Things to Do in Pisa Other Than the Tower: My Local Guide to What Really Matters

things-to-do-in-pisa-other-than-the-tower

10 Exciting Things to Do in Pisa Other Than the Tower

Discover unique experiences in Pisa beyond the iconic tower. From art to local cuisine, explore the city's hidden gems. Read more to plan your adventure!

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By Lucia Rinaldi - Thinks Pisa leans best into its quiet corners.

If you’re wondering whether there’s more to Pisa than that famous tilt, I get it. But as someone who’s walked these streets her whole life, I promise, there’s more here than a single snapshot. When I tell people I’m from Pisa, they inevitably ask about the tower, and yes, it’s spectacular. But after forty-three years of living here, watching tourists rush from train station to tower and back again, I can’t help but think they’re missing the real story.

The truth is, things to do in Pisa other than the tower reveal a city that’s been quietly thriving for over a thousand years. While most visitors spend just a few minutes posing for photos at the world famous leaning tower, I’ve spent decades discovering the layers beneath. From the gentle curve of the River Arno to the buzzing energy of our student quarters, from medieval churches that predate the tower to contemporary art spaces that challenge everything you think you know about this place, Pisa has been keeping secrets in plain sight.

In this guide, I’ll share my favourite things to do in Pisa beyond the tower, personal recommendations that reveal the city’s history, culture, and culinary delights.

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Let me paint you a picture of what really happens here. Every morning, I walk past the same café where university students argue about philosophy over espresso that costs less than a euro. The same baker who’s been making focaccia for thirty years still waves at me from behind flour-dusted glass. The same elderly woman feeds pigeons by the Arno river, rain or shine, and somehow the pigeons know exactly when she’s coming.

This is the Pisa that exists beyond the postcard, a living, breathing city where prestigious universities have been educating minds for centuries, where great restaurants serve food that hasn’t changed much since the Renaissance, where historic buildings tell stories that go deeper than architectural curiosity.

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The leaning tower draws millions because it’s wonderfully, improbably tilted. But it’s just one piece of the Campo dei Miracoli, which itself is just one corner of a much larger story. Walk ten minutes in any direction from that famous tower, and you’ll find yourself in neighborhoods where tourists are outnumbered by locals going about their daily lives.

When you visit Pisa, keep an open mind and take time to discover these authentic local experiences beyond the main attractions.

Absolutely. But here’s the thing, you have to be willing to look beyond the obvious. Day trippers who rush from Pisa Centrale to the tower and back are missing the point entirely. They’re treating this place like a tourist trap when it’s actually one of Italy’s most authentic experiences, if you know where to look.

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I’ve watched this city change over decades, and while the tower remains magnificently tilted, the real magic happens in the spaces between the main attractions. The city centre pulses with energy from dawn to well past midnight. Students from around the world bring different languages and perspectives to our ancient streets. Art lovers discover collections that rival Florence’s but without the crowds. Food enthusiasts find trattorias where recipes have been passed down through generations. Pisa also offers a wealth of other attractions for those willing to look beyond the obvious, making every visit unique.

The River Arno cuts through the heart of everything, creating natural gathering places where locals have been meeting for centuries. On summer evenings, the lungarni (river embankments) become outdoor living rooms where families spread blankets, couples share bottles of wine, and children chase each other while their parents catch up on neighborhood gossip.

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The Piazza del Duomo is actually a complex of four major buildings, not just the Pisa Tower. Most visitors photograph the Pisa Tower and move on, but they’re missing three other architectural marvels that deserve equal attention.

The Pisa Cathedral, officially Santa Maria Assunta, represents one of the finest examples of Pisan Romanesque architecture. Built in the 11th century, it predates the tower by nearly a century. Tickets to enter the cathedral can be obtained at the ticket office, where you may also find limited free tickets available in person. The entrance fee is modest, and inside, you’ll find incredible acoustics that make even whispered conversations carry across the vast space. The cathedral’s facade tells the story of Pisa’s maritime power, this was a city that controlled trade routes across the Mediterranean.

