Tempted by the idea of a short relaxing holiday but still wondering where to go? Tuscany and the area around the Italian city of Pisa offer visitors a great deal: interesting places and views of the rolling Tuscan countryside, a clean sea and plenty of historical monuments.
Wander the stone lanes of the ancient little town of Certaldo, where the famous writer Giovanni Boccaccio was born almost eight hundred years ago. Taste the delicious red Chianti wine from the Tuscan hillsides. Let Florence’s cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore, enchant you and don’t forget the local gelato, without which an Italian holiday would hardly be complete.
This article gives you 5 tips on interesting places in Tuscany and ways to spend your time in Pisa and the surrounding area. It also explains why you should start your holiday right here and how to get to this northern Italian city. You can also take a look at current accommodation options in Tuscany↗️.
💡 Tip: If life on holiday appeals to you and working from home is no problem for you, read about the best places in the world for digital nomads.
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The area around Pisa will delight you with its variety and interesting places
There is hardly any need to spell out the reasons to visit Italy. Think of all the painters, sculptors, architects, musicians and philosophers whose names are known around the world and whose works are still admired by millions of tourists every year.
Italy is fascinating in its diversity. Every region is different, so every visitor can find something to suit them. Tuscany lies in northern Italy, roughly halfway between Rome and Milan. Its capital is Florence. And it is in Tuscany that you will find the ancient city of Pisa, which was founded in the 13th century BC, earlier than both Rome and Florence.
The area around Pisa is as varied as the rest of Italy. The sea offers the chance to relax on the beach, while the rolling hills provide beautiful views of the countryside. Tourism thrives in the small and larger historical towns that spread along the banks of the River Arno and the Ligurian Sea coast or rise on hilltops.
Why start in Pisa?
To begin with the practical side, if you are planning to fly to Tuscany, Pisa airport will certainly come in handy. Several low-cost airlines fly to this airport from Czechia and neighbouring countries. Tickets can therefore be extremely cheap, even 10 euros for a return ticket (about 250 CZK (about 11 USD)). Return tickets for 600 to 1,200 CZK (about 28 to 55 USD) are more common. Accommodation options around Pisa↗️.
Another reason is the city’s historic centre. If you only have a short time for sightseeing, head straight to Piazza del Duomo, where you will find probably the best-known monument: the 56-metre-high marble leaning tower, built as early as the eleventh century and now open to visitors.
🎓 Did you know? The tilt of the tower was not intentional, as you might think. Because of unstable foundations, the structure began to lean soon after construction was completed. The tilt kept increasing, so at the end of the last century the tower was closed and work began to stabilise and secure it. This work was completed at the beginning of this millennium.
Right next to the tower stands the magnificent Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, which is currently free to enter. Just a short distance away is a small botanical garden with exotic plants. Finally, you can continue with a stroll through the historical lanes of the city centre or visit one of the museums or galleries.
If you long for some relaxation by the sea, take the bus to the seaside resort of Marina di Pisa, less than 20 minutes away by bus, with buses running frequently.
Trips and interesting places around Pisa
You can use Pisa as the starting point of your holiday or as a base for a stay of several days, from which you set off on day trips around the area each day. All the trips can be reached both by car and by public transport. However, if the idea of Italians honking in long traffic jams doesn’t appeal to you, choose the second option. And now let me introduce the main interesting places in Tuscany.
1. Florence
Florence was founded in 59 BC on the banks of the River Arno, which flows through it. It is also the capital of the Tuscan region and gained its fame and renown during the rule of the Medici family in the 16th century. At that time, thanks to the presence of many artists and thinkers, it was the cradle of the Renaissance, and today its well-preserved city centre is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Many world-famous figures were born and lived in Florence, for example the sculptor Donatello, the painter and sculptor Michelangelo Buonarroti, the poet Dante Alighieri and the painter Sandro Boticelli. Niccolò Machiavelli is also inseparably linked with Florence. Drawing on his political experience, he wrote his well-known book The Prince here.
If you are planning to visit the city, it is ideal to set aside several days for it, especially if you are drawn to museums and galleries, of which Florence has countless. However, if you mainly want to walk around the city and see only the most important sights, one day will be enough.
When exploring the city, don’t miss the riverside and the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge, lined with small goldsmiths’ shops. Cross the bridge and you will reach the historic centre. Here you can wander the narrow lanes, but don’t forget the stunning Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral with its distinctive huge dome. If you want to see the whole city in all its beauty from a distance, cross to the other bank and climb a little way up the hill. The view is definitely worth it.
If you are staying in Florence, take a short trip to the nearby ancient town of San Casciano in Val di Pesa, which offers a wonderful view of the surrounding vineyards. The nearby town of Impruneta, just a few kilometres further on, is also lovely.
💡 Tip: However, a car is the best way to explore this area, as buses don’t go to every town.
