How To Visit the Leaning Tower of Pisa & What To Expect
Everything you need to know about the Leaning Tower of Pisa, including why it leans and the best way to visit | Hi! We're Alex & Victoria - a digital nomad couple from Copenhagen escaping 9-5 to chase adventures in our beautiful world. Learn more about us here. |
The iconic tower of Pisa
It’s nearly impossible to mention Pisa without the image of the city’s leaning tower immediately coming to mind.
This iconic landmark is among the few globally recognised sites (particularly in Italy) known by almost everyone.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa (Torre di Pisa or Torre Pendente di Pisa in Italian) is a free-standing bell tower with eight levels of arches and columns.
Its many details and exquisite marble facade make the tower an attraction in its own right but it’s undoubtedly the famous lean that draws people from far and wide to witness it with their own eyes.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa stands on the stunning Piazza dei Miracoli (meaning the Square of Miracles) – the whole of which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring several other buildings that are well worth a visit.
In this travel guide to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, we explore the history behind its iconic tilt (and why it remains standing!), whether you can ascend the tower and if you need a ticket to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
Our favourites: Where to stay in Pisa?
- Luxury: Palazzo Cini Luxury Rooms In Pisa – Boutique hotel with a great location and nice details.
- Value for money: Relais dei Mercanti B&B and Suites – Cosy little place in the old town with excellent reviews.
- Budget: Hotel Caffè Verdi – Comfortable, simple rooms a 15-minute walk from the Leaning Tower. 24-hour reception/café.
Search for the cheapest and best hotels in Pisa here.
Table of contents
- Map of the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- The story behind the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles)
- Why doesn’t the Leaning Tower of Pisa fall over?
- Can you climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa?
- Price for visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Opening hours for the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Our experience at the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Day trips to Pisa
- Where to stay in Pisa
- Our best tips for the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Map of the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Where is the Leaning Tower of Pisa?
The tower stands on the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles) in the city of Pisa situated in the Italian region of Tuscany.
From the nearest train station, Pisa San Rossore, it’s only a 15-minute walk to the square with the Leaning Tower.
It takes 25-30 minutes to walk from Pisa’s Central Station Pisa Centrale.
The story behind the Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa was not initially constructed with its distinctive lean, nor was it meant to be leaning…
So, why was it built? And what was the original purpose of the Leaning Tower of Pisa?
Well, the tower is actually a bell tower for Pisa Cathedral which is right next to it.
Although the original intention wasn’t a leaning tower, it has arguably been a happy accident for the city, as it has truly put Pisa on the world map.
Today, the Leaning Tower of Pisa is one of Italy’s most iconic landmarks – and much more famous than the cathedral.
The construction of the tower
Construction of the Torre di Pisa began in 1173 and lasted around 200 years with interruptions due to war and instability in the region.
Because of the softness of the ground and a poor foundation, the tower began to lean shortly after construction began. Despite attempts to correct the tilt, it still leans to this day.
Currently, the tower stands at 56.67 metres in height on the highest side and 55.86 metres on the lowest side.
While there are slight discrepancies in the exact measurements, most sources agree that the tower leans at an angle of 3.97 degrees.
Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles)
The Leaning Tower of Pisa stands in the Square of Miracles (Piazza dei Miracoli or Piazza del Duomo) along with several other impressive structures.
The Cathedral, Duomo di Pisa, is a magnificent Romanesque cathedral with a beautiful facade and incredible paintings, sculptures and frescoes inside.
Pisa Cathedral is the oldest building in the square, and you should definitely take the time to admire the architectural masterpiece.
The Baptistry, Battistero di San Giovanni, is a large round building in front of the cathedral, matching in appearance and with many fine details.
The Monumental Cemetery, Campo Santo or Camposanto Monumentale, is an elegant, oblong building with three chapels, sculptures and colourful frescoes.
While not the most thrilling in isolation, it’s a must-see when you’re standing on the Square of Miracles.
There are also two museums: Opera del Duomo Museum and Sinopie Museum.
Why doesn’t the Leaning Tower of Pisa fall over?
Shortly after its construction, the Torre di Pisa began to lean, reaching a tilt of 5.5 degrees by 1990.
Fortunately, restoration efforts have reduced the lean to “just” 3.97 degrees today.
Had the tower simply remained in place and gradually sunk into the soft ground, it might have toppled over entirely.
Nevertheless, the likelihood of the tower collapsing is exceedingly low (even if the building blocks of the lower floors have weakened).
