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Planning a trip to Pisa, Italy? You’ve come to the right place!
We’ve explored the best of Pisa, from its iconic landmarks to its hidden gems. Now, we’re here to help you make the most of your visit with our guide to the top things to do. In this blog, you’ll find everything you need to know about Pisa’s must-see attractions and unique experiences.
Whether you want to climb the world-famous Leaning Tower, indulge in a delicious food tour, or venture beyond the city to explore the stunning Carrara marble quarries, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to start planning an unforgettable Italian adventure.
Don’t Miss Out On Our Top Choice!
The tour we loved the most and suggest booking ASAP is this one!
Our personal FAVORITE thing we did was this all-inclusive walking tour of Pisa! We climbed the Leaning Tower and saw highlights like Pisa Cathedral and the Baptistry of San Giovanni. We had a great guide and all entry tickets were included!
Things to do in Pisa, Italy
1. Visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Baptistry, and the Cathedral
- Duration: 1.5 – 2.5 hours
- Time: 10 am, 12:30 pm, or 2:30 pm
- Highlights: Leaning Tower of Pisa, Pisa Cathedral, Baptistry of San Giovanni, Campo Santo Cemetery, OPA Museum Sinopie Museum
- Inclusions: Licensed tour guide, audio headset, small group size, Cathedral and Baptistery entry, cemetery tickets, museum tickets, Leaning Tower tickets (if option selected)
- Rating: 4.7 stars (check 400+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check prices here!
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most iconic buildings in the world, so if there’s one thing that you should do while you’re here, it’s visit! We booked this all-inclusive guided walking tour which took us to the famous tower, as well as other major attractions like the Cathedral, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, and the Campo Santo Cemetery.
It was the perfect way to see all these famous places in one go!
We started at Piazza del Duomo, where our guide gave a fascinating introduction to the Square of Miracles and Pisa’s rich past. From there, we explored the breathtaking Baptistery, where we got to admire its impressive acoustics and stunning architecture. The Cathedral was equally mesmerizing, with its intricate marble interiors and grand design.
One of the highlights was visiting the Campo Santo Cemetery, a peaceful and historically significant site often overlooked by visitors. The OPA and Sinopie museums also offered incredible insights into Pisa’s artistic and religious heritage.
But, of course, the real showstopper was the Leaning Tower of Pisa! If you’re doing this tour, I highly recommend booking the option that includes tower entry. Climbing its famous tilted steps was an unforgettable experience, and the view from the top was absolutely worth it. After all, you can’t come to Pisa and not climb the tower that put it on the map!
Whether you’re a history buff or just here for the sights, this tour is the best way to experience Pisa’s magic. Don’t miss it!
Book your spot on this tour here, before it sells out!
2. Taste your way around Pisa
- Duration: 3 hours
- Time: 11:30 am
- Highlights: Visiting local restaurants and wine bars, learning about Italian cuisine, sampling local specialties, option to include alcoholic drinks
- Inclusions: Local guide, all food samples, alcoholic drinks (if option selected)
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 200+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check prices here!
If you want to experience Pisa beyond its famous landmarks, this food tour is an absolute must! We had so much fun exploring and left stuffed full of delicious Italian food. What could be better?
We kicked things off at one of Pisa’s oldest wine bars, where we savored a selection of Tuscan cured meats paired with a rich red wine. The combination of flavors was incredible!
Next up, we visited a local restaurant to indulge in Pici, a thick and chewy hand-rolled Tuscan pasta, with a savory meat ragu. Comfort food at its finest! Then we continued our culinary journey with hearty local dishes like braised beef stew and Uccelletto-style beans.
For me, one of the biggest highlights was trying cecina, which is a crispy flatbread made from chickpea flour. It was so good! Finally, we ended on a sweet note with a classic Pisan gelato.
What we loved about this tour is that it enabled us to bypass the tourist spots and eat at authentic places where locals love to dine. The food was incredible, and the small group setting made us feel as though we were just exploring with a bunch of friends.
If you want to try real Pisan food, we think that this tour is the best way to do it. And we’re not the only ones – check out all of the 5-star reviews here!
Grab your spot on this awesome food tour here!
