Looking for the best things to do in Pisa? Read further and find out from this post!
The region is full of culture and history, with a beautiful cityscape that will take your breath away. You will find something special in this glorious Italian city, from the awe-inspiring Tower of Pisa to the awe-inspiring Duomo di Pisa and the charming Campo Santo cemetery.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa has become an international symbol of the city, rising high above the Tuscan landscape since medieval times. Although it has been carefully monitored and recently stabilized, it still leans at an angle of more than 4 degrees! This remarkable building is a marvel to behold up close.
The Duomo di Pisa was founded in 1064 and is one of Europe’s most important Romanesque structures. Its façade features magnificent sculptures from different time periods and beautiful stained glass windows depicting Biblical scenes. Meanwhile, visitors to Campo Santo can admire some impressive frescoes that decorate its walls.
Aside from its cultural richness, there’s also plenty else to do – enjoying local flavors at restaurants and cafes throughout the streets or exploring surrounding attractions such as Peccioli Castle or Calci Charterhouse. Whether you’re looking for an exciting holiday destination or just want to explore a unique slice of Italy – Pisa should be your number-one choice!
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Experiences and top things to do in Pisa
Experience the Nightlife in Pisa
While you can keep yourself busy in the daytime visiting various sights, you may wonder what to see in Pisa during the nighttime. Well, Pisa has a buzzing nightlife too! If you like clubs and bars, visit Chupiteria for shot drinks or head to the Borderline Club to party. You can also enjoy the night at Bazeel and Orzo Bruno. If your idea of a night out is the opera, visit the Teatro Verdi.
With so many things to do in Pisa, you won’t have a dull moment in the city! Explore all these places to go to Pisa to experience this wonderful destination truly.
Where to stay in Pisa? Find an awesome deal and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: From Florence: Day Trip Pisa, Siena & San Gimignano w/Lunch
Read also: Top 15 Beautiful Castles in Italy
Museo Dell’ Opera del Duomo
In your list of Pisa activities, including a visit to Museo Dell’ Opera del Duomo. Initially a convent for Cappuccine di Clausura nuns, the Museo Dell’ Opera del Duomo, with its beautiful cloister, is now where art lovers can appreciate wonderful works of art and sculpture.
These artworks were, at one point in time, on display at the Cathedral and Baptistery. Look at the ivory carving of Madonna and Child by Giovanni Pisano, and crucifixes work by Tino di Camaiore, a bust of Julius Caesar, a bronze griffin, and much more. Don’t miss the views of the Leaning Tower of Pisa from this site!
Where to stay in Pisa? Find an awesome deal and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: From Florence: Tuscany Day Trip with Optional Lunch and Wine
Read also: Top 10 Easter Holiday Destinations in Europe
Visit Piazza Garibaldi
Another wonderful square with historical buildings, Piazza Garibaldi, is a vibrant hub of activity. A monument to the Italian general Giuseppe Garibaldi stands on the square frequented by students, locals, and tourists. Along with his statue, it showcases events from Garibaldi’s life.
One of the highlights of this square is the Casino de Nobili, a pretty 18th-century palace. Historic hotels, among the first in Pisa, are also located here. Piazza Garibaldi is also a good place to eat and drink. Don’t forget to try the gelato available here.
Where to stay in Pisa? Find an awesome deal and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: Pisa: All-Inclusive Guided Tour with Optional Leaning Tower
Read also: Top 15 Medieval Castles in Europe
Have dinner in the Santa Maria area
Do you know what to do in Pisa when hungry for good food? Head to the Santa Maria area near the Leaning Tower and other attractions. The streets here have various restaurants serving scrumptious Italian food, which ranks among the most enjoyed Pisa attractions.
You can chomp on a pizza or relish pasta and other dishes at these eateries. Taste some great Italian classics at Osteria I Santi for reasonable prices. Other good restaurants include Pizzeria Trattoria Toscana and Il Peperoncino. Enjoy a great evening out with dinner, drinks, dessert, and more!
Where to stay in Pisa? Find an awesome deal and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: Pisa Cathedral Guided Tour and Optional Leaning Tower Ticket
Read also: Top 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe
Are you planning your travels? Here’re my top travel resources!
