One Day in Pisa: The Perfect Pisa One Day Itinerary

Most people come to Pisa for one reason: to see the Leaning Tower.

And yes, you absolutely should. I couldn’t visit Pisa without taking the obligatory photo pretending to hold it up!

But if you have a full day in Pisa, there’s much more to see than its famous tower.

Beyond the Piazza dei Miracoli you’ll find historic streets, beautiful piazzas, museums, churches, street art and the River Arno running through the city.

I spent one night in Pisa while travelling through Tuscany, arriving from Siena late in the afternoon and continuing on to Lucca the following evening. That gave me a full day to explore at a relaxed pace.

This one-day Pisa itinerary covers what I’d recommend seeing, how to get around and how to make the most of your time – whether you’re staying overnight like I did or visiting Pisa on a day trip from Florence or elsewhere in Tuscany.

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One Day in Pisa at a Glance

Morning: Tuttomondo → Piazza dei Miracoli → Leaning Tower → Cathedral → Baptistery → Camposanto

Lunch: Away from the immediate Piazza dei Miracoli area

Afternoon: Botanical Garden → Piazza dei Cavalieri → River Arno → Santa Maria della Spina

Late afternoon: Gelato → Pisa Centrale

You don’t need to visit every attraction on this list. If you’re short on time, prioritise the Leaning Tower, Cathedral and a walk through the historic centre.

What to Do in Pisa for a Day

If you only have one day in Pisa, I recommend spending the morning around the Piazza dei Miracoli, then using the afternoon to explore more of the city.

Here’s a rough itinerary to help you plan your day.

Morning – Walk from Pisa Centrale to the Piazza dei Miracoli

Rather than jumping straight onto a bus, walk through the centre of Pisa. It takes around 20–25 minutes if you walk directly, although I’d allow longer because there are things worth seeing along the way.

Don’t miss Keith Haring’s colourful Tuttomondo mural near the station.

Once you reach the Piazza dei Miracoli, see the Leaning Tower, take that photo and, if you’ve booked a ticket, climb the tower.

Allow time for the other monuments too, particularly Pisa Cathedral, the Baptistery and Camposanto.

Opening hours vary throughout the year, so check the current schedule when planning your visit, particularly if you want an early tower time.

Lunchtime

Walk a few streets away from the Piazza dei Miracoli before choosing somewhere for lunch. You’ll escape some of the busiest tourist restaurants and have plenty of options as you head back towards the centre.

Alternatively, make lunch part of the sightseeing and join a Pisa food tour.

Afternoon – Explore More of Pisa

After lunch, spend a couple of hours seeing some of the city beyond its famous tower.

Depending on what interests you, visit the Orto e Museo Botanico, wander through Piazza dei Cavalieri, visit a museum or simply stroll along the River Arno.

If you’d prefer some local insight rather than exploring independently, this is also a good time to join a tour of Pisa.

Late Afternoon – Head Back Towards Pisa Centrale

Make your way back towards the station via the River Arno and Santa Maria della Spina, with time for a gelato along the way.

If you’re catching an evening train, collect your luggage and continue on to your next destination.

Getting to Pisa

Pisa is well connected by train, making it an easy day trip from elsewhere in Tuscany.

Florence to Pisa

Florence is probably the most popular starting point for a Pisa day trip.

Regular trains connect Firenze Santa Maria Novella and Pisa Centrale, with many journeys taking around an hour.

If you’d rather have everything organised for you, there are also half-day and full-day tours to Pisa from Florence, including some that combine Pisa with other Tuscan destinations.

Lucca to Pisa

Pisa is even closer to Lucca, with direct trains generally taking around 30 minutes, making the two cities easy to combine if you’re travelling independently through Tuscany.

I did it in the opposite direction, spending the day in Pisa before catching a late-afternoon train to Lucca.

Siena to Pisa

I arrived in Pisa from Siena.

The journey takes longer and generally requires a change along the way, so check the timetable for your travel date.

Flying into Pisa

Pisa is also home to Pisa International Airport (Galileo Galilei), one of Tuscany’s main airports.

If your flight arrives early enough, you could spend the day exploring Pisa before continuing elsewhere in Tuscany.

Luggage Storage in Pisa

If you’re visiting Pisa while travelling between destinations, you don’t need to drag your suitcase around all day.

We left our luggage near Pisa Centrale, then collected it before catching our train to Lucca.

Check luggage storage options near Pisa Centrale.

Getting to the Leaning Tower of Pisa

From Pisa Centrale, allow around 20–25 minutes to walk directly to the Piazza dei Miracoli and the Leaning Tower.

I’d give yourself longer and make the walk part of your sightseeing.

The route takes you through the city centre and across the River Arno, and you can make a small detour to see Keith Haring’s Tuttomondo mural near the station.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Of course, the star attraction of any day in Pisa is the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

And yes, I did the obligatory photo pretending to hold it up. You almost have to!

