It’s finally time for my long-awaited travel guides for Italy!
In the coming weeks, I’m planning to share a travel guide to each city we visited during the trip, so be sure to stay tuned for each one. So many readers have asked on social media for me to do trip recaps because either you’re planning a trip to Italy or have already been yourself. Admittedly, it took me way longer to sift through all of my trip notes, photos, and videos to put these travel guides together, but I’m so excited to finally be able to share my trip experience with you! I started my trip to Italy in Pisa and spent 1 day there exploring because the flights were soooo much cheaper if I flew in a day early. It was definitely worthwhile because arriving a day early helped me cope with the jetlag and also start off the trip with some delicious meals and exploration.
Pisa Travel Guide
My time in Pisa was split up because I spent 1 night there before my workshop (more on that to come!) and then 1 night after the workshop. Sean was supposed to meet me when I checked into the second location, but I made a tiny error in booking his flights… and he didn’t get to experience Pisa. Basically, I booked his flight for the wrong day and ended up meeting him at the airport to rent our car and drive to Florence, our next destination. Ooops!
Where is Pisa?
Before booking my trip, I actually had very little clue about where Pisa was located in relation to the rest of Italy. All I knew was that it had the closest airport to the workshop! Pisa is in central Italy and part of the Tuscany region. It is a city that is very accessible via train and just a short ride away from hot spots like Lucca and Florence.
Things To Do in Pisa:
Pisa is known for one very specific thing… the Leaning Tower! I walked there very easily and spent about 15 minutes. The area surrounding the tower was quite crowded with tourists and vendors selling souvenirs. I ended up not going up in the tower because the line was very long, as well. Next time, I will order tickets ahead so I can skip the line. Instead, I found more meaning in the art, especially the Fallen Angel in Piazza dei Miracoli.
A few other must-see sites in Pisa:
- the Pisa Cathedral
- the Baptistery of St. John
- Piazza dei Cavalieri
- Piazza del Duomo in Piazza dei Miracoli
- Palazzo Blu
- Palazzo della Carovana
- Ponte di Mezzo
- Scuola Normale
One thing to know about Pisa is that it’s pretty tiny. I ended up spending two nights total there and it felt like I had done everything I wanted to do in a day. So if you’re planning a trip, I’d recommend keeping that in mind. I didn’t have access to a car while in Pisa, so I explored on foot which was totally fine. You could also do well with a bicycle rental.
Where to Stay In Pisa:
I’m a huge fan of staying in Airbnbs while I’m traveling and my trip to Italy was no exception. I was blown away first by how many apartments were available for rent… and by how stylish they were! The Italians do not mess around when it comes to interior design. For my first night in Pisa, I stayed in this historic and stylish apartment and loooved it. The design details were amazing, like the mixed marble and stone in the bathroom, historic frescos, and exposed lighting fixtures.
For my second evening in Pisa, I stayed in this apartment closer to the Leaning Tower. The vibe was totally different, but equally as cool! I loved that there was a romantic sleeping nook (if only Sean had been there…) and so many books to look through.
Best Restaurants in Pisa:
Like the rest of my Italian vacation, I spent most of my time eating while I was there! You’ll notice there’s a theme in my recap posts… I travel based on food and Pisa was no different. My first night in Pisa, I was exhausted from travel and soooo hungry. I wandered into an incredible, tiny restaurant and had some of the best pasta of my life. It was definitely the best way to start out the trip!
Here’s a (relatively short) list of where I ate while in Pisa:
- Ristorante alle Bandierine
- La Gallina Nera — I had my first meal here and it blew my mind.
- Il Gelato Di Toto
- Borgo Stretto
- La Taverna di Pulcinella
- Filter Coffee Lab — a very Seattle-esque coffee shop
- DolcePisa
If you’re local to Pisa or have been before, what’s missing from this list? I’d love to know what some of your favorites are! And in case you missed them, here are the travel guides for our entire Italian vacation:
- Travel Guide for Pisa
- Travel Guide for Tuscany & Annette Joseph Styling Workshop
- Travel Guide: Florence
- Travel Guide: Lake Como
- Travel Guide: Venice
Photography by Jojotastic.
