Experience Pisa like a local: 10 things to do to stop feeling just a tourist

After the usual picture holding up the Leaning Tower with your outstretched hands and the power of your mind to prevent it from collapsing to the ground, what about visiting Pisa like a local?

It's time to dive into the Pisans' true habits and most-loved city sights with a good dose of curiosity and wish for discovery. Here you'll find 10 travel tips to experience Pisa like a true Pisan, perhaps enjoying a beautiful weekend. Let's get started!

Super famous, super photographed. The former Maritime Republic, home to two prestigious universities (La Normale and Sant'Anna) and a Unesco Heritage jewel, is a tremendous artistic and cultural tradition repository. And this year too, it's a destination that travelers seeking excitement can't miss on their wishlist.

Discover how to explore the city and what to do for visiting Pisa like a local, with tips inspired by those living in Galileo's hometown. Everybody’s welcome!

Dynamic, cultured and informal, Pisa gives its best between May and October. At the end of spring, with the lively Giugno Pisano, it gets glorious and welcoming with multiple events that make it an even more attractive destination. The most important events are held on June 16 and 17, with Luminara and Palio San Ranieri respectively, but the fun continues on the last Saturday of the month with the unique Gioco del Ponte.

But take note of the gems you can discover in Pisa during the slower seasons of tourism as well. From January 3 to 6, the winter edition of "Tra sogno, magia e benessere" awaits you, a showcase of holistic and bio-natural Eastern disciplines at the Stazione Leopolda, while for the little ones - and even for eternal Peter Pans - don't miss the temporary "Dinosauri" exhibition, featuring over twenty life-size models of the largest reptiles ever to exist, open at the University of Pisa's Natural History Museum until February 15. And for literature lovers, the unmissable Pisa Book Festival will take place from October 2 to 4.

To visit Pisa like a local, you must go beyond Piazza dei Miracoli, Keith Haring's mural on the Church of Sant'Antonio Abate or the Royal Palace. It takes adding a touch of originality: emulate Pisan students, taste the best Tuscan wines, have an aperitivo as the sun sets over the Arno and read a good book in a secret place. We are going to reveal everything point by point in order to make your stay a special experience.

Although school years are now just a memory, there is no reason not to get inspired by Pisa's teenage students for a fun and extensive itinerary around the city and its surroundings.

The idea is to take inspiration from the superstitious rituals taken before the end of the study cycle and visit Pisa like a local with a pinch of irony.

One hundred days before the final exam, girls and boys are drawn into a collective well-wishing ritual, a sort of pilgrimage in stages to guarantee the coveted promotion.

First, a visit to the sanctuary of Montenero, among the most famous places of worship in Tuscany. Then, a stop at the beach in Tirrenia to write the desired score in the sand. And finally, head to the city centre, straight to Piazza dei Miracoli: the students walk around the Baptistery a hundred times and stroke the bronze lizard on the cathedral door.

A region of wines and vineyards, it's impossible to avoid sipping a good glass with satisfaction when in Tuscany. In the Pisa area, viticulture is an ancient practice that counts ten denominations of origin, with Sangiovese, Ciliegiolo, Canaiolo Nero, Malvasia Nera and Trebbiano Toscano as the main grape varieties.

Among the Pisan hills, you learn to appreciate the best local production, which stands out thanks to the peculiarities of an area happily predisposed to the purpose: right altitude, right ventilation, right proximity to the sea.

The tasty idea? Join a guided tour of Pisa including a tasting of local wines. Your guide will take you on a tour of the famous monuments of Piazza dei Miracoli: the massive Duomo, the refined Baptistery and the storied Leaning Tower. Eventually, a local expert will initiate you to the pleasures of Tuscan wine.

How beautiful are the Tuscan villages? Near Pisa you can find some amazing ones worth (more than) a visit.

Peccioli, for example, is a 'rainbow village', strongly defined by colour and art, that has managed to draw culture and beauty from its futuristic landfill site, an attraction in its own right. This small town features the gracious district of Ghizzano, which is among the most beautiful in Tuscany, with the multicoloured houses in Via di Mezzo as a highlight.

Discover the small medieval village of Lari, not far from famous Volterra. In the shadow of the ancient Castello dei Vicari you can taste the delicious local cherries, the fruit par excellence of the Pisan countryside. Speaking of food, we suggest a stop in San Miniato, the Tuscan capital of the white truffle.

About 20 kilometres from Pisa, Vicopisano is another ideal destination for an out-of-town trip. It awaits you with 13 medieval towers, an imposing fortress designed by Brunelleschi, and, as always, an incredible landscape.

This celebration is among the most heartfelt events in the city. Therefore you must attend it to visit Pisa like a local. As a much-awaited moment, locals keep on discussing, adoring, and criticising its organisation year after year. The main topic of late spring 'bar talk', certainly doesn't leave anyone indifferent.

We are talking about the traditional Luminara di San Ranieri, which lights up the night on the charming river promenade with thousands of glowing wax candles. The flames are arranged on special scaffolding called 'biancherie', which draws the outlines of the buildings along the River Arno, glittering with golden reflections.

On the evening of June 16, the day of San Ranieri patron saint of Pisa, citizens and tourists turn their noses upward to admire the evocative, romantic setting. The celebration culminates in a festive fireworks show, a flashy goodbye to the following year.

The perfect aperitivo in Pisa like a local is along the so-called spallette, stone-and-brick walls lining the River Arno. In spring and summer Pisans catch a spot on the barriers for an ice cream or a drink while the setting sun performs its usual light and colour show.

