A Guide to Pisa in One Day
The iconic tower of Pisa is one that is recognized globally. Pisa is an amazing town, but outside of the tower and surrounding landmarks, there isn't much to do. In this guide, I'll be sharing my favorite spots that you can visit to create a perfect day in Pisa.
Arriving in Pisa
Whether you are arriving by bus, train, or plane, you'll arrive at the same general location: Pisa Centrale. If you are arriving from the airport, the Pisamover is a full-service tram that takes guests from the airport to the train station.
Once you're at Pisa Centrale, its time to see the tower. From the train station, its about a one mile walk to the tower, or a 15-minute ride by bus. My first time going to Pisa we opted into taking the bus. A one-way ticket only costs €2.
The bus will take you to the north side of the Arno river, and you'll know when you've reached the tower (its where everybody gets off). The bus will drop you off at Piazza del Duomo, where the leaning tower and Pisa Cathedral are located. During the summer, you should expect large crowds. But during the offseason the crowds are smaller and it is much more enjoyable.
Piazza del Duomo
Piazza del Duomo consists of three main landmarks:
Tickets are available to climb the tower and prices start at €20 per person. Combo tickets for all three landmarks start at €28 (link below).
The City of Pisa
As stated earlier, there isn't a whole lot outside of Piazza del Duomo. Below are options of places to eat, shop, or explore outside of Pisa.
Restaurants in Pisa
Shopping in Pisa
There are numerous Italian boutiques scattered throughout Pisa, but the main shopping district is located on the south side of the river, along Corso Italia.
Corso Italia is one of the main roads in Pisa, and offers many name brands such as Zara, H&M, Calzedonia, and more. This road also offers great places to grab a quick bite to eat before carrying on with your day.
Places to go after Pisa
After spending some time in Pisa, you'll likely find that you still have the majority of your day to fill. From Pisa, you are welcome to go back to home base or check out another spot that is close to Pisa. I have listed my two recommendations below.
The small beach town of Viareggio is only a 10 minute train ride from Pisa and is the perfect place to watch the sun set over the water. There are a few other beaches nearby, with another option being Livorno, but Viareggio is my personal favorite. I like Viareggio because it is accessible by train, is never full of tourists and offers the most coastline to enjoy.
Another great option is one of my favorite cities in Tuscany: Lucca. Lucca is a small, artistic city that is surrounded by a fort, known as the 'Walls of Lucca'. These walls have been converted into a public walking/biking trail that is open to the public. Lucca offers a very personal and traditional Tuscan feel. A train ride from Pisa is only about 10 minutes. For my guide on Lucca, click below:
If you are planning a trip to Pisa or Italy in general, check out my other guides for help planning your travels.
Lastly, feel free to contact us via Instagram with any questions or concerns that you may have prior to traveling - we'd be happy to help.
Thank you for reading through this guide and happy traveling!
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