Leaning Tower of Pisa: how to buy, prices and discounts

Pisa is world famous for the bell tower of the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta which has decorated the skyline of the city since 1173 and which, due to the consistency of the land, is leaning to the side. This building is also the most photographed in the world and the main attraction in Tuscany, making it one of the most visited in the region.

Located in the Piazza dei Miracoli, which is the tourist centre of the city, the Leaning Tower, with its 58 meters high, stands next to the Cathedral, the Baptistery, which is the largest Catholic baptismal building in the world, and the monumental Cemetery and visiting it is one of the best things to see and do in Pisa.

The most complete option

Pisa Leaning Tower and Cathedral Tickets

A visit to the Leaning Tower and the Cathedral of Pisa with skip-the-line access

You will get to know the most famous bell tower in the world on a tour where you can quickly enter and access the top, as well as visit the Duomo and the surrounding Piazza dei Miracoli.

From £25 at Hellotickets

With this option without queues and at the best price, you can visit the Tower of Pisa with fast access and climb to the top. In addition, you will also visit the Cathedral, which is another of the city's landmark buildings with its Romanesque façade and interior that combines Byzantine, Islamic and European styles.

You will be free to choose the time of your visit and make the most of it, saving time and money, and you will also have the possibility of having free time to walk around the Piazza dei Miracoli, which also houses the Baptistery, another building that is slightly inclined, and the monumental Cemetery.

Recommended if... You want to see Pisa's main attraction without queuing and at the best price.

Tickets to visit the Leaning Tower have an initial cost of approximately 25 euros per person and it is a single rate for all visitors aged 8 years and over, so there are no discounts for children or for adults over 65 years, as is often the case with other attractions.

Admission to the Leaning Tower is separate from tickets for the other buildings in the Piazza dei Miracoli, although if you buy a ticket for the bell tower you can also enter the Cathedral. If you want to enter the Baptistery and the Monumental Cemetery, you must buy separate tickets, which cost approximately 7 euros extra.

You can also buy tickets to visit the Museo Dell'Opera del Duomo and the Museo delle Sinopie, although these tickets are also separate from the entrance to the Leaning Tower.

Interesting details

• Price: Admission to the Leaning Tower of Pisa has an initial cost of approximately 25 euros per person.
• Hours: daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
• Location: Piazza del Duomo, Pisa.

The Leaning Tower is the main attraction of Pisa, one of the most visited buildings in Tuscany and also one of the emblems of Italy, so all year round it is packed with visitors and tourists waiting to visit it, even during the winter months or low season, making it almost impossible to find tickets at the ticket office.

In order to promote the conservation of the Leaning Tower, which was closed to the public for almost 30 years for maintenance work, the building receives only a limited number of visitors each day, which is modified according to the condition of the bell tower. This number of visitors tends to sell out quickly with advance online sales, so tickets are rarely available at the box office.

Therefore, even if you plan to visit the city during the off-peak months, I recommend that you buy your tickets in advance.

Pisa does not offer tourist passes, so the Leaning Tower is not included in any of the city passes, although you can purchase tickets inadvance online which have some benefits, such as skip the line entry to the bell tower or discounted tickets which also include a visit to the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta.

Keep in mind that most of Pisa's attractions are located in the Piazza dei Miracoli, so you will be able to see most of the city during a day trip in practically one place, so a Pisan tourist pass would not make much sense.

However, if you want to see other important sites in the city or the best beaches in Pisa, you can opt for guided tours of the historic centre, the medieval Borgo Stretto district, the city's squares and the Mezzo Bridge, which is the oldest bridge in the city over the Arno River.

Tickets for the Leaning Tower have a single starting price of approximately 25 Euros, so there are no special tickets for children or for adults over 65 years of age, as is commonly the case with other attractions.

It should also be noted that to ensure the safety of visitors, the organisers advise against children under the age of 8 and adults with reduced mobility climbing to the top of the bell tower unless they are accompanied by a companion.

Adults with reduced mobility and a certificate of disability can enter the Leaning Tower free of charge, provided they are accompanied by an assistant.

Tickets for the Leaning Tower do not include a guided tour, but only allow entry to the interior of the bell tower and the top, but you can choose to hire an expert local guide on your own or choose some tour service providers who offer entry with guided assistance.

Although the history of the Leaning Tower is very famous, its construction and preservation is surrounded by myths and legends, so with a local guide you can make the most of your visit by getting to know all the details of one of the most famous buildings in the world. From this point of view, therefore, it is well worth taking a guided tour.

If you decide to visit on your own, you will also be able to enjoy the attraction without major inconveniences, especially if you plan to visit Pisa at Christmas, when the Leaning Tower stands out with its illumination and decorations. On the eve you can also go to the Piazza dei Miracoli to watch the traditional fireworks display.

