Pisa is not the first Italian city that springs to mind when you think of a dynamic nightlife. But it is a university city with a robust student population, as well as a healthy amount of tourist traffic, looking for after-dark activities. Put those two elements together and you’re more than likely to encounter some very lively nighttime action.
So where to go in the night?
Nightlife in Pisa is not that amazing, most young and trendy people go to the beach for a night out so grab a car or take a bus to Marina di Pisa on the beach, really great getaway: “Scalo 54” a very cool restaurant , “Pia” fabulous terrace restaurant directly on the sea and “Sunset Café” sofas on beach for to get a good aperitivo and have a quiet night.
But if you don’t want to get out of the city…
- Get an Aperitivo on One of Many Beautiful Squares
Forget fancy and expensive restaurants, Pisa has a lot of places where you can eat good food for just few euros. One of the best places to experience the spirit of the city and have fun is Piazza delle Vettovaglie, a square frequented mostly by local students. This old square is surrounded by stores, bars and street food, where you can buy something to eat for a quick meal even in the late hours and enjoy an excellent aperitivo with your friends.
- Walk along River Arno
Pisa is generally a safe place to wander at night and a wonderful nighttime walk is along the Arno River. The Arno River is a marvelous Tuscan River that flows through Florence and then passes through Pisa before reaching the Ligurian Sea, an arm of the Mediterranean Sea. It is a sight to behold during the day and an even more glorious view to take in when the sun goes down.
Start the walk at the heart of the city, the picturesque Garibaldi Square. Locals boast that the best gelato in Pisa can be found here, so drop in La Bottega del Gelato, they’re open until 12.00 am during the summer months and until 10.00 pm the rest of the year. With plenty of lighting to make your way, witness beautiful views of the earth-tone palazzi on the River’s banks. Conclude your walk at the Santa Maria della Spina. An extraordinary example of Pisan Gothic architecture, Santa Maria della Spina is a small church built in 1230. Covered in marble-colored bands, the small church’s exterior is also beautifully decorated with inlays, rosettes and numerous statues. It makes a great postcard image, even when lit by streetlights!
- Visit Teatro Verdi
Teatro Verdi is a Pisa institution that hosts both theater and opera events. Known for its high-caliber performances, Teatro Verdi was inaugurated in 1867 and boasts a proud and rich history; the present-day concert hall was once a dance hall. Teatro Verdi is located in Pisa’s center and is an awe-inspiring structure that creates a sense of wonder with its historic charm. In addition, Teatro Verdi has a small exhibition area containing costumes and theatrical items that belonged to the famous baritone Titta Ruffo, a Pisa native who enjoyed a long and celebrated opera career. One of Tuscany’s most important theaters, Teatro Verdi is an unforgettable way to experience an evening at the opera the way 19th-century patrons experienced it.
- Experience Arno Vivo
Been wishing for a place to gather with friends, sit outdoors, drink great cocktails and listen to good music? Arno Vivo has granted that wish with an outdoor music festival that goes on all summer long. Starting in late May and going until the end of September, the Arno Vivo party assembles in the center of Pisa, under the Victoria Bridge, and offers live music and DJs. With the dazzling Arno River as a backdrop, Arno Vivo adds great music, along with good food and drink, to make for a perfect summer night.
Arno Vivo offers a select and varied program of music on different nights of the week. Thursdays is reggae night, Fridays it’s concert night, and Saturdays the DJs take over. Arno Vivo provides a fully-loaded cocktail bar, where you can enjoy your drink of choice, and there’s also ample tables and benches for comfort. If you get hungry, grab a savory burger at the Hamburgheria Arno Vivo. At Arno Vivo the party begins at 6.00 pm and goes until the music dies out, the food runs out, the liquor runs dry or the sun comes up, whichever happens first!
- Take a Night Guided Tour
Pisa is a city overrun with tourists during the day. That’s a fact. But Pisa is a different place at night. The vibe is vibrant with a certain Mediterranean flair. So why not experience for yourself this distinct side to Pisa by exploring it when it’s less crowded. That time is at night with a Pisa by Night Guided Walking Tour. A true highlight of the Pisa by Night Guided Walking Tour starts at the beginning, where you meet in Miracle Square and are able to observe the Leaning Tower of Pisa at night. Seeing it after dark gives the tower an even more magical aura. Other high points of the Pisa by Night Guided Walking Tour is a trip to old town, where your guide will show you historic spots such as Piazza Dante, the medieval Borgo Stretto, and, of course, the house where Galileo was born.
And because this is Pisa, the tour concludes with a chance to relax and enjoy a glass of wine at the romantic Piazza della Berlina, or for a more decadent choice, enjoy a scoop, or two, of home-made ice cream on the Ponte di Mezzo Bridge. If, after all that, you’re still in go-mode your guide will happily provide some awesome insider tips on the best Pisa has to offer at night.
- Try Borderline Club
Borderline Club, a live concert venue, was founded in 1996 with the expressed desire to create a locale where people could gather to listen and enjoy great live music. Borderline Club has lived up to that wish.
After 20 years and countless varieties of musical performances from blues to jazz, from rock to pop and everything in between, Borderline Club has become a renowned concert club in Italy that suits all music tastes. Borderline Club is certainly a good pick for tourists if they want to experience the partying side of Pisa. Borderline Club consistently delivers a great concert experience, and is well worth checking out.
- Have a Beer in Orzo Bruno
Another unexpected place situated in the heart of the city: Orzo Bruno. It is mainly a brewery, where they sell their own beer, all of which is brewed in a small factory is near Pisa. But you can also eat sandwiches and wraps made with all biological ingredients. The place is large and, sometimes, a bit loud in the evening when it is full of students. Anyway it is probably the best place to have a beer in Pisa.
Pisa offers plenty of choices for nighttime fun-seekers. Whether it’s a desire to drink, revel in good conversation, dance to great music, or just stroll the streets and people watch, Pisa is the perfect place. Like a chameleon, Pisa presents two different sides to its liveliness over the course of 24 hours. During the day Pisa draws much of its vigor from scrambling sightseers and the hustle and bustle of marketplaces, but as nightfall approaches, the energy of the bars, pubs and clubs take over. So, when you visit make sure you experience both versions of Pisa, and don’t miss out on the half of the action that happens when the sun goes down.
Asequibles 