What to Do in Pisa in One Day

Pisa is located in western Tuscany, a region everyone considers to be among the most beautiful in Italy—and possibly even in the world. Tuscany’s landscapes are made up of rolling hills and farmlands, vineyards and olive groves, iconic rows of trees, and a couple of totally amazing cities.

Pisa is one of those cities. Home to about 90,000 people, Pisa is not that big and has only a few major landmarks. It makes for the perfect day trip when vacationing somewhere in Tuscany. A fine alternative is using Pisa as a base to explore the rest of Tuscany. Pisa is also a major university city, which results in a lively atmosphere—the university’s most notable alumni is Galileo Galilei.

Pisa’s Main Attractions

Pisa is, of course, known around the world for its leaning tower. In a way, it is unfortunate that it is an architectural blunder that makes Pisa famous. Even if the tower had remained upright, it would have been a spectacular tower.

The leaning tower of Pisa is, in fact, the bell tower of the neighboring Cathedral, which is absolutely impressive as well. Behind the Cathedral stands the Baptistery, another visit-worthy structure on the Piazza dei Miracoli, formerly the Piazza del Duomo.

What to Do in Pisa in One Day: Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy — Leaning Tower of Pisa

In addition to the above-mentioned three main buildings, the piazza also houses a few other historic sites, including the cemetery Campo Santo, a hospital and a couple of palaces.

Ticket prices vary depending on how many sites you want to visit—they start at 5 euro for one site and go up from there. Tickets to the Cathedral are included with any other ticket that you purchase. Because it is the one main attraction in Pisa, the bell tower is the most expensive. Tickets to go up to its top cost 18 euros per person.

What to Do in Pisa in One Day: View from the Leaning Tower of Pisa — View from the Leaning Tower of Pisa

All in all, Pisa’s main sites and sights are concentrated on the Piazza del Duomo, a large green square surrounded by lots of restaurants, bars, gelaterias and souvenir shops. A visit to a couple of the sites, including the leaning tower, shouldn’t take up more than a few hours, leaving more than enough time to get there and back again, go for leisurely strolls around the city and enjoy Italian food in one of the many eateries.