Relais dell’Orologio

For a stay in the old heart of Pisa rather than on the busy streets near the station, the Relais dell’Orologio is the pick. It sits at Via della Faggiola 12 to 14, a narrow lane in the medieval quarter between Piazza dei Cavalieri and the Piazza dei Miracoli. That puts the Knights’ Square about two minutes away on foot and the Leaning Tower roughly five, so you can be at the tower for the first slot of the morning and back in the quiet streets when the day-trippers arrive. The hotel has the feel of a private residence, with a garden and terrace where you can sit out in good weather, a restaurant and café, and a buffet breakfast included in the rate. Rooms run from accessible singles and classic doubles to deluxe and junior rooms and a suite. Expedia lists free self parking, which is unusual in the centre of Pisa, so confirm it when you book.

Location and getting around: from Via della Faggiola you can walk to Piazza dei Cavalieri in two minutes, to the Piazza dei Miracoli in about five and to the Scuola Normale and the university quarter in about ten. Borgo Stretto and the river are a short stroll south. Pisa San Rossore station, on the line to Lucca, is around fifteen minutes on foot, which makes a day trip to Lucca easy, and Pisa Centrale is just under twenty minutes away. The airport is about twenty minutes by car.

The rooms: room categories include an accessible single, classic doubles, deluxe doubles or twins, junior rooms and a suite, all with air conditioning and free WiFi. Larger categories suit couples who want space for a few nights.

Who it suits: couples and first-time visitors who want to be close to the tower but sleep somewhere quieter and more characterful, and travellers using Pisa as a base for Lucca.

Good to know: check-in runs from 15:00 to 20:00, so tell the hotel if you will arrive late. Pets are accepted. The historic centre is a limited traffic zone, so if you drive, ask the hotel how to reach the car park without collecting fines.