Pisa
Pisa is a Tuscan city where the Leaning Tower stands in the Piazza dei Miracoli, beside the cathedral and Baptistery, with a historic old town along the Arno.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, central Italy, on the Arno close to where the river meets the Ligurian Sea. It is the provincial capital. Most visitors come for the Leaning Tower, the cathedral bell tower on the Piazza dei Miracoli. The square also holds the cathedral, the Baptistery and the Campo Santo cemetery, and it has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987. Restoration in the early 21st century stopped the tower's tilt.
Beyond the square, Pisa has more than twenty historic churches and many medieval and Renaissance palaces. The Lungarni, the avenues along the Arno, form the city center, and Borgo Stretto is a medieval street of arcades for strolling. Pisa is also a university town, home to one of Italy's oldest universities. A half day is enough for the square, and a second day gives time for the churches and the river. Summers are hot and humid, so spring and autumn are the easiest seasons for walking.
Pisa in five
- Book a timed Tower slot before you goTower tickets are for a specific time, and late arrivals are not admitted or refunded. Online booking opens up to 90 days ahead on the official site, and the Tower time can be changed up to 2 hours before entry.Tower ticket rules
- Leave your bag at the cloakroomBags go to the cloakroom before the climb, and the stated limit for small bags is 20 x 30 x 38 cm. Children must be 8 by the end of the year, under-18s need an adult, and ID may be requested.Tower ticket rules
- Plan 30 minutes for the climb, not the whole dayThe Tower visit is about 30 minutes and 251 steps. Most visitors need two to three hours for the piazza, and a full day lets you add the old town and the river walk.Pisa day trip from Florence
- Walk from the station or take a bus to the piazzaPisa Centrale is about 25–30 minutes on foot from the Piazza dei Miracoli, and city buses cover the route. From the airport, the PisaMover people mover reaches the station in a few minutes; Trenitalia lists its fare at €6.50.
Things to do in Pisa
See all attractions in Pisa
Need to know
- Airport
- Pisa Galileo Galilei (PSA); PisaMover people mover to Pisa Centrale in a few minutes
- Getting there
- Train from Florence in about 1 hour; from Lucca about 30 min
- Getting around
- Walk the center; buses for the Piazza dei Miracoli
- Best base
- Near the station or the old center
- Time needed
- A half day to a full day
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Festival
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh11°Low5°Cool, quietJanuaryPartly cloudy
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh13°Low6°Cool, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh15°Low7°MildMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 93 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild
- AprilPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Spring, idealAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, ideal
- MayPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°Warm, busyMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 102 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- JuneClear6 rainy daysHigh26°Low18°Hot, busyJuneClear
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- JulyClear4 rainy daysHigh29°Low21°Hot, crowdedJulyClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 25 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, crowded
- AugustClear6 rainy daysHigh30°Low21°Hot, crowdedAugustClear
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, crowded
- SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh26°Low17°Warm, easierSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, easier
- OctoberRain11 rainy daysHigh21°Low14°Mild, idealOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 158 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, ideal
- NovemberRain15 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Rain riskNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 153 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain risk
- DecemberRain13 rainy daysHigh12°Low6°Cool, quietDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 122 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, quiet
Average daily high and low in Pisa, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Festivals: Jul Festival Puccini · Aug Festival Puccini
Right now in Pisa
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
10
- Feels like
- 9°
- Humidity
- 76%
- Wind
- 3 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Pisa
12:23 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today18°9°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed16°10°33%Wednesday: Rain. High 16°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 33%.
- Thu18°12°21%Thursday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 21%.
- Fri14°12°55%Friday: Rain. High 14°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 55%.
- Sat17°11°35%Saturday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 35%.
- Sun17°11°37%Sunday: Rain. High 17°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 37%.
Updated 11:04 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Feb–MarCarnival of ViareggioLucca, a day trip
- Apr–JunMaggio Musicale FiorentinoFlorence, a day trip
- Jul–AugFestival PucciniPisa
Day trips by train
- Luccaabout 30 min by trainIntact Renaissance walls you can walk or cycle, and a cheerful old center.Read the guide
- Florenceabout 1 hour by trainTuscany's art city, close enough for a long day trip.Read the guide
- Cinque Terreabout 1.5–2 hours by train via La SpeziaFive cliffside villages on the Ligurian coast.Read the guide
Before you go to Pisa
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Pisa, checked
- Tower tickets are timed, bookable from 90 days ahead; late arrivals are refused, bags go to the cloakroom and children must be 8 by year end.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
Pisa FAQ
Is Pisa worth visiting?
Yes, for the Piazza dei Miracoli, which is far more than the Tower. The Duomo and Baptistery are major buildings, and the old town is pleasant. Half a day is enough for most visitors, and a full day lets you see more.
How do you get tickets for the Leaning Tower?
Buy them on the official site, which sells Tower tickets up to 90 days ahead. Each ticket is for a set time slot, and late visitors are not admitted or refunded. Check the cancellation rules before you book.
How long does the Tower visit take?
About 30 minutes for the climb, which has 251 steps, plus time for the cloakroom and queue. Allow another hour or two for the Duomo, Baptistery and the square.
Is Pisa better as a day trip or an overnight?
Most visitors do it as a day trip from Florence or Lucca, since the main sights fit in a few hours. Stay overnight only if you want evenings in the old town or an early flight.
Is Pisa safe for tourists?
Yes, with normal city care. Watch for pickpockets in crowded areas near the Tower and the station, and use only official ticket sellers.