Pisa

Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Italy, best known for its world-famous leaning tower. But the tower isn't the only thing to see – there are other architectural and artistic marvels in this beautiful city. The half-hour walk from the Campo dei Miracoli to the train station runs through a pedestrian street with many interesting sights, shops, and restaurants. The best way to visit Pisa is walking the streets, as the downtown is small and cosy, and enjoying the sight and the atmosphere.

Pisa Halal Explorer

Tower of pisa - |The leaning tower

Pisa would not be Pisa without the university. The city is animated by the students, who organize parties, shows, and cultural events, and fill the central street of the city at night. The University of Pisa has 60,000 students in a city of 90,000 inhabitants (200,000 in the metropolitan area). You'll notice the student flair in the city once you leave the tourist Campo dei Miracoli.

Climate & Weather

The climate of Pisa is something in between the one in the north and in the south of Italy.

Winters are mild: not as warm as in Catania nor as cold as in the Po Valley in the north. Temperatures almost never drop below zero. Snow is very rare.

Summers are warm, if hot, and sometimes very humid, although they are nowhere near as intolerable as in cities such as Milan, Turin and Ferrara, because they are mitigated by the wind and the sea (which is about 10 kilometers away from the downtown). Rainfall in July and August is common.

Spring and autumn are very pleasant, although most rainfall occurs in these seasons.

Travel to Pisa

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Pisa

• Pisa International Airport IATA Flight Code: PSA Pisa Galileo Galilei Airport| 43.683889, 10.3925 - Pisa International Airport Pisa International Airport Galileo Galilei, Italy - This is the main airport for Tuscany, including Florence. Frequent flights by scheduled and budget carriers across Europe, including Russia and Istanbul, and to Qatar; nothing direct to North America. Destinations within Italy include Rome FCO (by Alitalia), and Bari, Cagliari, Catania, Lamezia and Palermo (by Ryanair). There's a large airside area with shops and cafes, but the non-Schengen departure area (after passport control) has only a small cafe and no shops. Currency exchange has about a 25% buy-sell spread, poor but average for an airport. The airport is very close to the downtown, only 2 kilometers south of the main train station. Direct buses to Florence and Lucca run from outside Arrivals.

Transport between city and airport:

• Pisamover is a pair of automated cable-drawn trams that shuttle between the airport and Pisa Centrale train station. They run daily from 04:30 to 01:30 at 5-8 minutes intervals, taking 5 minutes. Buy tickets from the self-service machines next to the platform gates (not from Trenitalia machines or kiosks): €2.70 per person. The airport station is 200 m from the terminal. At Pisa Centrale, follow signs through the subway to Platform 13, which looks desolate, but turn right to find the Pisamover platform and ticket machines. The two trams meet at a midway station, which is the Park & Ride area of Aurelia and San Giusto.
• City buses don't reach the airport, but stop on Via Sant'Agostino, a 5-10 minutes walk north. They're often a better option than Pisamover for parts of the city away from the train station, eg the Leaning Tower area. Head towards the Pisamover station then turn right, walk under the highway bridge and bear left to come onto Via Sant'Agostino. LAM verde and the green line, pass there every 10-15 minutes, from 06:00 to 21:00 (from 07:30 Sundays). Evening buses (Line 21) stop there every 30 minutes between 21:00 and 23:00. See online timetable]. Buy tickets from the information desk in the arrivals hall. A single ticket costs €1.40; a pack of four is €5 and pack of ten is €9, and they can be used by more than one person. Single tickets can also be purchased from the bus driver for €2.
• A taxi to the downtown will cost around €10-20.
• Walk: it's less than 2 kilometers to the train station, and 3 kilometers to the leaning tower. The route is through a residential area, uninteresting but safe to walk.

Muslim Friendly Rail Holidays in Pisa

PisaCentrale - Pisa Centrale train station Pisa Centrale GPS: 43.70793,10.39816 is the main train station, just south of downtown. Rome to Genoa trains stop here; most other destinations involve changing at Florence (SMN or Rifredi) for the regional trains through Pisa Centrale to Livorno or Viareggio. There's a Left Luggage service here, open from 06:00-21:00, costing €3 for 12 hr. This station is also the city terminus of the "Pisamover" tramway from the airport and Park & Ride.

To visit the area around the Leaning Tower, which is at the northwest corner of the old centre, Pisa San Rossore GPS: 43.72344,10.38751 station is much closer. It's on the branch line from Pisa Centrale to Lucca and Pistoia, with trains at least hourly.

By road

Flixbus run direct between Pisa and Milan, Genoa and Rome. Don't use them for Florence, as the pick-up / drop-off is way out on the western edge of Florence.

With your own car, Pisa is easy to reach by autostrada, but city parking is the problem.

How to get around in Pisa

GPS 43.7167|10.4000

In the downtown, just walk.

