Pisa is a city of about 100,000 residents in central Italy’s Tuscany region. It’s most well-known around the world as the home of the famous Leaning Tower.
The tower was originally built in the 12th century and reaches nearly 200 feet into the sky.
Though it’s tilted at almost five degrees, it’s still possible for fit visitors to scale its 296 steps and survey the surrounding area.
Though the tower is the town’s premier attraction, most visitors are pleasantly surprised to find that there are many others in the immediate vicinity as well.
Tours focus on history and culture, architecture, art, and cuisine, and day-trips to nearby towns are popular too.
1. All-Inclusive Guided Tour of Baptistery, Cathedral, and Leaning Tower
Source: Luciano Mortula - LGM / shutterstockPisa’s Piazza dei Miracoli is the central square around which the town’s most prominent attractions reside.
That means it’s possible to get a thorough overview of the things that make Pisa so unique in a relatively short time, thereby leaving large chunks of the day free for other activities.
This all-inclusive tour includes the Baptistery, Leaning Tower, and the Cathedral. It is led by a knowledgeable and enthusiastic local.
Tours last between 90 minutes and 2 hours, but due to the height of the tower, there are age restrictions for those who wish to climb to the top.
2. Pisa Cathedral, Leaning Tower, and Wine Tasting Tour
Source: S-F / shutterstockThe first hour of this 2 ½-hour combo tour is spent as participants follow their guide’s lead and explore the Piazza dei Miracoli’s attractions.
The piazza, or square, is dominated by the iconic Leaning Tower and the impressive Pisa Cathedral. Guests will benefit from their guide’s historical and cultural insights at each stop.
Guests over eight years old will have the option of climbing to the top of the tower if they chose that package at the time of booking.
For those of age, a relaxed, mid-tour wine tasting will be held in the shadow of the tower before calling it a day.
3. 2-Hour Walking Tour
Source: Evgenii Iaroshevskii / shutterstockFor those who prefer rubbing elbows with locals and seeing things from a decidedly street-level perspective, walking tours are often the best options.
These two-hour tours get underway at the train station when participants have a brief meet and greet with their local guide, after which they’ll explore corners of the medieval town that don’t typically get much foot traffic.
From there, they’ll embark on a few side excursions that will include Borgo Stretto, Piazza dei Cavalieri, and a number of distinct neighborhoods known for their murals and architecture.
Tours are relaxed and appropriate for pets, children, and those with mobility issues.
4. Self-Guided Bike Tour
Source: www.getyourguide.comThough guided tours definitely offer great value for first-time visitors to a new area, self-guided tours are great options for those who prefer to see things on their own terms and at their own pace.
This self-guided, app-based bike tour allows guests to rent a bike, get ideas and directions to worthwhile attractions and set out to explore without having to worry about a rigid schedule.
That means wide-open spaces, quality time in the great outdoors, and lots of exercise.
Tour highlights include stretches along the River Arno, the Leaning Tower, and the town’s impressive monuments and fortifications.
5. Pisa Food Tour
Source: www.getyourguide.comApparently, those who put this Pisa food tour together are so certain guests will leave satisfied that they’ve added a full-belly guarantee.
Each tour visits five local eateries, where guests will learn about Pisa’s culture and culinary traditions while sampling a variety of local classics, like homemade ice cream, focaccia, cured meats, soup, and wine, to name just a few.
Pisa’s cuisine is noticeably distinct when compared to other Italian cities, and therein lies much of its appeal.
Tours last about 3 ½ hours and include copious amounts of eating, so show up with an empty stomach.
6. 2-Hour Private City Center Tour
Source: Balate Dorin / shutterstockFor those who like their vacation activities intimate and personalized, this two-hour city center excursion would be a great choice because it’s limited to just two people.
Unlike those on larger tours, guests will command the full attention of their local guide, which will make their experience more engaging, educational, and entertaining.
The tour gets kicked off at the Piazza dei Miracoli, the beating heart of the city’s historic district.
Attractions include the Leaning Tower and the Pisa Cathedral, which is widely regarded as one of the country’s premier examples of Renaissance architecture.
Tours can proceed rapidly or slowly, depending on the mood of guests.
7. Pisa Street Food Tour and Skip-the-Line Leaning Tower Access
Source: TravnikovStudio / shutterstockThere’s no better way to experience cultural immersion than by eating what locals eat, where they eat it.
It’s not surprising that street food tours are becoming ever more popular around the world, and many of them focus on exploring neighborhoods and eateries that don’t get much tourist traffic.
Though this tour stops at many popular street food vendors, it also includes visits to some of the city’s most significant attractions, like the San Giovanni Baptistery and the Leaning Tower.
It’s a great value for those looking to fill their stomachs and learn about the things that make the region so unique.
