Skipping lines at the Leaning Tower of Pisa

What does "skip-the-line" really mean for the Leaning Tower of Pisa?

Skip-the-line tickets let you bypass the general ticket queue and head straight to security and enter at your chosen time. While you’ll still go through a brief security check, you can avoid standing in long lines under the sun. Most visitors with skip-the-line access enter within 15–20 minutes, even in peak tourist season. Choose from timed-entry, guided tours, or combo experiences with Pisa Cathedral and Baptistery.

How long are the queues at the Leaning Tower of Pisa entrance?

The Leaning Tower of Pisa admits a limited number of visitors per time slot, making advance booking crucial. Without a reservation, you risk long waits or missing your preferred slot altogether.

  • In the peak season (May to September), when over a million people visit annually, queues between 10am and 2pm can stretch up to 2 hours. 
  • In the off-season, lines of 30–45 minutes are still common, particularly on weekends or holidays.

Crowds begin forming outside the ticket counter and the timed entry gate at Piazza del Duomo well before each time slot. Without skip-the-line access, delays are almost inevitable.

Types of queues at the Leaning Tower of Pisa

There are two queues at the Leaning Tower of Pisa—one for walk-in visitors buying tickets on-site and another for redeeming pre-booked tickets. Knowing the difference can save you valuable time.

Ticket counter queue

Ticketing queue

Location: At the ticket office in Piazza del Duomo

Skip with STL? ✅ Yes

Average wait times: 30 mins to 2 hours

Who is it for? Visitors who haven’t booked in advance

Eiffel Tower view from Seine River cruise in Paris, France.

Security queue

Location: Entry gate at Tower base

Skip with STL? ❌ No

Average wait times: 10-20 mins

Who is it for? All visitors

Dreading the long wait at the Leaning Tower? Here's the smart way in.

Lines here often stretch over 2 hours, especially in peak season. Under the sun, with limited entry slots, time slips away fast. This skip-the-line ticket gets you past the crowds and into the tower at your reserved time, most visitors are inside within 20 minutes.

All your options to skip the queues

Book tickets online

Book tickets online

Pre-booking your Leaning Tower of Pisa tickets online guarantees a timed-entry slot and lets you skip the long queues at the ticket counter. At the site, you'll only need to redeem your ticket—this line is usually short and takes about 5–10 minutes.

Leaning Tower tickets
 Choose guided tours

 Choose guided tours

With a guide, you're not only skipping lines but also gaining insight into the tower's history, geometry, and significance—plus, your entry is pre-arranged and seamless.

Find the right guided tour
Visit during non-peak hours

Visit during non-peak hours

Early morning slots (before 9:30am) or late afternoon (after 5:30pm) tend to be quieter.

Best time to visit the Leaning Tower
 Avoid free entry days & holidays

 Avoid free entry days & holidays

While the Tower rarely offers free days, the Piazza dei Miracoli sees massive crowds around national holidays and school breaks, it is recommended to plan accordingly for fewer lines.

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What are our customers saying?

Loved by 35 million+
Dumeige karine

Dumeige

Aug 2025
4/5
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+1 more

Magnificent monuments and superb views from the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but a negative point with regard to the audiophone, as there were 4 of us and we didn't take advantage of it as it can only be downloaded to one phone.
Mohammed ENNAJEM

Mohammed

Aug 2025
5/5
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review-image
An experience rich in discoveries and encounters! We learned a lot during our visit to this monumental complex (history, art, architecture, human genius...). In any case, for us it was a singular experience. We can't wait to discover other magical places!
Siobhan Green

Siobhan

Aug 2025
5/5
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Pisa was great. We got a later ticket to stay out of the afternoon sun. Pisa is a nice sized tourist place. We were able to spend 4/5hrs there.
Gabriel Gonzalo Sánchez Lizarraga

Gabriel

Aug 2025
5/5
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It was relatively easy except we didn't know that you supposed to leave your bags in a locker before going up in the leaning tower of Pisa. The lockers were in a different building so we literally had to run to avoid missing our turn. Visitors should be informed about this in the future.
Valentina Accoto

Valentina

Aug 2025
5/5
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I have to give kudos to the organization. There were a lot of people but no queues. Only a few minutes wait to get on the tower, perfectly respecting the assigned time slot.
Gudrun Schenck

Gudrun

Aug 2025
4/5
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The climb up the tower was strenuous, but the view was great. The steps were so well worn that you had to worry about slipping on the way down.
Stefano Cateni

Stefano

Aug 2025
5/5
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Purchasing the ticket was easy and very functional. The email containing the ticket went to the "spam" inbox, but you had warned me with the first confirmation email, so finding it was not difficult. The visit to the Piazza dei Miracoli was very nice, especially going up the Tower was really unique because the effect of the slope is felt immediately from the first steps. Although I live in the province of Pisa and therefore was "used to" the beauty of the Tower, climbing it for the first time was a beautiful experience.
Kiraly Jacques

Kiraly

Aug 2025
4/5
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Simple and efficient! The user-friendly interface saved us time and made our one-day program in Pisa a reality!

Frequently asked questions about Leaning Tower of Pisa skip-the-line tickets

Why book skip-the-line ticket?

Skip-the-line tickets help you save 1–2 hours of waiting time during peak season. You get guaranteed timed entry, avoid the stress of last-minute planning, and can opt for extras like a tour guide or audio guide for deeper context. It’s the most efficient way to visit this popular site—especially when time is limited.

What happens if you don’t book skip-the-line tickets?

Without skip-the-line access, you could wait 1.5 to 2.5 hours in the sun—especially between 10am and 2pm. Preferred time slots may be sold out by the time you reach the counter. Many visitors end up feeling rushed inside or miss their chance to climb the tower altogether, particularly during late-day visits.

Do I still need to go through security?

Yes. All visitors must pass through a security check before entering the tower, regardless of ticket type. Skip-the-line tickets let you bypass the redemption queue but not security screening.

Can I get skip-the-line tickets at the gate?

Unlikely. Most skip-the-line tickets are only available online and tend to sell out 2–3 days in advance—especially during high season. Booking ahead is highly recommended.

Do skip-the-line tickets include access to the Cathedral or other monuments?

It depends on the ticket. Some skip-the-line tickets include only tower entry, while others bundle access to the Pisa Cathedral, Baptistery, or Camposanto. Always check what's included before booking.

Are there any restrictions on the number of skip-the-line tickets available per day?

Yes. Only a fixed number of visitors are allowed to climb the tower per day. Time slots are limited and controlled for safety reasons.

Can I change the date or time of my skip-the-line tickets?

Leaning Tower tickets let you reschedule your time slot up to 2 hours before your visit but the date of the visit remains fixed and cannot be changed.

Is there a specific entrance for skip-the-line ticket holders?

No separate physical entrance, but skip-the-line ticket holders bypass the ticket counter and go directly to the entry gate for their time slot.

Can I use skip-the-line tickets for multiple entries to the Leaning Tower?

No. Entry to the Tower is allowed only once per ticket and is tied to your selected time slot.

Are audio guides available with the tickets?

The standard skip-the-line tickets offer multilingual audio guide as an optional upgrade. It’s a great way to explore at your own pace.

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