The Leaning Tower of Pisa in brief
The tower is the free-standing bell tower of Pisa Cathedral. It was never a defensive tower. Together with the cathedral, the baptistery and the Camposanto it forms the ensemble on the Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa, Tuscany. UNESCO listed the square as a World Heritage Site in 1987.
You climb the tower in timed slots, on foot and with a ticket for a fixed time. The other monuments on the square can be visited with their own tickets or a combined ticket. Prices on this page are in euros, as listed in 2026, and they can change.
What this guide covers
This site explains how to buy tickets and choose a time slot, what to expect on the climb, which tours make sense and how to reach Pisa from Florence or from the cruise port in Livorno. It also covers the cathedral, the baptistery and the Camposanto, why the tower leans, its history, photo spots, other sights in Pisa, a day trip to Lucca and where to stay.
It is an independent guide. It is not the website of the Opera della Primaziale Pisana, which runs the monuments, and it is not run by the City of Pisa or by a tour company.
Our picks: Pisa tours and tickets
Tower tickets, a guided visit to the cathedral and baptistery, and a walk through the town.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Guided tour of the cathedral and baptistery
A licensed local guide leads you inside the cathedral and baptistery. Transport and tips are extra, and a tower slot comes only with the matching option.
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Two-hour walking tour of Pisa
Two hours on foot with a licensed local guide and headsets. Getting to the meeting point is up to you, and monument entries are not listed as included.
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Leaning Tower and Cathedral entrance ticket
A reserved tower time slot, cathedral access and an audio guide app in four languages, booking fee included. No guide and no transfers.
Check availability →Pisa tours and day trips
Guided visits, day trips from Florence and shore excursions, with live prices and availability.
A simple plan for a day in Pisa
Three steps that fit most visits.
1. Fix the tower slot first
The tower is the only monument with a tied time, so choose its slot before anything else. Online booking opens up to 90 days ahead. Then plan the cathedral, the baptistery and the Camposanto around it.
Tickets and time slots →2. Plan the way in
From Florence, the regional train runs from Firenze Santa Maria Novella to Pisa Centrale and takes roughly 50 to 80 minutes. From the cruise port, the train between Livorno Centrale and Pisa Centrale takes about 20 minutes, not counting the trip from the ship. From the airport, the Pisamover to Pisa Centrale takes about 5 minutes and costs €6.50 one way.
Livorno to Pisa →3. Take the bus or walk to the square
City bus 1+ runs from the station to the tower and on to the Park Pietrasantina car park. A ticket costs €1.70 and is valid for 70 minutes. Bus times can change with road works.
The square →Explore the guide
Every page of this site, from tickets to Lucca.
Tickets and time slots
Tower €20, combined tickets, when booking opens and how changes work.
Climbing the tower
Steps, age rule, bag rule and who should think twice.
Pisa tours compared
What a ticket covers and what to ask before you book a tour.
Florence to Pisa
Regional train, bus and day trip options.
Livorno to Pisa
Port, city bus, train and the Pisa leg planned separately.
Piazza dei Miracoli
Cathedral, baptistery, tower and Camposanto in one ensemble.
Pisa Cathedral
The free entry pass, Giovanni Pisano's pulpit and the interior.
Pisa Baptistery
Echo demonstration, pulpit and the gallery.
Why the tower leans
Soft ground, the repairs of 1990 to 2001 and the angle.
Leaning Tower facts
Height, tilt, weight and bells, with the figures that vary.
History of the tower
Construction from 1173 and the Galileo legend.
Photo ideas
Poses, spots and rules for taking pictures.
Things to do in Pisa
Twelve ideas beyond the tower.
Lucca from Pisa
Train, city walls and two towers.
Where to stay in Pisa
Areas near the square, the station and the river.
Good to know before you plan
Points where older guides and many websites are out of date.
The age rule uses the birth year
In 2026 children born in 2018 or earlier may climb, even before their birthday. Children born in 2019 or later may not. Bring an ID.
Climbing rules →The number of steps varies
The visitor information gives 251 steps. Other operator documents give 268, 273 and 292. Expect roughly 250 to 290.
Steps and bags →Free cathedral entry still needs a pass
A cathedral-only visit is free with a limited timed pass from the ticket offices on site. A bought monument ticket includes a free cathedral pass without a fixed time.
Cathedral →Check hours for autumn and winter
The published calendar runs to 31 August 2026. For September onward, check the current timetable before you go.
Tickets and hours →The city bus is line 1+
The line from the station to the tower is now called 1+. The older name LAM Rossa is out of date. A ticket costs €1.70 and is valid for 70 minutes.
From Florence →Leaning Tower of Pisa: frequently asked questions
How much is a ticket for the Leaning Tower?
€20 in 2026, for a chosen time slot. There is no reduced rate for the tower. A combined ticket is listed at €27 with the tower and €11 without it. See the ticket page for what each one includes.
Do I have to book the tower in advance?
Online booking opens up to 90 days before the visit. The online quota is limited and the ticket offices on the square sell tickets from 15 days before the visit, but do not plan around buying on the day. If your date is fixed, book ahead.
How long does the visit take?
The operator's visitor information gives about 30 minutes for the tower visit, on foot. Arrive 15 minutes before your slot and leave time at the cloakroom for your bags.
Can small children climb the tower?
Only children born in 2018 or earlier in 2026, with a paying adult. Anyone under 18 must go with an adult. See the climbing page.
Is the cathedral free?
Yes for a cathedral-only visit, but you need a free timed pass from the ticket offices on the square. With a monument ticket the pass is included. Details are on the cathedral page.
Is this the official website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not connected to the Opera della Primaziale Pisana, the City of Pisa, any tour operator or any hotel.