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The Baptistery, the largest baptistery in Italy, offers some of the most remarkable acoustic experiences you’ll find anywhere. Every half hour, a guard demonstrates the building’s incredible acoustics by singing a simple note that transforms into a complex harmony as it bounces off the circular walls. The effect is so stunning that even the most jaded travelers stop talking and listen.

Climbing the Pisa Tower requires an extra cost, but many visitors find the experience worthwhile.

Walk away from the Piazza dei Miracoli, and you’ll quickly discover that Pisa’s hidden gems are hiding in plain sight. The Palazzo Blu, located on the banks of the Arno, houses both a permanent collection and rotating temporary exhibitions that showcase contemporary art alongside historical pieces. The building itself is a work of art, a restored 14th-century palace that managed to survive centuries of floods, wars, and urban renewal.

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The Keith Haring mural, painted in 1989 on the exterior wall of the church of San Antonio, represents one of the last major works by the American artist. Finding it requires a short walk through residential neighborhoods where you’ll pass local shops, small cafés, and the kind of everyday street life that makes a city feel real. The mural itself, titled “Tuttomondo”, covers 180 square meters and celebrates peace and harmony through Haring’s distinctive style.

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Santa Maria della Spina, a small Gothic church perched on the banks of the Arno, looks like it was designed by jewelers rather than architects. Built in the 13th century to house a thorn from Christ’s crown, it’s covered in intricate stone carvings that change appearance as the light shifts throughout the day. The church is tiny, you can walk around it in just a couple of minutes, but its detailed facade rewards close examination.

Just a short stroll away, you’ll find Piazza della Pera, a charming and less touristy square beloved by locals and students. Known for its relaxed, authentic atmosphere and distinctive pear-shaped monument, Piazza della Pera is a favorite spot for people-watching, enjoying coffee, and soaking up the romantic ambiance. It’s a lively gathering place that offers a glimpse into everyday life in Pisa, far from the crowds of the Leaning Tower.

The Piazza dei Cavalieri represents one of Pisa’s most significant historical sites, though it receives a fraction of the attention given to the tower. This square served as the political heart of medieval Pisa, and later became the headquarters of the Knights of St. Stephen, a military order established by Cosimo I de’ Medici in the 16th century. Its historical importance is underscored by its role in shaping Pisa’s civic and cultural identity over the centuries.

The Palazzo dell’Orologio, with its distinctive tower clock, stands where the medieval Torre della Muda once imprisoned Count Ugolino, made famous by Dante’s Inferno. The building’s facade tells stories of political intrigue and shifting power that shaped not just Pisa, but all of Tuscany.

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The Scuola Normale Superiore, one of Italy’s most prestigious universities, occupies the Palazzo dei Cavalieri. Founded by Napoleon in 1810, it continues to educate some of Italy’s brightest minds. The building itself showcases stunning frescoes that celebrate Pisan victories and achievements, though you’ll need to join an official walking tour to see the interior.

The best way to understand Pisa is to follow the rhythm of daily life. Start your morning at the Piazza delle Vettovaglie, traditionally called the "Supply Square." This covered market has been operating for over 400 years, and while it's evolved from a medieval trading post to a modern marketplace, it still serves as the heart of local commerce.

The market opens early, around 7 AM, when vendors arrange displays of seasonal produce, fresh fish from the Tyrrhenian coast, and local specialties. By 8 AM, the coffee bars around the square fill with workers grabbing breakfast before heading to offices, shops, and university departments. The energy is infectious vendors call out prices, customers negotiate deals, and the whole scene unfolds with the practiced efficiency of centuries.

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After the market, follow the Corso Italia, Pisa's main shopping street, which connects the train station to the Arno river. This isn't just a commercial thoroughfare, it's a social space where locals meet, students gather, and the pace of life reveals itself. Small shops sell everything from handmade leather goods to artisanal food products, while cafés offer perfect perches for people-watching.

The ancient walls that once protected medieval Pisa still encircle much of the historic centre. These aren't just historical curiosities, they're living boundaries that define neighborhoods and create intimate spaces within the larger city. Walking along sections of the city walls, especially near the Giardini Scotto, offers perspectives on how the city has grown and changed while maintaining its essential character.

