Pisa’s Leaning Tower is the stuff of legends. For more than 800 years, Pisa’s cathedral bell tower has stood a crooked sentry over the Piazza dei Miracoli. Hordes of visitors make their way to the town in order to snap pictures of themselves with the quirky structure. Besides Pisa’s genuinely fascinating tower, the ancient city’s other charms are worthy of exploration.

A Pisa day trip from Livorno is a memorable way to fill a few hours of a cruise port of call or vacation on the Italian coast. However, the abundance of tours that also whisk you to other famed Tuscan locales make a full day of discovery too convenient to miss out on.

Here's all you need to know about Pisa, one of the most exciting day trips from Livorno.

How to get to Pisa from Livorno?

Pisa sits just 26 kilometers north of the Mediterranean port town of Livorno. You can get there easily by a variety of means in about 30 minutes or less.

From Livorno to Pisa by car

Follow Livorno surface streets southeast for about 5 kilometers toward the SS1. Take the SS1 north for about 22 kilometers and exit on Via Contessa Matilde in Pisa.

From Livorno to Pisa by train

You can reach Pisa from Livorno by train in a short amount of time. The IC 522 Sestri Levante is a non-stop route that takes about 15 minutes from Livorno Centrale to Pisa Centrale. Trains run frequently between the two cities.

Guided tour to Pisa from Livorno

Despite Pisa’s proximity to Livorno, navigating unfamiliar roads and train stations can add an unwelcome level of stress to your Italian vacation. Book a guided tour to see Pisa with ease.

Options range from economical round-trip transportation without a guide to luxury private tours. Many guided tours to Pisa are designed as cruise shore excursions. To make it a full-day trip, choose a tour that pauses at another nearby locale.

What is the typical itinerary?

If you opt for a tour that takes you only to Pisa, you’ll start out from Livorno at around 10 AM. After a scenic 30-minute ride, step out into the Piazza dei Miracoli in the heart of Pisa. You’ll have either a walking tour and/or free time to wander through Pisa’s hidden corners during your approximately 3-hours in town.

In the Piazza dei Miracoli, you’ll find the cathedral, the baptistry, the cemetery and the legendary leaning tower. Most tours do not include tickets to the baptistry or the tower, but many offer add-on packages that allow you to skip the line.

Experience the attractions in the Piazza dei Miracoli, taking a walk along the medieval ramparts or wandering the alleyways and squares. Central Pisa also features a handful of museums and churches that are small enough to add to your personal itinerary.

Most tours stretch the outing into a full-day foray by including an additional town or two, starting out from Livorno around 8 AM. Just 30 minutes north of Pisa, Lucca is a popular extension to tours. Tours to Pisa and Lucca allot 1 hour to Pisa’s top landmarks and 2.5 to 3 hours to discover Lucca.

If you’re not pressed for time, book a tour that takes you to Pisa, Lucca and/or Florence in one day. Venture to the highlights of Lucca and Florence with a guide or on your own. These full-day jaunts reserve an hour each to see Pisa and Lucca and 3 to 4 hours in Florence. Expect about 4 hours’ travel en-route to the day’s destinations.

What kinds of tours are available to go to Pisa?

Shuttle transfer without guide to Pisa from Livorno

Consisting of simple round-trip transportation between Livorno and Pisa, shuttle transfers are ideal for independent and budget-minded travelers. With about 1 hour total of travel time, you’ll have 3 hours to fill how you’d like in Pisa.

There are also shuttle transfers that continue from Pisa to Lucca and/or Florence. These 7- to 9-hour excursions grant you several hours in each town and return you to Livorno in time for dinner or to board your cruise ship.

Guided tours to Pisa from Livorno

At only about a 30 minute drive from Livorno, a guided tour to Pisa makes a great half-day outing. Explore the UNESCO-protected Piazza dei Miracoli with the help of a guide before enjoying free time in Pisa.

Private tour to Pisa from Livorno

Treat yourself to an adventure catered just to you and your group. Hire a private driver and guide to make the short drive between Livorno and Pisa and escort you to the top locales in the famous city. Private tours can be affordable choices for larger groups, and less-expensive choices may only provide transportation.

Day trip to Pisa plus Lucca from Livorno

Just another 30 minutes beyond Pisa is Lucca, a lesser-known medieval gem. These full-day outings offer ample time to explore both cities. Tours range from simple private transportation to full-service experiences with guided walking tours or food tours and wine tastings.

