Pisa car parks

[vickitoria10]

Has anyone travelled to Pisa by car and visited the tower?

We are visiting on Monday and all I’m reading on trip advisor is that car parks in Pisa are not safe and theft is a massive problem! We can’t go by train because of where we are staying, we won’t have any luggage with us but have a 9 seat minivan which apparently screams tourist so will be targeted 😭. I’m so worried about our visit now! Has anyone experience of driving and parking in Pisa and can put my mind at ease a bit?!

[pad406]

We stayed overnight there about 2years ago and had a hire car. Hadn't heard or come across any issues and certainly did not experience any. As we had accommodation there we parked outside it (on street though).

One thing to watch (for certain) is what they (and many other Italian cities) call ZTL zones. These are restricted areas and if you enter them it's a big fine, over €100 and then the car hire company will add their processing fees on top.

The sign looks like this:

Avoid !

[Omega1]

We parked very close to the tower with our rental car a couple of years ago. It was about a 5 minute walk from the Duomo and tower. Just looking at google maps, it’s called Parcheggio Via Piave. It was a Sunday and very quiet - there’s a footpath at the back of the car park through to the tower, just a road to cross. Very easy.

[vickitoria10]

The one I was looking at was Parcheggio via Peitrasantina, it’s free and a 10minute wall from the tower. I’ve looked at Via Piave one too cos it’s near the football ground which DH wants to look at. It’s good to know you had no problems, I’ve read people ‘help’ you to use the ticket machine and basically want a tip and if you don’t give it them expect your car to be vandalised!

[DisneyDaffodil]

Just try to park in an open area of the car park and don't leave valuables in the car. I am presuming you have a hire car, not your own car. Obviously no one wants to have any car vandalised or broken into, but as it is a hire car it will be covered by insurance.

Someone I know did get pickpocketed in Pisa many years ago. Sadly, many tourist spots are rife for these incidents and it does put tourists off visiting. We were looking at Barcelona and read that pickpocket numbers are very high there, it did put us off and we have booked Venice instead. There are pickpockets in Venice too, although numbers are much lower apparently but that doesn't mean it won't happen. We can only be careful and hope it won't happen to us.

Hope you have a wonderful time 😊

[vickitoria10]

Yeah we won’t have anything in the car as it’s a day trip. It does seem that they target cats stopping off en route with luggage in their car.

Yeah we’ll keep our wits about us just as in any hotspot. I know these things can happen anywhere, it’s just when you read review after review of cars getting broken in to it unerves you a bit! Thanks!