3. Bicycle along the sea
- Duration: 3 – 4 hours
- Time: Multiple tours available from 9:30 am – 2:30 pm
- Highlights: Flexible, self-guided tour, easy-to-use smartphone navigation, views of the Tyrrhenian Sea, riding along the Marina di Pisa, spotting wildlife in the Navicelli Channel
- Inclusions: Use of bicycle or e-bike, smartphone app guide
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 75+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check prices here!
We loved exploring Pisa by bike on this self-guided tour! The freedom to ride at our own pace and stop wherever we wanted was fantastic, but we still had a GPS-based app to map our route and make navigation easy.
We picked up our well-maintained bikes in central Pisa and received easy instructions on how to use the app. The route was straightforward, and mostly on dedicated cycle paths, so it was a stress-free ride. From Pisa, we followed the Navicelli Canal out of the city, taking in the greenery and wildlife as we went.
One of the best stops we made was the Basilica of San Piero a Grado. It’s a bit of a hidden gem that many tourists overlook, but its quiet charm and centuries of history make it well worth a visit.
Then, as we approached Marina di Pisa, the landscape opened up to stunning coastal views. We enjoyed biking alongside the gentle waves with the sea breeze in our hair. We stopped for lunch at Cliff Restaurant, where we enjoyed seafood pasta right on the beach.
For us, this cycling tour was a fantastic way to see a different side of Pisa. The navigation was super easy and we opted for e-bikes, which meant that our legs didn’t have to work too hard. It’s so worth getting out of the city to enjoy the Tuscan scenery, so don’t miss this tour!
Book your spot here, with FREE cancellation!
Why We Book Tours with Viator
Viator is a trusted online booking system for tours around the world! We almost always book our tours using Viator for a couple of reasons:
- Free cancellation on most tours – Most of the tours on Viator allow you to cancel and get a full refund up to 24 hours in advance. This is handy in case plans change, or if booking an outdoor activity, the weather forecast is looking grim.
- Reserve now and pay later – You can secure your spot on some of the most popular tours well in advance and not pay until closer to the day of the tour.
- Lowest price guarantee – If you happen to find the same tour at a lower price elsewhere, Viator will refund you the price difference.
- Pay in your chosen currency – Avoid costly international transaction fees by choosing to pay in your home currency.
- Peace of mind – When booking with tour operators you find in person on the street or in small booking offices, you are often promised one thing and given another. This online platform holds tour operators accountable with a written description of inclusions as well as the opportunity for customers to leave reviews.
Check out the Viator website here! Or, for more info, read our detailed review about Viator here.
4. Explore the Carrara marble quarries and mines in an offroad jeep
- Duration: 2 hours 25 minutes
- Time: 9:30 am or 2 pm
- Highlights: Learning about the most prized marble in the world, tour of the Cava Romana quarry, exploring underground mines, sampling authentic lardo di Colonnata
- Inclusions: Private transportation, quarry tour, licensed guide, lardo di Colonnata samples
- Rating: 4.6 stars (check 200+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
Exploring the Carrara marble quarries on this private Jeep tour was an absolutely unforgettable experience! We got to see where some of the world’s most prized marble is extracted – the very same marble that was used to create Michelangelo’s “David” and the Rome Pantheon, no less!
The adventure started as we climbed into a 4×4 Jeep and made our way up the mountains outside Carrara. The road twisted through dramatic white cliffs, where enormous marble blocks were being cut and transported. Our guide shared fascinating insights about ancient and modern quarrying techniques, making it easy to understand why Carrara marble has been so coveted for centuries.
Best of all, we even got to go inside an underground mine to take a close-up look at the extraction process. It felt like stepping into another world!
After exploring the quarries, we visited Colonnata, a charming village famous for its lardo di Colonnata – pork fat cured in marble basins. We learned about how the marble plays a role in the unique aging process and got to try the delicacy itself.
This experience was a great mix of history, adventure, and culture. It’s one of the most unique day trips you can take from Pisa, and we highly recommend it!
Check out the glowing reviews and book this tour here!
