The most beautiful beach near Pisa

Are you traveling to Pisa during the summer months? Then it can get very hot and we also got to experience this. After our 5 days road trip through Tuscany with the Vespa, we decided to stay for another weekend in Pisa. With an average temperature of 30 degrees, it was really unbearably hot in the city. So we sought refreshment. Fortunately, Pisa is situated near the Tyrrhenian Sea. And where better to take a refreshing dip than in the sea? We made it our mission to find the most beautiful beach near Pisa.

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Pisa is a historic city in the west of beautiful Tuscany and is best known for its historical heritage, with the popular attraction being the Leaning Tower of Pisa. But Pisa has many sights that make the city an interesting destination for a cultural and extremely atmospheric city trip.

Pisa is located near the coast where the Arno, the river that divides Pisa in two, flows. Yet Pisa is less known as a seaside resort. Visitors who want to combine their trip with sun, sea and beach usually go to more famous seaside resorts in Tuscany or to the charming coastal towns of Cinque Terre and the surrounding area.

Since we wanted to relax by the sea after our Vespa road trip and didn’t feel like traveling far, we looked for the most beautiful beach in Pisa.

The most beautiful beach near Pisa

There are of course several beaches in the province of Pisa, such as the nearest Marina di Pisa, which is easily accessible by bus. Here the modern marina of Pisa is located. It has a long jetty. Marina di Pisa has both a sandy and pebble beach. The breakwaters ensure that the water is calm, so you can swim there. Along the coast you will find several cozy restaurants and bars.

Further south between Marina di Pisa and Livorno, are Tirrenia and Calambrone. Here you will mainly find wider sandy beaches and resort hotels.

Booking.com

But the most beautiful beach near Pisa, Marina di Vecchiano, is located north of Marina di Pisa. Why exactly I think that this is the most beautiful beach? I’ll tell you right away!

Marina di Vecchiano

Marina di Vecchiano is about 15 kilometers from the historic center of Pisa. This area is part of the Natural Park Parco Regionale Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli and extends from Torre de Lago to the mouth of the River Serchio. Here you will find a 4 kilometers long beautiful, golden sandy beach. In combination with the clear water of the Tyrrhenian Sea, low sand dunes, pine forests and a view of the Apuan Alps in the horizon, this is a beautiful piece of nature to spend a day. The fact that you can enjoy a day of sunbathing and a refreshing swim in an pristine, natural setting makes the beach of Marina di Vecchiano the most beautiful beach near Pisa for me.

We chose a spot close to the beach bar Bagno Oasi Zero. There we could choose for paying spot in the beach chairs with umbrella or a free spot on our towel in the sand. Since we were not really equipped, we went for a paying spot on the seats with an umbrella. So we had a bit of shade on this hot day.

Beach bar Bagno Oasi Zero is very basic, but super cozy. There is a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. Here you can enjoy simple dishes, snacks and refreshing drinks. There are also sanitary facilities, but in the French way, if you know what I mean.

How to travel to Marina di Vecchiano?

But of course there’s a catch. From Pisa it is not possible to easily travel to Marina di Vecchiano by public transport. Well, it is possible, but then you have to change buses a few times. This way you’re on the road for a really long time relative to the distance you cover. So you lose a lot of time. Then it’s a better option to take the train to another destination.

If you would like to spend a day in Marina di Vecchiano, I recommend that you rent a Vespa or electric bicycle. Because we already booked a Vespa through the Vespa Trip for our road trip through Tuscany, we could keep our Vespa for a day longer at a cheaper price. In Pisa you can rent a Vespa or bicycle for 1 day at various places for a great price.

You can park at parcheggio Marina di Vecchiano or at parcheggio del Poligono dei Militari. We went with the Vespa and parked at parcheggio Marina di Vecchiano. Near the parking lot is the entrance to the beach. You will also find some shops and restaurants there. When you walk up the path to the beach, you’ll pass to the beach bar Bagno Oasi Zero where you can choose a paying spot in the beach chairs or a free spot in the sand.

