Florence is quite literally the birthplace of the Renaissance, which virtually changed everything to make our world what it is today. However, a short train ride away sits the famed Leaning Tower of Pisa: a marvel of medieval architecture that’s well worth the journey.

In fact, the city of Pisa itself is quite a sight to behold, with stunning piazzas, incredible art, and plenty of charming cafes and shops. If you want to make the most of your time, I highly encourage checking out the 5 top Pisa day trips from Florence that are well worth your time and money. Let’s get started!

Be sure to see our reviews of Cinque Terre Day Trips, Florence Wine Tours and Tuscany Day Trips.

Best Day Trips to Pisa from Florence

	From Florence: Pisa Day Tour with Leaning Tower of Pisa	Cinque Terre and Pisa Tower Tour from Florence Semi Private	From Florence: Half-Day Tour to Pisa and the Leaning Tower
Location:	Piazzale Montelungo, Florence	Hotel pickup and drop-off included	Piazzale Montelungo
Start:	8:00 AM	7:00 AM	1:30 PM
Duration:	6 hours	12 hours	6 hours
Includes:	Round-trip journey by coach, expert multilingual guide, guided tour of Pisa, free time in Pisa, admission to the Cathedral & Leaning Tower	One unlimited wi-fi hotspot for each couple, roundtrip transport, train tickets, boat tickets, bottled water	Transportion, local professional guide for Miracoli Square guided visit, Leaning Tower of Pisa entrance fee, cathedral admission, earphones
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

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Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Pisa Day Trips From Florence For 2024

1. From Florence: Pisa Day Tour with Leaning Tower of Pisa
2. Cinque Terre and Pisa Tower Tour from Florence Semi Private
3. From Florence: Half-Day Tour to Pisa and the Leaning Tower
4. Skip-the-line Leaning Tower of Pisa Guided Small-Group Tour
5. Pisa and Leaning Tower Tour for Kids and Families

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Pisa Day Trip Reviews

1. From Florence: Pisa Day Tour with Leaning Tower of Pisa

If you have a packed schedule or just don’t want to commit to a full-day tour, this first one is a nice option that isn’t too long nor too short.

The From Florence: Pisa Day Tour with Leaning Tower of Pisa excursion clocks in at 6 hours with convenient round-trip transportation by coach and an expert multilingual guide there to lead the way.

With a nice balance of free time and guided touring, you’ll get to learn and explore on your own without the risk of missing things you’re interested in.

The meetup point is a few minutes from the Santa Maria Novella Train Station, making it very easy to access from any part of the city.

Your mode of transport for the day will be a coach, which is air-conditioned and comes with an advanced sound system to clearly hear your guide’s commentary, no matter where you’re sitting. You’ll already learn so much about the tower and the city of Pisa by the time you get there!

The first time you see Pisa is breathtaking – we’ve all surely seen it on TV or in our history books in school. However, it’s really something special to be able to see it in person; especially when you learn the history behind it!

Start by walking along the impressive Medieval walls of the city and make your way toward the old entrance gate, with all the glorious white marble architecture coming into view.

Continue on through all the Romanesque Art, the Monumental Graveyard, the Cathedral, and more as your guide shares interesting historical tales, bringing each location to life. After the Cathedral, you’ll have some free time to check out anything particularly of interest to you, stroll around, grab a coffee – the choice is yours!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

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2. Cinque Terre and Pisa Tower Tour from Florence Semi Private

This is the longest tour on this guide, but it’s due to the fact that you’re not only seeing the amazing Pisa, but the stunning coastal Cinque Terre UNESCO World Heritage Site!

Being able to see both in one day is an incredible opportunity that most people don’t have, and with the precise organization of the guides, you’ll really maximize the experience. With all transportation taken care of, it’s quite possibly the most convenient way to fit both Pisa and Cinque Terre in!

Starting out with a hotel pickup at 7 am, you’ll make the most of your day in and won’t have to deal with the hassle of booking separate transport to a meet-up point.

Your vehicle for the day will be an air-conditioned Mercedes minivan with your professional driver safely navigating you and your group to Riomaggiore.

Upon arrival, we headed to the town center for some leisure time, checking out the charming architecture and beautiful views before boarding the ferry to Manarola (you can also hike if you prefer, but the ferry is a pretty time).