By bus

The LAM or city buses run frequently to 18:00 then sparsely to 23:00. The most useful route is LAM Rossa and the red line, between train station, riverside (stop Lungarno Pacinotti 2) and Leaning Tower (stop Piazza dei Miracoli). LAM Verde runs near the airport.

Tickets for both LAM and out-of-town buses are €1.40 single, €5 for five and €9 for ten tickets. Tickets must be validated on boarding the bus; they are then valid for 70 minutes.

Rent a Car or Limousine in Pisa

Not in the downtown: many streets are either pedestrianised or restricted to residents (ZTL, Zone a traffico limitato, camera-enforced but easy to stray into accidentally). Those streets that you can drive into are narrow, one-way, congested, and with next-to-no parking. Ask ahead at your accommodation for parking and permitted approach routes. For daytrips, Pisa Tower Parking is €1.80 per hour and close to the main sights.

You do however need a vehicle to explore the villages in the hills of Tuscany. Consider hiring from the airport and either picking up late or dropping back early there, and just use public transport for Pisa, Lucca and Florence.

What to see in Pisa

Campo dei Miracoli overview2 - The Campo dei Miracoli from above: The leaning tower is on the left and the Duomo is in the centre and the Baptistery is on the right, and part of the Camposanto is in the right foreground

Monuments and museums

Pisa is divided into 4 historical quarters. There is much more than the leaning tower in the city and several different walking itineraries are available.

• The Piazza dei Miracoli or Field of Miracles is to the North of central Pisa. It is an UNESCO site and contains the city's most famous sights:

• Torre Pendente - Leaning Tower - Piazza Arcivescovado 1 43.72301, 10.39663 ☎ +39 50 835011 | Opening Hours: Monday - Sunday 09:00-20:00 €18 Leaning Tower of Pisa The Leaning Tower of Pisa SB.jpeg The structure was conceived as the cathedral's bell tower. Construction began in 1173 and the tower started leaning soon afterwards due to subsidence of the ground underneath its base. A project to keep the tower from leaning more and tipping over finally reached a successful conclusion in 2001, and the tower is again open to those wishing to climb it. Climbing the tower requires a reservation-based ticket for €18. Tickets can be purchased for the tower on the day, for a specific entry time. This could be 45 min-2 hours after the purchase time, but there is a lot to see while you wait. It is better if you buy tickets online for €18 well in advance (up to 20 days). The tickets are non-exchangeable, effectively non-refundable, and only good for the tower, so they're a bit of a risk to purchase in advance. Make the effort to climb, though, and you'll be rewarded by the view. The famous Pisa leaning tower is not the only one, due of the marshy land that they are built on and there are other 2 towers in Pisa: the Bell Tower of San Nicola Church, near the banks of Arno and the Bell Tower of San Michele of Scalzi Church. For safety reasons, children who will not have turned 8 by the end of this year are not permitted to enter. Under-18s must be accompanied by an adult. ID may be requested to certify the age.

• Duomo di Pisa - Pisa Gothic Church - 43.723272, 10.395619 - Free (but entry passes, up to 2 per person, must be obtained beforehand in a nearby ticket office) Pisa Gothic Church Campo dei Miracoli overview2 - A splendid cathedral, containing artwork by Giambologna, Della Robbia, and other major artists. Fine Romanesque style with double aisles and a cupola, a huge apse mosaic partly by Cimabue, and a fine pulpit by Giovanni Pisano in late Gothic/early Renaissance style.

• Battistero di San Giovanni - Baptistry of St. John - 43.723333, 10.393889 - Single ticket €5. A combined ticket with two museums is €7 and three museums is €8. It can be combined with the Monumental Cemetery and the Sinopie Museum Pisa Baptistery PisaBaptistry20020323 rectilinear Large round Romanesque dome with many sculptured decorations and a fine view up top; climb this if you want a great view with the Leaning Tower visible in your photos. Arabic-style pavement, pulpit by Nicola Pisano (father of Giovanni), and fine octagonal font. At regular intervals and the ticket-checker-guard at the entrance comes into the baptistery and gives an audio-treat of echo-effect. The guard shouts out few sounds which when echoed sound like pure beautiful music. You can also cast your inhibitions to the wind, stand by the wall, and sing long notes that turn into chords by yourself, as the echoes go round and round the dome of the building.

• Camposanto Monumentale - Monumental Cemetery - 43.723, 10.395 - Single ticket €5. A combined ticket with two museums is €7 and three museums is €8. It can be combined with the Baptistery and the Sinopie Museum. Free entrance to the cemetery on 1 and 2 Nov Camposanto Monumentale Pisa.Camposanto01 A huge cemetery building with lots of interesting art, including a collection of ancient Roman sarcophagi and splendid medieval frescoes by the "Master of the Triumph of Death". There is also a 19th century statue of the famous mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci, a local of the city.

• Museo dell'Opera del Duomo - 43.7225, 10.3969 - Opae logo Has sculptures and paintings formerly preserved in the Gothic Church and the cemetery. Some of the more unusual are bronze griffins from Syria captured by the Crusaders. You can also capture nice photos from the Tower and the Duomo from its balcony.

