Marina di Pisa: The Sleepy Tuscan Beach Town Near Pisa

When I recently found myself in Pisa, my friend Helene and I were determined to find a quiet beach where we could enjoy the sun and unwind. 

Unfortunately, there aren’t any beaches in Pisa itself, but there are plenty of beaches near Pisa that most international tourists have no idea about.

Marina di Pisa – The Sleepy Tuscan Beach Town Near Pisa

Just a stone’s throw away from the centre of Pisa is Marina di Pisa, a sleepy Tuscan beach town home to charming streets, lovely restaurants, and the cutest little church I’ve ever seen.

In this guide, I’m going to cover it all, so let’s get into it.

Marina di Pisa at a Glance

Lying on the west bank of the Arno River, Marina di Pisa used to be a bustling holiday destination for Italians, but when I visited in the middle of June, it was extremely quiet.

Of course, June is still technically off-season, but this felt like more than that.

Marina di Pisa has a population of less than 4000, and with its lonely promenade, buildings with peeling paint and quaint cafes serving espressos to handfuls of elderly Italian men, there is a real sense that Marina di Pisa is the land that time forgot.

However, that’s all part of its charm, and its authenticity makes a wonderful change from the overtourism seen in places such as Rome and Venice.

The first port of call for Helene and I when we got to Marina di Pisa was the beach (duh).

The area of coast closest to where the bus stops is stony, with craggy white rocks giving way to smaller pebbles. This beach is free to use and there were a few local families who had set up camp for the day and were enjoying the early summer sun. 

Here’s a Google Maps link to the rocky beach.

However, as pretty as the pebble beach was, I was determined to find some sand, so Helene and I wandered down the coastline a bit farther, past a few seafood restaurants and cocktail bars.

In less than 5 minutes, we’d found the perfect spot.

READ | Is Pisa Worth Visiting?

Along the coast of Marina di Pisa there are a number of ‘bathing establishments’ (called a bagno or lido) which are typical of Italy. A bagno is a private section of sandy beach where you can rent a sun lounger and parasol and access the facilities (toilets, showers, and changing areas) for the day. They usually have food and drink available to purchase as well.

Now, I hate the concept of paying to go to the beach, but the cost here was just 10 EUR for two sun loungers, a parasol, and access to the facilities for the entire day which I thought was very reasonable. 

It’s worth mentioning that this was the off-season price in 2019 – after researching the prices at various bagni in Marina di Pisa in 2026, the cost seems to be 20 EUR for two loungers.

The bagno that we went to was called Bagno Luisa, but there are plenty of others to choose from, all offering the same thing. Close by are Bagno Alberto, Bagno La Riva, and Bagno il Grecale. All of them cost about the same.

Villa Santa – A Hidden Gem

After we’d sunned ourselves for a few hours, we decided to wander around and see what the town of Marina di Pisa was all about.

As we ambled along the promenade, taking pictures admiring the dilapidated yet grand buildings, we stumbled upon a gateway that opened onto a garden. 

After noticing a small sign saying that entrance was free, we decided to have a nosy inside and spent some time admiring the various shrines and paintings of Jesus and the Virgin Mary that were dotted around the garden, enveloped in flowers and radiating an aura of absolute tranquillity.

It was then that we noticed a white stone building that is sort of a cross between an igloo, a hobbit housed and Santa’s grotto. Drawing closer, we spied an open door and decided to investigate. 

Inside this bizarre little structure was perhaps the prettiest place of worship I have ever seen.

With rosary beads and paintings of Jesus hanging from the walls, a hodgepodge of chairs, and decorations including silver love hearts and plastic flowers, Villa Santa is a church like no other. 

After spending so much time travelling throughout Europe, ‘church fatigue’ is most definitely a thing, but Villa Santa was so unlike anything else I’d ever seen that it was difficult to pry myself away.  

After we’d finished marvelling at this hidden sanctuary, we decided that it was time for food and so we continued our walk through the quiet streets of Marina di Pisa until we spied a seafood restaurant named Le Pescotto.

Unfortunately, it seems that Le Pescotto has since closed down, but there’s no shortage of delicious grilled seafood restaurants in Marina di Pisa to choose from.

Getting to Marina di Pisa from Pisa

Marina di Pisa is located 10 km from Pisa, and travelling from Pisa to Marina di Pisa is easy.

If you have a car, it’s 20 minute drive, or you can take the number 10 public bus from Sesta Porta, Pisa’s main bus station, which is a short walk from Pisa Centrale train station.

Tickets cost 1.70 EUR each way, and you can purchase them at the station or pay by card on the bus. The bus journey takes 30 minutes.

When the bus reaches Marina di Pisa, simply walk towards the sea and you will find the main promenade, a quiet road with sleepy cafes and – of course – the beach. 

FAQ

Marina di Pisa | Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a beach near Pisa, the town of Marina di Pisa is a wonderful getaway from the bustling city, and the perfect little Tuscan beach town.

It is, without question, an authentic slice of Italian life, and it makes a lovely little day trip from Pisa.

Have you ever been to Marina di Pisa? Maybe you know of another Tuscan beach worth visiting? Let me know in the comments section below!

XOXO

If you like this article and would like to support my work, please click the button above to donate a couple of bucks and buy me a coffee. The revenue that I receive on this website is minimal, so support from my readers enables me to keep creating content that you (hopefully!) love to read.

Disclaimer: Travelling Jezebel contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase on a recommended site, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.