Are you wondering what to wear in Pisa? Pisa is a city in the Tuscany region of Italy and is famed as being home to the leaning tower of Pisa. In this guide will tell you exactly what to pack for Pisa to help you not look like a tourist!
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But before we get onto the specifics of what to wear in Pisa along with some outfit inspiration we thought it would be worthwhile to talk about exactly what and where Pisa is, and how the seasons will affect your Pisa Packing List
Where is Pisa?
Pisa is a city in Tuscany. It is easily reached on a day trip from Florence, and as one of the most westerly cities in Tuscany it is also easy to get to Tuscan beaches such Viareggio Forte dei Marmi, as from the city.
Most people however know where Pisa is thanks to it being home of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
So what should you wear in Pisa for this amazing array of places?
Pisa Dress Codes
As with many places in Italy, Pisa doesn’t really have a dress code per se. The most famous church in Pisa is the Pisa Cathedral.
And what many people don’t know is that the Leaning Tower of Pisa is part of the Pisa Cathedral. In fact the Leaning Tower is the campanile of the Cathedral – basically the free standing bell tower. It is located in the Campo dei Miracoli or Piazza dei Miracoli, the “Square of Miracles”.
Therefore is important to know that even if you don’t plan to go inside the Cathedral, but want to walk to the top of the tower, that your outfit will need to be modest and comply with Italian church dress codes.
It is also worth noting that Pisa is a big tourist destination. As such peak season will run from April to October and if you visit Pisa in Winter you will find there to be far fewer tourists. But this comes with the downside of the weather not being beach friendly.
However we will cover all the seasons in this guide to help you know what to wear no matter what time of year you visit.
What to Wear on the Pisa in Summer (June, July and August)
Chances are if you are looking to visit Pisa wondering what to wear is that you will be visiting during the Summer Months. This is characterised as June, July and August, although peak tourist season runs longer than this.
During the Summer in Pisa you can expect lots of sunny days and very little rain as summers in Pisa are long hot and dry.
In terms of temperatures, in the summer you can expect to see highs of 86F/30C and lows of 59F/15C and the hottest month to travel to Pisa is July when average temperatures are around 23°C (73°F).
As such we would recommend putting the below on your summer Pisa packing list:
Maxi Dresses and Maxi Skirts
- FIT & FLARE: Fitted through chest and waist, flared to hem.
- RAYON STRETCH JERSEY: This soft and drapey lightweight jersey has a smooth, polished finish. Also offered in a sustainably sourced option 95% Rayon (Lenzing Ecovero Viscose), 5% Elastane.
- WAISTED MAXI DRESS: This versatile and figure-flattering flowy maxi dress seamlessly transitions from day to night. Pair with your favorite sneakers for a day exploring the city or dress up for an evening out with Amazon Essentials Women’s Espadrilles,
- DETAILS: Features an elastic empire waist for all-day comfort while providing a flattering fit. V-neck overlap neckline, dolman short sleeves, and maxi length.
- LENGTH: 35″ from side neck on US size S.
Due to the hot weather you will see a lot of Maxi Dresses and Maxi Skirts in Pisa in Summer especially at tourist attractions and on the beach.
Loose and flowing clothes are better for the Pisa in Summer as they will keep you cooler. They are also great for wearing down on the beach and out for dinner. Click here to shop dresses for Italy.
Trousers
Linen trouser and loose cotton ones are another great pick for Pisa as these are both stylish and cool. If you do decide to pack linen check out our guide to how to pack linen for travel to prevent creases here.
Also we do not recommend packing jeans for Pisa in Summer as denim is too heavyweight for the weather. Click here to shop trousers.
Shorts
Although we don’t tend to recommend wearing shorts in the big cities in Italy such as Rome and Venice in Summer, they are perfectly acceptable on the beaches near Pisa.
Tank Tops and T Shirts
These are perfect for out exploring Pisa and can be paired with skirts or shorts. Just be sure you have at least one top that covers your shoulders for visiting the inside of the Cathedral and the Leaning Tower.
Swimwear (optional)
If you are visiting Pisa in Summer you may want to take swimwear if you are staying with accommodation with a pool or are planning a day trip to the nearby tuscan beaches. However if neither of these things are on your Pisa itinerary then you can leave this at home.
Sun Hats
Sun hats are a staple on any Pisa packing list for summer. Be sure to pick a wide brimmed straw hat instead of a baseball cap to fit in more with locals and to add more shade into your outfit.
Blouses
Blouses are a great day to night transition item and are great for nights in Pisa. Click here to shop blouses.
Pashmina
I never travel anywhere in Italy without a pashmina. It is great in the evenings in case you get chilly dining al fresco and can also be used to make an outfit more modest for visiting churches in Italy.
And remember the leaning tower of Pisa is within the Pisa Cathedral complex so if you plan on walking it you will need to keep your shoulders covered. Click here to shop pashminas.
Underwear
Goes without saying
PJs
We recommend packing lightweight PJs as not everywhere in Pisa will have air conditioning.
Note: If you want to know what to wear in Pisa for men I recommend packing a mixture of chinos and linen trousers and some smarter shorts alongside plain t shirts and polos and short sleeve shirts for summer.
