Leaning Tower of Pisa Day Trip
Pisa is a must see for your first trip to Italy. We did a short day trip while traveling from Florence and Naples. We took pictures with the Leaning Tower, climbed to the top, and stopped for gelato and lunch. We were in Pisa for only a few hours. If we had more time I would have gone into the museum and visited the inside of the Duomo Cathedral.
Itinerary
Before Your Trip: Planning
You do not need a ticket to take pictures with the tower. If you want to climb the Leaning Tower, you should reserve tickets in advance at https://www.opapisa.it/en.
NOTE: You must be 8 for entry to climb the tower. The visit takes about 30-45 min and is 251 steps to the top – no elevator or lift. All bags must be checked before entering.
Arrival
We took the Trenitalia Tuscany Line from Florence to Pisa. The train from Florence’s Santa Maria Novella (Firenze S.M. Novella) station to the Pisa Centrale station takes about an hour. It was very affordable and comfortable.
From Pisa Centrale, we checked our bags in a storage locker that was a few blocks away. There are several that have very similar names, so make sure that you are at the one that you reserved.
We then walked the mile from the train station to the Field of Miracles using our phone for navigation. This took around 30 min at a leisurely pace.
Leaning Tower Climb
We took pictures with the rest of the crowds once we arrived. It was very crowded where the main street dumps into the square and you see the first good view of the tower. I would recommend going to the far side of the Leaning Tower near the bag check for less crowds.
I booked timed tickets for the family to climb the tower mid-day. We arrived in line about 15 minutes before our ticket time. Then I found out that I had to check our bags – my purse and a small backpack for jackets/water/snacks. Yes, they wanted me to check my crossbody purse. I found this out the hard way. I had to walk back to the baggage check to put it into the locker with my backpack.
There are 251 steps to the top through a spiral passageway that is very narrow and barely accommodates 2 people across. As you are circling there are definitely areas that you can feel the tilt of the tower. The old marble steps are rutted with use. There were several points where you could stop to take a break or a few pictures out of a window. Be sure to look up and down the center of the tower as you climb.
There are two levels when you reach the top. We walked around the first platform level to take in the amazing views of the Field of Miracles, Cathedral, and surrounding city. Climb another level to reach the top where you can see the seven large brass bells.
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