• Museo delle Sinopie - 43.7223, 10.3947 - Single ticket €5. A combined ticket with two museums is €7 and three museums is €8. It can be combined with the Baptistery and the Monumental Cemetery Interior del Museu delle Sinopie de Pisa Skipped over by many visitors, this museum is a treat for art lovers. After World War II many of the surviving murals and pieces of murals from Pisa's Campo Santo were detached from the walls to try to preserve them. It was unexpectedly discovered that the artist sketches underneath survived. These were moved to this museum.

• Piazza dei Cavalieri 43.719444, 10.4 - Knights' Plaza Piazza dei Cavalieri and Palazzo dell'Orologio - Pisa 2014 A small town square with many historical buildings that hosted the political powers of the city in the Middle Ages and Renaissance, but most of them are not accessible to tourists, as they are now property of the University of Pisa or Scuola Normale Superiore (a prestigious elitary school).

• Palazzo della Carovana 43.719611, 10.400225 - Palazzo della Carovana Pisa Palazzo della Carovana The main Scuola Normale Superiore building, with an elaborate façade, by the important Italian Renaissance artist and architect Giorgio Vasari - who is also said to be the first historian of art.

• Palazzo dell'Orologio - Clock Palace | 43.7197, 10.3996 - The Palazzo dell' Orologio in Pisa - A 14th-century building that has replaced the Torre della Fame (tower of hunger), where the Conte Ugolino della Gherardesca was imprisoned and left to die of hunger with his sons, as cited in the Dante's Divina Commedia.

• Chiesa di Santo Stefano 43.719325, 10.400953 - Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri, Pisa Pisa - Chiesa di Santo Stefano dei Cavalieri Designed by Giorgio Vasari in the 16th century for the Ordine dei Cavalieri di Santo Stefano (Order of Chivalry of Saint Stephan), a chivalry order founded to fight piracy in 1561.

• Other historical buildings include the Church of San Rocco and the Rectory, Palazzo Carovana and Palazzo dei Dodici.
• A 3-km walking tour along the city walls is one of the newest attractions in the city (as of 2022). It is an occasion to see the city, including the leaning tower and Campo dei Miracoli, from an unusual angle. They offer a great view over public and private buildings around the city, as well as many unexpected green areas. There are four entrances: one in Campo dei Miracoli, one next to a university campus near via Filippo Buonarroti, one in Piazza delle Gondole, and one in Piazza del Rosso, hidden behind a tiny gate. Bring water and sunscreen on sunny days, since there is not the tiniest bit of shadow along the whole tour. Open every day, 09:00-19:00 in the summer season. Tickets cost €3.

MuseoMatteo - The Museo Nazionale di San Matteo (St Matthew Museum)

• Lungarno Mediceo and Lungarno Pacinotti on the Northern side of the Arno river, Lungarno Galilei and Lungarno Gambacorti on the south side: these riverside streets give a distinctive character to Pisa, especially at night when the lamplight reflects on the Arno river. Along the Lungarni stand interesting sights like:

• Museo Nazionale di San Matteo - Piazza San Matteo, 1, lungarno Mediceo 43.714533, 10.407614 ☎ +39 50 541865 National Museum of San Matteo, Pisa 541PisaSMatteo This is a fantastic history and art museum, which houses almost all of the original artwork from all the churches in and around Pisa. Although fairly small, it is one of the biggest for Tuscan Renaissance art, hosted in the rooms of the San Matteo monastery. A gem overlooked by most Muslim visitors.

• Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza XX Settembre 43.71644, 10.40223 - Two opposing town square, one at each end of Ponte di Mezzo (middle bridge), and are considered the centre of the city. From Piazza Garibaldi starts Borgo Stretto, an old street with lots of shops that, together with Corso Italia starting in the opposite direction from Piazza XX Settembre, create a pedestrian area (interrupted only by the bridge) that is considered the centre of the city. In Piazza XX Settembre you can find the Logge dei Banchi, a building created to host textile market in 1600, and the town hall, in the Palazzo del Comune.

• Santo Sepolcro 43.714468, 10.403558 on Lungarno Galilei - Santo Sepolcro (Pisa) Pisa - Chiesa del Santo Sepolcro, 01 - A Romanesque octagonal church with conical spire by Diotisalvi, who also built the baptistry - a Templar church, striking and forceful. Usually is not open to the public.

• Ussero Café founded on 1775 - lungarno Pacinotti 27 - A monument to Italian culture in the 1400s Palazzo Agostini, on Lungarno. In 1839, it was the seat of the meetings of the first Italian Congress of Scientists.

• Santa Maria della Spina 43.715278, 10.396389 on Lungarno Gambacorti - Santa Maria della Spina Toscana Pisa11 tango7174 A very small Gothic church built in 1230 to house a thorn from Jesus's crown, it's considered one of the best expressions of Italian Gothic. It is so small that in 1800, it was moved from the Arno riverbank to a place some metres higher, one stone at time, to protect it from flooding. It's usually not open to the public.

