Deciding which is the best area to stay in Pisa is not always easy, even in a city like this, relatively small, and in which all points of interest are quite close to each other.
It is for this reason that we wanted to publish a post in which we talk about which are the most recommended neighborhoods where to look for a hotel, as well as including a selection of the best hotels to stay in Pisa, always taking into account that all have an excellent quality-price ratio.
In this case we will focus on the most central options since most travelers spend a day in the city and we believe it is important to stay in an optimal location so you can visit all the most important places in an easy and comfortable way.
Based on the times we have visited the city, after those we published the post about places to visit in Pisa, which we included in the guide to Italy, we leave you a selection of places to stay in Pisa and the best neighborhoods and hotels. Let’s get started!
Neighborhoods where to stay in Pisa
The first and most impotent thing is to know how the city is distributed to be able to decide which is the best area where to stay in Pisa, always depending on your budget and needs.
The city is divided in two by the Arno river and in turn, these are divided into 4 areas or districts known as Santa Maria and San Francesco in the north and Sant`Antonio and San Martino in the south.
- Santa Maria: during the Middle Ages this area was the nerve center of the religious and civil life of the city and owes its name to the Cathedral of Pisa.
- San Francesco: this district was known as Foriporta because it was outside the city walls and it was not until 1860 that it took its current name, taken from the church of the same name that is in the area.
- Sant`Antonio: this district with San Martino are the southern part of the historic center.
- San Martino: it owes its name to the church that is located in the area and was formerly part of the Sant`Antonio district and was known as Chinzica.
1. Historic center, the best place to sleep in Pisa
Located on both banks of the Arno river, the historic center is the place where most of the tourist attractions of the city are concentrated so it is undoubtedly the best place to stay in Pisa if you want to be close to everything and also have a wide range of hotels and restaurants.
In addition to this there are many pedestrian areas, so walking and enjoying the city is very easy in the historic center and you will also be very close to the train station and the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The price of accommodation in the historic center is usually 80 euros.
2. Piazza dei Miracoli area (Piazza del Duomo), another of the best places to sleep in Pisa
Known for being the place where the Duomo, the Leaning Tower, the Baptistery and the Camposanto are located, staying in Pisa in this area is synonymous with being close to the most essential visits of the city.
Despite this, we prefer to opt for the area of the historic center because there you will have more options for accommodation and restaurants and also, the price is somewhat cheaper than in this area.
The price of accommodation in Piazza dei Miracoli is usually 100 euros although you can find deals for 60-80 euros at some times of the year.
3. Pisa Central Station Area
If your stay in Pisa is going to be short and you continue your trip by train around the country, staying in the area of Pisa Central Station may be the best option to avoid wasting time in travel and more if you consider that the city is relatively small and the station is quite close to the main tourist attractions.
In addition, the airport is less than 2 kilometers from the station and this area has a wide range of hotels and restaurants, making it a great option where to stay in Pisa.
The price of accommodation in Pisa Central Station is usually 60 euros.
Tips for finding cheap accommodation in Pisa
In addition to the recommendations and information on the best areas to stay in Pisa and the selection of hotels, we want to leave you some tips that we believe are important to get cheap accommodation in Pisa.
- Keep in mind that the city is relatively small and most of the tourist attractions are close to each other, so if your budget is tight, it may be worthwhile to move away from the historic center to save on costs.
- Another important thing to keep in mind is that in the area of the historic center there are options of hostels with shared bathrooms where prices are usually 30-40 euros. Even if you don’t really like the idea of sharing a bathroom, you will probably only be in the city for a few days, so this can be a good way to save on accommodation in Pisa.
- Remember that to avoid paying commissions and to always have the current exchange rate we recommend you to use the Revolut card and the N26 card, which are the ones we use, are free of charge and will save you a lot of money.
