5 Best Day Trips to Pisa from Florence

If you travel to Florence I recommend you to book an excursion to visit Pisa and see one of the most famous monuments in the world, its Leaning Tower, declared World Heritage Site.

This half-day excursion to Pisa from Florence allows you to discover the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa and other emblematic monuments in the Piazza dei Miracoli. After a comfortable coach transfer from Florence, you'll meet an expert local guide who will take you through the history and beauty of this historic city.

In addition to the guided tour, you'll have the chance to upgrade your booking and climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa, enjoying unrivalled panoramic views of the city. You can also add a guided tour of the Cathedral of Pisa, a magnificent example of Romanesque architecture.

What's included

• Half-day excursion to Pisa
• Return transport by air-conditioned bus
• English speaking guide
• Optional entrance ticket to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa
• Option to add guided visit to the Cathedral of Pisa

Itinerary

This half-day organised excursion to Pisa will take you to Pisa from Florence accompanied by a guide and other travellers for a tour of the city and to see its most emblematic monuments, with free time to explore the must-see Piazza dei Miracoli on your own.

What's included

• 6-hour tour of Pisa
• Transport available by air-conditioned bus or by train
• English speaking guide
• Entrance to Pisa Cathedral

Itinerary

Very close to Pisa, hides a charming village called Lucca which is often visited during a trip to Pisa. This excursion to Lucca and Pisa from Florence will show you, with a guide, both places so that you can make the most of this day trip outside Florence.

Itinerary

in Pisa In Pisa you will discover, of course, the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the Leaning Tower. One of the things that make Pisa a pleasant and attractive city for its visitors is that its main points of interest are located in its famous Piazza dei Miracoli.

Itinerary

in Lucca In Lucca you will enjoy its Cathedral, the great Piazza dell 'Anfiteatro and the tasting of a buccellato, a sweet cake typical of this town and with which you will put the finishing touch to your getaway. Lucca is also home to an impressive collection of Etruscan ruins and Renaissance architecture.

What's included

This day trip to Tuscany will transport you from the bustling streets of Florence to the vineyards, hills and countryside of the spectacular Tuscan countryside, taking in some of its greatest gems, Pisa, Siena and San Gimignano.

Itinerary

You will see Pisa and its Piazza dei Miracoli, with the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the Leaning Tower and in Siena you will visit the Piazza del Campo, home of the famous Palio di Siena horse race, with the Torre del Mangia, the Palazzo Comunale and the impressive striped marble of the Duomo. You will enjoy a 13th century fortified town, Monteriggioni, with eleven impressive towers and surrounded by medieval walls.

In San Gimignano you will discover an old town centre listed as a World Heritage Site for its architectural treasures such as the Palazzo del Podestà, the Piazza della Cisterna, the Dome of San Gimignano and the Church of San Agostino. You will then travel through the vineyards of the Chianti region, the prized appellation of origin of one of the world's most popular wines.

There you will learn the secrets of the production of this wine with a visit to a local wine cellar to replenish your energy with a typical lunch of pecorino cheese, salami, bruschetta with seasonal ribollita and vegetable soup accompanied by a tasting of Chianti and Vernaccia wines.

What's included

this tour includes

This tour is the same as the previous one, with a half day guided tour of Pisa with entrance to the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Cathedral. This option is very convenient if you feel like visiting the Tower but don't want to wait in the long queues at the entrance.

Climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa is worth it for the spectacular views from the observation deck, although you will have to climb 294 spiral steps to enjoy them. You will also have free time to explore other places of interest in Pisa, such as the Piazza dei Cavalieri and its oldest church, the Church of San Sisto.

What's included

Itinerary

Vicky's Traveller Tip

If you have extra time in Florence, I recommend that you take an excursion to see not only Pisa, but take advantage of a combined tour of other locations and immerse yourself in enchanting Tuscany.

Pisa is a small town on the western coast of Italy, in the beautiful region of Tuscany. It was the birthplace of the famous physicist and astronomer Galileo Galilei and is home to one of the most famous monuments in the world, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, as well as other magnificent buildings in the characteristic Pisan Romanesque style.

Its majestic appearance is the result of Pisa's period of splendour during the 12th century, which can also be seen in its old town centre with its magnificent buildings, squares and narrow streets that run along the Arno river, the main route of communication for centuries.

Piazza dei Miracoli

This square is one of the most spectacular monumental complexes in the world, declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, with the Duomo, the Baptistery and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. It is because of the amazing architecture of these buildings that it is known as the 'Square of Miracles'.

Tower of Pisa

It took 177 years to build this tower, which was conceived in 1173 as the bell tower of the Duomo, and began to lean soon after its completion due to the unstable subsoil on which it stands. Today the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a World Heritage Site and remains the symbol of the city, being the most famous leaning tower in history, with an inclination of almost 4 degrees.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa was closed for 20 years for restoration to prevent it from falling, but since 2011 it has been possible to re-enter this monument which, at 55.86 metres high, offers panoramic views from its eighth floor and after climbing 294 spiral steps. Legend has it that Galileo Galilei proved one of his theories in the tower by throwing two cannonballs from the top.

Pisa Cathedral

The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta stands in the centre of the Piazza dei Miracoli. It is a medieval Catholic cathedral built in 1063 in the Pisan Romanesque style and dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the episcopal see of the Italian city of Pisa. It is notable for its delicate white and grey marble façade and a massive solid bronze door.

Its interior is also impressive for its various works of art, two rows of impressive Corinthian columns from the island of Elba, mosaics and a carved pulpit, a masterpiece of medieval sculpture sculpted by Giovanni Pisano in 1310.

Baptistery of Pisa

Located in front of the Cathedral, it is the largest baptistery in Italy, with a height similar to that of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and a diameter of 36 metres. Its spectacular white marble façade gives way to a more sober interior, where its octagonal baptismal font stands out. From its side stairs you can climb to the top of the Baptistery and admire magnificent views of the Cathedral of Pisa.

Cemetery or Monumental Cemetery of Pisa

A monument that completes the architectural complex of the Piazza dei Miracoli, the Cemetery of Pisa took almost two centuries to complete, from 1278 to 1464. It is striking for its long marble façade with 42 blind arches and was designed as a Gothic-style cloister decorated with frescoes to house 84 tombs from Roman times.

If this article on how to get to Pisa has helped you in planning what to see and do in Florence, take a look at other articles you may find useful about other destinations, such as Day Trips to Cinque Terre from Florence o 4 Best Day Trips to Siena from Florence.