Pisa walking tour & city guide
The Leaning Tower and a lively university town on the Arno.
Video by BookingHunterTV on YouTube. All rights belong to the creator. Like or comment on YouTube ↗
Pisa is world famous for one building, the Leaning Tower, but this former maritime republic on the Arno River is also a lively university town with elegant riverside palaces, medieval streets and far fewer crowds once you step away from the tower.
The Square of Miracles
The Piazza dei Miracoli, or Square of Miracles, is a green lawn holding four masterpieces of Romanesque architecture: the Cathedral, the Baptistery, the Camposanto cemetery and the bell tower that began to lean almost as soon as construction started in 1173, because of soft ground. Stabilization work completed in 2001 reduced the tilt, and you can still climb its nearly 300 steps.
The Baptistery is the largest in Italy, with remarkable acoustics demonstrated by guards who sing a few notes inside, and the cathedral's interior is richly decorated with marble and gold.
Beyond the tower
Borgo Stretto, a medieval arcaded street, leads into the heart of the old town. Piazza dei Cavalieri, the Knights' Square, is home to the prestigious Scuola Normale Superiore, housed in a palace with a decorated facade.
The Lungarni, the riverside avenues along the Arno, are lined with palaces and are lovely at sunset. Look for the small gothic church of Santa Maria della Spina on the riverbank, and the bustling market around Piazza delle Vettovaglie.
Visiting tips
Pisa's airport is the main gateway to Tuscany, and the city is about an hour by train from Florence and close to Lucca and the Cinque Terre. Book a timed ticket to climb the tower in advance.
Top sights in Pisa
- 1
Leaning Tower of Pisa
The world-famous tilting bell tower; climb to the top.
- 2
Pisa Cathedral
A Romanesque cathedral on the Square of Miracles.
- 3
Baptistery
Italy's largest baptistery, with amazing acoustics.
- 4
Camposanto
A monumental cemetery with frescoes.
- 5
Piazza dei Cavalieri
A historic square with a decorated palace.
- 6
Lungarni
Elegant riverside avenues along the Arno.
Food markets & where to eat in Pisa
Piazza delle Vettovaglie
A market square surrounded by trattorias and bars.
Borgo Stretto cafés
Pastries and coffee under medieval arcades.
Student pizzerias
Affordable spots near the university serving cecina.
Riverside restaurants on the Lungarni
Tuscan dishes with views of the Arno.
Food to try in Pisa
Cecina
A thin chickpea flatbread, often eaten in a sandwich.
Torta coi bischeri
A traditional chocolate and rice tart.
Tuscan soups
Hearty bread and bean soups.
Chianti wine
Tuscany's most famous red.
Opening hours and prices change often. Please check with each place before you visit.
Plan your trip to Pisa
Enjoyed the walk? Here is everything you need to see it for real.
- Hotels in PisaCompare places to stay and prices.
- Tours & ticketsWalking tours, museums and day trips in Pisa.
- eSIM for ItalyStay online from the moment you land.
Some links may be affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
More cities in Italy
▶ 6 videosRome
The Eternal City, where every street is a museum.
▶ 6 videosVenice
A city of canals, bridges and no cars at all.
▶ 6 videosFlorence
The cradle of the Renaissance, compact and walkable.
▶ 6 videosMilan
Fashion, a gothic cathedral and the art of the aperitivo.
▶ 6 videosNaples
The birthplace of pizza, under the shadow of Vesuvius.
▶ 6 videosPositano
Pastel houses tumbling down cliffs on the Amalfi Coast.
▶ 6 videosLake Como
Grand villas, lakeside villages and Alpine scenery.
▶ 5 videosVerona
Romeo and Juliet's city, with a Roman arena that still hosts opera.
▶ 5 videosBologna
Red rooftops, endless porticoes and Italy's richest food.
▶ 5 videosSiena
A perfectly preserved medieval city around a shell-shaped square.
▶ 6 videosPalermo
Sicily's vibrant capital of markets, mosaics and street food.
▶ 6 videosTurin
Elegant arcades, royal palaces and the home of Italian chocolate.