How to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa on a short stopover

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a world-famous landmark. Our trip to Italy did not include visiting Tuscany, where Pisa is located. (We have underage children, and touring wine country was not our priority.) But we did pass through Pisa on the train en route from Cinque Terre to Rome. We decided to build a short stopover in Pisa into our itinerary in order to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Here is how we did it, and how you can do it, too.

Stow your bags

A brief trip to the Leaning Tower of Pisa will require a stopover of at least three hours. Disembark your train at Pisa Centrale train station. It is a short two-minute walk to a luggage locker service called Stow Your Bags, located at Via Cristoforo Colombo, 6. This is a safe luggage storage facility that has 24 hour surveillance and insurance against theft.

We recommend booking your locker in advance. The premises are rather small, and during peak times, the lockers can sell out. (While we were there, we saw customers who were turned away.) When you book in advance, you will receive a code that can be used to open and access your reserved locker.

Two locker sizes are available, Large (24x19x33”) and Standard (18x19x33”). The Standard size fits two carry-on-sized pieces of luggage, and the Large size will fit four. We wanted to store large pieces of luggage that are too big to carry on a plane, and we required one Large locker per item. Locker fees are charged by the hour. The cost for each Large locker is €10 for 3 hours (plus a €0,50 reservation fee).

Walk to the Leaning Tower of Pisa

With your luggage safely stowed, head for Piazza dei Miracoli, or the Square of Miracles, where the Leaning Tower of Pisa is located. The Tower is 1.7 km away from the train station, and Stow Your Bags is conveniently located along the route. It will take approximately 20 minutes to walk the entire distance from the train station to the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

What to see at the Leaning Tower of Pisa

The Piazza dei Miracoli is home to three structures: the cathedral, Cattedrale di Pisa; the baptistery; and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which is the free-standing bell tower of the cathedral. The entire square is composed of marvelous architecture. There is gleaming white marble and stone as far as the eye can see. But there is no mistaking the Tower, with its 4-degree tilt.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa began to lean almost immediately once construction on it began. At one point the lean grew to 5.5 degrees. Modern remediation efforts on the tower began in 1993. A system of counterweights brought the tower back to the 4-degree tilt it has today. The rehabilitation team decided not to straighten the tower completely because of the favourable impact it has on tourism in the region.

You can buy a ticket to enter and climb the tower. Tickets are €20 per person and you may purchase them online in advance to eliminate some of the queuing required. Note that children under 8 years old may not climb the Tower. We did not climb the tower due to the time constraint we had.

With a three-hour stopover, you’ll have just enough time to go see the Tower, take lots of photos, and laugh at how ridiculous everyone looks taking photos of themselves trying to prop the Tower up. You’ll also have time to grab a bite to eat. (We can highly recommend a counter-service restaurant called L’Ostellino for panini and charcuterie boards. It’s conveniently located between the Leaning Tower and the Pisa Centrale train station at Piazza Felice Cavallotti, 1.) Then, return to collect your luggage and get back to the train station.

Train travel in Italy: what you need to know

Even if you’re not staying in Pisa, it’s possible to squeeze in a quick trip to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa on a short stopover. It’s a fun location for families to visit because of the high recognition factor of the landmark, the absurd sight of the building with its tilt, and the general goofy atmosphere imparted by its visitors.

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