Car Rental Pisa

Pisa is quite spread out so getting around by car is often the best option and our rental pick-up points are only a short drive from the main sights. Inside the walled historic centre is a traffic restricted zone or ZTL (Zona a Traffico Limitato), which only residents are allowed to enter. This part of the city is signposted with a red circle on a white background and is monitored by cameras. Entry by non-approved vehicles will result in a fine.

This means that you’ll need to find a parking spot outside the city walls and either walk or use the easily accessible public transport to access the centre. There are several options for parking, both paid and free, so you shouldn’t have an issue finding a space.

There’s a free parking lot within easy walking distance of the Square of Miracles near the soccer stadium on Via Pietrasantina and there’s even a shuttle bus from here to take you to the square. There’s also a paid parking lot on Via Cammeo right behind the Leaning Tower and another close by on Via Vecchia Barbaricina.

Getting around the region’s other attractions is relatively straightforward. The beautiful walled city of Lucca lies 20 kilometres north-east from Pisa via the SS12, while the seaside resort of Viareggio is 23 kilometres north-west on the SS1. Further afield is the heavenly Renaissance jewel of Florence, 105 kilometres to the east via the A11/E76.

Driving in Italy is always on the right-hand side. The speed limit is 130km/h (80mph) on main highways (called autostrada), 110km/h (68mph) on non-major highways outside towns and cities and 90km/h (56mph) on local roads.

Italian motorways are called autostrada and are tolled roads (cash only) and are indicated by green road signs. For any questions regarding these roads, speak to a member of our staff when you arrive.

One of Pisa’s many selling points is its proximity to Northern Tuscany’s other great attractions, so once you seen the city’s sights you can easily explore this beautiful part of Italy in your rental car.

Discover the city of miracles

Pisa is home to one of Italy's most iconic monuments, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The much-photographed, 58-metre-high, white marble tower was already inclining heavily when it was completed in 1372.

The tilt steadily worsened over time, until it was finally halted in the 1990s with a major stabilisation project. The tower sees crowds of visitors daily and access is limited to 45 people at a time, so be sure to reserve your place in advance online or buy your ticket immediately on arrival in Pisa.

The Leaning Tower is officially the bell tower of the neighbouring Duomo (cathedral), which also stands on the Piazza del Duomo, better known Piazza dei Miracoli (the square of miracles). This striking, candy-striped church, with its beautiful marble façade and Moorish mosaics, is one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture in the country.

Also on the ‘Square of Miracles’ is the baptistery, completed by Nicola and Giovanni Pisano in 1260, and the beautiful, cloistered Camposanto cemetery, said to contain sacred soil shipped during the Crusades.

Sample the finest Tuscan cuisine

The ancient medieval streets of the city’s university quarter, on the north bank of the Arno river, are a delight to explore. You can browse the many boutiques and little galleries then tuck into some authenitic Tuscan cuisine at a local Trattoria.

Try the rustic charm of Vineria di Piazza on Piazza delle Vettovaglie and enjoy watching the world pass by in this charming square.

Have lunch in the city of a hundred churches

Only 30 minutes away by car is lovely Lucca, dubbed the ‘City of a Hundred Churches’ due to its large number of religious buildings. Lucca is famed throughout Italy for its amazingly well-preserved medieval city walls that still encircle most of the historic old town.

Don’t miss seeing the stunning 11^th-century Duomo or the truly remarkable medieval Piazza dell Anfoteatro, so called because the elliptical-shaped public space was once the site of a Roman amphitheatre. The square is home to many high-quality restaurants which makes it a great spot for a memorable alfresco lunch.

Enjoy a day at the beach

Another great day trip from Pisa is to head for the coast and the buzzing beach resort of Viareggio. With its beachfront cafés, seafood restaurants, boutiques and independent stores, it’s worth exploring the maze of streets behind the seafront for quirky gifts and delicious restaurants.

Visit a Renaissance jewel

While you’re in Pisa, take advantage of the close proximity to the beautiful city of Florence, which is only about an hour and half drive away and the perfect destination for a day out.

This medieval marvel is famed as the birthplace of the Renaissance and boasts a treasure trove of Renaissance art, including Michelangelo’s ‘David’, in the Galleria dell’Accademia, and da Vinci’s ‘Annunciation’ in the Uffizi Gallery.

Car rental in Pisa lets you discover this historic city and the beautiful north of Tuscany.