How long does it take and what to expect touring The Leaning Tower of Pisa
A trip to Italy deserves a stop to see the iconic leaning tower of Pisa! Truly a unique place! This was one of my favorite experiences on our trip to Italy 😄! It’s a freestanding bell tower that has a four degree lean. The leaning was caused by the soft ground creating an unstable foundation for the tower while it was being built. It actually wasn’t made to lean on purpose 😉. To preserve the structure, there is a capacity limit to how many people that can enter the Tower daily.
Tip: This is a poplar attraction in Italy and you will need to book your tickets online well in advance. It sells out! You can also book guided tours, but you will be fine on your own.
You will find the tower in Pisa’s Cathedral Square. The Piazza Del Duomo and Pisa Baptistery are located next to the tower.
Tip: Shoulders and Knees have to be covered if you enter the churches. You do not need to cover your shoulders and knees if you’re only visiting the tower.
We arrived at 9:00 a.m. with a timed ticket entry at 9:15 a.m. We spent 1.5 hours total visiting Cathedral Square. It started to get really crowded around 10:00 a.m. They are strict on timed tickets, so don’t be late! Also, give yourself at least 15 minutes before your timed slot, incase you need to put belongings in the cloakroom.
Tip: To avoid crowds, skip going on a weekend. Also, go in the early morning before 9:30 a.m.
Tip: You aren’t allowed to bring a bag inside of the tower! They will have you put it in the locker.
The cloak/locker room is located by the gift shop. As you walk in and you’re facing the tower, the lockers are located on the left side perimeter where the statue is. The employee at the tower entrance can direct you where to go as well. The locker is free to use.
If you take the time to come here, I do recommend climbing up to the top of the tower. It’s neat! You will see panoramic views of the Cathedral Square once you reach the top where the bells are.
The steps are made from marble and are unevenly worn away, so make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes that aren’t slippery. It’s a spiral stairway and I would advise taking medication before you go up, if you are a person who gets dizzy spells. My daughter felt dizzy going down and she had to go slow. There are 296 steps total.
It might be a problem climbing the steps if you have hip, balance, breathing, or claustrophobic issues. The stairway is narrow and not that wide. It took us less than 10 minutes to go up and there are a couple of sections where you can stop, step out of the way, and catch your breath. My family and I didn’t need to stop, but there were other people that needed to take breaks. Once you get to the top, you can sit and look at the view. It was faster to get down, than to go up. Plan for at least 30 minutes to tour the Tower.
We found a cute café across from the tower where we enjoyed cappuccinos and pastries after our climb. Chill little spot where you can people watch and have a view of the tower. Don’t forget to stop at the souvenir shop! They sell Tower of Pisa figurines 😄.
Tip: Beware of pick pocketing! Do not hand your phone to anyone to have them take your picture!