Demystify the myth of the leaning tower by exploring a masterpiece of Romanesque engineering. The climb of 293 steps is a physically demanding but rewarding journey with views of the site. Book your skip-the-line Pisa Tower ticket to guarantee access.
Prices and conditions
From 25 €.
Climb the tilted campanile and view the marble exterior.
From 30 €.
Skip the queues to enter Pisa's top landmarks and explore them at your leisure.
From 49 €.
Discover the Square of Miracles, Pisa Cathedral, and the Leaning Tower.
From 81 €.
Discover Piazza dei Miracoli and its beautiful monuments.
From 167 €.
Take a guided tour of two historic landmarks and enjoy local food tastings.
From 77 €.
Savor some Tuscan wines after your guided walking tour of Pisa.
From 30 €.
Skip the queues to enter Pisa's top landmarks and explore them at your leisure.
From 39 €.
Climb the tower and visit key medieval sites.
Thousands of visitors have already booked their visit: reviews and testimonials
★ 4.6/5 · 12 reviews collected directly from visitors and moderated by Visit Tickets
"The climb up the 293 steps in the spiral staircase is demanding, but the view over the Campo Santo is worth every effort. We opted for the combo ticket, which made access to the nearby cathedral much smoother. The Carrara marble is simply magnificent."
"A bit disappointed by the crowds; the groups keep coming one after another. The view over the square is superb, but you feel crushed. I wish I had booked the 5 pm slot for a bit more peace. The white marble structure remains an absolute masterpiece not to be missed."
"As a retiree, I was worried about the staircase, but the path between the two concentric cylinders is manageable. The diagonal correction of the upper floors is fascinating to observe. We also enjoyed the polished Carrara marble, a detail often overlooked."
"The iconic photo of you 'holding' the tower is easy to pull off from the northern end. The panoramic view over the Baptistery is unbeatable. The €25 price tag is justified by the physical effort of the 293 steps and the Romanesque beauty of Gianni di Simone Pisano."
"The midday heat is intense inside the hollow tower; we nearly suffocated. Luckily, the late afternoon slot was already booked, so we avoided the worst. The lack of an elevator is a plus for the fit, but quite tough for seniors."
"We loved discovering the historic bells, including Il Geloso. The atmosphere at the top is unique. The exterior columned galleries are splendid. The trip from the train station is straightforward, and the city of Pisa is charming to explore on foot."
"Contrary to legend, the tower is stable thanks to the clay soil. The 90-year pause during construction is a fascinating fact. The climb is a real physical test, but the reward at the top, with the view over the Cathedral, is total."
"The wait was long despite having a reservation, around 45 minutes even in the low season. The white marble is dazzling. The combo ticket is a good idea if you want to see the whole complex. The view over Tuscany is magnificent, even with the crowds around."
"Traveling solo, I was able to climb the 293 steps at my own pace. The diagonal correction is visible and impressive. The view over the Piazza offers a unique perspective on the Baptistery. Shoes with grippy soles are essential on the polished marble."
"Our family really enjoyed the physical climb for the kids. The marble structure and the Romanesque sculptures are of high quality. The 5 pm slot allowed us to see fewer people. The view over the Campo Santo is an unforgettable memory for all of us."
"There is no wheelchair access to the tower, which is a limitation. However, the Cathedral and the Baptistery are accessible. The view from the top is spectacular, despite the fatigue from the 293 steps. The Carrara marble adds to the prestige of the site."
"The cloister of the exterior galleries is a jewel of Romanesque art. The view over the Cathedral is perfect. We avoided the peak crowd by taking a combo ticket with a morning slot. The effort of the 293 steps is a beautiful reward."
Everything you need to plan your visit
PMR
The tower is not wheelchair accessible due to the 293 steps and the absence of an elevator.
Family
Suitable for children over 8 years old in good physical condition. Backpacks are prohibited.
Audio guide
French, English, Spanish
Current conditions and forecast to plan your visit
Key figures to understand this iconic landmark
Construction start
Steps to climb
Height on the north side
Estimated mass
The Leaning Tower of Pisa is not just a leaning monument, but the campanile of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption. Located on the Piazza dei Miracoli, a UNESCO World Heritage site, it attracts millions of visitors. Its complex construction history, begun in 1173, reveals major engineering challenges due to the soft soil. Climbing to the top offers a unique perspective on this architectural struggle.
Construction of the tower began on August 9, 1173 under the direction of Bonanno Pisano. Located on an alluvial plain, the unstable soil composed of marl and Arno alluvions caused subsidence as early as the third floor. This instability, far from being a simple flaw, paradoxically helped the tower resist earthquakes by absorbing seismic waves.
Work was interrupted for 90 years after 1178, allowing the ground to settle naturally. In 1272, Giovanni di Simone resumed construction by tilting the upper floors diagonally to compensate for the lean. This clever architectural correction created the curved shape visible today, saving the structure from imminent collapse.
The tower was finally completed in 1372 by Tommaso Pisano. Closed to the public on January 7, 1990 due to the risk of collapse, it underwent intensive stabilization work. Reopened on December 15, 2001, it now welcomes visitors safely, having hosted 31 million people before its closure.
The interior of the tower reveals a spiral staircase of 293 steps between two concentric cylinders. There is no elevator, making the visit inaccessible to people with reduced mobility. The Carrara marble steps are polished by centuries of footsteps, requiring shoes with grippy soles to avoid slipping during the climb.
