Museums, Ancient Ships and the Pisa Card
Museums, ancient ships and the Pisa Card
Beyond the cathedral square, Pisa has a cluster of museums that suit a wet day or a slow afternoon. All prices are in euros and are 2026 figures, so check before you go. The state museums close on Mondays.
Ticket map for the cathedral square
| Ticket | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Tower and Cathedral | about EUR 20 | timed Tower slot, Cathedral pass |
| Complete with Tower | EUR 27 | Tower, Cathedral, Baptistery, Camposanto, two museums |
| Complete without Tower | EUR 11 | the same, minus the Tower |
The Cathedral is free to enter, and a standalone free pass is sold only at the on-site offices for a fixed time. Tickets without the Tower stay valid for one year. Children under 11 with an adult enter the Cathedral, Baptistery, Camposanto and both museums free.
The Camposanto and the Sinopie
The Camposanto cloister houses fourteenth-century frescoes that were badly damaged by fire in July 1944 during the Allied advance. The drawings that were found under the plaster are on show in the Museo delle Sinopie. Treat both with a quiet, respectful pace.
Ancient ships
The Museo delle Navi Antiche is in the Medici Arsenals at Lungarno Ranieri Simonelli 16. Around 30 Roman and Hellenistic ships were found in a silted river basin in 1998, along with their cargo of amphorae and daily objects. Entry is EUR 8, or EUR 2 reduced. Hours are Tuesday to Friday from 8:30 to 14:00 and Saturday and Sunday from 14:00 to 19:30. It is closed on Mondays.
Painting, palaces and a blue house
- San Matteo has painted crosses, a Masaccio saint and Donatello’s gilded bust of San Rossore for EUR 5.
- Palazzo Reale, at Lungarno Pacinotti 46, has court rooms and tapestries for EUR 5. It opens Friday afternoons rather than mornings.
- Palazzo Blu on Lungarno Gambacorti has a permanent collection for EUR 5, with large loan shows held there as well.
- The Certosa di Calci is a monastery that you visit only with a guide, for EUR 5.
A seven-day pass for all four state museums is EUR 14.
The Pisa Card
The Pisa Card is about EUR 24 for seven days. It gives one entry each to Palazzo Blu, the Mura di Pisa, Navi Antiche, Palazzo Reale, San Matteo, the Certosa, the Botanical Garden and some university collections, with an hour of city bike hire. Children under 8 are free. It does not include the Leaning Tower or any monument sold by the cathedral authority. Some websites sell a “Pisa Pass” for a cathedral square bundle from about EUR 33, which is a different product.
Guided options
The cathedral authority runs 90-minute guided walks of the Cathedral, Baptistery and Camposanto, and local agencies offer similar ones. Check prices on their sites before booking.
Read more: Pisa activities and Pisa day trips .
Official information: Pisa Card , state museum hours and Palazzo Blu . Guided museum visits can be browsed in GetYourGuide results for Pisa museums .