10 Best Things to Do and See in Pisa
Exploring Pisa on foot is one of the best ways to feel the city’s atmosphere, connect its landmark places and discover its neighbourhoods at a more natural pace.
In this guide, you will find the attractions not to miss when planning a walking route in Pisa, with simple reference points.
To go further, you can also enjoy a private guided tour in Pisa. It is a smoother way to connect places, understand details you might miss on your own and enjoy a more human, personal discovery adapted to your trip.
1. Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of Italy’s most famous landmarks and draws visitors to the heart of Pisa for its unique appearance and iconic tilt. Located on Piazza dei Miracoli, it is part of an outstanding architectural complex that also includes the cathedral and the baptistery. When discovering it, visitors admire its slender white marble silhouette, its stacked arcades, and the iconic view it offers over the square. It is a must-see place to appreciate the city’s heritage and historic atmosphere.
2. Piazza dei Miracoli
The Piazza dei Miracoli, in Pisa, is one of the most famous monumental complexes in Italy. This vast square brings together several remarkable buildings in a harmonious setting of lawns and pale marble architecture. Here you will find, in particular, the Leaning Tower, the cathedral, the baptistery and the monumental cemetery, which attract visitors for both their beauty and their heritage value. Very popular with visitors, the square offers a striking panorama and lets you take in the historic elegance of Pisa at a glance.
3. Cathedral of Pisa
Pisa Cathedral, located on the famous Piazza dei Miracoli, is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Inside, visitors discover a vast Romanesque Pisan religious building, with elegant columns, mosaics, decorated arches, and a solemn atmosphere. The interior is impressive for the richness of its architecture, the brightness of the spaces, and the sense of grandeur it conveys. It is often visited together with the other monuments on the site, including the baptistery and the Leaning Tower, to better appreciate the monumental complex of Pisa.
4. Knights’ Square
The Knights’ Square, in the heart of Pisa, is one of the city’s most elegant and iconic public spaces. It stands out for its harmonious atmosphere, historic façades, and remarkable palaces that bear witness to the site’s prestigious past. As you walk through it, you discover a pleasant, expansive pedestrian area, defined by refined architecture and a striking sense of visual unity. It is an essential stop to admire Pisa’s heritage, enjoy the urban setting, and experience the understated charm of this Italian square.
5. Natural History Museum of the University of Pisa
The Natural History Museum of the University of Pisa invites visitors to discover a rich collection dedicated to the natural world, with specimens from zoology, paleontology and comparative anatomy. Visitors can see fossils, skeletons, taxidermied animals and various scientific objects that illustrate the diversity of life and the evolution of species. The tour will appeal to both curious visitors and science enthusiasts, thanks to educational displays that help them better understand biodiversity, natural environments and the work of researchers.
6. Blue Palace
The Blue Palace of Pisa is a well-known exhibition venue that attracts visitors with its varied cultural program and central location in the city. It usually hosts temporary art, photography, or visual culture exhibitions in a setting suited to visiting and strolling. This palace stands out above all as a space dedicated to contemporary creation and to showcasing a wide range of artists and projects. It is an interesting stop to round out a visit to Pisa beyond its most famous landmarks.
7. Botanical Garden of Pisa
The Pisa Botanical Garden is one of the most pleasant places to discover the richness of plant life right in the heart of the city. Visitors can stroll along shaded pathways lined with ornamental plants, medicinal species, remarkable trees, and a wide variety of carefully maintained botanical collections. This garden offers a peaceful walk, ideal for observing the diversity of shapes, colors, and scents throughout the seasons. It is also a wonderful stop for nature lovers, botany enthusiasts, and anyone seeking a quiet break, just steps from Pisa’s main attractions.
8. Pisa Baptistery
The Baptistery of Pisa, located in Piazza dei Miracoli, is one of the city’s most remarkable monuments. This vast circular building impresses with its architecture, which blends several styles, and with its large dome, which immediately catches the eye. Inside, the space is simple and bright, with renowned acoustics that give the visit a special dimension. It is an iconic place of worship in Pisa’s heritage, surrounded by an exceptional monumental complex, right next to the cathedral and the famous Leaning Tower.
9. Church of Our Lady of the Spina
The Church of Santa Maria della Spina in Pisa is a small Gothic church notable for its elegant architecture and picturesque location on the banks of the Arno. On closer look, you’ll discover a finely decorated façade, with carved details that immediately catch the eye. The building, modest in size, offers a striking contrast with the city’s great monuments and charms visitors with its intimate atmosphere. It is a place admired for its unique beauty, ideal for a stop during a stroll through Pisa’s historic center.
10. Tuttomondo (Keith Haring)
In Pisa, Tuttomondo is a large mural by Keith Haring that catches the eye with its bright colors and stylized figures in motion. Located on a building in the city center, this contemporary work turns the urban space into an open-air gallery. Visitors will discover a set of intertwined characters and shapes, typical of the artist’s visual language, evoking energy, diversity, and harmony. It is a distinctive stop for art lovers as well as for visitors eager to see another side of Pisa, beyond its famous tower.
Antony M
During my travels, I looked for guides who spoke my language. This search turned out to be long and tedious. That is why I created MYTOGU (My Tourist Guide): a matching site between tourists and professional tourist guides.
