Is it worth it to go to Pisa?
 

My friends and I have planned a Venice-Florence trip for late May. 2 of them want to go to Pisa. I've heard mixed reviews of it..Can anyone help? Is it worth it to visit Pisa? Does anyone have any suggestions on where to stay there also?

If you don't have much time to spare, I would vote no. Instead, venture into Siena or another Tuscan hilltown. There may not be a leaning tower to tick off your list, but the scenery and architecture is amazing! -- h.

How long is your trip and how long are y ou staying in each location?

We visited Pisa last August, and had a very good time, although I now know that we missed the most vibrant part of town, which is apparently down at the Arno River.

It may sound cheesy, but there's something to be said for seeing the tower in person rather than just viewing it through photos or postcards. I don't think I'd hurry back a second time, but I'm certainly glad we took a day out of trip to go when we were already in the area.

I can't help with accomodations in Pisa, but I'm sure other posters can. Another possibility which would allow you to see yet another hilltown is to stay in Lucca, which is only about 20 min away by car from Pisa.

Good luck, and have a great time!

I would suggest it as a half day trip from Flroence. Train there and wander a few hours and come back in the afternoon. Totally do-able in less than a day, if you want.

I just came back from Italy, and we stopped in Pisa for 1/2 day. I would agree with the other reply, seeing the tower in person is exciting. You could also climb it if you like for 15 Euro each. I have to say I found some cute souveneirs around the Plaza. There also seems to be more parking available around the area than most tourist areas. The buses are also plentiful. Good luck.

If you have the time to go...go. How do you know if it's worth it for YOU if you don't go. I went, I saw, I'm glad I did. They weren't allowing people to go to the top when I was there...it was REALLY leaning. Would I take the time to go back? No. I was thrilled to actually see it in person..I mean it's like the Eiffle Tower or the Statue of Liberty. You see pictures of it for years..any one who see's a picture of it immediately knows what it is and where it is. You can never see everything in one trip so you need to asses your time and then figure out if it's important enough to YOU and your friends to make time for it.

On a trip to Tuscany my sister and her husband didn't think it was worth going to Pisa. They wanted to go to Lucca. Since they were so close we went to Pisa both. They were thrilled I didn't listen to them. We all loved it.

Are you leaning towards going yet?

If you don't, you realize you'll have to explain why you went 5,600 miles but not 5,650 (fill in your own distance).

I say go for it.

My husband and I made Pisa a base for train trips to Lucca, Siena and Cinque Terre and enjoyed it so much we returned just to visit! Try to get non-change trains btw. The leaning tower was climb-able in 2004, Duomo is awesome (one that is lovely inside and out and has lots of history). We stayed at the Royal Victoria on the river and loved it! Old, European, quirky and with an impeccably polite staff. We enjoyed the less touristy areas beyond tower area and had some good food. If you have time to be "off the beaten path", I'd linger a day or two in Pisa. Enjoy!

Do Pisa as a half day trip, spend your time and money in Lucca. If you stay at a hotel on the Arno you get to listen to vespas all night long.

It's the classic "I'm glad I went, but I really don't want to return" place.

I wouldn't go out of my way to see it. It is such a let-down. Yes, the cathedral doors are magnificent, and it is interesting to see something that is so famous, but there are so many places in Italy that are awesome. If you happen to be passing by, by all means stop and see Pisa, but I would rather spend my time exploring the Uffizi or the Brancacci Chapel.

OK..I've seen it and was glad I did.

Perhaps you might use this as a "litmus test"....tell me the last time you saw, and recognized, a picture of anything in Siena or Lucca???

I've been to them, too, and think they are also worth it but they are not as unique as the leaning tower.

