Pisa in 48 hours

PISA

Pisa is located in the Tuscany region of Italy and is known for its leaning tower building. Pisa is a touristic place, but not as touristy as its neighbours – Florence or Cinque Terre.

Pisa city centre has a vibrant piazza and street life dominated by locals, well-maintained Romanesque buildings, Gothic churches and stunning riverbanks around the Arne river.

Flew from London by Ryanair and arriving late on Friday evening, Pisa Airport is about 10-15 minutes away from Central Station by Airport shuttle train. We checked into our Airbnb which was located 15 minutes’ walk away from the station. There are a number of things you can visit and do which will keep your 48 hours in Pisa busy. Instead of me writing up your itinerary, let me give you a checklist of what you do while in there!1. Climb the leaning towerThe must-see iconic building of Pisa and maybe a must-do crazy leaning pic with it. The leaning tower of Pisa is a freestanding bell tower of a cathedral and is probably known for its unintended tilt. The tower’s tilt construction began in the 12th century and due to the soft ground foundation, the structure’s weight started to lean. Hence the leaning tower! 2. Walk around the Piazza dei MiracoliWhile either climbing up the tower or strolling around the Piazza dei Miracoli, notice the beautiful architecture of the cathedral or baptistery! This is the most visited piazza, so don’t just rush to take a picture of the tower. Stroll around to see the fountain or cemetery as well. 3. Walk around the PiazzasDon’t get too mesmerized by the main square where the tower is located. Pisa has much more beautiful Piazzas with Romanesque buildings around. One of the stunning piazzas would be Palazzo della Carovana, where the 16-the century palace is located. 4. Visit botanical gardenIn the city of Pisa itself there is not really much green space. However, if you are looking to spend some time in greenery, make sure to visit the Orto botanical garden, which is part of Pisa University. The large stunning green area has a few glasshouses as well as a museum. 5. Get lost around alleywaysWhat is fascinating about Italy are its small Mediterranean narrow streets. Pisa is not big, so don’t be afraid to get lost a bit. There are many cute little alleys at the back of the main streets and who knows what you can discover in there! Maybe a great wine shop? Or a tapas place?

6. Visit Santa Maria della SpinaA small Gothic church positioned strangely on the bank side of the river Arno. The exterior facade of the church has some amazing marble decoration, as well as it, is a very picturesque place! 7. Stroll around ArnoThe river originate on Mount Falterona and it is going through the Tuscany region. River Arno is one of the important rivers in central Italy, after the Tiber. River waterfront walks around the river can bring some great views and relaxing moments. 8. Torre Guelfa Della Ctittadella VecchiaDating back to mid 15th century, this tower is part of Pisa’s old city. 9. Get a gelato at La Botega del GelatoSo far by me, a great shop for an ice-cream spot. Who wouldn’t taste an Italian gelato while in there right? La Bottega del gelato gets very busy and is open until late. Moreover, they have a lot of yummy flavours! 10. Experience nightlife in PisaThe best starting point for a night drink in Pisa would be Piazza Garibaldi, where it can continue to Borgo Stretto or Piazza delle Vettovaglie. Fancy a quirky coffee shop, wine shop or dinner meal in Pisa’s restaurant?

Food & drink

1. Via Santa Maria – a street full of places to dine and drink 2. Via Guglielmo Oberdan – another popular street with shops and bars 3. Vineria di Piazza 4. Caffe Duomo5. Amalfitana restaurant

Where to stay?

During our stay in Pisa, we stayed in a cute Airbnb, located about 10 minutes away from the train station and the main square. Easily accessible by foot to anywhere we wanted, so we have not used public transport at all there. As I have been looking for accommodations in Pisa, the city didn’t offer a variety of places to stay. The best option in my case in Pisa is to opt-in for an Airbnb stay. If you are looking for accommodations on Airbnb, sign up using my Airbnb link and get £13 of travel credits! Additionally, if you prefer hotels, book your stay through my Booking.com link to get travel credits too!

Other activities

The Tuscany area, where Pisa is located can offer great scenery, hikes and wine-tasting regions. Make sure to visit nearby cities and nature to get the true feel of Tuscany. 1. Florence2. Cinque Terre3. Siena4. San Gimignano5. Arezzo6. Val d’orciaAs seen on Instagram

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