anywhere near the train station they would only be better than the Pisamover costwise if you are travelling in a group of 3 or more people.

The legal fares can be found on the CoTaPi website.

See
Pisa is divided into 4 historical quarters. There is much more than the leaning tower in the city and several different walking itineraries are available.

Piazza dei Miracoli
The Piazza dei Miracoli or Field of Miracles is to the North of central Pisa. It is an UNESCO World Heritage site and contains the city's most famous sights:
 * A walking tour along the city walls is one of the newest attractions in the city. It is an occasion to see the city, including the leaning tower and Campo dei Miracoli, from an unusual angle. They offer a great view over public and private buildings around the city, as well as many unexpected green areas. There are four entrances: one in Campo dei Miracoli, one next to a university campus near via Filippo Buonarroti, one in Piazza delle Gondole, and one in Piazza del Rosso, hidden behind a tiny gate. Bring water and sunscreen on sunny days, since there is not the tiniest bit of shadow along the whole tour. Open every day, 09:00-19:00 in the summer season. Tickets cost €3 (May 2019).
 * A walking tour along the city walls is one of the newest attractions in the city. It is an occasion to see the city, including the leaning tower and Campo dei Miracoli, from an unusual angle. They offer a great view over public and private buildings around the city, as well as many unexpected green areas. There are four entrances: one in Campo dei Miracoli, one next to a university campus near via Filippo Buonarroti, one in Piazza delle Gondole, and one in Piazza del Rosso, hidden behind a tiny gate. Bring water and sunscreen on sunny days, since there is not the tiniest bit of shadow along the whole tour. Open every day, 09:00-19:00 in the summer season. Tickets cost €3 (May 2019).
 * A walking tour along the city walls is one of the newest attractions in the city. It is an occasion to see the city, including the leaning tower and Campo dei Miracoli, from an unusual angle. They offer a great view over public and private buildings around the city, as well as many unexpected green areas. There are four entrances: one in Campo dei Miracoli, one next to a university campus near via Filippo Buonarroti, one in Piazza delle Gondole, and one in Piazza del Rosso, hidden behind a tiny gate. Bring water and sunscreen on sunny days, since there is not the tiniest bit of shadow along the whole tour. Open every day, 09:00-19:00 in the summer season. Tickets cost €3 (May 2019).
 * A walking tour along the city walls is one of the newest attractions in the city. It is an occasion to see the city, including the leaning tower and Campo dei Miracoli, from an unusual angle. They offer a great view over public and private buildings around the city, as well as many unexpected green areas. There are four entrances: one in Campo dei Miracoli, one next to a university campus near via Filippo Buonarroti, one in Piazza delle Gondole, and one in Piazza del Rosso, hidden behind a tiny gate. Bring water and sunscreen on sunny days, since there is not the tiniest bit of shadow along the whole tour. Open every day, 09:00-19:00 in the summer season. Tickets cost €3 (May 2019).
 * A walking tour along the city walls is one of the newest attractions in the city. It is an occasion to see the city, including the leaning tower and Campo dei Miracoli, from an unusual angle. They offer a great view over public and private buildings around the city, as well as many unexpected green areas. There are four entrances: one in Campo dei Miracoli, one next to a university campus near via Filippo Buonarroti, one in Piazza delle Gondole, and one in Piazza del Rosso, hidden behind a tiny gate. Bring water and sunscreen on sunny days, since there is not the tiniest bit of shadow along the whole tour. Open every day, 09:00-19:00 in the summer season. Tickets cost €3 (May 2019).
 * A walking tour along the city walls is one of the newest attractions in the city. It is an occasion to see the city, including the leaning tower and Campo dei Miracoli, from an unusual angle. They offer a great view over public and private buildings around the city, as well as many unexpected green areas. There are four entrances: one in Campo dei Miracoli, one next to a university campus near via Filippo Buonarroti, one in Piazza delle Gondole, and one in Piazza del Rosso, hidden behind a tiny gate. Bring water and sunscreen on sunny days, since there is not the tiniest bit of shadow along the whole tour. Open every day, 09:00-19:00 in the summer season. Tickets cost €3 (May 2019).
 * A walking tour along the city walls is one of the newest attractions in the city. It is an occasion to see the city, including the leaning tower and Campo dei Miracoli, from an unusual angle. They offer a great view over public and private buildings around the city, as well as many unexpected green areas. There are four entrances: one in Campo dei Miracoli, one next to a university campus near via Filippo Buonarroti, one in Piazza delle Gondole, and one in Piazza del Rosso, hidden behind a tiny gate. Bring water and sunscreen on sunny days, since there is not the tiniest bit of shadow along the whole tour. Open every day, 09:00-19:00 in the summer season. Tickets cost €3 (May 2019).