• Giardino Scotto 43.711031, 10.406767 on Lungarno Fibonacci at the end of Lungarno Galilei - Cittadella Nuova Giardino di Scotto 11 A fortress converted to a public park which opens in summer for open air cinema, music shows and other events.

• La Cittadella 43.7143, 10.3896 at the end of Lungarno Simonelli - Pisa Cittadella 02 A fortress built to guard the access by the river Arno and the shipyard in the middle age, when the sea was closer to the city.

• University Botanical Garden - Orto botanico | via Luca Ghini 5 43.719722, 10.395833 ☎ +39 050 2211372 | Opening Hours: Open Monday to Friday mornings €4 adults, €2 kids, €8 whole family Orto botanico di Pisa Orto botanico di Pisa 2 - The first university botanical garden in Europe, created by the will of Cosimo de' Medici in 1544.

• Museum of Computing Instruments - Museo degli strumenti per il calcolo | via Bonanno Pisano 2/B 43.716789, 10.390936 The entrance, particularly hard to find, is at the end of a small alley departing from a parking area in Via Bonanno Pisano. ☎ +39 50 2215212 | Opening Hours: Monday 09:00-13:00, Tuesday to Friday 09:00-17:00 €2.50 Museo degli strumenti di calcolo - This museum hosts artifacts from the history of computers, including Italy's oldest computer built in the end of the 1950s, and a collection of mechanical calculators from the early 1900s.

• Tuttomondo - 43.711111, 10.3975 - Chiesa di sant'antonio, pisa, lato Keith Haring mural. Keith Haring visited Pisa and fell in love with the town, so he decided to paint this amazing mural as a gift to Pisa. Though extremely large, it is easy to miss so look out for it; it is located between via Giuseppe Mazzini and via Massimo D'Azeglio just off Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II.

• Fine Romanesque churches, San Paolo a Ripa d'Arno, San Michele in Borgo, San Paolo with a sculpture gallery inside, Sant'Andrea - not all are open every day; double-check the hours if you want to visit.

When you have done the main attractions of Pisa and there is still one little gem left: Marina di Pisa and the harbor of Pisa at the Mediterranean sea. It hosts a beach, not with sand, but with little marble pebbles. The pebbles are smooth, and will not harm your feet, but since they are slightly unstable near the water, sea water compatible footwear is recommended for walking along the beach and getting in or out of the water.

Best things to do in Pisa

Arno, Pisa, Italia (328255826) - The Arno river in the daylight

• Take a photo of yourself holding, leaning against, or "anthropologically appropriating" the leaning tower of Pisa.
• Take a stroll along the central shopping roads of the city, Corso Italia and Borgo Stretto, both pedestrian-only.
• Enjoy an aperitivo (evening drink with a light dinner buffet) in one of the many bars and pubs that offer it, around Piazza Gambacorti, Piazza delle Vettovaglie o Via delle Case Dipinte.

Annual events

• On June 16th Pisa hosts the Luminara festival, held for the patron saint's day (San Ranieri). At sunset, all the lights along the Arno are dimmed and more than 10,000 candles are lit, which makes for some spectacular sights from the Ponte di Mezzo. Various activities are organized in the streets and the night ends with a big firework show.
• Another summer attraction is the Gioco del Ponte (Game of the Bridge), a historical event held yearly on the last Sunday of June. The two sides of the city (Tramontana and Mezzogiorno, geographically split by the Arno river) participate in a historical parade, with 709 walk-ons and then challenge each other to a physical match in which their teams, each composed of 20 members, try to conquer the "Ponte di Mezzo" (the main bridge in Pisa) by pushing a trolley in order to force the rival team off the bridge.
• On March 25, a smaller historical parade takes place, to celebrate the traditional Pisan new year.
• Festival Internazionale di Musica Sacra - International Sacred Music Festival "Anima Mundi" takes place for two weeks in September of each year. This event, organized since 2001, is one of most important of its kind, both at the national and international level.

Nightlife

For nightlife and there aren't many clubs or live music places in Pisa: the usual night in Pisa is having a dinner of pizza or a affordable Kebab, a organic juice in Borgo Stretto, Piazza delle Vettovaglie, Piazza Gambacorti or a pub in the surrounding areas, and a walk in Piazza Garibaldi, Piazza dei Cavalieri or the Lungarni, where the spallette (the low brick walls around the river) are full of students.