And if you are visiting other areas of Italy in Summer be sure to check out our other Italian Summer packing Lists:
- what to wear to Venice in Summer
- What to wear to Cinque Terre in Summer
- What to wear to Rome in August
- What to wear to Rome in July
- What to wear in Florence in June
- What to wear in Florence in July
- What to wear in Florence in August
- What to wear in Tuscany in Summer
- What to wear to Italy in August
- What to wear to Italy in July
- What to wear on the Amalfi Coast
What to Wear to the Pisa in Spring (March, April, May)
Depending on what time you are visiting Pisa in Spring will depend on how hot the temperatures are.
April really kicks off peak season in Pisa and you may find March to still be quite chilly so layers will be your best friend.
May is obviously the warmest month in Spring with high temperatures around 71F/22C.
For this reason we recommend packing the same as the summer, though you may need less in terms of swimwear as the weather may be too cold.
And we also recommend adding the following additions to your packing list
Cardigan
Spring evenings in Pisa can be cold so be sure to add a cardigan or two to pair to your dress and trousers outfits.
Sweater
This is great for exploring in March and Early April in Pisa.
Jacket
This may be needed if you are visiting the Pisa in March and if the Spring is cold. Also there are usually around 6 days of rain in each Spring month in Pisa. Therefore if you are going during a rainy period we recommend bringing a waterproof trench coat with you. Click to shop lightweight jackets here.
What to Wear to the Pisa in Fall (September, October and November)
What to wear to the Pisa in Fall is very similar to what to wear in Pisa in Summer.
In particular, if you are visiting Pisa in September you can pretty much select the same outfits as you would in August.
However the later in Fall you visit the cooler it becomes and peak season tends to end in mid–October.
If you are visiting in late October and November you probably wont be needing lots of swimwear as it will be too cold for beaches and you will need to add a sweater or cardigan and a jacket with you.
If you are visiting Pisa in November you may also need a coat as the temperature drops dramatically in November. And it would be good to have something that has some waterproofing as November is one of the rainiest months in Pisa.
What to Wear to Pisa in Winter (December, January and February)
Pisa can be cold in Winter which is classified as December, January and February. Therefore coats and layers are definitely required in Winter.
The average high temperature in Winter is 11C/F and gets around 7 days of rain.
Jacket, waterproof
You will definitely want a warm jacket or even a coast for Pisa in Winter. If possible we recommend a waterproof one as Pisa can get rainy in Winter. Click here to shop waterproof jackets.
Cardigans, Sweaters and Top Layers
We recommend packing a few different types of top layers with you for instance a combination of cardigans, sweaters and hoodies of different weights so you have enough variety in case of a very cold snap.
Long Sleeve Tops
It is unlikely you will be wearing short sleeve t shirts in Pisa in Winter so we recommend packing a variety of long sleeve tops and blouses with you including some smarter ones for dinners.
Jeans
Although linen trousers are perfect for Pisa in Summer and the shoulder seasons, they are simply too lightweight in Winter.
We recommend going with heavier weight trousers in Winter such as wool trousers or even jeans. We tend to recommend packing jeans for Pisa in Winter. Click here to shop jeans for Italy.
Dress and Tights
If dresses and skirts are your thing then we recommend packing a pair of warm tights to go underneath as it can be cold.
Pashmina
I never go to Italy without one.
Underwear
Goes without saying
Pjs
A slightly heavier weight pair are better in Winter.
Best Shoes for Pisa
Sneakers
Sneakers are perfect for Lisa no matter the season you visit and are definitely the best and only shoe I would consider wearing to climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The Tower has 296 steps to get to the top so having good shoes is an essential as the stairs are uneven and can be slippy.
Sandals
Perfect for the beach and dinner in summer and shoulder seasons.
Boots
Boots are definitely the best shoe for Winter in Pisa.
What Else to add to your Pisa Packing List
- Crossbody bag
- Sunscreen
- Travel Adaptor
- Power Pack / Battery recharger
- Aftersun cream
- Phone / Camera
- Charger
- Sunglasses
- Reusable Water bottle
- Toiletries
- Beach bag
FAQs About what to Wear in Pisa
What to wear to dinner in Pisa?
Dinner in Pisa doesn’t have a special dress code unless you go to a restaurant that stipulates one.
For all restaurants in Pisa that don’t have a stated dress code we recommend Maxi Dresses and pashminas and blouses and linen trousers for summer and in winter a pair of smart trousers, blouse and a blazer.
What to wear to the Leaning Tower of Pisa?
It is important to remember that there is a Leaning Tower of Pisa Dress Code. If you plan on climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa we recommend wearing sneakers to cope with the stairs. Also remember that you can not have bare shoulders or knees.
For this reason we recommend avoiding tank tops and shorts and wearing linen trousers and a blouse to climb the leaning tower of Pisa in Summer or the shoulder seasons.
If you find that your outfit does not comply when you get there we recommend using a pashmina to cover your shoulders.
If you are climbing the leaning tower of Pisa in Winter we recommend jeans and a sweater as the best thing to wear that complies with the Leaning of Tower of Pisa Dress Code.
Have you been to the Pisa? What did you wear? We would love to hear in the comments below!