Piazza dei Cavalieri

 * Other historical buildings include the Church of San Rocco, the Rectory, Palazzo Carovana and Palazzo dei Dodici.
 * Other historical buildings include the Church of San Rocco, the Rectory, Palazzo Carovana and Palazzo dei Dodici.
 * Other historical buildings include the Church of San Rocco, the Rectory, Palazzo Carovana and Palazzo dei Dodici.
 * Other historical buildings include the Church of San Rocco, the Rectory, Palazzo Carovana and Palazzo dei Dodici.



Along the riverbank
Lungarno Mediceo and Lungarno Pacinotti on the Northern side of the Arno river, Lungarno Galilei and Lungarno Gambacorti on the south side: these riverside streets give a distinctive character to Pisa, especially at night when the lamplight reflects on the Arno river. Along the Lungarni stand interesting sights like:

Other parts of the city

 * Fine Romanesque churches, San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno, San Michele in Borgo, San Paolo with a sculpture gallery inside, Sant'Andrea - not all are open every day; double-check the hours if you want to visit.
 * Fine Romanesque churches, San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno, San Michele in Borgo, San Paolo with a sculpture gallery inside, Sant'Andrea - not all are open every day; double-check the hours if you want to visit.
 * Fine Romanesque churches, San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno, San Michele in Borgo, San Paolo with a sculpture gallery inside, Sant'Andrea - not all are open every day; double-check the hours if you want to visit.
 * Fine Romanesque churches, San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno, San Michele in Borgo, San Paolo with a sculpture gallery inside, Sant'Andrea - not all are open every day; double-check the hours if you want to visit.

Do



 * Take a photo of yourself holding, leaning against, or "anthropologically appropriating" the leaning tower of Pisa.
 * Take a stroll along the central shopping roads of the city, Corso Italia and Borgo Stretto, both pedestrian-only.
 * Enjoy an aperitivo (evening drink with a light dinner buffet) in one of the many bars and pubs that offer it, around Piazza Gambacorti, Piazza delle Vettovaglie o Via delle Case Dipinte.
 * Football: Pisa SC play soccer in Serie B, Italy's second tier. Their home ground is Arena Garibaldi (capacity 25,000) just north of the historic centre.

Events

 * On June 16th Pisa hosts the Luminara festival, held for the patron saint's day (San Ranieri). At sunset, all the lights along the Arno are dimmed and more than 10,000 candles are lit, which makes for some spectacular sights from the Ponte di Mezzo. Various activities are organized in the streets and the night ends with a big firework show.
 * Another summer attraction is the Gioco del Ponte (Game of the Bridge), a historical event held yearly on the last Sunday of June. The two sides of the city (Tramontana and Mezzogiorno, geographically split by the Arno river) participate in a historical parade, with 709 walk-ons, then challenge each other to a physical match in which their teams, each composed of 20 members, try to conquer the "Ponte di Mezzo" (the main bridge in Pisa) by pushing a trolley in order to force the rival team off the bridge. The parade is very colorful and can be enjoyed for free from anywhere along the river; on the other hand the Gioco itself is hard to see unless you get a ticket in advance to sit in the stands, and it is quite boring for outsiders, as some of the 7 'battles' can last more than 20 minutes. It is better to sit down at a bar and watch it from a TV screen.
 * On March 25, a smaller historical parade takes place, to celebrate the traditional Pisan new year.
 * Festival Internazionale di Musica Sacra - International Sacred Music Festival "Anima Mundi" takes place for two weeks in September of each year. This event, organized since 2001, is one of the most important of its kind, both at the national and international level.

Buy
The central shopping area is centered around the Corso Italia, between the railway station and the Ponte di Mezzo (the central bridge) and also in the Via Borgo Stretto, north of the bridge. However, many specialized shops are sprinkled around the city.

The area around the leaning tower is geared toward tourists: There are lots of small souvenir kiosks, stands and "flying merchants", selling all kinds of souvenirs from small statues to hourglasses - of course the general motif is the leaning tower.