At the top, the height difference is measurable: 55.86 meters on the south side and 58.36 meters on the north side. The view offers a panorama of the Piazza dei Miracoli, including the Pisa Baptistery and the Monumental Cemetery. Secure grilles allow you to sit and take photos safely, offering a unique perspective on Tuscan Romanesque architecture.
The visit lasts approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour, including the ascent, contemplation, and descent. It is advisable to visit at the end of the day to avoid stifling heat and enjoy the golden light. Large bags are prohibited for safety reasons, so you must travel light or use the lockers available on site.
Leaning Tower of Pisa hours 2024 vary by season, generally from 9:00 AM to 7:30 PM in summer. Online booking is highly recommended to obtain a Leaning Tower of Pisa skip-the-line ticket and avoid queues. The Leaning Tower of Pisa visit price starts at approximately €25.00 for standard access, with combined tickets available for the cathedral and baptistery.
The tower is not disability accessible due to the 293 steps and the absence of an elevator. However, other monuments in the Piazza dei Miracoli, such as the cathedral and baptistery, are accessible. A Piazza dei Miracoli guided tour can enrich the experience by explaining architectural and historical details often unknown to tourists.
For the famous forced perspective photo, position yourself at the northern end of the square. Wear closed-toe and comfortable shoes as the stone steps are uneven. Avoid midday in summer to avoid suffering from the heat inside the hollow tower. Check the latest availability and safety rules before your visit.
Engineering, history, and panoramic views
Insider tips
The last hours of visiting (after 5 PM in summer) are less crowded, offering a faster ascent and golden light for photos. You will avoid morning school groups and enjoy a more serene atmosphere for the climb.
The marble steps are polished by centuries of footsteps; rubber soles are essential to prevent slipping. Wear closed, comfortable shoes, as the stones are uneven and can become very slippery under dew.
For the famous photo where you 'hold' the tower, position yourself at the north end of the square, far from the tower, and ask your photographer to step back. This technique uses perspective to create an illusion of scale, a must-do classic.
The heat inside the hollow tower can be stifling at noon in July/August. Prefer cool mornings for a more pleasant climb. The interior temperature rises quickly, making the physical effort of the 293 steps more strenuous in full sun.
If you plan to see the Cathedral and the Baptistery, the combined ticket is more cost-effective and sometimes allows for cross-priority access. Book your Leaning Tower of Pisa skip-the-line ticket online to guarantee a specific time slot and avoid endless queues.
Although the tower is inaccessible, the other monuments in the Piazza (Cathedral, Baptistery) are accessible, offering a complete experience of the square. There is no accessible Leaning Tower of Pisa inside, but the exterior remains visitable by wheelchair on the Piazza dei Miracoli.
As you climb, observe how the upper floors are slightly taller on the north side to compensate for the lean, a subtle architectural detail. This is proof of the ingenuity of the architects who attempted to correct the tilt as early as the 13th century by modifying the 293 steps.
Check current rules: large bags are often refused. Travel light or use lockers if available on site. Space is restricted in the spiral staircase, and safety imposes strict limitations on the volume of luggage and items.
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Book my ticketsLittle-known anecdotes
Unlike many modern towers, there is no elevator; the visit is entirely on foot up 293 narrow spiral steps. The reduced internal diameter of 4.2 m at the top makes mechanization impossible and guarantees a unique physical experience.
The clay soil that causes the lean absorbs seismic waves, preventing destructive resonance during earthquakes. The tower has withstood 4 major earthquakes without collapsing, thanks to this paradoxical dynamic soil-structure interaction.
The construction was interrupted for 90 years after the 3rd floor (around 1178) to allow the ground to settle. Work resumed in 1272 and was completed in 1372, thus saving the tower from premature collapse.
The architects built the upper floors diagonally to compensate for the lean, creating a visible curved shape. As early as 1272, builders adjusted the verticality of the columns in an attempt to straighten the campanile.
The tower was closed to the public for 11 years (1990-2001) due to the imminent risk of collapse, after welcoming 31 million visitors. The reopening on December 15, 2001 marked the success of the stabilization works.
The tilt creates a measurable height difference: the tower is taller on the north side than on the south. It reaches 58.36 meters on the north compared to only 55.86 meters on the south, tangible proof of its subsidence.
Three itineraries depending on available time
Discover Pisa beyond the postcards: the cathedral, the baptistery, and the museums, accompanied by a local guide.
From 81 €
More must-see experiences in Pisa
Find the attraction and nearby places to visit
Make time to explore the surrounding area
2 min walk
Masterpiece of adjacent Tuscan Romanesque art to the tower, housing frescoes and the Pisa Baptistery. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption dominates the square.
3 min walk
Imposing circular monument in Carrara marble, known for its exceptional acoustics and sculptures. The Baptistery offers a unique echo to visitors.
4 min walk
Medieval necropolis famous for its Last Judgment frescoes and tombs of historical figures from the Renaissance.
15 min walk
Art restoration laboratory and museum dedicated to Tuscan hard stone marquetry techniques, a unique ancestral know-how.
10 min walk
Traditional family restaurant serving authentic Tuscan dishes like ribollita and pappardelle, in a warm atmosphere.
12 min walk
Historical square of the Palazzo Blu, former headquarters of the Order of Saint Stephen, heart of Medici power in Pisa and major cultural site.
Estimated travel times from the main points in the city
Bus : Bianchi 1 (6 min walk)
Find a hotel near Leaning Tower of Pisa
Everything you need to know before your visit
A preview of this exceptional place before your visit
See what to expect during your visit
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