The tower stands in the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles) alongside Pisa Cathedral, the Baptistery and Camposanto.

One thing that surprised me was how much open space surrounds it. Unlike many famous landmarks in Italian cities, it isn’t squeezed between other buildings.

Construction of the tower began in 1173 as the bell tower for Pisa Cathedral. Its famous lean developed because of the unstable ground beneath its foundations, and construction continued in stages for almost 200 years.

Extensive stabilisation work has since been carried out, and while the tower still very definitely leans, it is considered stable.

Can You Climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa?

Yes – and if you want to climb it, I’d book in advance.

Tower entry is timed and tickets are limited.

The visitor climb involves 251 steps, which are uneven and can be slippery, and there’s no lift. The tilt can also make the climb feel a little strange.

Large bags must be left in the cloakroom before entering.

Book Leaning Tower of Pisa tickets.

Even if you don’t climb it, allow plenty of time around the tower itself. You’ll probably spend longer than you’d like to admit trying to get that classic Leaning Tower photo!

Explore the Rest of the Piazza dei Miracoli

Don’t take your Leaning Tower photo and immediately leave!

The tower is only one part of the Piazza dei Miracoli, and I’d allow most of your morning to explore the complex.

Alongside the Leaning Tower you’ll find:

• Pisa Cathedral
• The Baptistery
• Camposanto
• The Sinopie Museum
• The Opera del Duomo Museum

We visited the Cathedral, Baptistery, Camposanto and Sinopie Museum, and I’m glad we did. But with only one day in Pisa, you certainly don’t need to see everything.

Different ticket combinations are available depending on what you want to visit, while entry to the Leaning Tower is for a specific time.

Check tickets for the Piazza dei Miracoli monuments.

While you’re exploring the square, look out for The Fallen Angel, a large bronze sculpture by Polish artist Igor Mitoraj near the tower.

Pisa Cathedral (Duomo di Pisa)

Standing right beside the Leaning Tower is Pisa Cathedral, or the Duomo di Pisa.

Don’t be so distracted by the tower that you skip it!

Entry to the Cathedral is free. If you’ve bought a ticket for another monument in the complex, Cathedral admission is included without a fixed entry time.

If you’re only visiting the Cathedral, you’ll need to collect a free timed pass from the ticket office. These are limited and can’t be reserved in advance.

I have to admit, I have a bit of a thing for churches. I’m not religious, but I find these incredible old buildings fascinating – the architecture, statues, artwork and sheer amount of history contained inside them.

And Pisa Cathedral didn’t disappoint.

The interior feels much bigger than you might expect, with soaring columns, an ornate ceiling and plenty of details to look at.

One highlight is the intricately carved marble pulpit by Giovanni Pisano, created in the early 14th century.

Even if churches aren’t usually high on your sightseeing list, I’d still go inside.

Camposanto

Next we visited the Camposanto, the long, cloister-like building running along one side of the Piazza dei Miracoli.

Essentially, it’s a monumental cemetery – but it’s much more interesting than that description makes it sound.

Founded in 1277, the Camposanto contains tombs, stone burial slabs, sarcophagi and sculptures surrounding a peaceful central courtyard.

Its walls are also home to important medieval frescoes. Many were badly damaged during World War II and subsequently underwent extensive restoration.

We wandered around independently, but this is one place where I think having a guide – or reading up on what you’re looking at – would add a lot to the experience.

If you’re choosing only a couple of monuments around the Piazza dei Miracoli, I’d still consider including the Camposanto. It’s very different from the Cathedral and Baptistery.

The Baptistery

At the opposite end of the Cathedral from the Leaning Tower is the enormous Pisa Baptistery.

From the outside, I thought this was one of the most impressive buildings in the Piazza dei Miracoli. The interior is surprisingly simple in comparison.

You can climb to the upper gallery, where you can look down into the centre and towards Pisa Cathedral.

The Baptistery is also famous for its remarkable acoustics. Demonstrations are regularly given inside, using the extraordinary echo created by its double dome.

The Baptistery isn’t perfectly straight either. Like the Leaning Tower, it was built on Pisa’s soft ground and has a slight lean – although it’s nowhere near as obvious.

I wouldn’t allow a huge amount of time here, but it’s definitely worth going inside.

The Sinopie Museum

The Sinopie Museum is probably the most specialised of the Piazza dei Miracoli attractions.

It houses the sinopie – preparatory drawings that once lay beneath many of the Camposanto frescoes. They were uncovered after the frescoes had to be removed following a devastating fire during World War II.

If you’re interested in medieval art, it’s fascinating to see how the enormous frescoes were planned.

For the more casual visitor, though, you probably won’t need long here. We had a look through the collection and also appreciated the chance to sit down for a few minutes!

If you’re short on time, this would be the first of the attractions we visited that I’d consider skipping.