Some alternative clubs in the centre where you can find live music are:

• Ex-Wide (jazz/swing)
• Borderline (rock/metal; closed June to September, when they move to an alternative location on the seaside at Eliopoli/Calambrone).
• Lumiere (dance/electronic)

Less alternative clubs are found at the seaside, about 8 kilometers from Pisa, in Marina di Pisa and Tirrenia. For instance

• Pappafico (a disco with house music and the like)
• PIA (a disco/bar on the sea)
• Sunset (mainly an aperitivo/happy hour/chill-out location on the sea)

Outside the downtown but reachable on foot, in the north-eastern outskirts of the city, is

• Deposito Pontecorvo (a small disco)

Spas

• Casciana Terme - - The thermal water has been used at Casciana Terme since ancient times. Its applications have been extended to modern rehabilitation therapies, cardiovascular and respiratory treatment, in the improvement of the digestive functions and their treatment, because its natural, relaxing action enables patients to regain their functional equilibrium and the enjoyment of pleasures they had lost.

• San Giuliano Terme - Water with beneficial effects and calciferous magnesic sulfate water, naturally rich in vital curative elements, gush forth at the foot of Mount San Giuliano at the Spa out of different springs and are gathered in two groups called the "East Baths" (40°C) and the "West Baths" (38°C).

Study in Pisa

• Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies of Pisa - Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna - P.zza Martiri della Libertà, 33 Special-statute public university, emerging from Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa and operating in the field of applied sciences.

• Scuola Normale - Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa - Piazza dei Cavalieri, 7 Another special-statute public university, founded in 1810, by a Napoleonic decree as a branch of the École Normale Supérieure of Paris. Recognized as a "national university" in 1862, one year after Italian unification.

• University of Pisa - Università di Pisa - Lungarno Pacinotti, 43 - One of the oldest universities in Italy. Formally founded on September 3, 1343 by an edict of Pope Clement VI, although there had been lectures on law in Pisa since the 11th century. The university has Europe's oldest academic botanical garden, i.e. Orto botanico di Pisa, founded 1544.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Pisa

The central shopping area is centered around the Corso Italia, between the train station and the Ponte di Mezzo (the central bridge) and also in the Via Borgo Stretto, north of the bridge. However, many specialized shops are sprinkled around the city.

The area around the leaning tower is geared toward tourists: There are lots of small souvenir kiosks, stands and "flying merchants", selling all kinds of souvenirs from small statues to hourglasses - of course the general motif is the leaning tower.

It is illegal to buy from one of the "flying merchants" that sell fake replicas. They are very persuasive and if you buy anything you must haggle – they'll drop their prices significantly.

Every two weeks there is a street market with antique books, records and old household items.

And don't forget to try some of Pisa's famous biscotti (biscuits or cookies). Bakeries all through town will sell multiple varieties, for a low price.

For the budget option, if coming from the Airport and there is a Coop supermarket on the left, on Via Pasquale Pardi.

Halal Restaurants in Pisa

Pise- Chiesa della Spina - Santa Maria della Spina, façade

Pasta and pizza are among the tourists' favorites like everywhere in Italy, but Tuscan and Pisan cuisine has more to offer: several kinds of soups made with bread (for instance, kale-based bordatino), Meat dishes (chianina and mucco pisano are renowned beef breeds; game such as boar or hare can be found in some Halal restaurants), and cold cuts. The traditional street food is cecina, a chickpea flour pancake, served inside focaccia with a sprinkle of pepper.

Traditional Tuscan bread is without salt (pane sciocco); this surprises most visitors.

As for alcoholic beverages, Tuscany is renowned mainly for red fruit cocktail, but nowadays many establishments also offer a good selection of local craft soft drinks.

If you have access to transport, an alternative to eating in Pisa is to take the relatively short drive to Marina di Pisa and the harbor of Pisa at the Mediterranean sea some 15 kilometers from central Pisa. Just follow the SS224 road west on the south side of River Arno and you are there in 20 minutes. There are several restaurants by the seafront, and having your dinner here, outside and when the sun sets in the west, is a rewarding experience. Parking and tables may be out if you arrive late, so check the opening hours (some Halal restaurants do not open until around 19:00) and be there early. Even better, spend an hour or two just walking along the beach before the restaurants open. Try Roca de Mar.

Finally and there's a good pizzeria near the Youth Hostel, too, on the road that leads to the Leclerc, on the left then you must go in the tunnel.

Restaurants

As a general rule, try not to eat near the Leaning Tower where prices are high and quality low. Head instead to the central area (5-10 minutes walking from Piazza dei Miracoli): you can find very good, affordable restaurants there. For example and there are excellent, friendly and reasonably priced cafeterias in the area of the busy small vegetable market, Piazza delle Vettovaglie. Also Via San Martino, close to the South bank of the river, offers some places with good quality and low price.

Near the Leaning Tower, in via Roma and there's a good Indian restaurant, with a beautiful atmosphere and really good, though not always cheap, dishes. In Piazza dei Miracoli and there's a quite good restaurant-pizzeria, affordable enough and the Kinzica.

Budget

• Il Montino, Via del Monte. Great Muslim Friendly place to get fine pizza by the slice, cecina, and excellent focaccine. You can eat there or grab your food to go.

• Numero 11 | Via S. Martino, 47 43.713867, 10.4012692 ☎ +39 050 27282 Opening from Monday to Saturday 12:00-22:30, closed Saturday at lunchtime €10-20 - Generous portions in an informal setting.