We had more time in Manarola to explore before taking a breathtaking seafront train ride over to Vernazza, where we had additional time to enjoy the local cafes, food, shopping, and simply sightsee.

Vernazza is like a fairytale, with the Castle of the Doria, a Romanesque sanctuary, and incredible Mediterranean cuisine. I ended up falling asleep on the train from Vernazza back to Riomaggiore to meet our minivan, because it was so relaxing and comfortable!

We then got back on our Mercedes minivan and made our way over to Pisa, where we had plenty of time to really soak it all in. We saw the Leaning Tower of Pisa while our guide told us all about the complicated construction events that happened over hundreds of years in order to make it a reality.

We also walked around the Piazza dei Miracoli to see some of the most stunning monuments before visiting the Piazza dei Cavalieri – you won’t find a more complete tour than this!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

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3. From Florence: Half-Day Tour to Pisa and the Leaning Tower

Next up is yet another 6-hour experience that will take you through the picturesque Tuscan countryside for an immersive tour of Pisa.

The From Florence: Half-Day Tour to Pisa and the Leaning Tower is one of the most educational tours I’ve taken, with fun to be had throughout the entire time!

If you’re looking to take a little break from the hustle and bustle of Florence, this quick escape offers just that, taking you to the heart of one of the country’s most iconic cities!

Famed primarily for its leaning tower, Pisa has so much more to offer, and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at just how rich its history is. Your tour will start with you meeting your guide and the rest of your group at the Piazzale Montelungo and board your air-conditioned bus for the day.

The guide we had was super friendly and animated, sharing interesting historical background as we cruised through the charming Tuscan countryside on our way to Pisa.

Upon arrival, you’ll be treated to the sight of the stunning Piazza dei Miracoli – home to the Leaning Tower, the Baptistery, and the Cathedral. The Baptistery is particularly marvelous, blending Romanesque and Gothic styles, with an impressive dome covering the largest baptistery in all of Italy.

However, you don’t want o miss out on the opportunity to climb the nearly 300 steps of the tower, with amazing views of the surrounding landscape waiting at the top.

Beyond all that, the guided aspect of the tour offers valuable insights into Pisa’s rich history and culture. You’ll also get some free time to explore the streets on your own, which are dotted with cafes, so make sure to grab an authentic Italian espresso or pastries!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

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4. Skip-the-line Leaning Tower of Pisa Guided Small-Group Tour

Perhaps you are really interested in going to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but either have a packed schedule or don’t want to commit to a longer alternative. Whatever the case may be, the Skip-the-line Leaning Tower of Pisa Guided Small-Group Tour is the best option for you.

Sitting at just 1.5 hours long, this tour wastes no time and will take you straight from Florence to Pisa to experience the charming UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Meet your guide and the rest of your small group outside the Porta Nuova at the Piazza Daniele Manin, which is super easy to access. After a quick briefing of what to expect and answer any questions you may have before starting, your guide will lead you over to the famed Piazza dei Miracoli.

This “Miracle Square” perfectly encapsulates the essence of Medieval artistry and architectural opulence, famous for not only the Leaning Tower, but plenty of other exquisite white and gray marble structures.

The harmonious blend of various impressive artistic styles and historical significance is fascinating, each with intricate designs. From the Cathedral’s stunning facade featuring elaborate mosaics and sculptures to the Baptistery with amazing acoustics and sculptural detail, there’s so much to take in.

Your guide will share interesting accounts about each one – stories that you wouldn’t learn just from Googling.  Of course, the tour wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the tilted tower – an architectural anomaly that you’ll learn is also a symbol of human genius and resilience.

If you’d like, you can even climb the 294 steps for a full panoramic view of Pisa. Explore the surrounding lawns and tranquil vibe perfect for taking some of the typical tourist photos, or just to soak in the beauty of this historical treasure.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

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5. Pisa and Leaning Tower Tour for Kids and Families

Are you interested in seeing the world-renowned Leaning Tower of Pisa, but are traveling with the entire family? Perhaps you’re bringing some kids along and know they won’t be able to stay focused for more than a couple of hours?