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If you only have one day, resist the urge to pack everything in. Instead, choose a few experiences that will give you a real sense of the place. Start at the Campo dei Miracoli, but don’t just photograph the leaning tower (known locally as the 'Torre Pendente'). Pisa is actually home to several leaning towers, not just the famous one, so consider exploring some of these lesser-known sites for a more unique experience. Pay the entrance fee to climb inside the Pisa Cathedral, where the incredible acoustics and artistic details will show you why this building impressed visitors centuries before the tower began its famous tilt.

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From there, walk to the Palazzo Blu, where you can see how contemporary Pisa engages with art and culture. The permanent collection includes works by local artists alongside pieces from major Italian and international figures. The rotating temporary exhibitions often focus on themes that connect historical and contemporary perspectives.

Lunch at one of the trattorias near the Piazza delle Vettovaglie, where you can taste traditional Pisan cuisine without paying tourist prices. The restaurants here serve locals every day, so the food has to be good and reasonably priced.

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Spend your afternoon exploring the neighborhoods along the Arno river. The Lungarno Mediceo and Lungarno Galilei offer beautiful walks with views of historic buildings reflected in the water. This is where you’ll see how Pisans actually live, families with children, elderly couples on daily walks, students reading under trees, and the general rhythm of a city that has been thriving for centuries.

End your day at the Piazza dei Cavalieri, where you can sit on the steps of the Palazzo dei Cavalieri and watch the light change on the historic facades. As evening approaches, the square fills with students and locals, creating a natural theater where the present moment meets centuries of history.

The honest answer depends on what you're looking for. If you want to check the leaning tower off your list, a few hours will do. But if you want to understand why people like me choose to spend our entire lives here, you'll need at least two full days.

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Two days allows you to visit the main attractions without rushing, explore neighborhoods at a comfortable pace, and experience the city's daily rhythms. You can have dinner at a local restaurant, attend a concert or lecture at the university, or simply sit by the Arno and watch the light change as day turns to evening.

Three days gives you time to take a day trip to nearby attractions like Marina di Pisa, where locals go to escape the summer heat, or San Rossore, a natural park that offers hiking trails and wildlife viewing just minutes from the city centre. You might also explore some of the smaller churches and museums that reveal different aspects of Pisan history and culture.

Pisa's relationship with art extends far beyond the medieval monuments that dominate most guidebooks. The city has been home to artists, writers, and intellectuals for centuries, and that tradition continues today. The University of Pisa, founded in 1343, has attracted scholars from around the world, creating an intellectual atmosphere that shapes the city's cultural life.

The Museo di San Matteo houses one of Tuscany's most important collections of medieval and Renaissance art, including works by Donatello, Masaccio, and other masters. The museum occupies a former Benedictine monastery, and the building itself tells the story of how religious and secular power shaped artistic patronage.

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Contemporary art finds expression in spaces like the Palazzo Blu, but also in less obvious venues. The Keith Haring mural represents just one example of how international artists have engaged with Pisan spaces. Local galleries showcase emerging artists, and the university's art departments regularly host exhibitions that challenge conventional boundaries between academic and popular culture.

The city's literary connections run deep. Lord Byron lived here for several years, and his presence is still felt in the neighborhoods where he wrote some of his most famous works. Percy Bysshe Shelley and Mary Shelley also spent time in Pisa, and their experiences inform how we understand the city's romantic and intellectual heritage.

Forget about restaurants that advertise "tourist menus" in four languages. The best food in Pisa happens in places where locals eat every day, which means the prices are reasonable and the quality is consistently high. The city's location between the Tuscan hills and the Mediterranean coast creates a unique culinary identity that combines inland and coastal traditions.

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The Piazza delle Vettovaglie area offers several trattorias that serve traditional Pisan cuisine. Look for places that offer daily specials based on seasonal ingredients — this usually means the kitchen is working with fresh, local products rather than frozen or imported items. The wine tasting opportunities here focus on regional varieties that you won't find in other parts of Italy.