It is illegal to buy from one of the "flying merchants" that sell fake replicas. They are very persuasive and if you buy anything you must haggle – they'll drop their prices significantly.

Every two weeks there is a street market with antique books, records and old household items.

And don't forget to try some of Pisa's famous biscotti (biscuits or cookies). Bakeries all through town will sell multiple varieties, for a low price.

For the budget option, if coming from the Airport, there is a Coop supermarket on the left, on Via Pasquale Pardi.

Eat


Pasta and pizza are among the tourists' favorites like everywhere in Italy, but Tuscan and Pisan cuisine has more to offer: several kinds of soups made with bread (for instance, pappa al pomodoro, or kale-based bordatino), meat dishes (chianina and mucco pisano are renowned beef breeds; game such as boar or hare can be found in various restaurants), and cold cuts. The traditional street food is cecina, a chickpea flour pancake, served inside focaccia with a sprinkle of pepper.

Traditional Tuscan bread is without salt (pane sciocco); this surprises most visitors.

As for alcoholic beverages, Tuscany is renowned for red wine (Chianti, Brunello, Morellino) but nowadays many establishments also offer a good selection of local craft beers.

If you have access to transport, an alternative to eating in Pisa is to take the relatively short drive to Marina di Pisa, the harbor of Pisa at the Mediterranean sea some from central Pisa. Just follow the SS224 road west on the south side of River Arno and you are there in 20 minutes. There are several restaurants by the seafront, and having your dinner here, outside and when the sun sets in the west, is a rewarding experience. Parking and tables may be out if you arrive late, so check the opening hours (many restaurants do not open until around 19:00) and be there early. Even better, spend an hour or two just walking along the beach before the restaurants open. Try Roca de Mar.

Restaurants
As a general rule, try not to eat directly at the Leaning Tower where prices are high and quality low. Walk 200 m south on the street Via Santa Maria. The restaurant Ristoro Pecorino and from there the restaurants southwards on Via Santa Maria are very good. Head further to the central area (5-10 minutes walking) and you can find more very good restaurants there. For example, there are excellent, friendly and reasonably priced cafeterias in the area of the busy small vegetable market, Piazza delle Vettovaglie. Also Via San Martino, close to the South bank of the river, offers some inexpensive places with good quality. (updated Sept 2022)

Around the Leaning Tower
The first three of the following restaurants are right next to each other:



Splurge

 * La Mescita, Via Cavalca, very close to Piazza delle Vettovaglie. An expensive but very good choice. They serve both traditional and more sophisticated food.
 * Osteria dei Cavalieri, Via San Frediano. close to Piazza dei Cavalieri. Quite expensive but very good. You can find typical and traditional recipes from Tuscany.
 * Ristorante La Buca, Excellent fish dishes. Good quality - price ratio.

Ice cream
Ice cream is not just a refreshing dessert on hot days, it's an art and a style of life. The ice-cream shops listed below all have their own style and philosophy on ice-cream. They use only seasonal ingredients. You'd be surprised on the variety of tastes and sensations. And the best: prices are stable around €2-2.50 for two scoops, independent of where you go.
 * Artisan Gelateria Rufus, Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 25. All ingredients are local and organic.
 * Artisan Gelateria Rufus, Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 25. All ingredients are local and organic.

Pasticceria

 * Dolce Notte Cornetteria Via S. Bernardo, 41. Not really a fine pasticceria, but the trendy spot to fill up your reserves when you're hopping from one bar to the other late at night. Their maxi-cornetto with up to 3 fillings of your choice will make you fit for dancing through the night.
 * Pasticceria Da Tripoli, Via Guglielmo Oberdan, 53 (at the end of Borgo Stretto to the left). Very traditional pasticceria with typical cookies and pasties. A local's favorite. Moderate prices. Closed on Mondays.
 * Pasticceria Cioccoroccolato, Via Buonarroti. A bit off the regular tourist route. French-inspired modern pasticceria with amazing creations, combining Italian classics and international sweets. Varying selection to surprise their loyal local customers, who visit them both for their morning coffee and a truly masterful elaborate signature coffee in the afternoon. Closed on Sundays.
 * Salza, in Borgo Stretto, high prices but good chocolate, sweets and pastries of all kinds. Don't sit down inside, though, because you will end up paying €10 for two coffees.