Extensive restoration work over the years has been undertaken to stabilise the structure, leaving no stone unturned to prevent the tower from falling.
The primary threat remains an earthquake.
But in fact, the tower is continually shifting just a little bit and it will most likely require further restoration at some point in the future to prevent any further leaning.
Can you climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa?
Yes! You can climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa if looking at it from the outside isn’t enough.
Today, visitors have the opportunity to ascend the tower’s spiral staircase with almost 300 steps.
At the top, you can enjoy the panoramic view of Pisa and the surrounding structures on the Square of Miracles.
It’s unfortunately not free of charge and you have to plan a little in advance – but more about that later.
Is it safe to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa?
Yes, you can safely climb the Leaning Tower.
It may seem a bit precarious considering the tilt, but some highly skilled engineers closely monitor the tower and implement safety measures to safeguard visitors.
Regular inspections and maintenance are conducted, thankfully.
Always remember to follow any safety instructions provided by staff or displayed on official signs.
Tickets to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa
While you can marvel at the Leaning Tower of Pisa from the outside for free, you have to buy a separate ticket if you want to ascend the tower.
The number of daily tickets is limited and reservations are scheduled for specific times. Therefore, it’s advisable to book your ticket in advance to secure your visit.
Buy your ticket to ascend the tower here (adlink) and receive an included skip-the-queue pass to the cathedral or buy a combination ticket (adlink) to gain access to both the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the other attractions in the Square of Miracles.
Below you can see different ticket options – they differ slightly in price depending on whether you want to skip the queue for the other attractions and if you want a guided tour.
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Price for visiting the Leaning Tower of Pisa
How much does it cost to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa?
Here’s the good news! It’s free and open to everyone to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
At least from the outside…
You can freely stroll around, look at all the details and take lots of pictures without paying a penny.
If you want to climb the tower and see the lovely view over the rest of the Square of Miracles and Pisa, you have to purchase a ticket as mentioned above.
Remember to book the ticket well in advance to secure your preferred day and time slot. You can do that here (adlink).
While entry to the entire Piazza dei Miracoli is free, admission to each building on the square is paid – except for the cathedral.
And although entry to the cathedral is free, you still need a ticket to access it. These tickets are available at the on-site ticket offices and are valid for a specific time slot.
If you purchase a ticket for the other buildings (the baptistery, the cemetery and/or the two museums), you can visit the cathedral for free without a designated time slot.
Buy the combination ticket here (adlink) or take a look at the options below.
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Opening hours for the Leaning Tower of Pisa
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is open every day of the week, but opening hours change slightly with the seasons.
To complicate matters further, the other buildings on the Square of Miracles also have different opening hours.
For the most accurate information, we recommend checking out the official opening hours for the day you plan to explore the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the other magnificent structures in Piazza dei Miracoli.
Our experience at the Leaning Tower of Pisa
We stayed in Lucca for five nights on our road trip through Tuscany and from there we took a day trip to Pisa.
Numerous train departures connect the two cities, and we opted for an early morning departure to have a full day in Pisa.
Despite the less-than-ideal weather, we were determined to make the most of our day.
Upon arrival, our first stop was the Square of Miracles, where we were greeted by the city’s iconic landmark.
The reality at the tower
Although we have seen the tower many times in pictures, standing next to it was an incredibly special experience. Wow, it truly is leaning! So surreal.
Naturally, we took plenty of photos along with the hundreds of other visitors who had also turned up that day.
Even in late September, outside of peak season, the tower remains extremely popular. Tourists from all over the world with both professional cameras and smartphones eagerly snapped lots of pictures.
It was amusing to witness the various silly poses people struck as they tried to capture the perfect photo with the Leaning Tower. We couldn’t help but laugh a bit at the spectacle – and then still participate in the fun ourselves.
More than a leaning tower
As we have already mentioned, the Square of Miracles where the tower stands is breathtaking and we walked around admiring the cathedral, the baptistery and the cemetery.
We decided to skip the museums, and regrettably, we hadn’t pre-booked tickets to ascend the tower, so we had to miss out on that experience.
Despite this, we spent about an hour at the square and then went on to explore the rest of Pisa which we certainly recommend doing!
See our travel guide to Pisa with the best things to do and see here.
Day trips to Pisa
By train
It’s really popular to go on a day trip to Pisa, for example from Lucca, Florence, Livorno, La Spezia (Cinque Terre) or even from Rome.
You can take the train to Pisa and walk from the station to Piazza dei Miracoli where you will find the Leaning Tower.
