Pisa Travel & Vacation Guide

Not far from the city centre lies this basilica, which is said to have been built upon the place where St Peter landed on his way from the Aegean Sea to Rome. If you walk in, you can admire medieval paintings and beautiful frescoes, both on the left and the right side of the church, dating back to 1200 and 1300. Around the location, where a small village has arisen, one can go for a walk and look for some local restaurants.

The ride from the city centre of Pisa to the stunning Marina di Pisa on the coast of Tyrrhenian Sea is about 15 km, or 45 minutes by bike. Many businesses offer rental bikes that you can take on the scenic ride along the Navicelli channel. To make your ride effortless, consider renting an electric bike. Some rentals, like Smile and Ride, also offer a companion app with a suggested route.

The Botanical Garden and Museum was established in 1544 as the first university botanical garden in Europe. The garden is divided into sections that contain the botanical school, gardens, ponds, greenhouses and various buildings. Major collections include herb gardens and arboreta, as well as the old botany institute of late 16th century, with a façade ornamented with sea-shells.

The Italian word 'Camposanto' means Holy Yard — which is a synonym of cemetery. According to the legend, it contained soil which was seen as miraculous due to its origins in the Holy Land. You will find this peaceful place with amazing frescoes, mosaics and statues on the same site as the Leaning Tower, the UNESCO World Heritage site Piazza del Duomo di Pisa.

During the hot summer months, this park is a popular place to relax in the shades of the trees. Students, locals and tourists come here for a picnic, a stroll, to let their children play at the playground and even to discover some ancient sights. The construction of the citadel began in 1440 during the first period of Florentine rule. In the 1930s, the area became a public garden and was used for performances, concerts and as an open-air cinema in summer.

This 9-hole golf course is located in beautiful green surroundings between Pisa and Livorno. The course, one of the oldest in Tuscany, is not considered challenging. The service is warm and friendly and the restaurant is well-reputed. There is also a small adjacent hotel.

The building alone is well worth a visit. In the 16th century, the Lanfranchi family built this palace leaning against a group of medieval structures showing paintings dating to that era. In 2007 Palazzo Lanfranchi became the Graphic Museum, where you can see collections of prints and drawings from the University of Pisa taking part in educational and art events.

Just outside Piazza Duomo lies one of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in Europe. The cemetery presents an extraordinary historical artistic repertoire: from the parallelepiped burial mounds of Hebrew tradition dating from the 17th to 18th centuries to the Liberty styles dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries.

Enjoy the warm and cosy setting with lots of books and comfortable chairs at Bar Mocambo. The owner of this bar often comes out to chat with the guests while they are sipping delicious cocktails and eating the small bites that are served with the drinks.

A wide choice of cocktails, Tuscan wines and other drinks await you at Baribaldi in the city centre. You will find it in Piazza Garibaldi, from which it took its name, one of the main Pisan squares, where you will love to sit and soak in the atmosphere.

Boccaccio Club is a trendy disco with five different dance floors in Calcinaia, outside Pisa. Try a refreshing, glamorous cocktail in one of the six different rooms you can choose from depending on your musical preferences: disco, pop hits, house music, or even hip hop and reggaeton.

Borderline Club offers live music several times a week. On Mondays there is a 'jam session,' which means that anyone can turn up and play. On Thursdays there are concerts with Italian and international groups, and on Fridays and Saturdays the place specialises in disco rock.

Known as 'the world of shots' among youngsters, this is one of the coolest places to hang out in Pisa. Even though the bar looks rather small, it offers a huge list of shots with infinite combinations. Wait for your turn to go to the counter, choose the ingredients for your shot by yourself or pick one from the menu and make a toast. The night has just begun.

Enoteca Vicolo Divino is a genuine Italian wine bar, located in a quiet area a few minutes from the city centre. Even if it might seem rather small in size, it has a wide selection of great wines and snacks, and is a lovely place to go for an aperitivo.

La Borsa is one of the most popular places for young people, and university students in particular. The tables outside are always packed and there is an international atmosphere. For many years it has been one of the local's favourite hangout spots, with excellent aperitivos and buffet food.

Even if Italy is primarily known for its fantastic wines, it offers great craft beers as well. In a relaxed atmosphere, at Orzo Bruno you can try some of the locally brewed brands in addition to the classics, together with an inviting selection of antipasti and panini.

If you are interested in antiques and old furniture, many fairs are held in Via Santa Maria, Piazza Felice Cavallotti, Via dei Mille, Via Corsica, Piazza dei Cavalieri and Via Ulisse Dini, basically all around the city centre, every second weekend of the month, except for July and August. More than 100 artisans take part in these highly recommended events, and animate the historic centre with their stands and works of art.

Every woman who loves the feeling of finding a perfect accessory, a colourful pair of shoes, or a unique outfit, has to pay a visit to the small boutique BB Maison, right in the city centre. Everything in here is carefully chosen and hand-picked by the owners, and then beautifully displayed to give the shop a sense of luxury and uniqueness.

