How to get to Pisa: train, plane, car and bus

How to get to Pisa

Pisa, the city of the Leaning Tower and Piazza dei Miracoli, is one of the main gateways to Tuscany. Thanks to its international airport with dozens of low-cost flights and an excellent railway position, it is one of the easiest Italian cities to reach.

By train

Pisa has two railway stations: Pisa Centrale, the main one, in the city centre, and Pisa San Rossore, closer to the Leaning Tower (5 minutes' walk from Piazza dei Miracoli).

Florence - Pisa: about 50 minutes by fast regional train, ticket about 9 euros. Services every 15-30 minutes
Rome - Pisa: about 3 hours by Frecciabianca or fast regional via Florence
La Spezia - Pisa: about 1 hour by regional train (connection for the Cinque Terre)
Lucca - Pisa: about 30 minutes by regional train, ticket about 4 euros
Livorno - Pisa: about 15 minutes by regional train
Genoa - Pisa: about 2 hours by InterCity or regional

Pisa Centrale is the stop for long-distance trains. If your destination is the Leaning Tower, get off at Pisa San Rossore (many regional trains also stop there) to be closer.

By plane

Pisa-San Giusto Airport (Galileo Galilei) is Tuscany's main airport and one of the busiest in Italy for low-cost flights. It is located just 2 km from the city centre.

Main connections:

London (Stansted, Gatwick, Luton): frequent flights with Ryanair, EasyJet
Paris (Beauvais, Orly): with Ryanair, Transavia
Barcelona: with Ryanair, Vueling
Berlin, Amsterdam, Brussels: seasonal and year-round direct flights
Rome, Milan, Palermo, Catania, Cagliari: frequent domestic flights

To reach the centre from the airport:

PisaMover: automated people mover connecting the airport to Pisa Centrale in 5 minutes, ticket 5 euros
LAM Rossa bus: connection to the centre, ticket 1.50 euros
Taxi: about 10-15 euros to the centre
On foot: the centre is reachable in about 25 minutes' walk

Pisa airport is also an excellent arrival point for visiting Florence (50 minutes by train), Lucca (30 minutes), Siena and the Cinque Terre.

By car

Pisa is connected to the motorway network and Tuscan expressways.

From Florence: about 1 hour 15 minutes via FI-PI-LI expressway (toll-free) or about 1 hour via A11 + A12
From Rome: about 3 hours 30 minutes via A1 + FI-PI-LI (380 km)
From Genoa: about 2 hours via A12 (170 km)
From Lucca: about 25 minutes via A11 (25 km)
From La Spezia: about 1 hour via A12 (80 km)
From Siena: about 1 hour 40 minutes via Siena link road + FI-PI-LI

Pisa's historic centre has an extensive limited traffic zone. The most convenient car parks are:

Via Pietrasantina car park: near Piazza dei Miracoli, paid (2 euros per hour)
Pratale park and ride: free, with shuttle bus to the centre
Lungarno Guadalongo car park: paid, near the centre

By bus

FlixBus connects Pisa to numerous Italian and European cities:

FlixBus from Rome: from 12 euros, about 4 hours
FlixBus from Milan: from 15 euros, about 4 hours 30 minutes
FlixBus from Bologna: from 10 euros, about 3 hours

Autolinee Toscane regional buses connect Pisa to Lucca, Livorno, Volterra and other Tuscan towns. The bus station is near Pisa Centrale.

Getting around Pisa

Pisa is a city made for walking. Distances between the main points of interest are short: from the central station to the Leaning Tower is about 20 minutes on foot along the Lungarno, one of the city's most beautiful routes.

The LAM urban bus network covers the entire city. Single ticket 1.50 euros, valid 70 minutes.

Pisa is also perfect for cycling: flat and with cycle paths. The CicloPi bike sharing system is available with several stations across the city.

Practical tips

If arriving by plane, the PisaMover is the fastest way to reach the station and from there the centre
For Piazza dei Miracoli, get off at Pisa San Rossore instead of Pisa Centrale
The FI-PI-LI is toll-free but often busy: use the A11 + A12 as an alternative
Pisa is an excellent base for day trips across Tuscany: Lucca, Florence and the Cinque Terre are very close