Pisa Transport

While many of the city’s attractions are largely accessible on foot, visitors who are staying outside of the city’s four ancient quarters may find the public transport networks useful. Buses are a handy means of travelling across the city, while there is also a rail link between Pisa Central Station and the city’s minor station, Pisa San Rossore, which is situated closer to the Learning Tower. Taxis are readily available and can be found at taxi ranks or by pre-booking a vehicle by telephone. Meanwhile, those who are determined to have a holiday to remember should try a horse-drawn carriage tour of the city.

By train

With Pisa being such a compact city, there is no need to travel by train within the city, although the city does have two rail stations. Pisa Central Station connects the city with Pisa Airport, while also offering direct links to Florence eight times a day. Tickets can be bought at the station or the airport. In addition, the Thyrrenic line offers links to Naples and Rome, with stops at Genoa and Turin. The city’s smaller station of Pisa San Rossore is situated close to the Leaning Tower and offers connections with Lucca and Pistoia.

By bus

Local buses in Pisa are operated by CPT (Consorzio Pisano Trasporti). Services run between the airport, Central Station and the Field of Miracles (bus number 1). Meanwhile the Navetta C shuttle bus service runs between the Park and Ride car park on via Pietrasantina and Piazza del Duomo, making it another popular route for tourists to use. Tickets should be purchased prior to boarding the bus; they can be bought from tobacconists, bars and newsagents. If you buy your ticket on the bus, it will be more expensive. Tickets must be validated in the yellow machine after you board. Standard tickets are valid for 1 hour, while 120 minute, 240 minutes and daily tickets are also available. Those who plan to be on the move can save money by purchasing a four or ten ticket booklet.

Taxis

There are taxi stands situated at the airport, Pisa Central Station and at Piazza Duomo. Alternatively, taxis can be pre-booked using the telephone numbers provided at the station or airport. Taxis run by meter and are subject to higher rates on Sundays and Bank Holidays. There is also a collective taxi service that runs between the airport and Central Station every 10 minutes from 08:00 to 24:00; arrivals pay a flat rate and share a vehicle with up to eight other passengers.

Tourist services

Tours of the city by horse-drawn carriage are available from Piazza dei Miracoli; however, they can work out  expensive and visitors should not assume that their driver will speak English.

From the airport

Many visitors arriving at Pisa International Airport choose to rent a car on arrival. Car rental agencies are available at the airport, with nine companies represented including the popular international outlets of Avis, Hertz, Sixt, National and Europcar. The airport is connected with the city via the A12 motorway; take the Pisa Centro exit.

Those visitors wishing to use public transport, for the one kilometre journey into the centre, can travel by taxi, which are available from outside Arrivals. Bus services also run the route from the airport to central Pisa every 20 minutes, with the journey taking about 10 to 15 minutes. Alternatively, arriving passengers can reach Pisa’s Central Station via a direct rail link with the airport.