48 Hours in Pisa - Top 5 Tips

Pisa - People Watching and Pizza  

Having just returned from a trip to Pisa I thought I would share my top 5 tips of things to do there.

If you are flying into Pisa and wondering about the transfer to the city you don't need to worry, it is really simple.

Tip number 1: Take the PisaMover.

Using the PisaMover transport (is it a bus or is it a train?) is both simple and quick. It whisks passengers from Pisa Airport into the city really efficiently. 

Just follow the signs for PisaMover, it is located at the far side of the airport terminal (turn left as you exit the arrivals hall and walk outside at the end of the building). There are stairs or lifts to go up 2 floors to the PisaMover transport level and once there buy a ticket at the machine so you can enter the platform area. Prices are low, just 5 euros for a single ticket (September 2019), and the transfer is quick, less than 5 mins to the Central Station in the city.  The service runs from 6am until midnight every 5 minutes or so.

When you arrive at Pisa Centrale train station don't be tempted to exit at the nearby side exit, make your way into the main part of the station (go downstairs) to the main exit.

The train station is south of the River Arno, near Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, close to the main shopping street of Corso Italia. If you follow this northwards you will reach the river and see some amazing old buildings along the way.

River Arno in Pisa

The Corso Italia

After locating your hotel and dropping off your bags it could be time for a spot of sightseeing. Pick up a city map from your hotel or the tourist office near the Duomo.

Tip number 2: The Campo dei Miracoli.

Obviously a trip to Pisa is not complete without seeing the Leaning Tower, this is north of the river in the Campo dei Miracoli, the field of miracles, so named because here you find the magnificent buildings of the Duomo (cathedral), the Baptistry, the Bell Tower (ie the Leaning Tower) and the cemetery, Camposanto. The buildings are positioned in a grassy field where people mingle, sunbathe, have picnics and generally enjoy themselves. It is a fabulous place to indulge in a bit of people watching as (almost) everyone who goes there for the first time seems to want a photo of themselves propping up the tower. I have never seen so many people taking selfies at the same time!

Selfie Central - outside the Leaning Tower of Pisa

All the buildings are amazing sights, and the lean on the tower is at quite a tilt. I was impressed with how clean and white the buildings looked. 

The Duomo and Leaning Tower of Pisa

Should you want to visit inside the Baptistry, Duomo, Camposanto or the tower, timed entrance tickets can be picked up at the main office just behind the tower. At busy times it is probably best to buy your tickets online beforehand so you won't have to queue. Here is a link to get tickets. Tickets for the Duomo are free of charge, there is a fee to pay for the other buildings.

The Baptistry, Duomo and Leaning Tower

In the north west corner of the Campo dei Miracoli there are steps leading up to the city walls.  This leads me to...

Tip number 3: Walking the city walls.

There are great views over the Campo dei Miracoli, the surrounding countryside and mountains from the city walls.  They stretch for 3k and there are a number of places where you can descend to the street level. We climbed up the stairs behind the Baptistry and walked all the way around to the end near the Ponte della Fortezza bridge over the Arno. This walk provides a unique insight into the layout of the city and the ancient buildings. 

Walking along the city walls in Pisa

Tip number 4: Explore the old town.

Spend an hour or so just wandering around the old parts of town, there are little alleyways, medieval buildings, palaces, piazzas and lots of churches to see both north and south of the river.  

Old town buildings

Look closely and you will find some interesting street art and graffiti too. 

Interesting street art

Fun graffiti

and more fun graffiti!

While you are wandering around try and find the Keith Haring mural near Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. It was painted in 1989, covers the side of a tall building and is a fun piece of art called Tuttomondo.

Keith Haring's Tuttomondo

Which leads me to my last tip...

Tip number 5: Eat Pizza!

I know this isn't Naples, the birthplace of pizza, but Pisa is a wonderful place to sample this simple dish.  Yes, there are many wonderful restaurants serving typical delicious Tuscan food but there is something splendid in a really well made pizza.

We found a brilliant Pizzeria very close to this Keith Haring mural on Via Francesco Crispi, it is called Pizzeria da Toni.  Family run and doing a roaring trade in sit down and takeaway pizzas, the place was buzzing.  It is a simple cafe, nothing fancy, but the pizzas are superb!

I hope you have enjoyed sharing my top 5 tips, there are so many more things to do and see in Pisa 48 hours might not be enough, for example there are art galleries to explore and gardens too but they can be for next time maybe?