I’m a serial planner both in life and in travel – I have bucket lists, things to do, see, and everything. So, I always love when my life is sorted easily using tools and resources that would make my general planning a little smoother and easier. Therefore, in my many years of traveling the world, I’ve seen myself returning to these travel resources repeatedly. And here I am, sharing my tips to make your life easy and breezy so you can stress less, travel heaps, and focus on the fun part of travel!
- Booking.com – I book all my hotels through this website and don’t honestly use anything else. They always have the best prices, in my opinion.
- Airbnb – If I’m traveling long-term to one destination, I book my flats through Airbnb.
- Skyscanner – The best place to find cheap flights on flexible dates. I use this a lot to score cheap flights within Europe!
- SafetyWing – Always travel insured! Never leave your home country without one. It is worth the extra money, I promise you!
- GetYourGuide – Hands-down, the best place to find cool and unique tours if you don’t feel like winging it, and go straight to a local expert. I use this a lot in new destinations to get acquainted with the area!
- My Pretty Wild World Travel Diary (coming soon) – A book you can write down your travel plans, create itineraries, track down your budget, and dot down memories along the way! A handy book you can keep and read later to revisit memory lane.
- Pretty Wild World Travel Planning Printables (coming soon) – Are you a nut like me when it comes to planning? Yes? Good. My travel planning resource in one zip file is an easy-to-use printable planner that comes with tips that helps you plan your travels during the planning stage, a pre-flight checklist, an itinerary planner, and so on.
Spend an interesting evening on the banks of the Arno River
Built around the waterways of the Arno River, Pisa’s connection to the river is an integral part of its character. You can see various places of interest, including houses and structures, with wonderful architecture along the embankment as you walk alongside it.
Due to the River Arno, Pisa was once a maritime power with major trading links. You can see palazzos, including Palazzo Alla Giornata and Palazzo Reale. Other landmarks along the Arno are churches, including San Paolo a Ripa d’Arno, and Santa Maria della Spina.
Several other attractions along the Arno make it one of the top things to do in Pisa. Take your time to appreciate the beautiful landscape and feel at peace.
Where to stay in Pisa? Find an awesome deal and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: From Florence: Pisa Day Tour with Leaning Tower of Pisa
Read also: Top 20 Cheap European Holiday Destinations and Countries to Visit
Visit Pisa Baptistery – Battistero di San Giovanni
An impressive structure that stands out amidst the lush green grass at the Piazza Dei Miracoli, the Baptistery is one of the top things to see in Pisa. Standing almost 55 meters high, it is the largest baptistery in Italy. Made of marble, the baptistery blends Romanesque and Gothic styles.
On your tour, you can see the marble pulpit showcasing scenes from the New Testament. A highlight of the baptistery is the double dome that creates a chamber with superb acoustics. To check out the acoustics, go with a custodian to the Upper Gallery of the baptistery. The effect is quite incredible!
Where to stay in Pisa? Find an awesome deal and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: Florence: Pisa, Siena, San Gimignano, and Chianti Experience
Read also: Top 15 Beautiful Castles in Italy
Explore Piazza Dei Miracoli
Piazza Dei Miracoli, one of the best places to visit in Pisa, gives you a chance to see four fabulous structures. Situated on lush green grounds, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (Pisa Cathedral) is a splendid 11th-century church with an amazing façade and interiors. Its bell tower, known as the Leaning Tower of Pisa, is a major tourist draw.
The tower took almost 200 years to be completed due to disruptions in construction. You can also visit the Pisa Baptistery, with its remarkable dome and design. Camposanto Monumentale, or the holy field, is the fourth place of interest in this square. It is a burial ground built around sacred soil from Calvary (Golgotha). Combined, these structures represent birth, life, and death.
Where to stay in Pisa? Find an awesome deal and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: Pisa: Half-Day Afternoon Tour from Florence
Read also: Top 8 Warmest Places in Europe in December
Top Landmarks and attractions in Pisa
Leaning Tower of Pisa
One of the world’s most famous landmarks, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, is situated in the Piazza dei Miracoli. It is the bell tower (campanile) of the Pisa Cathedral. While there are several exquisite towers worldwide, this bell tower became even more famous because of its tilt caused due to a weak foundation and unstable ground at the time of construction.
