If you have booked a villa in Pisa in the wider province and are thinking about planning visits into the city and her most famous attractions, or you have booked a holiday rental in Tuscany and are considering a day-trip to the city, you will likely be concerned about parking. Parking is, undoubtedly, the worst part about driving – finding it, paying for it, planning around it. In a historic city like Pisa, as well, parking can be especially tricky and complicated. So, where should you park when visiting Pisa?
Like many of the most charming and historic towns and cities in Italy, Pisa has a centre that is protected in order to preserve it. As part of this protection, traffic is limited in areas and cannot be accessed without a special permit or you will incur fines – and even if you’re going back home to another country, these fines will follow you like an unwanted and unwelcome souvenir as car rental companies will forward them to you.
These protected areas are called ZTLs (short for, “zona a traffico limitato”, which translates to, “limited traffic areas”) and are signposted but they can sometimes be difficult to spot. It is not uncommon to accidentally drive into one of these areas without realising it, even if you’re trying quite hard not to! No one will be guarding them or telling you to turn around. So, instead of trying to get into the centre of town and trying to find parking there, there is actually a far easier option: simply park in one of the large lots outside the historic centre that are served by shuttle buses into the core of Pisa.
With lots of spaces that are purpose-built for parking, this is a far easier option and allows you to totally avoid getting any closer to the dreaded ZTLs in town! Here are some of the places you can choose between:
Via Pietrasantina
This parking lot that is actually free to park in and under 2km from the Piazza dei Miracoli and the Leaning Tower of Pisa so many will be able to walk pretty readily from it into the centre. For those not up for the walk, there is a very regular bus (every ten or fifteen minutes) that will drop you off by the Piazza dei Miracoli and this only costs a couple of euros for a return ticket.
It is, however, worth noting that there is no CCTV and many have reported cars being burgled here. Plenty of visitors park here and have no issues at all but if you’re going to avail of the free and convenient parking at this lot, then maybe ensure there are no valuables left in the car.
Another paid parking lot is also on this road, closer to the Piazza dei Miracoli |(about a two to three-minute walk) so that is another option.
Via Paparelli
Another free parking option is the lot on Via Paparelli, about 1km from the Piazza dei Miracoli, which has a massive number of parking places. However, you do need to keep in mind that not all of the spots are free. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, until 2pm, you can only park in paid spots as a market is held in the space and takes up the area with free parking. Other than this you can park freely. Spots bordered in white are free spots and the smaller number in blue are paid spots. Even the paid spots only cost about €1 per hour. There is a shuttle for those who wish to use it but it is also a short walk into the centre from here. For many, this is the most convenient place to park on holiday in Pisa.
This company has two large park-and-ride car parks that are very handy for those coming to the city from the FiPiLi highway. Your parking ticket will also pay for your return shuttle into town and this shuttle runs from early morning until late at night. Efficient and well-run, it is a case of getting what you pay for. Booking online in advance also means one less thing to worry about on the day, leaving you more time to enjoy your vacation in Pisa.