Drink
During summer nights, everybody stays around the banks of the rivers, sipping drinks bought from the several bars in the area. A few very good wine bars are also available for colder, winter nights.


 * Bar Mocambo, Via S. Bernardo, 29. Cozy cocktail bar with a vast selection of drinks. Outstanding signature cocktails. Serves more than 100 kinds of rum from all over the world, often paired with treats such as specialty chocolate. Ask the bartender to help you choose!
 * Vineria di Piazza, Piazza delle Vettovaglie. Serves great wine and very few dishes. You can find very traditional food here.
 * Vineria di Piazza, Piazza delle Vettovaglie. Serves great wine and very few dishes. You can find very traditional food here.
 * Vineria di Piazza, Piazza delle Vettovaglie. Serves great wine and very few dishes. You can find very traditional food here.

Nightlife
For nightlife, there aren't many clubs or live music places in Pisa: the usual night in Pisa is having a dinner of pizza or a cheap kebab, a beer in Borgo Stretto, Piazza delle Vettovaglie, Piazza Gambacorti or a pub in the surrounding areas, and a walk in Piazza Garibaldi, Piazza dei Cavalieri or the Lungarni, where the spallette (the low brick walls around the river) are full of students.

Some alternative clubs in the centre where you can find live music are:


 * Ex-Wide (jazz/swing)
 * Borderline (rock/metal; closed June to September, when they move to an alternative location on the seaside at Eliopoli/Calambrone).
 * Lumiere (dance/electronic)

Less alternative clubs are found at the seaside, about from Pisa, in Marina di Pisa and Tirrenia. For instance


 * Pappafico (a disco with house music and the like)
 * PIA (a disco/bar on the sea)
 * Sunset (mainly an aperitivo/happy hour/chill-out location on the sea)

Outside the city centre but reachable on foot, in the north-eastern outskirts of the city, is


 * Deposito Pontecorvo (a small disco)

Sleep
The Pisa hills were already a popular destination for enlightened travellers in the first half of the 1700s, due mostly to the popularity of the thermal spa of San Giuliano, which quickly became a fashionable spot for the upper classes. The mansions on the road along the hills, already renowned as places of idleness and relaxation in the heart of the countryside, soon assumed the characteristics of true leisure resorts, just like those narrated by Carlo Goldoni. Stay at Bagni di Pisa ('health-giving' waters are still offered to an international clientele) and then visit Pisa during one of the city’s festivals, staying at the Agostini Palace to enjoy the best view of the festivities. The Villa has hosted many illustrious guests such as Gustavus III of Sweden, Christian II of Denmark, the Royal Family of Great Britain, Benedict Stuart Cardinal of York, General Murat, Luigi Buonaparte, Paolina Borghese, Carlo Alberto of Savoy, the poets Byron and Shelley, and various other personages from the history books.

Stay safe
Pisa is a safe city. You do not need to worry about your safety (except in some zones at night, such as the area surrounding the station). However, you should take the obvious precautions (like, if you stay in a very cheap hotel, take your valuables with you) and watch out for pickpockets in the touristy areas.

As stated in the Buy section, avoid purchasing sunglasses, umbrellas, and other trinkets from illegal sellers. Definitely steer clear of counterfeit luxury goods. Upon arriving to Pisa, it is not uncommon for tourists to be swarmed by African vendors. Some vendors can be pushy or even downright aggressive. Even saying "no thank you" can bring unwanted attention. It's much better to ignore them entirely. Don't worry about being rude.

Even though cheap prices are tempting, especially when travelling on a budget, the Italian police have fined tourists for buying from illegal sellers. These fines can be very steep (up to €1,000). In front of the Tower, there are several legal vendors who have permits to sell items to tourists or anyone else. Be responsible and buy from them. Legal vendors have stalls lined along the main road whereas illegal vendors keep merchandise in a sack, cardboard boxes, or (in the case of fake purses) on their arms.

Connect
As of June 2022, Pisa has 4G from Iliad, Tim and Vodafone, and 5G from Wind Tre.

Go next

 * Lucca. You can travel by train to this beautiful nearby city.
 * Florence. Very easily reachable by train from Pisa Centrale.
 * Cinque Terre by train to La Spezia and Genova.
 * Volterra by bus.
 * Calci is very easily reachable by bus. A charming medieval village nestled in the Pisan Mountains. The baroque Charterhouse and the Museum of Natural History (home to the largest collection of whale bones in Europe) are among its attractions.