Hi I’m Abi with Holiday Extras Travel Guides, and this time we’re in Pisa.
We’ll be giving you all the essential information that you need to Travel better.
Covering tips on money, language, getting around, and of course the iconic leaning tower.
But first here’s bit about this small but historic city.
Once a powerful maritime city state, modern Pisa is a small town packed full of culture,
with a long and interesting history.
Although it’s iconic leaning tower made it world famous, there is much more to Pisa
than this one landmark.
Friendly locals, great food, and classic architecture, make it one of our favourite places to visit
in Italy.
Pisa has one airport that’s only one short hop from the City centre, and it’s here
where our guide starts Pisa airport is the main gateway into Tuscany,
and receives almost 5 million passengers every year.
It’s really close to town, and transfers are available by public bus, taxi or the Pisa
Mover service.
When taking the bus look out for the big blue City bus signs.
Taking the Lam Rossa line towards Pisa, Tickets cost €1.20, buses leave every 10 minutes
and the journey takes 6 minutes to Pisa Centrale.
A taxi should cost around €10, with an extra €2.55 charge on Sundays and public holidaysNew
in 2017 the Pisa Mover shuttle service costs €2.70 each way and gets you into town in
just 5 minutes.
It’s defiantly our recommended way to get into the centre.
Pisa is a small city and one that’s best enjoyed on foot, infant it’s usually quicker
and easier this way.
For example a walk from Pisa Centrale should take no more than twenty minutes.
The bus service in Pisa uses three main lines; red, green and blue.
The red line, ro LAM Rossa, is the one that takes you to the Leaning Tower.
Tickets are available in tobacco shops, the station and airport.
Buy your ticket before you travel and then validate as you board.
Bear in mind that after 9pm the buses switch to a reduced night service until midnight.
Tickets are available in 70, 120 and 240 minute variations and the 70-minute ticket is also
available in books of 4 or 10.
Driving in Pisa is similar to other popular Italian cities, in that it has a limited-traffic-zone,
called the ZTL.
Driving in this zone will incur a fine between €60 and €100 each time you pass a traffic
camera (meaning you can get fined multiple times for driving along the same street).
The Leaning Tower is one of Italy’s most iconic sights, and is what Pisa is best known
for, here are the key facts:
The Towers characteristic lean is caused by a combination of it’s small foundations
and the soft soil on which it was built.
After a programme of structural strengthening was completed in 2001 the tower is now safe
to enter.
When buying tickets you'll be given a time slot to return to enter to the tower.
This could be up to 3 hours after purchase.
So we think it’s well worth booking your tickets in advance to avoid the long wait.
Only 40 people are allowed inside at any one time, and children under 8 are not permitted
at all.
No bags at all are allowed in the tower.
You can take a camera, but your bag must go in the free security deposit.
You're allowed 35 minutes inside the tower after entering.
Opening times are varied, we'll link to the official website in the description to the
official website.
While the tower dominates the tourist scene there are actually loads of other really interesting
buildings here too.
The area we're in right now is called the Square of Miracles.
And features a baptistry, and cathedral, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and locals say
it’s one of the most beautiful urban areas in the world.
Other sites that are worth visiting are the Camposanto Cemetery near the tower and the
Tuttomondo' mural on wall of St.Antonio church, by American pop artist Keith Haring.
And one last thing, make sure that you book a tour with Pedi Cab Pisa, Roberto is a really
lovely guy, who’s passion for his home city comes across in this tour.
He works on donation only, so give generously, because it’s so worth it!
Although we found that the restaurants, and tourist attractions all spoke excellent English,
we still like to learn a little bit of the local language when visiting a new place.
So after our tour I convinced Roberto from Pedi Cabs Pisa, to help me learn some Italian.
So how do you say Hello?
Ciao?
Ciao!
We use Ciao for say goodbye, or hello!
It’s the same!! and yes?
Si!
No?
No!
Please?
Per Favore!
Thank you!!
Grazie!
I don’t understand!?
Non ho Capito?
SO massive thanks again to Roberto!
And to book a tour with him then send a message to him on his Facebook page!
The currency here in Italy is the Euro, so with that in mind, here’s a look at our
costs during our time in Pisa.
A flight from the UK should about £60 return per person.
Our 3 bedroom apartment was £111 per night.
This pizza was €8.
This pasta was €8.50.
And this coffee was €2.50.
so that’s it from my short time in Pisa, and as you can see the city has so much more
to offer than just the leaning tower.
So make sure you take the time to explore it properly.
For more on Italy subscribe to our channel, because we’ve got guides on Rome, Venice
and Florence!
So that’s it!
Ciao!