Pisa in a Day: First Impressions, the Leaning Tower & Honest Travel Tips
- Akshay Umashankar
- Jan 2
- 6 min read
Arriving in Pisa: First Steps into Italy
We landed at Pisa International Airport (Galileo Galilei Airport) and we're honestly surprised by how smooth everything was. An automated train called PisaMover took us straight to Pisa’s main station, followed by a short bus ride and just like that, we were in the city.
Here’s the most important thing to know about Pisa upfront: everything you came to see is in one place!
Within a compact area of roughly 75 metres, you’ll find Pisa’s three biggest landmarks sitting side by side is the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Cathedral of Pisa, and the surrounding Piazza dei Miracoli. The piazza and cathedral are free to enter; the ticket is only for the tower, which gives you access to climb it, something we’d strongly recommend!
Piazza dei Miracoli: When the Tower First Comes into View
The square has two very different entrances. One side opens through a lively flea market, while the other leads in from a more polished, touristy stretch filled with cafe's, pubs, and souvenir shops where people sit eating and drinking with a clear view of the tower.
Let's be honest, this is why most of us come to Pisa!
We entered from the flea market side, which was closer to the bus stop. But the moment the Leaning Tower of Pisa came into view, everything else faded away. We grew up seeing photos of the world’s most iconic landmarks in books or on TV, But we never quite believed we’d one day stand in front of them ourselves. So there was a quiet moment of reflection!
The walk from the square to our hotel passed right in front of the tower, and our eyes were completely locked on it the entire time. We slowed down without even realising, trying to let the scale and history of the place sink in!
Where to Stay in Pisa: Location Matters
We checked into our hotel which was just 100 metres from the Leaning Tower. In fact, there are loads of hotels within 30–100 metres of the tower. Staying this close is something we’d genuinely recommend and many places are old as many houses have been converted into a hotel, But they're tidy and enough to spend a night. Not all of them burn a hole through your pocket as well. We stayed at Helvetia Pisa Tower, it was around €90, but it's one of the lower priced accommodation in the location.
Everything becomes walkable, and you’re right in the heart of Pisa as it's perfect for café hopping and evening strolls to get a night view of the tower. Here, accommodation feels like part and parcel of the city itself.
Where to Eat Near the Leaning Tower (And What to Avoid)
Naturally, the first thing you notice around the tower is food! cafe's and pizzerias everywhere. And as Italians would say, the ones right in front of the tower are classic “tourista trappa” or tourist trap!
So we walked just a little further in, barely 25 metres and found a spot that felt far more genuine and appropriately priced. That meal felt like our real welcome to Italy. We ordered Cacio e Pepe pasta and the Margherita pizza, with a cold beer was perfect on a hot day.
Climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa: Tickets, Lines & What to Know
After lunch, it was time to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
A quick heads-up: it’s a proper climb. Nothing dangerous as the stairs are wide, well maintained, and very safe, but it’s still a climb! Doing it immediately after a heavy lunch? Probably not the smartest idea (learn from us!!)
Queues can get long, especially on days when cruise ships dock nearby and bring in thousands of visitors. If you can, try to avoid cruise landing days or start early in the morning. You can get the cruise landing schedule here: https://www.cruisemapper.com/ports/livorno-port-141
Buying tickets in advance is highly recommended.
Official ticket price: €20 per person
We had to buy priority tickets via GetYourGuide, which were more expensive, but the line was much shorter, so a small win!
After plenty of huffing and puffing, we finally made it to the top. The views were great, but honestly, nothing compared to the feeling of actually standing on the Leaning Tower itself. Being there and knowing its history and significance was something else entirely.
Strangely enough, our favourite view of the tower was still from below, standing in the square, looking up at this perfectly imperfect structure, wrapped in white marble and leaning in a way that feels almost impossible.
Once back down, we initially thought about getting the classic “holding up the tower” photo. But one look at the crowds and it's hundreds of people lining up along the railings, striking every possible pose, so we decided to skip it for the moment and move on. But we did end up capturing one, or at least tired!
Piazza del Duomo & the Cathedral of Pisa
Our next stop was Piazza del Duomo, also part of the Piazza dei Miracoli. The line here was refreshingly short, and we were inside within minutes. This UNESCO World Heritage Site dates back to medieval times and was designed to showcase Pisa’s wealth and power during its peak as a maritime republic and naval force in the Mediterranean. If you didn't know, Pisa was a naval powerhouse during the renaissance period.
A short walk away stands the Cattedrale di Pisa, a magnificent example of Pisan Romanesque architecture built in the 11th century. The exterior is striking, but the inside is just as impressive with marble columns, intricate mosaics, and a calm atmosphere that contrasts beautifully with the busy square full of people just outside.
Museums Worth Visiting in Pisa
We spent a few quiet minutes sitting on the lawn outside the cathedral, soaking it all in. Nearby is a small museum and tourist centre, and just behind the Leaning Tower sits the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo.
This museum turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It houses religious artefacts, sculptures, and original materials used in the construction of the tower, along with detailed explanations of how it was built and why it began to lean in the first place.
At just €8 per person, it felt well worth the visit and added real context to everything we’d just seen.
Dinner in Pisa: A Local Favourite
By early evening, we headed back to the hotel to rest, freshen up, and shower before dinner. Pisa slows down nicely at night, and we took a relaxed stroll through nearby streets looking for food.
As expected, many restaurants were tourist traps, but then we struck gold with Primo – Pasta & Street Food Pisa. This place is a favourite of the locals and it showed!
Each pasta dish cost around €7, portions were huge, and the quality was outstanding. We couldn’t even finish our plates. The house wine was surprisingly good too, a full pitcher for just €5.
There’s usually a long wait here, but we got incredibly lucky and walked in just as one table freed up. Not long after, the crowd built up quickly, and you could feel people eyeing our table hungrily as they waited outside. A solid 10/10 and the perfect way to end the day.
Final Thoughts: Is One Day in Pisa Enough?
We headed back to our room as we had an early start the next morning. Looking back, Pisa was a wonderful experience compact, historic, and delicious food!
As i told before, Pisa was once a powerful naval city, though over centuries, centres of power across Italy have shifted, something you really begin to appreciate as you travel through the country.
For explorers like us, one day in Pisa is more than enough. We’d absolutely recommend visiting for it’s charming, iconic, and unique Piazza di Miracoli or the Square of miracles, but there isn’t really a need for a second day here.
Pisa does what it does best, and it does it beautifully. You can find our next city here: Florence in One Day: What to See, Do & Skip (First-Timer’s Guide)
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