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Table of Contents:
How to get to Pietrasanta from Pisa
Beaches of Marina di Pietrasanta
When to travel to Pietrasanta
Pietrasanta is a wonderful Tuscan town, colorful and atmospheric, located in the north of the region, not far from the famous resort of Forte dei Marmi. Pietrasanta has one of the best locations among all Tuscan resorts. On one side the resort is surrounded with the Apuan mountains and pine groves, and on the other – by extensive sandy beaches and the warm Tyrrhenian Sea. Conventionally, Pietrasanta can be divided into a historical part, where architectural monuments from different periods are perfectly preserved, and a shore part, the so-called Marina di Pietrasanta, where some of the best beaches in the region are located. The best time to visit Pietrasanta is the period from May until October, when it is possible to swim and sunbathe.
After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Pietrasanta. I figured out how to get to the resort town, where to stay & what to do there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Pietrasanta.

How to get to Pietrasanta
Where do you fly into to get to Pietrasanta? Getting to Pietrasanta is possible from the nearest major cities that are Pisa and Florence. There are direct flights to Pisa and Florence from different cities of the World. The current flight timetable can be checked via specialized online services such as Aviasales and others. I usually use Aviasales when planning my upcoming trips, because it can compare a great variety of available flight options.
How to get to Pietrasanta from Pisa
By public transport: You can get to Pietrasanta via Pisa, the nearest major city with an international airport. The distance between Pisa and Pietrasanta is 38 km. You can get from Pisa airport to Pietrasanta by taxi or by rented car. You can also get to the resort by train from Pisa train station; the journey time is 25 minutes. Electric trains run every 1 hour throughout the day. You can check the current train timetable and purchase tickets in advance at the Raileurope booking service. I truly recommend Raileurope as I often use it when planning my own trips and I can say it has a convenient search and a lot of filters to sort the results.
By rented car: You can also rent a car at Pisa airport. A rented car will not only solve the problem of transfer from the airport to the resort, but will also help you move between the historical and beach parts of Pietrasanta at any time, as well as explore the natural attractions in the surrounding area, including the Versiliana Natural Park, the Apuan Mountains Natural Park and much more other. Car rental in Pisa is a fairly common option.
To rent a car, it is enough to have a passport, an international driver’s license and a bank card to pay for services. You can book a car in advance via different online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. To my mind, both online services are good. I would recommend comparing their results to find out the best available options. The distance between Pisa and Pietrasanta is 38 km; the cities are connected with highway No. A12/E80. The travel time is about 30 minutes (see on the map).

Where to stay in Pietrasanta
The resort is divided into two parts called Pietrasanta (the historical part of the town) and Marina di Pietrasanta (the beach part of the town). Choosing a place to stay should be based on the location and purpose of your vacation – sightseeing or beach. In the historical part of Pietrasanta there are a lot of inexpensive bed and breakfast hotels and apartments for renting. Some of them have breakfast included in the price and, as a bonus, beautiful views of the Apuan Mountains and pine groves surrounding the town. Based on my research, these include, in particular, such hotels as:
B&B La Sosta degli Artisti is located in the historical center of the town and a 5-minute drive from the sandy beaches. The hotel has a terrace. Bicycle rental is available. You can stay in rooms of various categories. Breakfast is included. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free public parking is provided nearby. Luggage storage is also available;
Il Duomo Luxury Suite 4* has a convenient location and offers its guests a restaurant, a bar and rooms of various categories. Each room is equipped with a coffee pot or a kettle. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Private parking is provided nearby upon reservation and at an additional cost. Luggage storage is available at the reception desk;
Hotel Palagi 3* is well located and offers its guests a cozy terrace for relaxation and a bar. You can stay in rooms of various categories. Some rooms have a balcony. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free private parking is provided nearby. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I found out that the front desk is open 24 hours a day and includes luggage storage services;