Cecina, a chickpea flour pancake, represents one of Pisa's most distinctive street foods. Vendors throughout the city serve it hot from wood-fired ovens, and it makes a perfect snack while exploring. The flavor is subtle but satisfying, and it's been a local favorite for generations.

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The university population means Pisa has developed a culture of affordable, high-quality food that caters to students and young professionals. Small restaurants near the university offer creative interpretations of traditional recipes, often incorporating influences from the international student community.

Many of Pisa's best experiences don't require an entrance fee. Walking along the ancient walls offers perspectives on the city's history and development that you can't get from guided tours. The walls themselves tell stories of medieval defense, Renaissance urban planning, and modern preservation efforts.

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The Arno river provides natural entertainment throughout the day. Early morning joggers use the lungarni as running paths, families picnic on the embankments during warm afternoons, and evening strollers enjoy the reflected lights of historic buildings. The Ponte di Mezzo, Pisa's central bridge, offers perfect viewpoints in all directions.

Church visits, with the exception of the cathedral in the Campo dei Miracoli, are typically free. San Nicola, San Martino, and San Michele degli Scalzi each offer different architectural styles and artistic treasures. These churches serve active congregations, so you'll often encounter locals attending services or simply stopping by for quiet reflection.

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The city's public spaces encourage lingering and exploration. The Giardini Scotto, a park built within the remains of a medieval fortress, offers green space, children's play areas, and frequent cultural events. During summer months, outdoor concerts and theater performances take place here, creating opportunities to experience local culture without spending money.

The Torre di Santa Maria, often confused with the more famous leaning tower, actually offers better views of the city for visitors willing to climb its narrow stairs. Located in the San Martino neighborhood, this tower provides panoramic perspectives that include the Campo dei Miracoli, the Arno valley, and the distant mountains.

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The Giardino Botanico, established in 1544, represents one of Europe's oldest botanical gardens. It houses plant collections from around the world, including specimens that arrived in Pisa through the city's historical maritime trade connections. The garden demonstrates how Pisa's position as a major port influenced not just commerce and culture, but also scientific knowledge.

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The Arsenali Medicei, the former shipyards where Pisa built its naval fleet, now house museums and cultural spaces. These massive buildings, constructed in the 16th century, demonstrate the engineering capabilities that made Pisa a major maritime power. Today, they host exhibitions that explore the city's relationship with the sea and its role in Mediterranean trade.

If I had to choose the experiences that best represent what makes Pisa special, I'd start with the obvious but add layers that most visitors miss. Yes, visit the Campo dei Miracoli, but don't just photograph the tilting tower. Head inside the cathedral to experience the incredible acoustics, and climb the Baptistery to understand how medieval builders created spaces that still amaze visitors centuries later.

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Walk through the Piazza dei Cavalieri when the university is in session, so you can see how this historic space continues to serve its educational mission. The energy of students debating, studying, and socializing in a 500-year-old square creates a connection between past and present that guidebooks can't capture.

Spend time along the River Arno, especially during late afternoon when the light turns golden and local families gather for evening walks. The lungarni become social spaces where you can observe how Pisans actually live, rather than how they perform for tourist cameras.

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Take at least one meal at a restaurant that serves locals rather than tourists. The difference in food quality, price, and atmosphere will show you why people choose to make their lives here rather than just visiting for a few hours.

Pisa's compact size makes walking the best way to explore most attractions. The distance from the train station to the Campo dei Miracoli takes about 20 minutes on foot, and the route passes through neighborhoods that reveal different aspects of the city's character.

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Public transport connects the city centre to outlying neighborhoods and nearby attractions. The bus system is efficient and affordable, with routes that serve both practical needs and tourist destinations. A single ticket covers travel throughout the city, and you can purchase them at tobacco shops, bars, or directly from the bus driver.

The area around Pisa Airport offers car rental services, but driving in the historic centre is restricted and parking can be challenging. Most visitors find that walking and occasional public transport provide better access to the places they want to see.