8. Cinque Terre Small Group Tour from Pisa
Source: ShutterstockThe villages of Cinque Terre are among the region’s most alluring old-world attractions. For those who’ve tired of Pisa’s often crowded sites, they’re great places to get away from the hustle and bustle for a few hours.
After meeting their guide, guests will depart from Pisa in a comfy, air-conditioned vehicle.
The views along the coast between Pisa and Cinque Terre are nothing short of breathtaking, and participants will enjoy transportation by both land and sea as they explore the area’s national park and remnants of a medieval castle.
Tours include all necessary tickets, free time, and a multilingual guide.
9. 2 ½-Hour Sightseeing Tour with Traditional Snacks
Source: www.getyourguide.comThe only thing better than spending a few relaxing hours exploring Pisa’s top sights, is exploring them while eating lots of traditional local snacks.
During the sightseeing portion of the tour, guests and their guide will visit the Leaning Tower, Miracle Square, and swing by the scenic shores of the River Arno.
They’ll also hit a few medieval neighborhoods with narrow streets and sample a variety of snacks and drinks, ranging from coffee, sweets, and pizza to local wine and soft drinks.
At just 2 ½ hours, tours leave plenty of time for unguided exploration and dining later in the day.
10. Full-Day San Gimignano, Siena, and Chianti Tour from Pisa
Source: Marco Rubino / shutterstockTours that offer both guided and free time are perfect fits for those who want to benefit from a local’s insight without feeling like they’re chained together all day.
On this combo tour, participants will explore San Gimignano on their own before retreating to an estate to sample some local wines and eat a Tuscan-style lunch.
After lunch, the group will head to Siena for a guided tour of the fortress at Monteriggioni, at which there will be a number of guides speaking multiple languages.
There will also be ample time to take in Siena’s Town hall and central Piazza before returning to Pisa.
11. 2-Hour Guided Tour with Leaning Tower and Cathedral
Source: f11photo / shutterstockTwo and three-hour tours seem to dominate the offerings in and around Pisa. For those working with limited time, they’re the perfect way to get a big bang for scarce travel dollars.
On this two-hour walking tour with a local guide, guests will tour the town’s monuments, learn about its history, and climb the 296 steps leading to the top of the Leaning Tower, if the spirit moves them.
Participants will benefit from their guide’s insights and are often surprised to learn that notable historical figures like Galileo once walked the same streets hundreds of years ago.
12. 3-Hour Vespa Panoramic Tour of Florence from Pisa
Source: Marcell Faber / shutterstockThe countryside between Pisa and Florence is amazingly scenic. On this tour, guests will cover that ground on a train before meeting their guide and hitting the streets on their Vespas.
Once participants are comfortable with their scooters, they’ll set out to visit some of the city’s premier attractions, like Piazza della Stazione 4, Piazzale Michelangelo, and the San Miniato Convent.
Group size is limited, and tours can range from fast-paced and exhilarating to relaxed and leisurely, depending on the riding skills, ages, and interests of the guests.
Drivers must be at least 18 years old, but younger children may ride behind an adult.
13. Best of Pisa Guided Tour with Optional Leaning Tower Ticket
Source: uzhursky / shutterstockFeaturing a tottering tower that seems to defy the laws of physics, beautiful medieval piazzas, and some of the region’s most impressive cathedrals, Pisa is full of attractions that have been known to keep visitors occupied and engaged for days on end.
Starting in the city’s Old Town area, this 2 ½-hour guided tour gives guests options like entering and climbing to the top of the Leaning Tower.
It’s okay if you’d rather take it in from the ground, as it’ll leave more time for visiting other sites, like the Baptistery, the Church of San Sisto, and Piazza dei Cavalieri.
14. Half-Day Tuscan Hills Wine Tasting From Pisa or Lucca
Source: Kishivan / shutterstockRegardless of whether you’re staying in Pisa or Lucca, this half-day Tuscan wine tasting tour is a great way to leave the crowds behind and enjoy the area’s natural splendor and world-renowned wines.
Tours include round-trip transportation to and from either Pisa or Lucca, after which guests and their guide will make their way to a family-owned winery and olive farm, where they’ll be given a tour by one of the owners.
After the tour, there will be ample opportunity to taste a variety of wines and olive oils before the relaxing and scenic drive back to your origin city.
15. 1 ½-Hour Small Group Leaning Tower Tour with Tickets
Source: f11photo / shutterstockDue to the proximity of many of Pisa’s attractions, it’s possible to experience a number of them together, even for those with less than a few hours to spare.
Excursions begin with a one-hour tour of the Piazza dei Miracoli, which is the city’s center of history, culture, and tourism.
The piazza is surrounded by monuments, churches, and of course, the Leaning Tower, which is one of the country’s most recognizable and visited attractions.
For those who think they’ve got enough stamina, it’s possible to climb the nearly 300 steps to the tower’s top.
Once there, the views are amazing, but children under eight will have to remain on the ground.