How to use these 12 ideas
The first five ideas sit on or next to the Piazza dei Miracoli. The other seven are in the city, along the Arno and the old streets, and need a short walk or a bus ride. The list is a selection, not a ranking, and it is independent of the monument operator and of the city.
Prices and hours are as published for 2026. They can change, and some places have their own closing days, so check the current timetable before you go. For the tower itself, see the pages on tickets and on climbing.
On the Piazza dei Miracoli
Five places beside the tower.
1. Pisa Cathedral
The cathedral holds the pulpit by Giovanni Pisano, dated 1302 to 1310 by the operator. A visit only to the cathedral is free with a time-limited ticket that you get at the ticket offices on site. A monument ticket includes a free cathedral pass without a fixed time. Dress and behave as in a place of worship.
Pisa Cathedral →2. The Baptistery
Staff demonstrate the echo under the double dome with sung notes, every 30 minutes according to the operator. The pulpit is by Nicola Pisano, 1260. The gallery above can be partly closed for restoration, so do not count on it.
Pisa Baptistery →3. The Camposanto
The monumental cemetery on the north side of the square was founded in 1277. The operator attributes the frescoes of the Triumph of Death and the Last Judgment to Bonamico Buffalmacco. The soil is described as a tradition from Palestine, not as a proven fact. Entry is free on 1 and 2 November, so check the dates before you go.
The Piazza dei Miracoli →4. Museo dell'Opera del Duomo
The museum shows art and furnishings from the cathedral complex. It was redesigned and reopened in October 2019. The audio guide costs €5 on the operator's rate page.
5. Museo delle Sinopie
The sinopie are the red preparatory drawings under the Camposanto frescoes. They came to light after a wartime fire and the removal of the frescoes, and they have been in the museum since 1979. They are drawings, not finished paintings.
Our picks: things to do
A walk, a golf cart tour and a bike ride to Lucca.
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.
One-hour golf cart tour beyond the tower
A guided hour by golf cart past the Palazzo Reale, Palazzo Blu, Ponte di Mezzo and Tuttomondo. Bring your own water; interior visits are not listed as included.
Check availability →
Self-guided bike ride from Pisa to Lucca
Bike, app-guided route, phone holder, pump and repair kit, lock included. The train ticket back is not included.
Check availability →
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.
Check availability →Pisa tours and day trips
Guided visits and day trips to the Leaning Tower and the Piazza dei Miracoli, with live prices and availability.
Squares and churches
Two stops away from the monuments.
6. Piazza dei Cavalieri
Giorgio Vasari redesigned the square for Cosimo. The Palazzo della Carovana is the seat of the Scuola Normale, and the Palazzo dell'Orologio stands beside it. Treat the buildings as an exterior view and do not plan on going inside.
7. Santa Maria della Spina
This small Gothic church stands on the Lungarno Gambacorti. Because of flooding of the river, it was taken apart in the 19th century and rebuilt at a higher level. It is also used for exhibitions today. A city article gives 1230 as the founding year, another calls the date uncertain and links it to a bridge of 1182. Check current opening and entry before you go.
Art, streets and the river
Five more ideas for the city.
8. Tuttomondo by Keith Haring
The mural from 1989 covers the rear façade of the church of Sant'Antonio Abate near Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. You can see it from the street. Seeing it does not give you rights to use photos commercially.
Photo ideas →9. Palazzo Blu
The palace on the Lungarno shows a permanent collection and changing exhibitions. The operator lists €5 regular, €3 reduced and €9 for a family, and large special exhibitions are not included. Opening is 10:00 to 19:00 from Monday to Friday and 10:00 to 20:00 on weekends and holidays, with last entry 1 hour before. A regional tourism site lists €3, €2 and €6 and opening from Tuesday to Friday, so confirm before you go.
10. Borgo Stretto
The historic shopping street with its arcades runs from Piazza Garibaldi toward Borgo Largo and Via Oberdan. There is no admission price, and the shops keep their own hours.
11. The Lungarni and Ponte di Mezzo
A walk along the Arno links Palazzo Blu and Santa Maria della Spina, with Ponte di Mezzo as a viewpoint. The city tourism office lists these river views among its photo spots.
12. The Botanical Garden
The garden has entrances on Via Luca Ghini and Via Roma. Since 1 January 2025 the garden and the museum have separate prices. The garden costs €4, children aged 6 to 12 pay €2, a family pays €8, and children under 6 enter free. The botanical museum is temporarily closed after the earthquake of 4 August 2026. Garden hours run from 8:30 and end between 17:00 in winter and 21:00 in July, so check the day you plan to go.
Getting around
Buses and walking routes.
The city bus line 1+ links the station with the tower. A ticket costs €1.70 for 70 minutes, or €3 on board in 2026. From 1 April to 31 October the seasonal line 25 runs from the Park Pietrasantina car park to the museums on the Lungarni. It operates daily from 10:00 to 19:15, about every 15 minutes.
Routes and stops can change with roadworks. Look at the timetable on the day, and plan a walk as the fallback for the shorter stretches.
Things to do in Pisa: frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Pisa besides the Leaning Tower?
The cathedral, baptistery, Camposanto and two museums stand on the same square. In the city you can visit Piazza dei Cavalieri, Santa Maria della Spina, Palazzo Blu, the Lungarni, Borgo Stretto and the botanical garden.
Is Pisa Cathedral free?
A visit only to the cathedral is free, but it needs a time-limited ticket from the ticket offices on site. That pass cannot be reserved in advance. A monument ticket includes a free cathedral pass without a fixed time.
Is the botanical museum open?
The museum part is temporarily closed after the earthquake of 4 August 2026. The garden has its own hours and prices, so check the day you want to go.
Is Palazzo Blu free?
No. The operator lists €5 for a regular ticket in 2026, with reductions for some visitors. Large special exhibitions are not included in that price.
How much time do I need for Pisa?
Plan a full day if you want the square and a few city sights. Lucca is a separate trip by train.