Pisa Guide

We visited Pisa as a short stop while traveling by train from Florence to Sestri Levante. It turned out to be an easy way to break up the journey and give the kids a fun sightseeing moment along the way.

Rather than staying overnight, we stored our bags at the train station and spent a few hours exploring the city before continuing on to Liguria.

For many travelers, Pisa works best as a short stop rather than a full overnight destination.

The Leaning Tower is undeniably impressive, and seeing it in person is fun, especially for kids. However, the immediate area around the tower is extremely busy and very tourist-focused.

Because of that, Pisa feels less like a city you explore for days and more like a quick stop that fits nicely into a longer travel day.

The Pisa train station is not right next to the famous tower area. To reach the historic center and the Piazza dei Miracoli where the tower stands, we took a local bus from the station.

Before leaving the station, we used the luggage storage service so we could explore comfortably without carrying our bags around the city.

For travelers moving between cities by train, this makes Pisa very easy to incorporate as a short stop.

The tower area itself is visually impressive but extremely crowded. Restaurants near the tower tended to feel tourist-heavy and not particularly memorable.

However, once you move a little away from the immediate tower area, the city becomes much more pleasant. Walking through the surrounding streets felt relaxed and gave us a glimpse of a quieter side of Pisa.

For families, the highlight is simple: seeing the Leaning Tower in person and taking the classic photos. Our kids especially loved the souvenir stalls around the square.

We stopped at Ristorante Duomo near the tower area. While the location was convenient, restaurants in the immediate tourist zone tend to be more about proximity than standout food.

If you have more time, it may be worth walking a little further from the main square to find more local dining options.

• Ristorante Duomo

Pisa fits naturally into travel routes between Florence, the Ligurian coast, and Cinque Terre.

Stopping for a few hours to see the tower, walk around the city, and grab lunch can be a very efficient way to add another destination to your itinerary without slowing down the overall trip.

For our itinerary, it worked perfectly as a break between Florence and Sestri Levante.

Pisa may not require a long stay, but it can still be a fun and memorable stop, especially for families.

Seeing the Leaning Tower in person, wandering through the surrounding streets, and letting the kids enjoy the novelty of the tilted landmark made the visit worthwhile.

If you treat Pisa as a short stop rather than a full destination, it fits very nicely into a broader Italian itinerary.