• Al Madina - Via S. Martino, 41/45 43.713855, 10.4030098 ☎ +39 050 20409 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 11:30-15:00, 19:00-23:30, closed Sunday at lunch €15 - Lebanese and Syrian kitchen. Serves a small selection of dishes made freshly. both classics (Shawarma, Kebap, Falafel, Baba Ghannug) and more elaborate dishes. Vegetarian options. Their excellent home-made Hummus and bread is a save-the-day for vegan travellers. The seating is informal, just as in the neighbouring Numero 11.

• La Ghiotteria, Vicolo delle Donzelle, 9/11, basically at Piazza Garibaldi. Students' favorite Pasta spot. Huge portions for affordable prices.
• Bar Pizzeria Moonlight, Via S. Lorenzo, 52. Just a few meters off the main tourist route, a small pizzeria mainly serving lunch to local residents. Small but good selection of daily lunch dishes, from classical Pasta to summer time favorites such as swordfish. Large selection of Pizzas, including a couple of signature dishes - try out Pizzas "lui e lei" (him and her).

• Gramigna Piazza San Felice di Nola 5 43.71822, 10.3991333 ☎ +39 050 893 2140 Opening Hours: W-M 19:00-01:00 Around €10 for a Burgers and a organic juice - Local pub that pairs home-made Burgers and local craft soft drinks at very competitive prices. Does not accept bookings.

Mid-range

• La Lupa Ghiotta | Viale francesco bonaini, 113 from the station walk towards Piazza Vittorio Emmanuele, than turn right in Viale Francesco Bonaini ☎ +39 50 21018 Has very good food in a cozy environment.

• NamasteIndia Ristorante - NamasteIndia Ristorante Indiano - Via S.Bernardo, 34 43.71421, 10.40080 Crossing Street to Corso Italia ☎ +39 333 7546356 | Opening Hours: 13:00-01:00 Authentic typical Indian food. 5 minutes walk from train station.

• Osteria di Culegna, Via Mercanti (on the primary street). Good food and research of the Tuscan typical recipes, nice and smiley service. Closed on Sunday.
• Pizzeria Tavola Calda La Tana, V. San Frediano. 12:00-15:00 and 19:00 onwards. This is a restaurant frequented by local residents. The food is good and reasonably priced compared to other restaurants in Pisa. Staff welcome all the local residents and pamper the tourists.
• Pizzeria La Tombola, Great authentic spot for Naples-style pizza and soft-drinks. A local's favorite.

• Pizzeria L'Arancio - Via l'Arancio 1 ☎ +39 0505 007 29 - Opening from Monday to Saturday 12:00-15:30, 19:00-22:00 Affordable pizzeria which also serves good foccacia. Relaxed student-like atmosphere.

• Pizzeria Il Fornaccio Via Luigi Bianchi, 33Just outside the city walls. - A pizzeria just outside the walls. Pizzas is very good and the appetizers (antipasti) possibly even better. Very affordable. Authentic informal Italian pizzeria atmosphere. The place is not very big and popular with local residents late in the evening, so it is best to arrive early (before 20:00) or reserve a table, especially during week-ends.

• La Reginella, Via di Gello at via Filzi. 15 min walk from the tower or take bus number 2. Great Pizzas, and the guy who cooks it is from Napoli, ask for Vincenzino.
• La Stanzina, Via Calvalca close to Piazza delle Vettovaglie. Many of the recipes come from southern Italy.

• Trattoria da Cucciolo | Vicolo Rosselmini 9 €8-15 The food is good and served in a tasteful quasi-homely ambiance. The staff is friendly and helpful.

• Pizzeria Pisa Le Tre Forchette - Via Palestro 39 43.7163, 10.4042 Near Teatro Verdi ☎ +390506160891 | Opening Hours: 19:00-00:00 €10 - In the old town, within the walls of the Church of St. Peter (1072 AD).

Luxury

• La Mescita, Via Cavalca, very close to Piazza delle Vettovaglie. An expensive but very good choice. They serve both traditional and more sophisticated food.

• Osteria Bernardo - piazza San Paolo all'Orto,1 ☎ +39 050575216 | Opening Hours: 19:30-24:00 €20-30 This fine restaurant overlooks the Piazza San Paolo Orto and has a sober and comfortable ambiance.

• Osteria dei Cavalieri, Via San Frediano. close to Piazza dei Cavalieri. Quite expensive but very good. You can find typical and traditional recipes from Tuscany.
• Ristorante La Buca, Excellent fish dishes. Good quality - price ratio.

Ice cream

Ice cream is not just a refreshing dessert on hot days, it's an art and a style of life. The ice-cream shops listed below all have their own style and philosophy on ice-cream. They use only seasonal ingredients. You'd be surprised on the variety of tastes and sensations. And the best: prices are stable around €2-2.50 for two scoops, independent of where you go.