If that sounds like the case for you, you’re in luck, because the Pisa and Leaning Tower Tour for Kids and Families is exactly what you’re in the market for!

This tour clocks in at 2.5 hours, which I found to be the perfect amount of time for doing Pisa justice while still remaining short enough that younger ones don’t become annoyed or restless.

The tour guide was absolutely perfect for working with kids, and you could tell that they’re experts at ensuring they stay entertained and captivated by the subject matter. Heck, us adults had a great time with all the different quizzes, scavenger hunts, and games they provided throughout the tour, too!

We pretty much went straight to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, as it’s the number one site that tourists visit in the city. It’s not absolutely required, but you do get the opportunity to see and climb all the way to the top of the tower!

I also appreciated that we were able to see plenty of amazing monuments and artworks that many tours don’t offer, which made me feel like I was some kind of VIP.

This tour also includes entrance to the Baptistery, which features some of the best acoustics I’ve ever experienced in my life! The Cathedral of Pisa is easily one of the most stunning churches I’ve come across, with all kinds of precious marbles, paintings, and mosaics.

It definitely offers insight into just how rich and powerful Pisa was in the 12th-century, when it was head of all the Mediterranean sea trade!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

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Florence Tour Guide

If you’re planning a vacation to Florence, Italy you should know what airport you’ll be flying into, the best accommodations available, what restaurants to stop by, and more. In this travel guide, we give you all the information you’ll need to get started planning your vacation. Have you been to Florence and want to suggest a tourist stop or restaurant? Comment below!

Airports & Entry

There is a small airport in Florence, the Florence Peretola. It was previously known as Amerigo Vespucci Airport. However, you will most likely fly into the Galileo Galilei International Airport in Pisa. This is a much larger airport so long-distance, foreign flights are most likely to land here.

Your passport will need to be valid for at least six months past your intended date of departure. If you’re planning on an extended stay, you can stay in Italy for up to 90 days without the need for a visa, so long as your passport is valid.

Planning Tips

Visiting Florence can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. However, it’s important to plan and prepare for your trip properly. Here, we have our top 5 tips for those planning a trip to Florence, Italy. Have you visited and have a tip of your own? Leave it in the comments down below!

Tip #1: Don’t be Afraid to Spit

When wine tasting in Italy, it is common for the taster to swish the wine around in their mouth to get the full profile of flavors, and then spit the wine out. This is so that you can taste many more wines without becoming intoxicated. It may feel a bit uncomfortable to spit out your drink in public, but it’s actually the cultural norm for this country.

Tip #2: Eat Light

You’ll find that even entrees featuring meat and pasta are smaller in portion size than what we see here in the US. Most of the time, meals consist of lighter fare including crostini, cured meat, and cheeses. Do not be surprised at the smaller portions of heavy meals and the abundance of lighter snacks.

Tip #3: Explore Florence on Foot

Not only is walking the preferred method of getting around in Florence, but it is also the easiest. While you may be walking with many other tourists, walking allows you to see more of the city. It may even take longer to wait for a taxi or bus than it would to walk to your destination. You will also most likely be walking at many of the attractions. Be sure to bring a pair or two of comfortable walking shoes.

Tip #4: Prioritize Your List

It would take months, if not years, to visit and explore every museum, gallery, eatery, and other important location within the city of Florence. Be sure to prioritize the list of places you’d like to see based on the length of time you’re spending here. Many of the attractions have estimated wait times based on the time of year and time of day you are visiting. This makes it easier to plan out your sightseeing.

Tip #5: Take Those 500 Steps

The Cathedral in Florence, called the Duomo, is the 4th-largest cathedral in the world. It took nearly 2 centuries to complete. Be sure to save at least one day to explore it. If you’d like to reach the highest point in Florence by hiking the 463 steps to the cathedral’s cupola, you’ll need to make a reservation. However, you won’t be disappointed.

Tip #6: Explore The Surrounding Cities

Venice is only a few hours northeast of Florence. This famous beautiful city is a must see! You must see the incomparable St Mark’s Basilica and take a gondola ride though its canals. There is so much to see and do there it needs to be on your list of places to see.

