Leaning Tower of Pisa (Torre Pendente) - Tickets, Tour Times

Pisa Leaning Tower with Duomo (www.free-city-guides.com)

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is the icon that Pisa is most famous for and it’s well worth a visit. The tower houses the bells for the cathedral and was started in 1173. Almost immediately it began to lean – in fact the builders were only on the third floor when they noticed it! The tower had quite a few years of closure whilst it was made safe and it re-opened to the public in 2001. Inside the tower there is a spiral staircase which snakes around the outer edges of the structure. Climbing this staircase, really emphasises the tilt as you lunge from side to side – it’s a really surreal experience! Once at the top, the view is magnificent over not just the Piazza dei Miracoli, but also most of Pisa itself. Admission to the tower is by timed ticket, available in half hour blocks of 30 people and you’ll probably need to book ahead and buy online here – Leaning Tower Of Pisa Tickets – or use the app below to check availability…

The steps inside the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Tickets for the Leaning Tower can also be bought from either of two dedicated ticket offices run by Opera Della Primaziale Pisana. When were we’re there in June, the next available timed ticket was for 3 hours ahead but at busy periods you can wait considerably longer. The main office is located in the building near the shop stalls – the entrance is under the clock. The other office is near to the leaning tower. Both are well signed. Adult admission is 20 Euros (2024 prices) which includes access to the Cathedral and Exhibition. The Leaning Tower is open daily but times vary throughout the year as follows…

December & January: 10am to 4.30pm (last climb)
November & February: 9.30am to 5.30pm (last climb)
March: 9am to 5.30pm (last climb)
April, May & September: 8.30am to 8pm (last climb)
June to August: 8.30am to 11pm

Bear in mind that it’s quite a climb to the top involving a stone staircase that gets smaller the higher you get. There are points at which to stop and rest, but you will have to be out of the tower exactly half an hour after you went in. When we last visited the tower in 2011 there was no lift, but workmen were carrying out building work inside the central part of the tower and we wondered if they were installing one.