Day Trip from Florence to Pisa: Everything You Need to Know

Are you traveling throughout Italy, or have some hours to spare in Florence? If the Torre Pendente (Leaning Tower of Pisa) is on your travel bucket list, you must take a day trip from Florence to Pisa!😍 The distance from Florence to Pisa is fairly short, making it a perfect day trip – even a half-day trip. From high-speed trains, and guided tours, to things to do, and food to eat, here’s everything you need to know for your day trip!👇

Disclaimer: This post has affiliate links that can help me earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. If you click through and purchase with these links, thank you in advance for the extra support.💖😊

Everything to Know About Day Trip to Pisa from Florence

How to get to Pisa from Florence

The best way to get from Florence to Pisa is via high-speed trains or guided tours.

High-speed trains are convenient in many different aspects. For one, you won’t need to worry about traffic or finding a parking spot. High-speed trains will also save you 30+ minutes of commute and you’ll be able to visit Pisa on your terms.

Guided tours, on the other hand, will teach you about your destination while taking things off your mind – such as transportation, restaurants, and itineraries.

Florence to Pisa train

When it comes to booking your Florence to Pisa train, it’s important to do so in advance. This is because train tickets tend to get more expensive as the travel date approaches. The best high-speed trains to take are Italo and Freccia Rossa.

The fast routes go from Florence’s station, Santa Maria Novella train, to Pisa Centrale, which is a 25-minute walk from the Leaning Tower. While you’d only be saving 10 minutes, you could take a train from Pisa Centrale to Pisa S. Rossore. Pisa S. Rossore’s train station is a 9-minute walk from the Leaning Tower.

Florence to Pisa Guided Tours

Get the #1 selling day trip from Florence to Pisa! If you prefer a half-day trip, here is the most highly-rated one.

The best-selling day trip tour from Florence to Pisa, for example, will take you to Pisa, Monteriggioni, Siena, and San Gimignano. This tour is the perfect opportunity for those who want to see various Tuscan towns, learn about them, and experience the culture and food.

How far is Pisa from Florence?

Pisa and Florence, via train, are less than an hour-long train commute from one another. If you drive, the commute will be about an hour and 20 minutes.

Things to do in Pisa in One Day

Despite being a small city, Pisa is home to several architectural works of art that are all worth seeing. Everything to do and see is fairly concentrated, meaning you won’t walk far to reach each site or activity. With that said, here are the best things to do in Pisa for a day!👇

• Visit the Piazza dei Miracoli and its landmarks:
  • La Torre Pendente – Leaning Tower of Pisa
  • Cattedrale di Pisa – Cathedral of Pisa
  • Battistero di San Giovanni – St. John’s Baptistery
  • Camposanto – This is a cemetery
  • Mura di Pisa – City Walls of Pisa
• Borgo Stretto – Historic narrow street with medieval and renaissance architecture.
• Tuttomondo – 1989 mural by Kieth Haring Mural.
• Piazza dei Cavalieri – Beautiful Renaissance square with historical importance. This square is home to the Palazzo della Carovana, a statue of Tuscany’s first duke, Cosimo I de’ Medici, and a church.
• Lungarni di Pisa – here you will see some of the most beautiful views over the Arno River.
  • Cross the bridge, Ponte Solferino.
• Santa Maria della Spina – you will see this church from the Ponte Solferino. (Pictured below)

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Pisa’s iconic landmark, the Leaning Tower, is a medieval architectural wonder built in Romanesque style. This medieval wonder dates back to the 12th century, with an original height of 60 meters (196.85 feet). Due to its leaning, its highest point is now 56.57 meters (185.93 feet). This tower’s original purpose was to serve as a bell tower for the church.

Do you know why the Tower of Pisa leans? It is due to the soft ground it was built on. The tower had already begun leaning when the architects started constructing the third story back in 1178. Over its 800 years of existence, it’s been calculated that the tower has been “falling” at the rate of 1-2 millimeters per year.

Visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Cathedral

Did you know you can climb to the top of the Leaning Tower? If you didn’t, now you do!

To get to the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, there are 297 steps to climb. If this is something you are willing to do for the experience and views, this is the perfect experience for you! This Get Your Guide experience offers a reserved-time entry ticket to climb the Tower of Pisa and visit the Cathedral of Pisa.

What to Eat in Pisa

Being a part of the Tuscan region, Pisa shares many similar dishes with Florence. However, there certainly are traditional Pisan foods that are must-tries. Here are some of them!👇

• Cecina (or Farinata) – This is a savory and thin chickpea “cake”.
• Pallette – This dish features a type of polenta topped with ragù (meat sauce).
• Tagliata al Mucco Pisano – This to Pisa is what Bistecca alla Fiorentina is to Florence. This steak comes from a crossbreed between the local Podolica, Chianina, and the Bruno Alpina breeds.
• Castagnaccio – This dessert is a type of cake made with chestnut flour, pine nuts, rosemary, and raisins. It can be an acquired taste, but (personally) it is amazing!

Gluten-Free Pisa

If you are celiac or gluten intolerant, you need to add Pisa to your travel bucket list – whether you care for the Leaning Tower or not. Why? Because they have one of the best gluten-free bakeries in Italy! ER Pasticceria is a 100% gluten-free bakery that serves a wide variety of freshly baked goods daily. Here you will find everything from croissants to choux pastry, biscuits, pizzette, focaccia, bread, and so forth. You will even find packaged products.

Call me crazy, but this is the perfect opportunity to stock up on incredible gluten-free food for the rest of your Italy travels! This bakery is worth the 2-hour round-trip commute.

Is Pisa worth visiting?

Yes, it is! Overall, Pisa is a fairly small city which means there is not too much to see. However, the few things that are there to see are simply spectacular. If you enjoy Renaissance architecture and historical sites, Pisa is certainly worth the day trip.

I have to ask…

Did I convince you to take a day trip to Pisa from Florence? Let me know in the comments!

If you found this blog post helpful, please SHARE this with friends and family who may find this helpful.

As always, thank you for being here; I am so glad you are.❤️