Restaurants & Eating Out

It seems even the food vendors at every corner and in front of every attraction have some of the best food available. These vendors also make it very quick to grab a bite to eat while on your way from one destination to another.

If you’re looking for some of the best gelato in Florence, you want to check out Carapina. The flavors of gelato available will change based on the season, and the number of choices is limited on purpose, but if you’ve ever thought of trying gelato with either olive oil or parmesan, this is the place.

The Borgo san Jacopo is one of the most exclusive restaurants in Florence. There are just four tables on a small terrace, but this terrace offers breathtaking views of the Ponte Vecchio. The star chef, Peter Brunel, offers mouthwatering entrées. Save room for the purple potato sorbet with various toppings, including gold leaf, for dessert.

A popular stop for many tourists is La Menagere. La Menagere is home to both a café and cocktail bar, but you’ll also find beautiful bouquets in the flower shop as well as quality Italian homeware in the store. Dinner entrées can include everything from spaghetti with squid to beef with pears.

Nightlife & Entertainment

While it’s common to stop for a cocktail in the evening before turning in, nightlife in Florence is relatively calm. In fact, one of their most popular bars offers cappuccino and pastries in the morning, a light lunch in the afternoon, and a buffet dinner as well as cocktails in the evening. This bar, known as Caffe degli Artigiani, is in the center of the artisan district.

The La Casa del Vino is a popular wine bar near the center of town. If you’re looking to try some of the top wines in the area of Tuscany or even find some less common wines from all over the country, you’ll want to stop by. To go with the extensive wine list, there is a menu of light snacks that includes meats, cheeses, crostini, and salads.

Getting Around

Getting around by car in the city of Florence is nearly impossible. Much of the city is off-limits to drivers. Of those streets that are drivable, many are narrow and might even be one-way. If traveling by car is necessary, you’ll want to take a taxi. However, taxis are quite expensive.

The best way to get around Florence is on foot. In fact, it’s possible to walk from one side of the city to the other in less than an hour. If your feet are getting tired or you have a longer distance to travel, a bus system is available. You can find tickets at local convenience stores.

Accommodations

If the city of Florence had a theme, it would be luxury. From the historical sites to the most modern hotels, from street food vendors to well-known eateries, Florence is the epitome of luxury. If you’d like to experience that firsthand, be sure to research your accommodations. If you’re familiar with the Four Seasons brand, you may know what to expect from the Four Seasons Florence.

However, Florence is home to some very unique accommodations as well. The Palazzo Vecchietti features just 12 bedrooms and suites along with two apartments. Each is named after famous Italian artists. This 16th-century Palazzo has been turned into a luxury bed-and-breakfast of sorts, with meals being served in a common area on the top floor. A luxury Florence hotel with more of a retro feel is the Continentale.
Weather

You may want to avoid July and August when planning a trip to Florence. January is usually the coldest month with temperatures in the low 40s, Fahrenheit. While the average temperature in July is in the mid-70s Fahrenheit, the humidity can make it feel unbearably warm. The best times to travel to Florence are in the spring and fall.
Attractions

You’ll find the attractions in Florence mostly based on the history and food of the region. While the Statue of David is arguably one of the most popular sights to see in Florence, getting in to see Michelangelo’s famous artwork can take some time. Lines are usually very long, but it’s worth it.

You may also want to stop at Piazzale Michelangiolo, a terrace overlooking the city. The skyline of Florence seen from this terrace is the same often seen on postcards. Late afternoon or early evening are ideal times to visit as the crowds have died down.

There is no shortage of museums to visit while in Florence. Gucci Museo, or the Gucci Museum, is quite fun and a bit different than most other museums in the area. An archeological museum, the Museo Archeologico, features much of the regional history prior to the Medicis.

The Galleria dell’ Accademia is home to the Statue of David and other popular exhibits such as several Stradivarius violins and famous paintings. Be sure to see the Uffuzi Gallery as well to see the Renaissance period masterpieces.

Enjoying the Wine That Makes Florence Famous

While one of the most popular tourist activities in Florence is wine tasting, be sure not to miss out on the beauty and history of the city itself. Florence may be a small city compared to some, but the experiences had during even a short vacation here will last a lifetime.

If you’re headed to Florence, what are you looking forward to the most? Let us know!