Melo Villareal
Getting to the Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world with up to 1 million tourists visiting the free-free standing bell tower annually. The unusual tilt of the power that leans for almost four degrees is what attracts visitors each year. The leaning bell tower is part of the much larger and grander Cathedral and Baptistery of Pisa known for its magnificent architecture. But a mistake on the creation of the foundation of the Leaning Tower of Pisa caused it to be a symbol of Italy.
Travelers from all over the world love to visit Pisa for its famous leaning bell tower and take photographs of themselves with the Leaning Tower of Pisa using creative and amusing optical illusions. Of course, admiring it from afar and taking shots that trick the eye is not enough for many, there are long lines to enter and climb the tower. And there’s no need to worry as experts reported that the tower is, as of now, stable and is in no danger of falling unless a natural disaster happens.
The tickets cost 18 euros per person for entrance to the tower and include a free entrance to the Duomo. During it’s best to prebook your ticket to avoid long lines, especially during high season.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is part of the bigger Piazza del Miracoli or Plaza of Miracles located in the region of Tuscany in Northwest Italy. Pisa isn’t as big as other cities in Italy like Rome, Florence, or Milano so it’s quite easy to spot where the Piazza of Miracles is and where the Leaning Tower of Pisa is located.
By Train
Traveling by train across Italy is a convenient and cheaper option. If you’re in Rome planning to visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa, take a train that takes you to Florence first as there are no direct train routes from Rome to Pisa, the journey takes about 3 hours. And from Florence, it takes about less than an hour and a half to arrive at Pisa by train.
Your train to Pisa can either drop you off at Pisa’s central train station, Pisa Centrale or at a smaller train station called Pisa San Rossore which is about a five minute walk away from the Plaza of Miracles. If you were dropped off in Pisa Centrale, however, you can opt to wait for 15-30 minutes to catch the next train heading to San Rossoro. You can leave your luggage at the Pisa Centrale station at their luggage storage area.
By Bike
If you’re making Pisa Centrale your starting point heading to the leaning tower, there are bike rentals inside the station offered by Profer Cooperativa. It will cost 10 euros to rent a bike for a full day and less for less than a day. Renting bikes is a great option to explore the city of Pisa if you’re staying for more than a day.
By Bus? You can buy bus tickets that can take you to the Plaza of Miracles in the Pisa Centrale station through automatic machines causing 1.70 euros per ticket. This lasts for 70 minutes. In front of the station, catch the LAM “ROSSA” bus that’s heading towards “Park Pietrasantina.” This will take you past inside the gate of the Plaza of Miracles where you can get off at the “Torre” stop.
By Plane
To get to Pisa, if it’s your first destination as you enter into Italy, you can catch a plane flying directly to Pisa’s international airport named Galileo Galilei. The airport has both intern and international routes so you can pretty much get on a plane even within Italy and fly to Pisa if you’re in another part of Italy far from the city.
Once you’ve reached the airport, you can leave your luggage in their luggage storage area just like in Pisa Centrale. Then you can buy tickets on automated machines for 2.70 euros for a ride on a PisaMover shuttle that’ll take you directly to Pisa Centrale. From there, you can take the ROSSA bus or rent a bike to head towards the Plaza of Miracles as mentioned above.
By Taxi
If you’re limited on time and want to take the fastest option to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, you can opt to get a taxi that can take you directly to the Piazza Duomo, where the Plaza of Miracles is located and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Taxi rates from Pisa Centrale to Piazza Duomo cost about 9 euros while taking a taxi from the airport to Piazza Duomo is 12 euros.
Taxi lines are available outside the airport and outside at Pisa Centrale, otherwise, you have to call a taxi service to come to pick you up. Keep in mind that there are extra charges for the call pickup, for each piece of luggage, and for nights and holidays.
Pisa Travel and Tour Packages
- Pisa Tour with Wine Tasting Experience and Leaning Tower Skip the Line Ticket
Immerse yourself in Pisa’s rich history and culture during this fun tour and wine tasting experience in the city! Start off the adventure at Piazza dei Miracoli, also known as the “Square of Miracles”. This historical complex is central to Pisa’s fascinating religious history, and home to iconic sights such as the Baptistery, Camposanto Monumentale, and Pisa Cathedral.
- Leaning Tower of Pisa Skip-the-Line Ticket
Enjoy more time to explore one of Italy’s most famous landmarks, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, with this convenient skip-the-line ticket to the popular attraction. Constructed during the 12th-century, the tower is well-known for its extraordinary tilt at a 10-degree angle.
Searching for the best hotels and affordable flights? Check out our complete list of affordable hotels and resorts via Agoda or you may also see available Airbnb properties in the city.
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Also read: Rome Bucket List: 15 Best Things To Do In Rome, Italy