2. Cinque Terre and the surrounding area
Cinque Terre National Park is made up of five small historical towns on the coast. They are known for their brightly coloured façades and hillside layout. Winding hiking trails also run along the coast, linking the individual towns. They offer visitors absolutely stunning views of the azure sea and, in places, of the towns themselves. Other towns popular with tourists can also be found in the hills above them.
💡 Tip: Set aside a whole day for this trip, and ideally several days. You will be visiting one of the most beautiful places in all of Italy, which often ranks near the top of the most recommended tourist attractions.
Because the national park lies on very unstable ground, landslides are common here, so some trails may be closed at times. It is best to check in advance, as entry to the park costs 16 euros, including an all-day ticket for trains and buses.
Buses will take you up to small mountain villages such as San Bernardino, from where you can continue exploring on foot. The train, on the other hand, will take you to the most beautiful towns on the coast, which are Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.
During the high season, it is best to skip hiking between the towns, as the air temperature is too high. Be prepared for this trip to be more physically demanding as well. Most of the towns are built on hillsides, so you won’t be able to avoid lots and lots of steps.
The national park also offers visitors several guesthouses and hotels, so you can enjoy the dawn sky or the evening sunset in peace, without the crowds of tourists. Be prepared, however, for accommodation and food prices in the area to be quite high.
2. Around Cinque Terre
On your way to Cinque Terre, stop off at two smaller towns. If you travel by train, you will even see one of them, Arcola, from the window, rising like an eagle’s nest on a high hill. A visit won’t take much time, as the most breathtaking view of the town is from the foot of the hill.
A few kilometres further on is the seaside town of Lerici. It is very similar to the towns you will see in Cinque Terre, but it also has an imposing castle that you can visit as well. You can also swim here on a beautiful sandy beach with clean, azure sea. In Cinque Terre National Park, only the town of Monterosso has a proper beach.
3. Siena and the surrounding area
Do you love strolling through narrow stone lanes? Then head straight to the historical city of Siena, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List thanks to its well-preserved centre and one of the oldest universities in the world. On the main square, Il Campo, stands a stunning town hall with a tower that you can climb. Just a short distance away, on Piazza del Duomo, visit the marble Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
Also visit the well-preserved fortress, which offers a wonderful view over the whole city. Because the city centre is spread across several hills, you will come across beautiful views almost everywhere you go.
If you still have some energy left, be sure to travel by car or bus to the nearby small town of San Gimignano. Its massive, tall towers rise from one of the Tuscan hills, so you will see it from far away. It is not very big, and a walk around it will take you less than two hours, but its ancient lanes full of flowering shrubs will enchant you. This town has also been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1990.
On the way back, stop for a while in the small town of Certaldo, which will amaze you with its beautiful castle and tiny historic centre perched on a hill above the rest of the town. This walk will not be at all demanding, as you can take the funicular up the hill, which runs at regular 15-minute intervals.
4. Lucca and the surrounding area
Probably the most interesting thing about this historic city is its fully preserved walls with many bastions, where you can relax in the shade of the trees. The old town is also known for its tall towers, some of which are open to the public.
The Guinigni Tower, however, is exceptional because four trees grow on its top, giving the tower an interesting crown that is very popular with tourists. This is not part of a modern effort to attract tourists to the city, though, as the trees have been mentioned in chronicles since the 15th century.
Further away from Pisa lies the town of Pietrasanta, founded in the 13th century. The town became famous for quarrying high-quality marble, which Michelangelo Buonarroti also used in his work. The square is dominated by Pietrasanta Cathedral, dating from the early 13th century.
If you feel like a bit of lazing on the beach along the way, just drive a few kilometres further, where there are several seaside towns, such as Forte dei Marmi, Marina di Pietrasanta or Viareggio.
💡 Tip: Also read about the most beautiful places in Slovakia.
5. Livorno
The last tip for a trip in the area around Pisa is the port city of Livorno. The city’s landmarks are undoubtedly the preserved remains of its walls and fortresses, dominated by the Fortezza Vecchia. The old centre itself is not very big, and Livorno Cathedral stands on the main square. Also fascinating is the modern synagogue building, which was built in the 1960s on the site of the original building that was destroyed during the Second World War.
Walks along the seafront terraces that run the whole length of the city are also lovely. In the southern part of the city there are well-kept beaches where you can cool off in the cold water after a full day of walking.
💡 Tip: The water in this part of Italy is generally colder, reaching 20 to 22°C in June. It is therefore better to wait until, for example, August or early September, when it warms up a little.
This list is certainly not exhaustive, because in Italy, almost every village or town is beautiful in some way. So travel and judge for yourself!
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USD amounts are approximate, converted at the Czech National Bank rate of 21.75 CZK per USD on 9 October 2026.
