Is Pisa Worth Visiting Or Is It Overrated?

When people talk about Italy one of the first landmarks that people think about is the leaning tower of Pisa. Is Pisa worth visiting? For most people it means heading out to see the iconic historical landmark but it does take a considerable amount of time. We planned our route such that while we made our way down from the North of Italy, Pisa was a stop on the way. We spent a whole day here before we headed down to the Tuscan hills.

Pisa is more than just the leaning tower. It maybe the biggest attraction but if you are planning a trip, look beyond too. That is why in this post I’m going to talk about all the pros and cons of visiting Pisa. We will walk through the main attractions, the costs, the transport, food and everything else I can think off. This way, you will be able to make a decision for yourself and you can decide if it is worth heading to Pisa.

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Transport To Pisa

By Air: Pisa has its own airport and while it is smaller than most of the other airports, it is still possible to fly into the city. There is even a shuttle that links the airport to the main center of the city which makes the transit easier.

By Train: Pisa has a main railway station called Pisa Centralle. This connects it to various other big cities in Italy and in Europe. It makes Pisa easy to get to.

By Road: This was the option that we took since we were on a road trip through Northern Italy. I would recommend checking out parking spots in advance. We found one relatively close to the city. You can’t just drive in. It was a short walk away and pretty secure.

Day trips: Florence is one of the closest cities to Pisa and there are plenty of day trips that head out every day. Day trips do run from other locations too. These are in high demand because people prefer to visit Pisa for a day and head back. Here are a couple of day trips that you could consider:

From Florence

From Livorno

Livorno Shore Excursion: Florence, Pisa Tower & Accademia

Is Pisa Walkable?

Accessibility and how walkable the city is plays a big role in my opinion. Pisa is one of the most walkable cities I have been to. This is especially true if you are in the historical center of the city. The crowds however make it hard to navigate sometimes. There are loads of people who visit it every single day. Most come to just spend half a day in the city. Some would stay for a day at most. Many combine it with other attractions in the city and try to make the most of the day trip.

When it gets to accessibility, I would say that you could move a wheelchair or stroller through Pisa because it has the infrastructure for it. We had a stroller when we visited and we found it hard to move about in some places because it was just so crowded. This is something that you should keep in mind.

When you move away from the historical center, you will find that the streets aren’t as neat. They are still completely walkable. People are nice and helpful. It is still definitely doable. So is Pisa worth visiting when it comes to accessibility? I would say yes it is.

Is The Leaning Tower Of Pisa Worth Seeing?

The leaning tower of Pisa is one of the ancient wonders of the world that is still standing tall today. Visiting it is definitely a once in a lifetime experience. I was a little nervous initially because I felt that making a trip out of my way just to look at a tower may be a bit much. We were already tired. The kids couldn’t climb the tower because they were too young.

In retrospect that fear was unfounded. The leaning tower of Pisa is beautiful and it isn’t the only thing that is worth checking out. There is plenty to do in the surroundings. Which means that the trip wasn’t just a 30 minute visit to the tower.

Now even if it had been, I would have considered it largely because of its historical significance. Up close the leaning tower looked much smaller that I expected. It is still very beautiful and well preserved.

Other Attractions In Pisa

Is Italy worth visiting? Weighing the pros and cons.

Is Pisa worth visiting for the attractions? The leaning tower of Pisa may be the most famous attraction in Pisa but it isn’t the only one. The moment you enter the complex, the first thing that you will realize is that it isn’t just one tower but a number of iconic monuments that have been immaculately maintained. Here are some of my top picks:

Cathedral of Pisa
Sinopie Museum
Battistero di San Giovanni
Camposanto
Angelo Caduto
Porta Nuova Pisa

Is Pisa Expensive?

Is Pisa worth visiting when it comes to the budget? Pisa surprised me here. Hear me out before you argue. Pisa was surprisingly budget friendly. This is because you could enter the historical region for free. You could easily head up to the leaning tower of Pisa and admire it. You could even click all the photographs you wanted.

What was not free was entry into the leaning tower and the other monuments. For these you can book a ticket online or at the counter. The lines are long at the counter and its just easier to do it online.

Food In Pisa

Is Pisa worth it for the food? Not everyone thinks about food when they visit Pisa but Pisa does have a great culinary scene. You would have to move away from the tourist trap areas to see this. The food in Pia is classic Tuscan fare. You’ll also find a lot of seafood here given its proximity to the sea.

Is Pisa Worth Visiting For The Day Trips?

I always talk about day trips when I’m weighing the pros and cons of staying in a location. If you choose to keep Pisa as your base, then do consider which day trips you can head out on. Lucky for you there are a number of interesting ones.

Some great places that you can explore are:

Florence
Lucca
Cinque Terre
Tuscan countryside
Vineyards

Is Pisa Worth Visiting For A Longer Visit?

This is a hard one. Pisa is a busy touristy place and if you plan on staying in the main area I would say no. If you plan on staying in the other parts of the city then yes. It is a nice place to stay at for a bit especially because there are a number of cool places to visit close by.

You could also choose to do what we did and stay in the Tuscan countryside. This is viable if you have your own mode of transport. Here you can stay in a farm or a vineyard. You can enjoy the peace and quiet. Get in and out without getting stuck in traffic.

Is Pisa Worth Visiting Despite The Crowds?

I’m not going to lie. The crowds in Pisa re pretty bad. This is because everyone concentrates on a small area. We visited during the shoulder season and were still elbow to elbow with people. Pisa is still worth visiting though I suggest planning a trip when the crowds are slightly smaller.

So is Pisa worth visiting? I would think so. Pisa is one of the most iconic cities of Italy thanks to its famous leaning tower. It does take a half day out of your time but it is worth heading towards. I wouldn’t fly in just for it though. That’s another note I should add.

If you are in Florence or in Cinque Terre or in Lucca and Pisa is close by, go for it. Plan your itinerary so that you pass by it. But don’t hop across the country just to see it. That would be pretty tedious.