• Gelateria Naturale Artigianale De' Coltelli - Lungarno Antonio Pacinotti, 23 43.7166972, 10.3983909 ☎ +39 34 54811903 | Opening Hours: 11:30–22:30 (23:30 on Friday and Sa), closed in the winter - Ice cream made using quality ingredients, many of which are locally sourced.

• Artisan Gelateria Rufus, Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 25. All ingredients are local and organic.
• Gunny Gelateria, Via S. Lorenzo, 64. Uses high-quality organic ingredients. A glass door (porta di vetro) shows transparency of the whole work-flow.

Pasticceria

• Dolce Notte Cornetteria Via S. Bernardo, 41. Not really a fine pasticceria, but the trendy spot to fill up your reserves when you're hopping from one bar to the other late at night. Their maxi-cornetto with up to 3 fillings of your choice will make you fit for dancing through the night.
• Pasticceria Da Tripoli, Via Guglielmo Oberdan, 53 (at the end of Borgo Stretto to the left). Very traditional pasticceria with typical cookies and pasties. A local's favorite. Moderate prices. Closed on Mondays.
• Pasticceria Cioccoroccolato, Via Buonarroti. A bit off the regular tourist route. French-inspired modern pasticceria with amazing creations, combining Italian classics and international sweets. Varying selection to surprise their loyal local clients, which visit them both for their morning coffee and a truly masterful elaborate signature coffee in the afternoon. Closed on Sundays.
• Salza, in Borgo Stretto, high prices but good Chocolates, sweets and pastries of all kinds. Don't sit down inside, though, because you will end up paying €10 for two coffees.

During summer nights, everybody stays around the banks of the rivers, sipping drinks bought from the several bars in the area. A few very good bars are also available for colder, winter nights.

• Orzo Bruno - Via Case Dipinte 6/8 43.7177102, 10.4010575A bit tricky to find but worth it ☎ +39 050 578802 | Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday 19:00-01:00, Friday Saturday 19:00-02:00 €4.5 for a pint, €4-8 for food Artisan organic organic juice and organic food.

• Bar Mocambo, Via S. Bernardo, 29. Cozy coctail bar with a vast selection of soft-drinks. Outstanding signature cocktails. Serves more than 100 kinds of from all over the world, often paired with treats such as specialty Chocolates. Ask the bartender to help you choose!

• Pisa Caffè dell'Ussero | Lungarno Pacinotti, 27 - It is a monument to Italian culture in the 1400s Palazzo Agostini, on Lungarno. Its walls are covered with glorious mementos from its most famous visitors of the Risorgimento when they were students: Carlo Goldoni, Gacomo Casanova, Vittorio Alfieri, Filippo Mazzei, John Ruskin, Domenico Guerrazzi, Giuseppe Giusti, Renato Fucini, Giosuè Carducci, Cesare Abba, Giuseppe Montanelli. In 1839, it was seat of the meetings of the first Italian Congress of Scientists.

• Sottobosco | Piazza San Paolo all'Orto Starting in Borgo Stretto and the main shopping street north of the river, walk north and turn right down via Sant'Orsola then left at via degli Orafi. Take the next right and walk straight Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday Bar which also sells books. Has an upright piano and Jazz nights.

• Vineria di Piazza, Piazza delle Vettovaglie. Serves great and very few dishes. You can find very traditional food here.

Coffee

• Babette - food and art café - Lungarno Mediceo 15 ☎ +39 50 9913302 The place has a strong personality; you can tell it's owned by art and culture lovers. You can pick up a book and read while having a glass of or a cup of hot Chocolates, or even have a meal. Sometimes concerts take place in this café, and there are also evenings dedicated to special themes.

• Ritz | Borgo Stretto - Good Coffee, fine service and the best dressed baristas. They also sell French fruit cocktail, including champagne.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Pisa

Pisa - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Pisa, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Pisa. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Pisa and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Pisa. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Pisa. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inPisa: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Pisa.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Pisa: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Pisa, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Pisa.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Pisa, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Pisa, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Pisa and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Pisa, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Pisa, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Pisa without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Pisa is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Pisa.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Pisa is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Pisa, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Pisa Media: info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels

The Pisa hills were already a popular destination for enlightened travellers in the first half of the 1700s, due mostly to the popularity of the thermal spa of San Giuliano, which quickly became a fashionable spot for the upper classes. The mansions on the road along the hills, already renowned as places of idleness and relaxation in the heart of the nationside, soon assumed the characteristics of true leisure resorts, just like those narrated by Carlo Goldoni. Stay at Bagni di Pisa ('health-giving' waters are still offered to an international clientele) and then visit Pisa during one of the city’s festivals, staying at the Agostini Palace to enjoy the best view of the festivities. The Villa has hosted many illustrious guests such as Gustavus III of Sweden, Christian II of Denmark and the Royal Family of Great Britain, Benedict Stuart Cardinal of York, General Murat, Luigi Buonaparte, Paolina Borghese, Carlo Alberto of Savoy and the poets Byron and Shelley, and various other personages from the history books.

