A picture of the leaning tower of Pisa in Italy with a part of a fountain sculpture and a Cathedral visible.

October 5, 2026

How to Plan a Perfect Pisa Day Trip from Florence (+ Pisa Leaning Tower Tips)

If you’re visiting Florence, you’re probably thinking of taking a day trip to visit the famous leaning tower of Pisa.

You’ve already seen photos of the iconic landmark and may be wondering if it’s worth ot to go see it in person, as it’s often labeled as a quick stop – a place people visit just to snap the classic photo and move on.

After visiting myself, I can say this: seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person is a completely different experience than you might expect. Standing in the middle of Piazza dei Miracoli and watching that unmistakable tilt with your own eyes, feels surprisingly special – and a little surreal.

The scale of the tower and the beauty of the surrounding buildings make for a far more memorable experience than a simple photo op.

So let me walk you through exactly how to plan the perfect Pisa day trip from Florence, what to expect when visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and – of course – how to take the iconic photo with the tower!

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How to get to Pisa from Florence?

The good news is that Pisa is incredibly easy to visit from Florence. It’s only about 87 km away and the easiest way to visit is by taking the train, but if you already have a car, you can drive as well. The third option is taking a guided tour.

A screenshot of Google Map directions from Florence to Pisa in Italy. — *Click here or on the map for driving directions/train connection options.*

Florence to Pisa train

It’s only a one-hour train ride from Firenze Santa Maria Novella train station to Pisa Centrale. It’s a regional train, with 2^nd class tickets only and no reserved seats but the ride is easy and comfortable.

Tickets cost €9,30 and you can purchase them on the Trenitalia website.

They are automatically validated and are easy to reschedule online.

We ended up moving our tickets up since we didn’t take as long as we anticipated and had no problems.

Helpful hint: make sure to use the Italian names for the train stations: Firenze Santa Maria Novella and Pisa Centrale – the website won’t recognize English names.

Driving

The drive from Florence to Pisa takes about 1.5 hours.

The leaning tower is located on the restricted traffic zone (ZTL “Zona a Trafico Limitato”) so you’d have to leave your car in a lot outside of the zone and walk to the Piazza dei Miracoli.

If you enter Pisa Tower Parking in Google Maps it will show you available lots.

Good to know: a direct train ride can be up to 30 minutes shorter than the car ride, depending on traffic, and you avoid the hassle of finding parking.

Tours from Florence to Pisa

If you prefer a totally hassle-free experience, you can take a guided half-day tour from Florence to Pisa

and explore all the monuments of Piazza del Miracoli (including climbing the Tower!) with a knowledgeable guide.

You can also combine your visit to Pisa with other amazing experiences – see the options below:

How to get to the Leaning Tower from Pisa train station

The main entrance to Pisa, Italy train station with a fountain in front.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa, along with other historical sites, like the Cathedral, Baptistery, and Camposanto, is located in Piazza dei Miracoli.

It’s a very easy 25-minute walk from the Pisa Centrale train station.

A screenhot of walking directions from isa Train Station to Piazza dei Miracoli in Italy. — *Click here or on the map for walking directions.*

A little less than halfway through you’ll cross the Arno River, where you’ll get a glimpse of Lungarni di Pisa – large boulevards on both banks of the river, very scenic and excellent spots for walking if you have the time.

Arno river with historic houses on both banks in Pisa, Italy.

Keep walking, and you’ll get to the main gate of the plaza. As soon as you walk through, you’ll see the tower and all other monuments.

Good to know: Piazza dei Miracoli is also known as Piazza del Duomo – not to be confused with Piazza del Duomo in Florence!

How to visit The Leaning Tower of Pisa

There are other monuments in Piazza dei Miracoli besides the tower, however since the tower is the obvious highlight of the experience, I’ll go over how to visit it first and then I’ll walk you through what else there is to see in the square.

Climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa

First – let me give you some basic facts about this amazing landmark, as listed on the informational sign inside the tower:

Official name in Italian: Torre Pendente di Pisa (that’s what you;ll see on the signs throughout the plaza)
Height: 58.36 meters (about 191 ft)
Central hole diameter (yes – it’s hollow inside!): 4.5 meters (about 15 ft)
Incline: 5° (reduced from the original 5.5°)

The tower acts as the bell tower for the while religious complex of the Piazza dei Miracoli (you’ll see the bells at the top!)

To enter the tower, you need a timed ticket. It’s best to buy it online and well in advance, as they tend to sell out quickly.

There is a ticket office near the tower, but the line was very long when we got there, and while you may be able to get tickets onsite for other attractions, the tower tickets most likely won’t be available, especially in the busy summer months.

I’ll go over all the ticket options for the Square of Miracles monuments a little later in this article.