5. Go wine tasting in the famous Chianti wine region
- Duration: 4 – 5 hours
- Time: 10 am
- Highlights: Exploring the Chianti wine region, traveling through olive groves and vineyards, sampling local wines, cellar and estate tours, tasting olive oil and cheese
- Inclusions: Return transport, English-speaking driver and guide, wine tasting, food samples, small group tour
- Rating: 4.9 stars (check 100+ reviews here)
- Free cancellation: Yes
- Price: Check price here!
We love wine, so we couldn’t pass up the chance to explore the famous Chianti region when we were in Pisa. We booked this tour so that neither of us would have to assume the role of designated driver, and we had the best time exploring the beautiful Tuscan countryside and sampling local cheese, wine, and olives.
The rolling hills, olive groves, and vineyards were the perfect backdrop for our adventure, and our driver, Adriano, was a delight. He was charming, funny, and knew so much about the region!
When we arrived at our first vineyard of the day, we were warmly welcomed by the owners, who taught us all about their organic winemaking process. As we strolled through the sun-drenched vineyards, we heard about the history of the Chianti region, and then we went inside the cantina for a fantastic guided wine-tasting session. We sampled a variety of red and white wines, each with its own unique notes and depth.
Of course, Chianti was undoubtedly the star of the show! It was robust and full-bodied. Alongside the wine, we savored freshly made bruschetta with organic extra-virgin olive oil, as well as local pecorino cheese and cured meats. Whether you’re a food and wine connoisseur, or just looking for a memorable day in Tuscany, this tour is a must!
Grab your spot on this exceptional wine tour here!
Where to Stay in Pisa, Italy
Picking the right place to stay in Pisa can make your trip even better. Whether you want to be right by the Leaning Tower or somewhere quieter away from the crowds, there’s a great option for you. To help you choose, I’ve put together my top picks for every budget below!
Luxury – $$$
For a luxurious stay in Pisa, Palazzo Cini is a standout choice. This elegant boutique hotel offers beautifully designed rooms with a mix of modern and classic Italian decor, plus spacious bathrooms with spa baths. The location is central yet quiet, perfect for exploring Pisa’s main sights while enjoying a peaceful retreat!
Prices vary depending on the time of year but usually start between €200 – €300 per night. You can check prices and book this stay on Booking.com.
Mid-range – $$
Residenza d’Epoca is a charming and stylish stay in the heart of Pisa, right beside the iconic Leaning Tower. Many rooms offer stunning views of this famous landmark, making it a truly special place to stay. Set in a beautifully restored historic building, it blends classic charm with modern comfort—plus, you’re just steps away from the city’s top attractions!
Prices usually average around €200 per night and you can book your stay on Booking.com.
Budget – $
Attico Sulla Torre is a budget-friendly gem with an unbeatable location—just a short walk from the Leaning Tower of Pisa! The comfortable rooms have private bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, and in-room fridges for added convenience. It’s a cozy and convenient choice for travelers looking for an affordable stay!
Prices start as low as €110 per night and you can reserve your room here on Booking.com!
For more options, see all of the hotels in Pisa here!
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance!
If you’re looking to save money on travel insurance, we currently use and recommend SafetyWing. We’ve been using their coverage since 2018 and they’ve had our backs when we needed emergency flights and got sick overseas.
SafetyWing is one of the cheapest providers out there and covers everything from medical costs to lost luggage, travel delays, and emergency flights. A huge difference we’ve found between them and other companies is that they let you take out a policy AFTER leaving your home country. We’ve also found it handy that it’s a monthly payment rather than a lump sum, and you can get a refund for unused time.
SafetyWing has helped us out in some scary situations before and their affordable coverage has given us peace of mind. You can read our honest review of SafetyWing for all the pros and cons.
Thanks for reading!
I hope our guide on the best activities in Pisa has been helpful for your trip! Of course, there are iconic things to do here (looking at you, Leaning Tower of Pisa!), but there’s so much more to this Italian city. We really enjoyed taking a variety of tours to immerse ourselves in the culture, history, and food!
For your travels in this part of the world, have a look through all our blogs on Europe for more travel guides and tour recommendations. Or I picked out a few more below that are on other popular destinations in Italy!
10 BEST Things to do in Florence, Italy