Best time to travel to Marina di Vecchiano?

Since Marina di Vecchiano is not easily accessible by public transport, fewer foreign tourists come here. That’s not to say it can’t get crowded. This beautiful beach near Pisa is especially popular with the locals. So when the weather is nice and especially during the weekends and summer holidays, it can get very busy.

Even though it was a bit busier, we didn’t feel like we were on a tourist beach vacation. This is mainly because we were really in the middle of nature with a view of the Tuscan landscape and not overlooking the large concrete buildings that are usually located along the coast. It’s a real gem near Pisa.

Wonderful things to do in the neighborhood Marina di Vecchiano?

Parco Regionale Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli

Did you rent a Vespa or a bicycle for the day, but are you not one of those people who can spend hours on the beach? Then you can also combine a visit to the most beautiful beach near Pisa with a visit to the natural park Parco Regionale Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli.

This nature reserve is gigantic and would encompass no less than 23000 hectares of land in Tuscany. It consists of various landscapes, parks and even estates. The beach of Marina di Vecchiano is only a small part of it. Also Lake Massaciuccoli, the mouths of the rivers Arno and Serchio, Macchia Lucchese, the former presidential estate of San Rossore, the forests of Tombolo and Migliarino, the Secche della Meloria and the rocks between Livorno and the island of Gorgona are all part from the Parco Regional Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli.

The public areas of the park are always accessible on foot or by bicycle for free. But there are some exceptions such as The San Rossore Estate. This is only accessible during the day. Although the park is free, you can also opt for a guided tour or excursion for a fee.

This impressive nature park has many different routes. You can choose whether you want to explore on foot or by bike. There is even an ecological train that drives regularly through the park. You can also explore certain parts of the park by boat.

Depending on what you feel like and need, you can choose longer, challenging or shorter, easy routes. So there is something for everyone.

In the park you can also spot special fauna and flora, such as various birds, fish, but also wild boars, foxes and wolves. There is also a great variety of landscapes such as dunes, swamps and forests.

lago massaciuccoli

A beautiful place in the Natural Park of Migliarino, San Rossore and Massaciuccoli, next to Marina di Vecchiano, is Lago Massaciucolli. This is a beautiful lake just a few kilometers from the Bagno Oasi Zero beach bar and therefore perfect to combine with in one day.

Lago Massaciucolli a popular place for canoeing, rowing or sailing. You can rent boats at the lake. From the lake you can spot various swamp plants and special birds such as the blue heron. There are also several hiking and cycling trails here. In the summer months this is a popular place for picnics. And besides all this, the lake is a stunning and very photogenic place.

Do you want to extend your trip to Pisa?

Pisa is a good base to discover even more of the region. With the super fun day trips from Getyourguide you don’t have to worry about the organization and transport and you can enjoy beautiful Tuscany without stress. View the offers below.

Of course you can also plan your own trips to the beautiful Tuscan cities such as Siena, Lucca and Florence. Can it all be a bit more adventurous? Then choose a 5 day road trip through Tuscany with The Vepsa Trip.

From Pisa you can also easily travel by train to other regions. In less than an hour and a half you can find yourself in the beautiful Cinque Terre where you can enjoy impressive hikes between the 5 picturesque harbor towns with the most fantastic views. Or take a break and relax on Lake Garda! Do you prefer adventure? Then head to the impressive Dolomites. The neighboring province of Umbria is also worth a visit! And the beautiful historic cities such as Florence, Verona, Milan and Venice are not far away at all.

We really enjoyed our day at this beautiful beach near Pisa. Do you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city? Or would you like to add a day of relaxation and water fun to your cultural city trip to Pisa? Then you now know where to go.

Would you like to spend a day on this beautiful beach near Pisa? Let me know in the comments below.

Thank you for reading

Your truly

Sarah

Europe, Italy, Short Breaks