Itineraries for Your Trip to Pisa
3 Days in Pisa for First Timers
Like most first-time visitors to Pisa, I made a beeline to the blockbuster leaning tower as soon as I got off the train. It was only years later, stuck in the city for a few hours while headed to the coast, that I ventured into the old town. Here I discovered a delightful historic center, rich in art and architecture, largely untouched by the many tourists that overrun Campo dei Miracoli each day.
A university town, Pisa has lively central squares buzzing with locals shopping at the markets and students chatting at the cafés. With three days in Pisa, you can experience all the city has to offer, and explore the nearby Cinque Terre villages and the landscapes of Tuscany.
Pisa has hot summers, cold winters, and variable spring and fall temperatures, so pack appropriately for the season.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a climb up the Tower of Pisa, of course.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most iconic monuments in the world. The bus tour crowd peaks in the morning, so spend the day’s first hours exploring the city’s historic center. Stroll past sights such as the Renaissance Piazza dei Cavalieri and pocket-size Santa Maria della Spina, then linger over an alfresco espresso.
Once the crowds have dispersed, take on the sprawling Pisa cathedral complex in Campo dei Miracoli with a guided tour that includes skip-the-line access to ensure you have time to savor the Duomo, Leaning Tower, Baptistery, Opera del Duomo Museum, and Camposanto cemetery.
Today, take a day trip to the nearby Cinque Terre, the five tiny fishing villages clinging to the seaside cliffs of neighboring Liguria. Travel among the colorful hamlets on foot via the panoramic footpath, by train via the local route that hugs the coastline, or by ferry or private boat.
Be sure to sample Ligurian specialties like fresh seafood and pasta tossed with pesto genovese while visiting the coast. The Cinque Terre is an ideal spot for a home cooking class or demonstration followed by a family-style meal to connect with locals and take a break from the tourist crowds.
For your final day, use Pisa as a base to venture into the pastoral countryside and hill towns of the surrounding region. Popular Tuscan day trips include jaunts to San Gimignano and medieval Siena, often with a wine-tasting stop in the Chianti hills. True oenophiles might opt for a day dedicated to touring Tuscan wineries and sampling regional labels.
If you prefer a slower pace, spend a leisurely morning in Pisa, then pop over to neighboring Lucca to cycle around its medieval city walls and take in the historic churches, bustling squares, and excellent shopping in the old town.