The station Pisa San Rossore is the closest with only a fifteen-minute walk to the square.
From Pisa’s Central Station Pisa Centrale it takes 25-30 minutes to walk.
On a guided tour
You can also consider a guided day trip to the Leaning Tower of Pisa from other cities in Italy.
The tours usually include transportation, entrance tickets and a knowledgeable guide who explains the history behind the buildings in Piazza dei Miracoli.
Be sure to thoroughly review the details of the day trip you select to avoid any unexpected surprises.
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By car
If you’re driving to Pisa, there are several parking areas within walking distance of the Leaning Tower of Pisa and other attractions.
Search for “parking” or “parcheggio” on Google Maps and make sure to read the reviews of the parking lot.
Prices typically vary from 50 cents to 3 euros per hour. Some of them only take coins.
Be aware that there have been incidents of car break-ins in several of the parking lots. It’s advisable not to leave any valuables in your car, even if you’re stopping in Pisa briefly on your way from one city to another. Also if you’re only planning to be away for an hour or two.
If you have the option to take the train (as mentioned above), we highly recommend it to avoid any parking challenges.
Where to stay in Pisa
If you want to avoid the biggest crowds at the Leaning Tower, the Square of Miracles and in the city in general, it’s wise to book a night or two in Pisa.
While you won’t find traditional 5-star accommodations, there are some delightful boutique hotels, solid mid-range options and several excellent budget choices available.
We have written a guide to where to stay in Pisa where we go into details and share pictures of the best hotels in the city. You can check out the short version below.
The best hotels in Pisa in all price ranges:
- Luxury: Palazzo Cini Luxury Rooms In Pisa – Boutique hotel with a great location and nice details.
- Luxury: Bagni di Pisa Palace & Thermal Spa – 5-star palace with spa and natural hot springs just outside Pisa.
- Value for money: Relais dei Mercanti B&B and Suites – Cosy little place in the old town with excellent reviews.
- Value for money: Hotel Bologna – Splendid mid-range hotel with everything you need and solid breakfast.
- Budget: My Way – One of Pisa’s cheaper hotels within walking distance to both the airport and the train. The Leaning Tower is a 40-minute walk away. A solid option.
- Budget: Hotel Caffè Verdi – Comfortable, simple rooms a 15-minute walk from the Leaning Tower. 24-hour reception/café.
Search for the cheapest and best hotels in Pisa here.
Our best tips for the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Book a ticket in advance (adlink) if you want to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa. A limited number of tickets are available each day, and visitors are assigned a specific time slot to ascend the tower.
- Wear comfortable shoes if you want to climb the nearly 300 steps in the tower to reach the top.
- Buy a combination ticket (adlink) to save money if you plan to visit all the buildings on the Square of Miracles. With this ticket, you’ll also enjoy the perk of skipping the queues.
- Come early if you want to experience the Leaning Tower (and the rest of Pisa) without too many crowds. Alternatively, you can wait until the end of the day, when most day-trippers have gone home.
- Bring a high-quality camera or a good smartphone – here is a guide to the equipment we use.
- Set aside time to see the other buildings at the square. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the most famous, but the cathedral, the baptistery and the cemetery are also impressive in their own right.
- Dress and behave respectfully in Pisa Cathedral. It’s a religious place of worship and prayer.
- Take care of your belongings. Like many tourist destinations, there is a risk of opportunistic pickpockets. Additionally, car break-ins are not uncommon. If you’re driving to Pisa, it’s advisable not to leave any valuables in your car to minimise the risk.
Sustainable travel tips
To travel as sustainably as possible, we recommend the following:
- Bring your own drinking water in a refillable bottle.
- Avoid disposable plastics.
- Sort your waste correctly and do not throw it on the ground.
Thank you for reading
Thank you for reading our travel guide to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. We hope it has been helpful!
What do you think of the Leaning Tower of Pisa?
If you’ve already been there, we would love to hear your best tips and tricks. Did you climb to the top?
Don’t hesitate to ask us anything in the comments below if you haven’t been to Pisa yet. We are happy to help.
Our favourite travel resources:
- Booking.com for cheap hotels.
- Momondo for the best flight deals.
- SafetyWing for travel insurance. We also like World Nomads and True Traveller. All three compared here.
Our camera gear:
- Panasonic GH5. Used for all of our photos and videos.
- DJI Mavic 2 Pro. Best drone out there!
- Sirui Tripod. Lightweight and strong.
- See all of our camera gear here.
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