Cycling Pisa highlights & hidden treasures private guide

Ride past the Leaning Tower and into the everyday streets where Pisa's students actually live.

A half-day bike tour of Pisa led by Martina, a licensed guide who has lived in the city for over 15 years and knows its history, university culture and hidden corners. You ride at your own pace through the medieval center, past the Piazza dei Miracoli, along the Arno, and into neighborhoods most visitors miss. An earset lets you hear Martina's explanations while cycling. Bike rental is arranged at her recommended shop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Knights' Square15m
2. Church of San Sistopass by
3. Piazza dei Miracoli1h 15m
4. Church of Santa Maria della Spina5m

Explore Pisa highlights by bike

• Meet tour guide Martina
• Hire bike at recommended shop
• Pass by Corso Italia shopping street
• Cross Old Bridge (Ponte di Mezzo)
• Visit Renaissance loggias and Galileo's home
• Explore student gathering place with Casino dei Nobili
• See Renaissance Market Square and St. Omobono square
• View medieval Tower with interesting story
• Visit Piazza del Grano, former University site
• Explore Knights' Square (Piazza dei Cavalieri)
• Pass by Church of San Sisto
• Tour Piazza dei Miracoli with Duomo, Baptistery, Leaning Tower, and museums
• Enjoy photo time at Leaning Tower
• View Lungarni and Guelfa Tower from Ponte Solferino
• Visit Gothic Church of Santa Maria della Spina
• See 'Tuttomondo' mural by Keith Haring

The experience

Martina meets you and takes you to a bike shop where you pick up a bike fitted to your size. From there, the route unfolds through Pisa's two main shopping streets, across the Ponte di Mezzo, and into Borgo Stretto: a Renaissance street lined with historical shops and bars where Galileo Galilei once lived. You pass the Piazza dei Cavalieri, the political heart of medieval Pisa, now home to the Scuola Normale Superiore, and stop at the Church of San Sisto, a striking example of Pisan Romanesque architecture. The pace is yours. Martina rides with you and points things out as you go.

The route reaches the Piazza dei Miracoli: the Leaning Tower, Duomo, Baptistery, Camposanto and museums all in one square. Martina shares the history and legends of these buildings while you have ten minutes to photograph them and find the best angles for the iconic shot. From there, you continue to the Ponte Solferino for views of the Lungarni and the medieval Terzana area, then ride along the Arno to the Church of Santa Maria della Spina, a Gothic jewel on the riverbank. The tour ends at the Keith Haring mural, Tuttomondo: a 180-square-meter open-air work by the American artist, covered in 30 figures and symbols of peace and tolerance.

The three hours covers roughly six kilometers of the city on bike, stopping to look and listen rather than rush. Martina speaks English and Italian, and children from age 3 can join. The earset and radio rental are included so you don't have to shout over traffic or fall behind to hear her voice.

What’s included

• Three hours of private guided cycling with Martina.
• earset and radio rental so you hear her explanations while riding.
• bike rental arranged at her recommended shop.
• access to neighborhoods, Renaissance streets, the Piazza dei Miracoli, and the Keith Haring mural.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 15:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (18 to 85 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Infant (3 to 5 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Tuscany At Heart - Private Guided Tours

Is this one for you?The tour starts at a bike shop in the city center, so you don't need a car or advance transportation. Just meet Martina and ride from there. The three-hour loop covers enough ground to see both the famous Leaning Tower and the everyday Pisa that students and residents know, all at a pace you can manage on a bike.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

45 verified traveler reviews

5 ★45

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (6 to 10 years); Infant (3 to 5 years). Under 3: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Piazza dei Miracoli and why does the Leaning Tower lean?

The Piazza dei Miracoli is Pisa's most famous square, built over several centuries and containing the Duomo, Baptistery, Leaning Tower, Camposanto and two museums. Martina explains the history and legends of these buildings during the tour, including why the tower tilts: a detail she covers as you stand there.

Do I need to be an experienced cyclist to do this tour?

You should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour covers the city at your own pace over three hours, so it is not a fast ride, but you will be cycling the whole time. It is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.

What is included in the tour price?

The tour includes three hours with Martina as your guide, an earset and radio so you can hear her while cycling, and bike rental arranged at her shop. Tickets to the monuments and museums, lunch, and any food or drinks are separate.

Where does the tour start and how do I get there?

You meet Martina at her recommended bike shop in Pisa, where you pick up your bike. Public transportation is available nearby if you are staying elsewhere in the city or arriving without a car.

What is the Keith Haring mural and why is it on the tour?

Tuttomondo is a 180-square-meter open-air mural painted by American underground artist Keith Haring in 1989: the only one of his works displayed outdoors. It covers a wall with 30 different figures and symbols representing peace, love and tolerance, and it is a striking example of Pisa beyond the famous monuments.