Before you enter the tower:

Leave all luggage at the FREE luggage storage unit located opposite the tower, next to the Opera del Duomo Palace. And luggage means backpacks, purses, tote bags etc. There are actual lockers so you can safely leave everything there – just bring your camera and water!
Come 15 minutes early to get in line – you won’t be admitted if you’re late!

After you’ve gone through the security check, you’ll start climbing.

There are 251 steps to reach the top.

They are narrow and winding, but you’ll have some nooks to rest if needed and there’s fresh air coming in through the little windows, so it helps a lot.

Three people climbing the staircase of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy.

It’s two-way traffic – you go down the same way you go up – which makes the staircase crowded at times, but the climb itself isn’t very difficult.

And you can actually feel the tilt of the tower as you’re climbing the stairs! It feels unreal!

When you finally reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with simply incredible views of the area and the entire complex below you.

An aerial view of the rooftops of the Cathedral and the Baptistery in Pisa, Italy. — *View of the Square of Miracles from the top of the Leaning Tower.*

Don’t miss the bells above the viewing deck!

When you’re ready, start going down. BUT – be very careful!

A narrow winding stone staircase inside Pisa Leaning Tower in Italy.

The stairs are marble, uneven and worn in places by people just stepping on them, and while you may not feel it as much going up, the ARE very slippery!

As soon as we started our descent, I understood why I saw some people going down barefoot – it was safer than wearing shoes with slippery soles!

Time needed: in theory you have 30 minutes for the climb as that’s how often a new group is allowed to enter the tower, but I recommend allowing closer to 45 minutes for an unrushed experience.

Opening hours: the tower opens at 9:00 am but closing times vary by season – check updated information here.

How to take the iconic Leaning Tower photo

You can’t leave Pisa without THE PHOTO!

A man extending his hands to imitate supporting the leaning tower of Pisa in Italy for a photo.

A woman extending her hand to imitate supporting the leaning tower of Pisa in Italy for a photo.

Just stand near the fence of the lawn in front of the tower, try to find a spot without other people in the background and position your hands pretending you’re holding up the tower.

It’s much easier to have another person taking the picture so they can guide you – it’s not really a selfie-stick operation.

Ticket options

There are only two ticket options that include the entrance to the tower:

Complete + Tower (€27)
Cathedral + Tower (€20)

The Complete option gives you access to all monuments in the plaza.

The Leaning Tower is the only site with timed entry.

You can also purchase the ticket for the Tower only (the Cathedral is included free of charge); however, if you’re planning to visit at least one more monument, the “Complete + Tower” ticket provides the best value, as each additional site costs an extra €8.

You can also purchase the complete ticket here and get the included audio guide to learn more about each site.

Helpful tip: Book your tickets early! We did that two late and the complete experience was sold out so we got the Tower tickets only and ended up paying for admission to Camposanto onsite.

Another tip: If you must purchase admission to other sites while you’re there, just do it online and show your online tickets to the attendant – it’s much quicker than walking back to the ticket office and waiting in line. That’s how we bought our Camposanto tickets – right in front of the building!

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Other monuments of the Square of Miracles

Camposanto

Camposanto is an ancient cemetery turned into a beautiful, peaceful, open-air museum.

You can see tombstones, sculptures and amazing frescoes on the walls.

A long wide hallway with a mable mosaic floor

Marble sculptures and frescoes on the walls inside Camposanto in Pisa, Italy.

In the center you’ll find a beautiful courtyard – you are not allowed to walk on it, but it’s definitely worth taking a look.

A grassy center courtyard of Camposanto in Pisa, Italy.

We spend a good long while walking around Camposanto – that was the attraction we purchased separate tickets for (as I mentioned above) – in my opinion it’s a not-to-miss site!

Time needed: 30-45 minutes

Cathedral

The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption is stunning both inside and outside. AND it’s FREE to enter if you have a paid ticket to any other attraction at the Piazza.

Make sure to glance up at the gorgeous, gold tray ceiling!

There was a mass in progress when we visited and while we were able to walk in and look around, taking pitcures was not allowed, so I don’t have any to show you.

But you can get see a few photos and learn more about the history of the Cathedral on the official website.

Baptistery

The Baptistery is another impressive building of the Square – we just peeked inside as we did not have a ticket to enter.

The day before our visit to Pisa, we saw the Baptistery in Florence and figured they were probably the same.

We were WRONG! I learned later that the Baptistery in Pisa is famous for its incredible acoustics, and according to the official website, every 30 minutes the attendant gives a quick singing demonstration to show off that feature. So don’t miss it!

Opera del Duomo Palace

A long rust-colored building in the Square of Miracles in Pisa, housing the Opera del Duomo Museum.

The Palazzo is located next to the luggage storage, and when it holds temporary exhibitions, it is free to enter. We visited it, and it was great to see the tower’s history and models showing how it was built.

There are also many other artworks on display.

Helpful hint: All the monuments of Piazza di Miracoli typically open at 9:00 am, but the closing times vary by season – check the current information here.

