Much more than just a wonky tower, Pisa’s brilliant architectural riches date from its illustrious maritime past, back when it was an independent city state rivalling the likes of Florence and Genoa. Today, it’s best known in Italy as an education hub, the town’s university lending a youthful vibrancy to its 15th Century architecture; while its rail links down the countries western coast make it a great gateway to the Tuscan region.
Hotel-wise, being a tourist hotspot there are plenty to choose from, and no few budget options at that. This being said, not every budget hotel is a guaranteed winner. Fortunately, we at TravelMag have gone the extra distance to sort the wheat from the not so good wheat to suggest you these five choices, sure to provide any holiday with the best foundations.
From €90/ night
A refuge of low cost luxury right on the doorstep of everything people come to Pisa to see. The Piazza Miracoli is less than 50 metres from its reception, the Leaning Tower barely another 50 metres after that. There’s also a beautiful garden that offers escape from the tourist crowds, while WiFi and flat-screen TVs in all the rooms come as standard. It’s a little more expensive than some of the others on this list, but in terms of VFM it’s hard to imagine better.
From €75/ night
Our “luxury-but-still-cheap-because-it’s-a-bit-out-of-town” pick, the Repubblica Marinara is a sparkling modern construction away from the city crowds. Here, you’ll have ample opportunity to relax in 4-star comfort in between sightseeing and sampling of delicious northern Tuscan food. The rooms are wooden floored and stylishly furnitured, and come complete with WiFi and minibars, while the multi-lingual staff are always on hand to accommodate your needs.
From €55/ night
For a single star hotel – and, given its name, it’d have to be – the Hotel Galileo certainly spins a lot around this solitary accolade. Housed within a building from the staggeringly distance 1200s, and plastered in frescos, it’s also in the restricted traffic area that makes up the town’s historic centre, which makes a stay here like a stay back in time. Granted, such antiquity may not be for everyone, but enough upkeep’s been done on the place over the years that it remains perfectly comfortable, and every room has the modern concession of a TV and private bathroom.
From €44/ night
We want to accommodate every kind of traveller here at TravelMag, from those who want the inner-city experience to others who’d prefer a stay that’s a little more tranquil. Hence, here, the Airone Pisa Park Hotel, a five-minute drive out of town, surrounded by the beautiful Tuscan countryside, its swimming pool and large garden are ideal for chilling out in after a tough day among the tourists. There’s also an on-site restaurant serving sumptuous Tuscan cuisine, giving you the option of a full-on lazy day, meditating on the surrounding hills.
From €44/ night
Cheap and cheerful on the outskirts of town, this hotel’s an excellent choice for the single-nighters: people coming to Pisa for a tour around the sights, but without much desire to hang around longer. This is for those who want a cheap bed, a clean hotel, a decent location, and minimal fuss. You wouldn’t want to live here, but with TVs, private bathrooms, and air conditioning, it offers as steady a place to pit-stop as anywhere in town, and in a place where the zenith of architecture is a tower at a five degree lean you can’t say fairer than that.