Things to Do in Pisa Beyond the Leaning Tower

Once you’ve finished exploring the Piazza dei Miracoli, don’t rush straight back to the train station.

Orto e Museo Botanico di Pisa

Just a short walk away is the Botanical Garden and Museum of the University of Pisa.

We didn’t go inside, but it’s an interesting option if you enjoy gardens.

Founded in 1543, the University of Pisa describes it as the world’s oldest university botanical garden. It has moved twice during its history and has occupied its current site since 1591.

If gardens aren’t your thing, I’d keep walking.

Piazza dei Cavalieri

Make a small detour through Piazza dei Cavalieri (Knights’ Square) as you walk back towards the centre.

Once the political heart of medieval Pisa, the square later became the headquarters of the Knights of St Stephen. Today its historic buildings include the Palazzo della Carovana, home to the Scuola Normale Superiore.

You don’t need long here. It’s simply a beautiful square to wander through.

Walk Along the River Arno

One of the nicest ways to see more of Pisa is simply to walk along the River Arno.

The colourful buildings lining the river give you a completely different view of Pisa from the grand white monuments around the Leaning Tower.

It’s also a good reminder that Pisa is a real city, not just a tower surrounded by souvenir stalls.

Santa Maria della Spina

Beside the Arno, look out for the tiny Church of Santa Maria della Spina.

This ornate Gothic church takes its name from a thorn believed to have come from Christ’s crown of thorns, which was kept here from the 14th century. The relic is now held at the Church of Santa Chiara.

Even if you don’t go inside, it’s worth stopping for a look.

Museo Nazionale di San Matteo

If medieval art is your thing, consider the National Museum of San Matteo, housed in a former convent beside the Arno.

For a one-day visit, I’d choose this only if you’re particularly interested in art. Otherwise, I’d spend the afternoon exploring Pisa’s streets and piazzas.

Palazzo Blu

Another option for art lovers is Palazzo Blu, the distinctive blue building overlooking the Arno.

It has a permanent art collection and hosts temporary exhibitions, so check what’s on when you’re visiting.

With only one day in Pisa, though, I’d prioritise wandering through the city unless museums are particularly important to you.

See Keith Haring’s Tuttomondo

One Pisa attraction that has absolutely nothing to do with leaning towers or medieval churches is Tuttomondo, the huge mural by American artist Keith Haring.

Haring painted it in 1989, just months before his death in 1990. The colourful figures convey themes of love, peace and harmony between people, animals and nature.

Even if you don’t know much about Keith Haring, there’s a good chance you’ll recognise his distinctive style.

You’ll find Tuttomondo near Pisa Centrale, making it incredibly easy to include in your one-day itinerary.

If you’re arriving by train, stop here on your way into the city. If you miss it in the morning, make it your final sightseeing stop before heading back to the station.

It only takes a few minutes to see, so don’t skip it.

Where to Eat in Pisa

You’ll find plenty of places to eat around the Piazza dei Miracoli, but I wouldn’t automatically choose the first restaurant you see beside the Leaning Tower.

Walk a few streets away and you’ll have many more options as you make your way back towards the centre.

We ate at Bar & Food 62 on Via Santa Maria. It was perfectly decent, but not somewhere I’d tell you that you absolutely have to eat.

Don’t Skip the Gelato

One place I would seek out is Gelateria De’ Coltelli, beside the River Arno.

Its flavours change with the seasons, so have a look at what’s available on the day rather than automatically ordering your usual favourite.

It also fits nicely into the afternoon part of this itinerary.

Where to Stay in Pisa

You don’t need to stay overnight to see Pisa, but it can make sense if you’re travelling through Tuscany rather than visiting on a day trip.

That’s what we did. We arrived from Siena late in the afternoon, stayed overnight and spent the following day exploring before continuing to Lucca.

Our accommodation near Pisa Centrale worked really well. We could easily walk there with our luggage, leave our bags near the station the next morning and collect them before catching our next train.

The place we stayed is no longer operating, but if I were doing the same trip again, I’d still look around the station or between Pisa Centrale and the historic centre.

Check accommodation in Pisa on Booking.com.

Is One Day in Pisa Enough?

Yes, I think one day in Pisa is enough for most visitors.

A full day gives you time to see the Leaning Tower and explore the other monuments around the Piazza dei Miracoli, while still leaving a few hours to wander through the city itself.

And I wouldn’t come all this way just to take a photo of the tower and leave.

Walk through Piazza dei Cavalieri, see the Arno, stop at Santa Maria della Spina, find Keith Haring’s Tuttomondo and, of course, make time for a gelato.

Pisa fitted perfectly into our Tuscany itinerary as an overnight stop between Siena and Lucca, but it’s just as easy to visit on a day trip from Florence or elsewhere in the region.

However you fit it in, give yourself enough time to see a little of Pisa beyond its famous leaning landmark.

Looking for more things to do in Italy? Have a look at my other Italy posts for inspiration.
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