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Bicycle rentals are available throughout the city, and cycling offers an excellent way to cover more ground while maintaining flexibility. The relatively flat terrain makes cycling accessible for most fitness levels, and bike lanes connect major attractions with residential neighborhoods.

While Pisa offers plenty to keep you occupied, its location makes it an excellent base for exploring other parts of Tuscany. Florence lies just an hour away by train, making it easy to experience both cities during a single trip. The train connections are frequent and reliable, and the journey itself offers beautiful views of the Tuscan countryside.

Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is another popular day trip from Pisa. This stunning stretch of Italian coastline is famous for its five picturesque villages perched on rugged cliffs, scenic hiking trails, and breathtaking sea views. You can reach Cinque Terre from Pisa by taking a train to La Spezia and then connecting to the local trains that stop at each village. The area is renowned for its colorful houses, charming harbors, and opportunities for hiking and photography, making it a must-see destination for visitors to Pisa.

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Marina di Pisa, located at the mouth of the Arno river, provides a different perspective on the city’s relationship with the sea. During summer months, locals escape to the beach towns along the coast, where seafood restaurants serve fresh catches and the pace of life slows to match the rhythm of the waves.

The wine regions of Tuscany lie within easy reach, offering wine tasting experiences that showcase the varieties that have made this region famous worldwide. Small towns like Volterra and San Gimignano provide medieval atmospheres and artisanal traditions that complement Pisa’s urban energy.

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Each season offers different advantages for visiting Pisa. Spring and fall provide the most comfortable weather for walking and outdoor activities, while summer brings festivals, outdoor concerts, and extended daylight hours. Winter offers fewer crowds and the opportunity to experience the city as locals do, without the constant presence of tour groups.

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Summer evenings transform the city into an outdoor living room. Restaurants extend their seating into streets and squares, concerts take place in historic courtyards, and the lungarni fill with families and friends enjoying the long days. The atmosphere becomes almost festive, with street performers, impromptu gatherings, and the general sense that everyone is celebrating life.

Winter brings a different kind of beauty. The crowds thin out, allowing for more intimate experiences with the city's attractions. Local restaurants offer heartier fare, and the university population creates a cozy, intellectual atmosphere in cafés and bookshops. The occasional rain adds drama to the riverside walks and makes the historic buildings seem even more atmospheric.

After four decades of living here, I keep discovering new layers and connections that make me appreciate this place even more. Pisa isn't just a city with a famous tower — it's a place where medieval ambition created lasting beauty, where university life keeps ancient streets feeling young, where the river provides natural gathering spaces, and where daily life unfolds against a backdrop of extraordinary history.

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The genius of Pisa lies in its ability to remain functional and livable while preserving its historical character. This isn't a museum city that exists only for visitors — it's a working place where people build careers, raise families, and create new memories while surrounded by centuries of accumulated beauty.

The tower will always be the most famous attraction, and rightfully so. But the real magic happens in the spaces between the monuments, in the daily interactions that have been repeated for generations, in the way sunlight hits medieval stone at certain hours, in the sounds of the university bells mixing with contemporary conversation, in the taste of food that connects you to centuries of tradition.

Most tourists leave Pisa with a photo of themselves pretending to push up the leaning tower. That's fine, it's a fun tradition, and the tower truly is remarkable. But if that's all you take away, you've missed the story of why this place has mattered for over a thousand years.

Pisa rewards curiosity and patience. It reveals itself gradually, through accumulated experiences rather than single dramatic moments. The city's greatest treasures aren't always the most obvious ones, and its most authentic experiences often happen when you're not actively seeking them.

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The next time someone asks if there's anything in Pisa besides the tower, I'll tell them what I've told you: there's a whole world here, layered and complex and beautiful, waiting for anyone willing to look beyond the postcard. The tower is just the beginning of the story. The rest is up to you to discover.

Come with time to wander. Come with appetite for both food and experience. Come ready to be surprised by a place that has been surprising visitors for centuries, and you'll understand why some of us never leave.

For more comprehensive Pisa experiences including family-friendly activities, check out our guide to things to do with kids in pisa.