It's amazing how many people always post that they are looking for places that aren't touristy and then say they didn't like Pisa. Invariably we'll find out that all they did was go see the tower in the touristy part of town. What I DID like about Pisa was spending two nights there in the city itself (at the Royal Victoria), and experiencing a city that seemed totally devoid of tourists. Our hotel owner sent us to a great locals restaurant "the Grotto" where no one spoke a word of English, but they treated us like royalty and we had a wonderful evening. In the morning we went out into the streets and visited a local market where they didn't sell souvenirs, but only products to be used by "real people" not tourists, one of the most "colorful" markets I've ever seen. We had coffee and pastry at a little cafe where the local men sat around playing card games.
When people look for places that aren't touristy, they need to get away from the edge of Pisa which is the only touristy thing about it.

It's the most famous building in the world. Of course you see it in person if you can.

This was several years ago, and I wouldn't go back again, but we had a fun 1-1/2 days in Pisa.

It was a kick to see the Leaning Tower "in person" after decades of seeing it in pictures. Mrs. Fly had a real creative idea to have me take a photo of her pretending to hold the tower up! Who would think of such a thing?

The area immediately by the Tower has a lot of tourist junk, but the city itself doesn't.

Because of our schedule on that trip, we ended up spending the entire day and a night in Pisa. While it doesn't have a lot of spectacular sights like Rome or Venice, it was a very pleasant experience--it is a pretty town and has a big university, so lots of young people were out and about. Nice restaurants, very laid back.

If you're short on time, then Rome, Venice, and florence are where you need to spend your time--but if you have a little extra time and your schedule works out that way, Pisa is a nice place to visit.

I'm with Patrick here but we were not first-time visitors and that may make a diff in what folks want to do. If you stay at Royal Vic (wonderful staff and owners)-ask for quiet room not on the water. Very cute choice of words, Robespierre ("leaning toward Pisa"!). Please let us know what you end up doing, colokev!

My husband insisted visiting Pisa, not for the tower, but to view the statue of the medieval mathematician Leonard Pisano FIBONACCI (born 1170-1240+). This site would only be of interest to those who are aware of his brilliant works, (of interest if you like to check with Google); gather the calculations are still used today by many share trading folk who hopefully make a fortune with his calculations. The statue is in the main group of buildings in the tower area with all the other statues in a corner. Local folk are of no help so you need some idea of where to look. Guess this doesn't answer your question but may be of some interest to other future travellers.

I think that if you have time, you should go. We drove into town, parked, walked to the tower and took the cheesy pictures of us holding it up, and blew back out of town all in an hour..It was perfect.

This is my all time pet peeve question, largely because of the responses it gets. If you want to know if it's worth it, it's probably not... to you. Pisa is a whole lot more than a leaning tower. It's a wonderful Italian town. When you get away from the Campo de Mirocoli there is so much that delights a visitor. But the visitor has to open their eyes.

I still remember being able to go into the leaning tower on our first trip in 1971. You really get the feel for the "lean" ! I think all the cables are down now and you can once again do this. Go for it. One of the famous things in the world, plus the church next door also nice.

Have you always dreamed about seeing the canals of Venice, the statue of David in Florence, the leaning tower of Pisa (also the Coliseum in Rome, the Eifel Tower in Paris, the Tower of London?) That's why you'd go to Pisa. But if you don't care and you'd rather see/do other things, skip it for Siena, Sorrento, etc). As Grasshopper says, good idea to really explore all places for what else is to be seen besides the landmarks.
Ozarks Bill

We're going to go and stay in Pisa our last night in Italy. I would have preferred to go to Siena but oh well! Pisa will be fun and it will be interesting to see the Tower. I just want to make sure we see it and then get out off all that touristy stuff. Thanks for the advice!

I was faced with a similar dilemma during our first trip to Italy. Well, we did end up going there and I don't regret it. I think that the site is quite impressive, and like another poster noted - there are so many people on this forum who advise others to not go there (waste of time, unimpressive bla..bla..) - but my 2 cents - it is one of the things that you have to do on your first trip to Italy (just like Eiffel in Paris - no great shakes as far as the view from the top goes - but still most do it; or the Taj Mahal in India etc.).

I think you will regret not going there especially if you don't foresee another Italian trip in the near future.

Definately go, it is terrific fun. Make sure you walk all the way to the top though. There are other things to see and do as well. Or just head back to Lucca.