Food, ice cream, and souvenirs

If you get hungry during your visit, you can just step outside the main gate (opposite the tower) and grab a bite at one of many cafes.

Outdoor restaurant tables with maroon umbrellas in an alley leading to the Square of Miracles and the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy.

You can also do what we did and walk all the way to the far end of the plaza, near the Baptistery.

Walk outside that gate, and you’ll find more cafes and the entire market with stalls full of local crafts and souvenirs.

Souvenir stalls at a market outside of the gate to the Square of Miracles in Pisa.

We spent a good chunk of time just browsing, had some gelato (so much needed on a hot day!) and the most delicious kebab for lunch. Yes, I know – NOT Italian, but SO good!

How much time to spend in Pisa

You can easily spend a whole day exploring Pisa, but you can also see the main highlights in half a day.

Just take the early morning train from Florence to get a head start. We did just that and were back in the city early afternoon to continue exploring.

Sample one day in Pisa itinerary

8:00 am – take the train to Pisa from Florence

Start your day early to beat the crowds.

Depart from Firenze Santa Maria Novella station
Travel time: about 1 hour (choose a direct train!)
Aim to arrive in Pisa around 9:00 am

Tip: Book an earlier train if you’re visiting in peak season to avoid mid-day crowds.

9:30 am – arrive at Piazza dei Miracoli

10:00 am – climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Tip: Book your timed early to grab the early morning spot!

Allow 30–45 minutes total

10:45 am – take the iconic tower photos

After your climb, spend some time on the lawn getting that classic shot!

11:00 am – explore the Square of Miracles

Visit the other monuments in Piazza dei Miracoli:

Cathedral (free with any ticket)
Baptistery (don’t miss the acoustic demo!)

Allow about 1.5–2 hours total

1:00 pm – lunch near the Square

Step outside the main gates and grab lunch at a nearby café. Plus explore the market stalls and browse souvenirs.

2:30 – 3:00 pm – head back to the train station

Make your way back to Pisa Centrale and catch an afternoon train.

You’ll be back in Florence by 4:00–5:00 pm
Perfect timing to continue exploring Florence

This itinerary gives you the perfect balance of must-see sights, practical pacing, and flexibility, so you can enjoy Pisa without feeling rushed.

Is Pisa worth visiting?

In my opinion 100% yes!

The Leaning Tower is a one-of-a-kind architectural wonder. And because of that architectural significance of all four sites (The tower, the Cathedral, Camposanto and Baptisery), The Square of Miracles is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

And the entire complex is just amazing! We loved our time in Pisa and were very pleasantly surprised by how beautiful all the sites were.

A view of Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa, Italy, through an arched gate.

Best time to visit Pisa

I would highly recommend spring and fall for a trip to Pisa – you’ll avoid both the heat and the summer crowds. That said, we visited in August and still had a great experience!

For ideas on how to incorporate Pisa into your Italian vacation, check out our 7-days Italy itinerary and see exactly how we spent our days!

Where to stay in Pisa

While Pisa is usually visited as a day trip from Florence, you can also visit it as part of a longer Italy itinerary or a Tuscany tour, for example, on your way to Lucca or Cinque Terre.

Take a look at the handy map below to find a convenient place to stay:

FAQ:

Do you need to book the Leaning Tower of Pisa tickets in advance?

It’s highly recommended to book tickets in advance, especially during peak travel seasons. Entry to the tower is timed, and popular slots can sell out quickly.

Is climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa safe?

Yes, it is safe to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The tower has undergone extensive stabilization work over the years to reduce the tilt and ensure it remains secure for visitors. Today, it is carefully monitored, and visitor numbers are limited per time slot for safety. As long as you follow the guidelines, it’s a safe experience. It is however contraindicated for visitors with claustrophobia and heart disease.

Is climbing the Tower of Pisa suitable for children?

Climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa is not suitable for younger children. For safety reasons, children under 8 years old are not allowed to climb, and those between 8 and 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult. The staircase is narrow, spiral, and can feel a bit disorienting due to the tilt, so it’s best suited for older kids and adults who are comfortable with heights and tight spaces.

Why is the Tower of Pisa leaning?

The Leaning Tower of Pisa began to tilt during construction in the 12th century due to unstable, soft ground beneath its foundation. The soil couldn’t properly support the tower’s weight, causing it to sink unevenly on one side. Over time, this created the famous lean that makes the tower so unique today.

What should you wear to visit Pisa?

Since the Leaning Tower is located in a cathedral complex, modest clothing is recommended if you plan to visit the Cathedral (or bring a scarf or a light sweater to cover your shoulders and knees on a hot day) . Comfortable shoes are also important, especially if you plan to climb the tower.

Are you ready to plan your trip? Read my practical tips for visiting Italy for the first time to avoid common tourist mistakes!

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