Note that while the organisers do not prohibit the work of local expert guides, they do not promote these services, mainly because they focus on respecting the number of daily visitors to the building and also because the confined spaces inside the bell tower prevent crowds of people.

Access to the Piazza dei Miracoli, which is the tourist epicentre of Pisa, is quite easy from any point in the city, so the Leaning Tower can be reached by public transport on bus lines 10, 70, 80, 81 and 120 and by express services on lines 4 and 5.

If you choose to make the journey by car, you can get there from the Marina di Pisa along the SP224 road, although if you plan to move around the city centre, I advise you to use the buses, as there is usually a lot of traffic and there are very few parking spaces nearby. Also, be aware that some streets in the city impede or restrict vehicular traffic, which could detract from your experience.

There are also many tour services that offer private shuttles to the Piazza dei Miracoli, especially those that come from other Tuscan cities and also offer some of the best tours from Pisa.

Interesting details

• How to get there by public transport: by bus on lines 10, 70, 80, 81 and 120 and by express services on lines 4 and 5.
• How to get there by car: on the SP224 road.

The average visit to the Leaning Tower is estimated to take approximately 35 minutes, including the entrance and the walk up the 273 marble steps to the top, as there are no lifts available.

To that time you must add the waiting time at the entrance, which is usually between 30 minutes and 1 hour, although you can also opt for fast-track tickets to avoid wasting time before the entrance. In any case, when you buy your ticket, you will have to select a visit timetable, so the time slot should not extend too much from the assigned shifts.

Bear in mind that if you organise a suitable itinerary, buy the fast-track ticket and show up at the bell tower at the appointed time, you will be able to see the Leaning Tower in a short time, which is ideal if you are planning a short stay in the city. If that's your case, here are the best alternatives to get to know Pisa in 1 day.

The Leaning Tower is open every day, although the opening hours depend on the time of year. In January, February and March the opening hours are from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, while in April, May, June, July, August and September the opening hours are from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm.

In October, November and December the opening hours resume from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, although you should bear in mind that these time slots may be modified on public holidays, for ceremonies and events or for security reasons, as the bell tower is permanently supervised.

One of the best ways to see a different side of the Leaning Tower is through its illumination at night, as the marble materials that were used in its construction generate a refractory effect when the lights are turned on, so walking through the Piazza dei Miracoli to see the bell tower is one of the best things to do in Pisa at night.

Interesting details

• Opening hours from April to September: daily from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm.
• Opening hoursfrom October to March: daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.

The Leaning Tower is the main attraction of Pisa and one of the most visited attractions in Tuscany, so you should be aware that whatever time of the year you visit the city, you will come across many tourists and visitors. In that sense, I advise you to buy your ticket in advance and not to take the risk of not finding tickets at the ticket office on the day of your visit.

Also bear in mind that the time you choose for your visit will be reflected on your ticket and that you will have to keep to that time slot, since once the time is up you will not be entitled to a refund, so I advise you to arrive a few minutes before the time of your visit to get through the security checkpoints and avoid last-minute delays.

If you arrive at the bell tower with bags or suitcases, you will have to leave them at the entrance and you can pick them up at the end of the visit. This criterion also applies to the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the Monumental Cemetery, so I recommend that you try to arrive lightly laden.

Finally, please note that entry is forbidden for children under 8 years of age and also for people with reduced mobility or cardiovascular diseases, as the climb to the top is on foot and the bell tower has no lifts.

The Leaning Tower does not have a shop, but at the entrance to the Piazza dei Miracoli you will find a small shop with some souvenirs commemorating the buildings of the complex and also an area with bars and restaurants.

In the shop you can get miniatures of the buildings, magnets, photographs and postcards, mostly of the Leaning Tower and the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. You can also buy T-shirts, hats, postcards and key rings with phrases and images alluding to the bell tower.

The Piazza dei Miracoli is the tourist epicentre of the city, so it is also a place where you can find plenty of places to eat before or after your visit. Among the best areas for lunch are around Piazza dei Cavalieri, where you can choose from some of the best restaurants in Pisa such as Branzo, Orzo Bruno and Osteria dei Cavalieri.

A few streets away from the Leaning Tower is also the medieval neighbourhood of Borgo Stretto, which has a lot of bars, pubs and restaurants and a lot of activity during the night and you can also visit the venues of Piazza Carrara and Piazza delle Vettovaglie.

If you visit the Leaning Tower in the morning, you'll also have time for a gastronomic excursion and even a visit to a winery or vineyard in the surrounding areas of Cinque Terre, Volterra, Bolgheri and Castiglioncello.