If you need some sugar after all shopping and sightseeing, head to Bon Bon, just off Borgo Stretto. Revel in chocolates and both local and international sweets. The only problem here is making a decision as to which kind to purchase.

Along the Borgo Stretto, DEI Group has several different shops for men and women who are looking for timeless elegant clothes, but still with the sense of fleeting fashion. The stores DEI Uomo, DEI Donna, Il Cavallo Uomo and Il Cavallo Donna are house of brands like Dries Van Noten, Ralph Lauren, Woolrich, Sun 68, Golden Goose and Marsèll.

Enoteca Bacchus, a family-run shop which specialises in high quality wines, rums and whiskies, is the perfect place if you wish to buy some drinkable souvenirs to bring home with you, or some very special gifts. The family who runs this wine shop also opened a restaurant, located in Via Aurelia Sud 8, with both indoor and garden seating available.

When you are in need of new literature, pay a visit to Feltrinelli Librerie. Here you find a wide selection of books, films, music and other paraphernalia. The outdoor, wisteria-covered part of the shop is especially wonderful. If you're lucky, you can find a book reading event in this charming space.

The Fruit and Food Market, Mercato delle Vettovaglie, opens from Monday to Friday in Piazza delle Vettovaglie, a 16th-century square. It is very popular amongst locals, who do their daily shopping there, so walk through it to see and experience the everyday life of Pisa.

If you feel that a more 'underground,' alternative style suits you better, then you will prefer this cool shop rather than average high street boutiques. Sanantonio42 is a heaven for vintage lovers: you will find not only street-wear clothing, but also a wide range of vinyls; with soul, r&b, rap and rock music, skateboards, DJ accessories and products for graffiti.

Tuscany, like the whole of Italy, generally has a temperate climate, with differences depending on individual geographical areas. As Pisa is situated just a few km from the Tyrrhenian Sea, you can enjoy milder summers and winters. The best months to visit Pisa are April, May, June, September and October, with very pleasant sunny days. The summer months, July and August, can be very hot and that would make your vacation less enjoyable. June is the most popular month to visit Pisa, as the three main traditional events: the Luminara, the Regata and the Gioco del Ponte, take place during that time.

Citizens of European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries do not need a visa to enter Italy, only a valid ID. Many other countries, including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Australia, and New Zealand, benefit from visa-free entry for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Visitors from visa-exempt countries must hold a valid passport and, starting in late 2025, will need to apply for an ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) authorisation online before travelling. For those requiring a visa, such as travellers from some Middle-East, African or Asian nations, a Schengen visa must be obtained prior to arrival. All travellers should ensure their passport is valid for at least three months beyond their intended stay.

Pisa International Airport is located only a kilometre from Pisa Central Railway Station and from the town centre. It's a key hub for low-cost European airlines, including WizzAir, Ryanair, and EasyJet. It offers a wide range of domestic flights to various destinations across Italy, as well as international connections to countries such as Albania, Morocco, the UK, Spain and beyond. Just outside the Passenger Terminal, you will find the new high-speed, automatic 'People Mover' service, which will take you directly to Pisa Central Station with departures every day, every 5-8 minutes, from 6am to midnight. Outside the Passenger Terminal, you will find the 'P6 Area' for buses. Tickets can be bought at the Info Point, in the Arrivals Terminal. A taxi service is provided around the clock, with departures in front of the airport, also on the arrivals side.

Pisa is a small city, hence the best way to see it is on foot. The company that operates Pisa’s local transport system is CPT, Compagnia Pisana Trasporti, and its information office is in Piazza Sant'Antonio. The new LAM service divides the bus network into two main lines: LAM red and LAM green, that stop at the most popular spots in the city centre, and guarantees departures every 10 minutes. You can purchase bus tickets, which you will then validate on board, at the Central Railway Station, in Via Cesare Battisti 53, or directly on board. Local, interregional, Intercity and Eurostar trains stop at Pisa Central Railway Station, connecting Pisa to the main Tuscan and Italian destinations. Train tickets are sold at the ticket office, but for short routes, up to 20 km, you can also purchase them at the newsagents. Self-service ticket machines can also be found in the station.

Pisa is home to a few taxi companies. You can find cabs near the most important tourist sites. Fare schedules are subject to change; the driver is obliged by law to start the meter at the start of every trip.

Italy uses the Type F electrical sockets with two round holes, the same as in many countries in Continental Europe. You will also encounter Type L sockets with three round holes arranged in a line. A “universal“ socket, that accepts Type C, E, F and L plugs, is commonly used in Italy. The standard voltage is 230 volts, but some hotels have special plugs for 110 or 120-volt shavers.

Chemists in Pisa are usually open from Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 12:30pm and from 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm; however, they have different opening hours during nights and weekends. You will find several 'Farmacie Comunali' around the city, but only Farmacia Comunale 5 close to the main attractions offers a 24/7 service.

Post stamps can be bought at the tobacconists that either carry the blue and white 'Tabacchi' sign, or are simply marked with a 'T.' If you need to visit a post office, you find the main one in the city centre, in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II.