My 5 favorite hikes around Pisa

When we think about Pisa, we immediately think of its leaning tower. But the city is not just about this famous monument. It is also the starting point of an incredibly rich region to explore on foot or by hiking near Pisa, between mountains, hills, hilltop villages and wild coast.

A few kilometers from the historic center, you can already access the Pisa HillsIt's a small, little-known mountain range, perfect for walks through forests, along ridges, and with views of the sea. A little further on, you'll find the Apuan Alps, wilder and more spectacular. They offer more sporty hikes in a mineral setting worthy of the Dolomites. And of course, it is impossible not to mention the Cinque Terre, these five villages suspended between sky and sea, which can be reached by a magnificent coastal path.

Along the way, we come across family trattorias, producers of Tuscan cheeses and wines, the scents of pine forests, and that very special Italian light. It is this Tuscany, simple, lively and a little secret, that I invite you to discover through my five favorite hikes around PisaMany of the Tuscan landscape photos you'll find on my website are available as prints: the Tuscan countryside, olive trees and cypress trees, vineyards and Tuscan landscape — poster, canvas or framed print.

A hike at the gates of Pisa: Monte Faeta

If you're looking for an easy day hike near Pisa, you absolutely must visit the Pisa Hills. This small mountain range separates Pisa from the city of Lucca. It boasts a truly unique vegetation, with olive groves at the foot of the slopes, oak and pine forests in the middle, and chestnut trees on the summits. The views from the heights are excellent, encompassing the plain of Pisa and beyond. I brought back some photos. this photographic print of the hills behind Pisa and that of the beginning of the Apennines at Sant'Agata, available as posters, canvases or frames.

The hike I'm suggesting climbs Monte Faeta, one of the main peaks of the massif, at 800m altitude. It's therefore ideal for discovering this mountain range, which is relatively unknown to the general public. The hike is 10 km long with an 800m elevation gain and presents no particular technical difficulties. The starting point is the village of Asciano, a 10-minute drive from Pisa.

To discover the hike's topo and its GPX track, you can visit my page hiking to Monte Faeta.

Mount Prana in the Apuan Alps

If you're looking for a true mountain hike near Pisa, with rocky landscapes, spectacular peaks, and significant elevation gain, you absolutely must go to the Apuan Alps. I'm a huge fan of this wild mountain range with its unique scenery, located in northern Tuscany. For me, they are among the most beautiful mountains in Italy, right up there with the Dolomites.

I've explored these mountains extensively. In my opinion, a good starting point for discovering this massif is Monte Faeta, the closest peak to Pisa. From the summit, you can admire this stunning landscape, typical of the Apuan region: a rocky peak overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea with views stretching all the way to the other side of the Gulf of Genoa. In May, the grassy slopes are carpeted with daffodils, and the landscape becomes enchanting.

To hike Mount Prana from Pisa, drive to the Passo del Lucese, about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Pisa. The road is typical of Italy and very narrow! The hike is 20km long with 1000m of elevation gain, and there are no technical difficulties. You can also add the summit of Monte Piglione as a bonus, for an additional 300m of elevation gain. For detailed hike information and the GPX track, see my page on hiking to Mount Prana. It was during this hike, on an exceptionally clear February day, that I took the photo "Ridge Line" — available as a photo print.

The Cinque Terre coastal path

A classic Ligurian tourist destination is the Cinque Terre, five villages of (former) fishermen clinging to the cliffside in a stunning green landscape. Unfortunately, they suffer from overtourism; you often have to jostle your way through the villages.

But fortunately, there's much less traffic on the stunning coastal path that connects the five villages. The hike is easy, heat aside, which is why it's not recommended in summer. However, you can enjoy a refreshing dip in each village you pass through! You'll also discover the terraced vineyards typical of Liguria. The vines seem to hang precariously above the sea.

To start this hike from Pisa, I recommend taking the train, changing at La Spezia. The villages are very difficult to access by car, while the trains are frequent and serve all five villages. This allows you to choose the length of the hike by simply returning to Pisa from the last village you reach. To see the GPX track of the route, you can visit my page at hiking in the Cinque Terre.

Mounts Lieto and Gabberi

After the crowds of the Cinque Terre, I suggest returning to the deserted trails of the Apuan Alps. From the beautiful village of Valdicastello Carducci, a 45-minute drive from Pisa, you can hike a loop that passes through the Lieto and Gabberi mountains, offering stunning views of the Apuan peaks. The route passes through Sant'Anna di Stazzema, a village that suffered greatly during World War II. A monument commemorates the horrific crimes committed by the Germans there. The Apuan ridges seen on this loop inspired several mountain photos, including the Apennines in winter and the snow-covered Apennine ridge.

The hike is a little difficult to follow at times due to poorly marked trails. The path can be steep, so you shouldn't be afraid of heights. Other than that, it doesn't present any particular difficulty. To find the corresponding GPX track, go to my page hiking in Mounts Lieto and Gabberi.

A two-day hike near Pisa: the tour of Monte Matanna

If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend packing your tent and exploring the Apuan Alps at your own pace! Numerous routes are possible, from a complete five-day traverse of the massif to shorter two-day loops. Here, I suggest such a two-day bivouac trek to discover Monte Matanna. The trek begins in Stazzema, a 1 hour 10 minute drive from Pisa.

This trek, without any particular technical difficulty, will take you through all the typical landscapes of the Apuan Alps: vast beech forests, high-altitude meadows with the characteristic tall grasses of the Apuan region, rivers cascading through gorges, and finally, towering rock faces. The bivouac site is enchanting, offering a view that encompasses the entire Apuan mountain range and the Gulf of Genoa. The two-day hike will end on a delightful note with a delicious pie at the Forte dei Marmi refuge.

So grab your tent and sleeping bags and go check out my description of the Monte Matanna tower for two days of enchanting bivouac hiking in this little-traveled mountain range. If you are new to bivouac hiking and have yet to buy your tent, I recommend the Simond Mesh 2-person tent From Decathlon: you can find lighter ones, but for this price it's a good deal; it's spacious and waterproof. And the 0 degree sleeping bag down from the same brand is very good.

Conclusion: explore Tuscany differently

The surroundings of Pisa reserve much more than one imagines. Moving away from the tower and the crowds, one discovers secret mountains, hanging villages, luminous ridges, deep forests... And this wild TuscanyFar from the clichés, it's best experienced on foot. If these landscapes inspire you to bring them home, check out my photo prints of Tuscany — Tuscan house in Toiano, House and landscape near Volterra, Tuscan fields towards Montepulciano — available as posters, canvases, or framed prints. You can also find them in my photo gallery. Feel free to browse my other sections, such as my photographs of the Alps or my black and white mountain photos.

These five hikes are among my favorites, but they are just a few examples among many. If you are looking for other ideas for walks around Pisa, in Corsica, in the Alps or elsewhere, I invite you to consult the other routes available on my website.