The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the top sight to see on the Field of Miracles that also include the cathedral (duomo), baptistery, Camposanto cemetery, and museums.
The top sights to see in Pisa are all grouped together on what is often simply called the Field of Miracles (Campo Dei Miracoli, or often also Piazza del Duomo). The Leaning Tower of Pisa is by far the most famous but the other sights here are also well worth exploring. The Romanesque cathedral is the artistic highlight of Pisa while the Baptistery has incredible acoustics. The Camposanto cemetery has fantastic renaissance frescoes while the unique Sinopie Museum displays the rough drawings on which these paintings are based. The Opera del Duomo Museum exhibits the original artworks from the other sites. Climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa is expensive and requires a time-slot reservation. Admission to the cathedral is free while the other sites are seen on a combination ticket. Buy tickets online in advance to save time on busy days. Guided tours and day-trip excursions are also good options to enter sights without delay.
Which Sites in Pisa Are Worth Seeing?
All the sites on the Fields of Miracles are worth seeing but for once the masses of day-trippers get it mostly right. By far the most impressive sight in Pisa is the exterior of the buildings — not only the famous leaning tower of Pisa but also the marvelous Romanesque marble cathedral and the baptistery with its intricately carved arcades (both buildings lean a bit too).
The interior of the Duomo (cathedral) is an artistic highlight that many day-trippers miss simply by failing to collect a free admission pass. On a busy day, it is certainly worth buying a ticket to gain skip-the-line access.
Seeing the Leaning Tower of Pisa is impressive, whether trying to hold it up or trying to photograph it without other visitors in the foreground. Climbing the tower is an interesting experience but many may consider it a rather expensive cheap thrill. The view from the top is great of the roof of the cathedral but the rest of the town and the surroundings are not particularly interesting. This is the only sight for which time-slot tickets are essential.
The Baptistery, in contrast to the lavishly decorated cathedral, is fairly simple inside. A highlight is to hear the acoustics — ask when entering when the demonstration takes place. (Usually every 30 minutes.)
The Camposanto Cemetery is nowadays most famous for the medieval frescoes in the Gothic galleries. These were damaged during the Second World War but restoration continues. The Sinopie Museum shows the original sinopias (basically rough sketches) that were underneath the plaster before the frescoes were painted. This museum requires the least amount of time but is certainly worth a quick peek if included in a pass. Visit this museum first before going to the cemetery not afterward.
The Opera del Duomo Museum (Cathedral Museum) exhibits many original items from the cathedral and other sites in the region. In addition to the art, also enjoy beautiful views of the leaning tower and cathedral from the upper floor gallery snack bar (also open to non-museum visitors).
The Palazzo dell’Opera del Duomo is only used for temporary exhibitions and not always in use, except for the ticket office on the ground floor.
Buying Tickets for Sights in Pisa
Admission to the Field of Miracles (Campo Dei Miracoli) in Pisa and the exterior of all buildings in the area is free and possible at all times.
Tickets are available for the following sights in Pisa:
Cathedral (Duomo) — admission is free but only per time slot ticket. Pick up a free pass in person only from any ticket office. On very busy days, there may be a delay in entering the church or occasionally, no more free tickets available on the day. However, any of the paid tickets below automatically acts as a skip-the-line entry ticket to the duomo on the same day.
Climbing the Leaning Tower (Torre) — €20 per time-slot reservation tickets only. A combination pass with all other sites is around €30.
Baptistery (Battistero) / Camposanto Cemetery / Museum of the Sinopias (Museo delle Sinopie) / Museo dell’ Opera del Duomo (cathedral museum) — €7 for any site or great value at €10 for all sights. (Note that the baptistery is being renovated and some sections may be closed off.)
Palazzo dell’ Opera del Duomo — admission depends on the exhibition, if any.
The two ticket offices at the Field of Miracles are inside the Sinopie Museum (near the Baptistery) and in the Palazzo dell’ Opera del Duomo (behind the church near the leaning tower).
Time-slot reservation tickets for the leaning tower of Pisa may be bought online at least a day in advance from Opapisa (tickets valid for a year so no refunds for any reason) or resellers such as Tiqets and Get Your Guide, which have much easier cancelation conditions. Opapisa sells tickets at most 20 days in advance while the resellers usually sell several months in advance. A variety of guided tours are available to see the sights on the Fields of Miracles of Pisa with many including climbing the leaning tower.
Opening Hours of Field of Miracles Sites in Pisa
The sights on the Field of Miracles in Pisa are open every day – exact times may be confirmed months in advance at the OpaPisa site.
All the sites are generally open as a minimum from 9:00 (10:00 for the Duomo) to 19:00. From April to September, the opening hours are usually 8:00 (10:00 for the Duomo) to 20:00 with the Camposanto and Tower open until 22:00 on some nights.
Last tickets are sold around half an hour before closing time (but expect an argument at the door if leaving it that late).
Combination tickets are valid for a year after the selected date so refunds are not given if a site is closed on a particular day(s).
Food and Drink at the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Typical souvenir stands, bars and restaurants are on the piazzas and streets leading to the Field of Miracles. As usual, prices drop and quality tends to improve the further away from the top sights.
The only restaurant with a view of the Field of Miracles is the cafe on the second floor of the Duomo Museum. Despite being open to everyone, it is often very quiet. Only drinks and small snacks are available but the lovely views of the leaning tower and the cathedral from the arcaded gallery are hard to beat.
Public toilets are behind the Opera del Duomo Palace. Use the toilets inside when visiting the museums.
The only cloakroom is only for visitors to the leaning tower, and only for the short duration of climbing the campanile.
The tourist office next to the ticket office in the Palazzo dell’Opera del Duomo usually offers luggage storage too but opening hours are generally shorter than that of the sights. Luggage storage at or near the station is easier.
More Information On Top Sights in Pisa
- See the Top Sights on Pisa’s Field of Miracles
- Tips on Buying Tickets and Tours for the Leaning Tower and Pisa Sights
- Visit the Duomo (Cathedral) of Pisa (Cattedrale)
- Visit the Baptistery of Pisa (Battistero)
- Visit the Cathedral Museum (Museo dell’ Opera del Duomo di Pisa)
- See Renaissance Frescoes in the Camposanto Cemetery
- Visit the Sinopie Museum in Pisa
- Transportation to the Leaning Tower of Pisa
- Book Guided Tours of Pisa and Day Trips at Get Your Guide
- Buy Tickets Online at Tiqets
- Book Italian Train and Intercity Bus Tickets at Omio
- More Photos of the Field of Miracles in Pisa on Flickr