The beautiful seven-tiered tower is one of the unmissable places in Pisa. You can climb more than 250 steps to reach the top for a superb view of the city. Book your tickets online or reserve them at the ticket offices of the Piazza del Duomo (Piazza dei Miracoli) in Pisa. Children under eight are not allowed in the tower for safety purposes.
Where to stay in Pisa? Find an awesome deal and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: Tuscany: Siena, San Gimignano, Chianti, and Pisa Day Tour
Read also: Best Road Trips in Europe: Top 15 European Road Trip Ideas
Hold up! Have you thought about the importance of travel insurance?
Remember this: anything can happen. Travel is fun, but your health is more important; thus, I always, always, always recommend getting insured during the duration of your trip. I have benefitted from having one multiple times, and it has been covered for thousands of euros!
The latest one is not necessarily “health” related – it was during the peak of the unspeakable terrible C that consumed the world. I was living in Vietnam when I received an email from SafetyWing (my travel insurance) that if I want they’ll fly be back home to Finland as the world goes through a global emergency alert. I flew back fully covered, and dealing with SafetyWing was a breeze despite the roar of people in contact with them trying to get back home.
I can’t highly recommend them enough. Otherwise, I rarely get sick; hence I don’t always need to head to a hospital, but knowing that I have travel insurance makes me feel safe at the very least.
Read my post about why you should get travel insurance for more information. Otherwise, you can get a free quote from SafetyWing – they’re the best, in my opinion.
Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta
The cathedral is among the top Pisa tourist attractions, with a striking marble façade with three bronze doors and four tiers of open galleries decorated with cornices. Its interiors are magnificent, with wonderful paintings and frescoes.
Take a look at the fabulous wooden ceiling embellished with gold leaf. You can also see the inside of the dome decorated with lovely paintings. Other interiors highlight is the pulpit, with amazing design and sculptures.
A ticket to the other structures on the Piazza Dei Miracoli gives you free admission to the cathedral. You can also get free entry by selecting a specific time for a visit.
Where to stay in Pisa? Find an awesome deal and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: From Florence: Full-Day Private Cinque Terre Tour with Pisa
Read also: Summer in Europe: Top 14 Best Summer Destinations in Europe
Campo Santo
A large complex with burial grounds, the 12th-century Camposanto Monumentale, is located at the Piazza Dei Miracoli. An outer wall and an inner court with arches built amidst the green grounds contain tombs and Roman sarcophagi. The site also has three chapels.
The complex was built around the holy field (Campo Santo) that consisted of sacred soil from Golgotha/Calvary. Buried here are noblemen from Pisa. The site has more than 80 Roman sarcophagi, sculptures, and urns.
You can look closely at the beautiful frescoes, some dating back to the 14th century. These were damaged during World War II and subsequently restored.
Where to stay in Pisa? Find an awesome deal and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: From La Spezia: Florence & Pisa Cruise Shore Excursion
Read also: Secret Destinations: Top 13 Natural Wonders of Europe You Must Visit
The Capitoline Wolf
Although it is not a major attraction, the Capitoline Wolf statue is something you should see when visiting the Piazza Dei Miracoli. Located close to the Leaning Tower, this is one of the many Capitoline Wolf statues seen in various parts of the world.
The statue shows a she-wolf suckling the twins Romulus and Remus. The wolf abandoned, rescued, and raised the twins until humans found them. This story refers to the founding of Rome and is depicted on the Capitoline Wolf statue.
Where to stay in Pisa? Find an awesome deal and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: From Rome: Florence and Pisa Full-Day Small-Group Tour
Read also: Europe Holidays: Top 10 Awesome Destinations for Holidays in Europe
Piazza Dei Cavalieri
Besides the Piazza Dei Miracoli, Pisa sightseeing also includes other prominent squares. Piazza Dei Cavalieri (The Knights’ Square) is today an education hub but was a political center back in the day.
A major attraction here is the 16th-century Palazzo della Carovana which is now home to the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa – a place for higher education. The palazzo was once the headquarters of the Knights of St. Stephen.
The grand building has an ornate façade with a wonderful double-sided staircase that leads to the entrance. Other attractions in the square include the Palazzo dell’ Orologio and the Church of Santo Stefano. Put this square on your list of what to see in Pisa.
Where to stay in Pisa? Find an awesome deal and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: Pisa: Guided Tour with Optional Tower Tickets
Read also: Islands in Europe: Top 10 Best Island Holidays in Europe to Visit
What are my favorite travel must-haves?