Day trip to Pisa plus Florence from Livorno

Tours that usher you to both Pisa and Florence from Livorno make Florence the highlight of the day. Small-group and private tours permit you to see the best of Pisa and Florence in about 8 to 9 hours.

You’ll have 1 hour in Pisa to see the must-see sites before moving on to Florence, about 1.5 hours east of Pisa. Spend 4 to 5 hours in Florence taking in marvels like the Ponte Vecchia, the Uffizi Gallery and the Mercato Centrale. Many packages provide walking tours of the cities, and all tours schedule free time to get to know Pisa and Florence on your own.

Day trip to Pisa plus Lucca and Florence from Livorno

Perfect if you’re looking to check off lots of items from your bucket list, a full-day trip to Pisa, Lucca and Florence allows you just enough time to see the unmissable sites in each city. You'll spend 1 hour in both Pisa and Lucca before a 4-hour chunk of time to absorb the best of Florence.

Day trip to Pisa plus Cinque Terre from Livorno

Stick to the coast with a full-day excursion to one of Italy’s most coveted destinations, Cinque Terre. With a 1-hour stop in Pisa, invest most of the time of your day trip in a few of Cinque Terre’s jewel-box seaside villages.

How much does a day trip to Pisa from Florence cost?

Round-trip transfers to Pisa cost around €20 per person and provide transportation in an air-conditioned coach equipped with Wi-Fi. Round-trip transfers that include a visit to Lucca cost around €35 per person, and those that visit both Pisa and Florence cost around €55 per person.

Guided tours to Pisa cost from €25 per person to €50 per person, with higher-cost tours offering skip-the-line tickets to the leaning tower. Private tours to Pisa cost between €165 per person and €650 per person, depending on group size. Private tours do not provide entrance fees to the leaning tower or the baptistry.

Day tours to Pisa and Lucca cost around €35 per person for group tours, and private Pisa and Lucca tours cost between €100 per person and €700 per person, depending on group size. Tours to Pisa and Florence cost from €45 per person to €140 per person, and private tours cost between €100 per person and €525 per person. Prices are higher if you’re traveling with a smaller group.

Full-day tours to Pisa, Lucca and Florence are private and cost from €140 per person to €1,100 per person, depending on group size. These tours include round-trip transportation, all taxes and fees, commentary from a guide and bottled water.

What will you see and do?

Pisa’s main draws are concentrated in its Piazza dei Miracoli, a stunning green space with historic buildings surrounded by medieval fortifications. The UNESCO-protected Piazza is home to the duomo, the baptistry, the camposanto and the campanile.

Even tours that add stopovers to Lucca, Florence or Cinque Terre give you ample time to admire this dazzling square. If your tour is limited to 1 hour in Pisa, you will have time to take in the architectural wonders of the piazza which may allow you time to tour the interior of the buildings.

See the duomo’s frescoes of Biblical stories, and spy the camposanto that claims to contain soil from Calvary. For additional cost, purchase tickets to enter the baptistry and/or the campanile.

The €10-per-person fee for the "battistero" introduce you to Italy’s largest baptistry and its impeccable acoustics. For €30 per person, climb the nearly 300 steps to the top of the campanile, better known as the Leaning Tower.

If your tour lingers in Pisa for more than an hour, the rest of the town boasts a collection of museums, churches and piazzas that make for picturesque backdrops for photos or a coffee break.

Is it wheelchair friendly?

Most day tours to Pisa are not wheelchair friendly. However, private tours can often accommodate wheelchair users with advance notice.

When is the best time to visit Pisa?

The best time to visit Pisa is in the spring (April to June) or autumn (September to October). These periods offer mild and comfortable weather conditions suitable for sightseeing, exploring the city's landmarks, and outdoor activities. You'll experience less rainfall compared to other seasons and avoid the peak tourist crowds of summer, ensuring a more leisurely exploration of the city's rich history and famous architectural wonders.

Are there any tours to Pisa from other cities in Italy?

Yes, there are tours departing from other cities in Italy:

Travel tips

To climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa, you need to purchase a ticket. It's best to book your ticket in advance, particularly during high season, to avoid long waiting times.
If you're planning to visit religious sites such as the Pisa Cathedral, remember to dress respectfully. This means covering your shoulders and knees.
Don't miss out on the delicious Tuscan cuisine. Try local dishes like Bistecca alla Fiorentina (Florentine steak), pasta with wild boar sauce, and finish it off with a glass of Tuscan wine.

Pisa: Day Trips and Tours from Livorno