For some reason, every child learns about the Tower of Pisa when they’re between the ages of 5-8. So the question of “Is Pisa worth it?” comes up at some point with most people when they’re planning their first visit to Italy. And this really is only fair given the fact that American school children don’t know that many architectural wonders across the world.
But if you’re wondering if Pisa is worth it on your Italy itinerary or not, my answer is: it depends.
I’ll start by saying that in my 7 Day Italy itinerary, I don’t include room for Pisa because I am striving for the blend of helping you see as much as possible without filling every hour of your day with hustling between places. But I’ll thicken the plot by saying that I actually really enjoyed spending time in Pisa.
Where is Pisa?
Pisa is located about an hour train ride outside of Florence and a 3.75 hour train ride outside of Rome. It has an international airport, and if you’re visiting from somewhere within Europe, Ryanair has regular flights into Pisa. But it’s not conveniently located within 20 minutes of any of Italy’s major cities, so you don’t just stumble into Pisa; you have to plan for it.
If you’re traveling from Florence to Cinque Terre, many train routes will include a change in Pisa. As I detail in my guide to traveling from Florence to Cinque Terre by train, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is about a 30 minute walk from the train station, and most train changes don’t allow for that much time, unless you specifically book it that way.
What’s in Pisa?
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is what the city is most known for. As a result, the blocks surrounding the tower are jammed full of souvenir shops selling 1 Euro magnets and several eateries catering solely to tourists. The area surrounding the tower is 100% “touristy.”
The Leaning Tower of Pisa, or simply the Tower of Pisa, is the campanile, or freestanding bell tower, of Pisa Cathedral. It is known for its nearly four-degree lean, the result of an unstable foundation.
But luckily, there’s more to Pisa than just the tower.
Before I go any further though, I thought the tower was super fun to see. If you know you’re going somewhere to just look at architecture, then you’ll enjoy the sight of said architecture. If you’re going there to have your mind blown, you’ll probably be a little disappointed.
We flew one of those aforementioned Ryanair flights into Pisa and landed in the afternoon. By the time we had checked into our accommodations and walked to the tower, it was nearing sunset.
By this point, all of the day trips and the bulk of the tourists were gone, and we enjoyed getting to stroll around the perfectly manicured grass and leisurely explore the Piazza dei Miracoli without the presence of huge crowds or Italy’s hot sunshine. In fact, when we were there, it felt like we were surrounded by mostly locals who were enjoying some fabulous greenspace.
Quick tangent: I have never seen such perfect grass anywhere in my life. We were honestly as floored by the grass as we were the leaning tower. Which maybe isn’t what you’re expecting to read when you’re trying to determine if Pisa is worth it, but it’s the honest to goodness truth.
Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also referred to as the Square of Miracles and is home to several interesting buildings besides the Leaning Tower. These include the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, which is a stunning example of Romanesque architecture. The Baptistery of St. John, known for its unique round shape, is also part of the complex and is famous for its acoustics.
Additionally, there is the Camposanto Monumentale, an old cemetery with impressive frescoes and sculptures.
If you want to enter the Leaning Tower and climb to the top, the cost is 18 € and you’ll see beautiful views of town. In my opinion, that’s a pretty steep price, so this Basic Economy B skipped that since I didn’t have a particularly strong desire to see the rest of Pisa from the tower (the above photos are from my sister who was feeling boujee).
Since Shrek was on our minds (the perfect grass of Duloc more specifically), we had a shockingly fun time seeing which of the carved heads looked the most like Lord Farquad. You’d be surprised how many contenders there actually were.
Pisa also has the Arno River running through the city, and strolling along the riverside is a nice chance to slow down and enjoy the streets of Italy. You’re getting a similar experience to walking along the river in Florence but with 80,000 (ish) fewer people.
OK, you might be saying, that’s all well and good, but…
…is Pisa worth it?
As a place to spend 24 hours? Not really, especially not if it’s your first time in Italy and you have less than 10 days.
As a day trip? Also not really.
Going out of your way to spend 1 day in Pisa from Florence is not worth it in my opinion. You’d be better off taking the train from Florence into Tuscany and exploring one of the best small towns in Tuscany, Cortona.
Now stick with me though (Pisa is on my Top 10 Places to Go in Italy, after all).
As a place to arrive in the late afternoon and spend the night before heading to your next destination? 100% worth it.
We really had a lovely time in Pisa in the context that we saw it. I didn’t need any more time, and I was perfectly ready to head out in the morning, but I think very fondly of Pisa.
Excluding the couple of blocks surrounding the tower, Pisa is a quintessential Italian city. I’m not saying it’s off the beaten path by any means, but there are many areas of the city that do not cater to tourists and make it a perfect place to try and blend in with the locals.
As a side note: one way to blend in with the locals is to know at least a little bit of Italian. My 1-page Italian phrasebook is perfect to download and screenshot and reference as you go through your Italy trip.
We wandered about 15 minutes away from the Plaza and alongside the river before we found a restaurant tucked away in a side street. We couldn’t hear much Italian being spoken and there were no Trip Advisor stickers on the front window or English menus in the front (watching out for those is one of many essential travel tips for Italy that you need to know!)
When I say this was the best food we ate in all of Italy, I mean it. I know I laid it on pretty thick with the grass but this pizza is equally deserving of the same treatment.
Ordering was a little bit of a challenge, but we got through with enough pointing. With wine cheaper than water, we had a lovely and lowkey evening blending in with the locals and feeling like we had discovered a total hidden gem.
As you’re building your Italy itinerary, what matters most is what you want to experience. If seeing as many famous sites as possible is going to fill up your bucket, then I see no reason why you shouldn’t add Pisa to your list if you’re already going to be in Florence. Read my guide on the best month to visit Italy based on your itinerary if that’s the case.
If relaxing and trying to get away from hoards of tourists is the goal of your trip, I’d probably skip Pisa unless you’re flying in or out of it. You’ll have a much better time exploring the small towns in Tuscany or visiting any of the area’s world-famous vineyards.
So is Pisa worth it? This city is more than just the Leaning Tower and is a trove of Tuscan treasure, and those that go with that in mind will find that it’s totally worth it. If you’re looking to just see the Leaning Tower and have other places that sound more exciting to you, then Pisa is probably not worth it.
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