As a frequent traveler, I’ve learned a lot throughout my years of travel, and there are five items that I always carry with me regardless of where I go and how long the trip is. Here are my five travel must-haves!
- Warm packable jacket – I always carry a light jacket, even when heading to warm countries. There hasn’t been a time I never used it, especially in airports and planes.
- Transparent toiletry bag – I often bring a carry-on if I’m only traveling within Europe for a few days. Life is so much easier to go through security checks with a transparent toiletry bag.
- Kindle Paperwhite – I love a good read and always take my Kindle everywhere. It keeps me entertained during long flights and waiting times.
- Powerbank – I don’t know how I could travel without one! Having a power bank saved me a ton since I carry a lot of electronic devices with me.
- Travel Adapter – I never leave my luggage without a travel adapter! I carry one with me all the time. It is just one of that travel-must haves that doesn’t hurt to have in your bag at all times.
Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri (Church of Santo Stefano)
A lovely church established for the Order of Knights of St. Stephen, Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri, is located on the Piazza Dei Cavalieri. This 16th-century church with a bell tower has a Nice marble façade and lovely interiors.
The Order of Knights of St. Stephen was founded to fight Saracen pirates, and the church’s interiors reflect the naval encounters with a display of trophy banners and flags. Look above, and you can see paintings on the ceiling as well.
They also depict events of that time. The pulpit is adorned with paintings, and the main altar has statues on a throne and paintings.
Where to stay in Pisa? Find an awesome deal and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: From Florence: Tuscany Highlights Full-Day Tour
Read also: Top 5 Tips on How to Save Money for Travel
Palazzo Agostini
Palazzos are among the interesting places to see in Pisa, and Palazzo Agostini, a red brick building, is a great place to visit. The Agostini family bought it in the 15th century from previous owners. Today, it is famous for the coffee shop Palazzo dell’ Ussero, founded in the 18th century.
It immediately became a hub for intellectuals. Even now, it is the hangout for the intellectual crowd, including students, and a meeting point for artists. Grab a coffee or enjoy interesting conversations on your visit to this coffee shop on the ground floor.
Where to stay in Pisa? Find an awesome deal and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: From Florence: Tour of Pisa
Read also: Top 18 Most Iconic Landmarks in Europe
Santa Maria della Spina
With its scenic setting on the left bank of the River Arno, the Santa Maria della Spina, a gorgeous small church, should be included in any list of where to go in Pisa to see charming churches.
This 13th-century church got its name ‘spina’, meaning thorn, from the presence of a thorn relic. It is about the crown of thorns placed on Christ during the crucifixion. Today, the thorn is located in another church, but the stunning architecture of Santa Maria della Spina is a good reason to visit this place.
It has a unique-looking façade that is highly remarkable, with doorways, gables, arches, rose windows, and tabernacles on top. In contrast, the interiors are simple, with a painted ceiling and sculptures.
Where to stay in Pisa? Find an awesome deal and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: From Livorno: Florence and Pisa Roundtrip Transfer
Read also: Top 15 of the Most Visited Tourist Attractions in Europe
San Paolo a Ripa d’Arno
If you wish to see another pretty church, go to San Paolo a Ripa d’Arno. The church was built and modified between the 11th and 12th centuries. It was initially attached to a monastery. Tour the interiors to see a 13th-century crucifix, frescoes, and a tomb from the Middle Ages.
Another remarkable sight on the property is the tiny St. Agatha Chapel behind the church. An octagonal chapel made of brick with a unique pyramidal top built in the 11th century makes for a very appealing sight.
Where to stay in Pisa? Find an awesome deal and book your hotel here!
Book this unique experience: Livorno: Florence & Pisa Shore Excursion with Food Tasting
Read also: Top 10 Day Trips from Pisa
Planning to visit Italy? Check out these posts!
- Italy Points of Interests: Places to visit, Castles to check out, and Christmas markets
- Rome Travel Guides: Things to do, Day trips
- Florence Travel Guides: Things to do, Day trips
- Venice Travel Guides: Things to do, Day trips
- Pisa Travel Guides: Things to do, Day trips
- Bologna Travel Guides: Things to do, Day Trips
- Naples travel Guides: Safety in Naples
Where to stay in Pisa
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