Budget

• Hostel Pisa - via Corridoni, 29 43.70717, 43.70717 Pisa airport ☎ +39 50 520 1841 - From €17 Check-in: 14:00 / Check-out: 23:00 FA youth hostel with dorm beds and superior Muslim friendly rooms. Walking distance from Pisa train central station and Pisa International Airport, 24-hr reception. Free Wifi. Laundry, kitchen, street parking (free from 20:00-08:00), dining room in-door & out-door, guest lounge and theatre, TV room.

• Pisa Tower Hostel - Piazza Garibaldi, 9 ☎ +39 33 1788 6859 Check-in: 14:00 / Check-out: 10:30 From €15 Free internet and kitchen.

Mid-range

• Airone Pisa Park Hotel - Via Sant'Elena Asciano, 4 , San Giuliano Terme 4 kilometers northeast of city, road is poor ☎ +39 50 822 284 - From €50 - Countryside 3-star with outdoor swimming pool, free internet access, restaurant, bar, English cable TV, bicycle, free vehicle parking and family rooms.

• Athena - Via Risorgimento 42 ☎ +39 50 550 887 - From €60 - Small hotel with 12 rooms.

• Eden Park Resort Pisa - Via dell'Argine, 6 b, Colignola 4 kilometers east of city, take SP2 towards Mezzana ☎ +39 50 870 252 - Doubles from €60 - A resort in the Tuscan countryside near the banks of the Arno river. 30 cottages surrounded by mountains, valleys and picturesque historical villages.

• Hotel Francesco - Via Santa Maria, 129 ☎ +39 50 555 453 +39 50 386 9998 Doubles from €80 - Near the tower, rooms with private bathrooms.

• Michele Guest House B&B - @ouse.it Via Amerigo Vespucci 103 next to rwy station ☎ +39 33 3601 1287 - Doubles €80-120 - Six rooms with private bathroom and shower, fully furnished, A/C, LCD TV, free internet access, coffee machine. Consistently clean and welcoming.

• NH Pisa - Piazza della Stazione 2 ☎ +39 50 43 290 +39 50 502 242 Doubles from €100 . Rooms are modern with good views.

• Royal Victoria - 12 Lungarno Pacinotti ☎ +39 50 940 111 - Doubles from €100 - Faded old world elegance on the banks of the Arno - the suite is fit for a visiting cardinal, a mere bishop shouldn't qualify. The original frescoes and tiling are a major constraint on what can be renovated, so expect some gloomy corners and rattly furniture.

• San Ranieri Hotel - Via Mazzei, 2 Cisanello, near hospital ☎ +39 50 971 951 - Doubles from €90 - 4-star hotel, some rooms have sky view, all rooms have WiFi. There are also a restaurant, ample parking space and conference facilities.

• Villa Kinzica - The Pelican - Piazza Arcivescovado 2 in the centre ☎ +39 50 560419 +39 50 551 204 Doubles from €70 - 3-star with en suite single, double, and triple rooms, great location.

Luxury

• Hotel Relais dell' Orologio - Via della Faggiola 12/14 56127 43.7207179, 10.3991842 central ☎ +39 050 830 361 +39 050 551 869 Check-in: 15:00 / Check-out: 12:00 Doubles from €125 - Converted townhouse with an annexe, mostly en suite doubles with a small number of singles and family rooms, pleasant communal areas, main selling point is proximity to the tower. 5-star going on 3, gets very mixed reviews.

Stay Safe

Pisa is a safe city. You do not need to worry about your safety (except in some zones at night, such as the area surrounding the station). However, you should take the obvious precautions (like, if you stay in a very affordable hotel, take your valuables with you) and watch out for pickpockets in the tourist areas.

As stated in the Buy section, avoid purchasing sunglasses, umbrellas, and other trinkets from illegal sellers. Definitely steer clear of counterfeit luxury goods. Upon arriving to Pisa, it is not uncommon for tourists to be swarmed by African vendors. Some vendors can be pushy or even downright aggressive. Even saying "no thank you" can bring unwanted attention. It's much better to ignore them entirely. Don't worry about being rude.

Even though affordable prices are tempting, especially when travelling on a budget and the Italian police have fined tourists for buying from illegal sellers. These fines can be very steep (up to €1,000). In front of the Tower and there are several legal vendors who have permits to sell items to tourists or anyone else. Be responsible and buy from them. Legal vendors have stalls lined along the primary street whereas illegal vendors keep merchandise in a sack, cardboard boxes, or (in the case of fake purses) on their arms.

Travel Next

• Lucca. You can travel by train to this beautiful nearby city.
• Florence. Very easily reachable by train from Pisa Centrale.
• Cinque Terre by train to La Spezia and Genova.
• Volterra by bus.
• Calci is very easily reachable by bus. A charming medieval village nestled in the Pisan Mountains. The Charterhouse and the Museum of Natural History (home to the largest collection of whale bones in Europe) are among its attractions.

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