Although in the Middle Ages, during the Pisan Republic, the city was one of the world's great maritime powers, over the centuries the very shallow coastal waters have silted up and Pisa has drifted a full 15 km from the sea.

Even so, the local Marina di Pisa district has grown up along the coast, connected to the centre by road and bus service, where you can head for the nearest dip in the sea. The coastal promenade, less than a kilometre long, is lined with beaches protected by artificial stone walls. The surface of the beaches is covered with coarse white pebbles, so lying down and especially walking is not very comfortable.

The town's amenities are concentrated in a few restaurants and hotels. There are definitely much nicer and more pleasant beaches around Pisa, for example in the neighbouring resort of Tirrenia or the nearby town of Viareggio, but if you want to suddenly pick up and go to the sea for a few hours while staying in Pisa, for example to watch a beautiful sunset, Marina di Pisa is a good choice.

How to get to Marina di Pisa

Marina di Pisa is connected to Pisa by intercity bus line 10, which continues to Livorno.

It runs between Pisa and the beaches every 15-30 minutes during the day, and once an hour late at night. There is only about every 2nd connection to Livorno. The journey from Pisa takes about 25 minutes and buses leave from the Pisa Sesta Porta stop, which is about 150 metres from the train station - see location on map.

You can download the intercity bus timetables in .pdf format at pisa.cttnord.it.

Tickets cost 2,60 eur when purchased at any newsagent (Tabacchi) or via the Tabnet mobile app (unfortunately only available in Italian). At the driver, the ticket then goes for 4 eur.