Borgo Stretto, a medieval, arcaded and colourful district populated by bars and university students, is another popular area for happy hour.

Also, Piazza delle Vettovaglie, Piazza Garibaldi and Piazza della Berlina are among the most favoured city spots for an aperitif or an after-dinner drink with friends. There are many pubs and clubs with outdoor tables that are especially pleasant during the summer: eat well, spend little!

Pisa's historic city market is in Piazza delle Vettovaglie, a place devoted to trade and commerce since its foundation. From Monday to Saturday, the square comes alive with stalls selling fresh fruit and vegetables, various foodstuffs and clothing.

A beautiful portico borders the 16th-century quadrangle with towers and medieval buildings all around. It's one of Pisa's most characteristic sights and is located between the distinctive Lungarno and Via Santa Maria.

In Piazza delle Vettovaglie you can buy typical Tuscan products or sit at a bar table and enjoy the lively atmosphere as you bite into a slice of torta coi bischeri. A must for visiting Pisa like a local.

Here is a 'secret' place to take refuge in a lovely atmosphere that gets even sweeter with the scent of the blossoming wisteria and you can find it in Pisa's most beautiful bookshop.

La Feltrinelli in Corso Italia protects a genuinely magical and not-very-known corner. Go inside and reach the inner courtyard: an undulating cascade of petals compose an ideal floral ceiling in delicate shades of purple over the stands and shelves full of books. The benches below are perfect for relaxing in the cosy Pisan haven.

Right in the city centre, between Piazza dei Miracoli and Piazza dei Cavalieri, there is another place whose time (and space) is dictated by nature: the ancient Orto Botanico, the oldest botanical garden in the world.

Cosimo de' Medici founded the complex in 1543. It's an enchanting and peaceful location to stroll and put the outside world on standby. Among thousands of (usually rare) plants from all over the world, the instagrammable bamboo groves are particularly captivating: a little unexpected Arashiyama.

Pisans know it well: the bell tower of the Santa Maria Assunta cathedral is not the only leaning tower in town. Surprisingly, two other towers are hanging in Pisa! Here is where to find them.

Venture out to Via Santa Maria and discover the Church San Nicola, with its crooked belfry. The octagonal building dates back to the 13th century, and its authorship is still unclear (Vasari attributes it to Nicola Pisano, while others to Diotislavi).

Once you have verified that the structure is indeed leaning, take a moment to appreciate the church facade and its unique detail: a marble lunette inlaid with geometric motifs reproducing the Fibonacci sequence.

Next, head over to Via San Michele degli Scalzi to admire the church of San Michele, whose bell tower is visibly inclined with a 5% slope, more than the one in Piazza Duomo ( aka Piazza dei Miracoli).

In the heart of Piazza dei Cavalieri lies the remains of an ancient Tower Muda, which are now a part of the wider Palazzo dell'Orologio. This location houses a museum space dedicated to the historical, literary, and artistic figure of Count Ugolino della Gherardesca, a Pisan nobleman who lived in the 13th century.

In Dante's Inferno Ugolino is the protagonist of the XXXIII canto, where we meet him while he is devouring his sworn enemy, Archbishop Ruggieri. Also, he narrates the tragic events that led to his detention and death. The count was falsely accused of treason, imprisoned with his children and grandchildren inside the tower, and left there to die.

The "Torre del Conte Ugolino" exhibition displays a series of works related to this legendary character, including some ancient illustrated editions of the Divine Comedy.

Head over to Palazzo Blu, an elegant building on the Lungarno Gambacorti. This historic building, dating back to the 11th century, hosts various prestigious exhibitions, an attractive permanent display, and workshops for adults and children.

Palazzo Giuli Rosselmini Gualandi is an ancient residence that has undergone several alterations over the centuries. For example, the peculiar bluish colour was added only in the 1700's, which is said to have been chosen to meet the taste of St. Petersburg guests.

Palazzo Blu is also close to some of the city's most famous attractions in the heart of Pisa's historic centre. Cross the Arno River to discover some hidden gems, such as the Cinema Lumière, one of Italy's oldest cinemas, now a famous live club. And just a few steps away, you'll find Caffè dell'Ussero, a historic café founded in 1775, housed in one of the city's most beautiful buildings, Palazzo Agostini.

Did you enjoy these travel tips? Would you liek to know more about Pisa? So read our article to discover other incredible experiences not to be missed.

But first, it's key to know all the details about how to get to Pisa and how to get around here. The City of the Tower can be reached by diverse means of transportation, making the trip accessible to all tourists depending on their preferences.

The first major facility is the Galileo Galilei International Airport, which allows tourists to land conveniently just a few kilometers from the city. Alternatively, you could consider taking a flight to Florence, at the Amerigo Vespucci International Airport.

In this case, there are several options for continuing the journey from Florence to Pisa:

· by car, driving on the SGC Firenze-Pisa-Livorno highway, or the A11 highway towards Lucca and then the SS12 to Pisa;

· by train, with multiple direct trips every day departing from Florence Santa Maria Novella;

· by bus, with multiple direct trips every day managed by the Bus4Fly lines.

For car travel, additional important options are the A12 highway and the SS1 Aurelia (E80), that connect Rome with Genoa along the western coast of the peninsula and allow travelers to arrive directly in the city at the exit Pisa Centro.

If you want to explore the entire city and truly experience Pisa like a local, it's important to understand how urban mobility works. In Pisa, you'll find urban buses that get to every corner of the city (Autolinee Toscane), but if you prefer a more lighthearted and sustainable way to get around there's a bike-sharing service too.