In Marina di Pietrasanta, beach hotels with all the necessary infrastructure predominate; detached apartments are also popular. When choosing housing in Marina di Pietrasanta, you should pay attention to the distance from the sea and beaches. Most resort hotels offer their guests breakfast included in the price. Chain hotels of 4-star category and above also have seasonal outdoor swimming pools in their area. According to my research, the following accommodation options are in demand at the resort:
Coluccini 3* is located on the shore and is located in a historic building from the early 20th century. The hotel is surrounded by a garden. Free bicycle rental is available to the guests. The hotel has a restaurant and a bar. Guests can stay in single, double, triple, quadruple or family rooms. Depending on the room type, breakfast may be included in the price or paid additionally. Some rooms have sea views. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free public parking is available on site. The front desk is open 24 hours a day and provides currency exchange and luggage storage services;
Verdeluna ApartHotel 3* is located in a residential area and offers its guests a panoramic pool and a sun terrace. Guests can stay in apartments of various categories. Some of them have a balcony. Depending on the room type, breakfast may be included in the price or paid additionally. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free private parking is provided on site. There are places for storing luggage on the hotel area;
Nuova Sabrina 3* is located in a cozy location, surrounded by forest and just a 2-minute walk from the nearest beach. The hotel rooftop terrace and outdoor swimming pool are available. The hotel has a restaurant and a bar. Guests can stay in one, two, three or four-bed rooms. Each room is equipped with a coffee pot or a kettle. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free private parking is available nearby. The front desk is open 24 hours a day and provides currency exchange and luggage storage services;
Mondial Resort&Spa 4* is located 200 m from the nearest beach. Guests can benefit from a wellness center with a sauna, a Turkish bath and sensory showers. The hotel has a restaurant and a bar. You can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Public parking is provided on site upon reservation and at an additional cost. The front desk is open 24 hours a day.

What to see in Pietrasanta
Pietrasanta is a cozy small town in the north of Tuscany, where many historical and architectural attractions have been preserved. 3 km from the historical part is the shore part of the resort called Marina di Pietrasanta. It has some of the best beaches in the entire Tuscan Riviera.
The attractions of the old part of the town include the Cathedral of San Martino (built in the 13th century), the Romanesque church of Sant’Agostino (built in the 15th century), the town clock tower, several palazzos and ancient squares, the main of which is Piazza Duomo. In general, I can say that the old part of Pietrasanta is a mix of narrow streets and cozy squares with open-air cafes. This is a typical Tuscan picture. The surroundings of the town are the picturesque Apuan Mountains.
Natural attractions are one of the highlights of a holiday in Pietrasanta. Thus, in the surroundings of the town there are natural parks called “Versiliana” and “Apuan Mountains”. You can’t get by here without a car. As I discovered, Versiliana Park is located between the resorts of Pietrasanta and Forte dei Marmi. The park was founded around Villa Annunzio, where the famous Italian poet Gabriel D’Annunzio once lived. Now it is a vast park area consisting of pine groves. By the way, the villa has survived to these days and is available for visiting. During the summer, Versiliana Park hosts many cultural and musical events.
According to my map research, the distance to the Apuan Mountains Natural Park from Pietrasanta is about 75-80 km, depending on the route chosen. The park is a cluster of mountain ranges, the highest of which – Monte Pisanino – has a height of 1947 m. The landscape of the park is very diverse. Here you can find lush vegetation, cozy valleys and pastures, but a little higher you can see bare rocky cliffs, caves and tunnels formed in rocks.
At the same time, you should not assume that the park is absolutely lifeless; here and there you can find small mountain villages, which are also of great interest from an excursion point of view. For example, in the village of Montignoso you can see an ancient castle; in Massa there is a unique botanical garden, and in Equi Terme you can even swim in natural pools with thermal springs (available in the summer).

Beaches of Marina di Pietrasanta
One of the main attractions of the Pietrasanta resort is its beaches. It is believed that this part of the Tuscan Riviera has some of the best beaches on the entire shore. The beaches of Marina di Pietrasanta stretch for 5 km along the shore of the Tyrrhenian Sea; the coverage is sandy; the entrance to the water is gentle. The width of the beaches in some places reaches up to 200 meters, so local beaches are considered to be one of the most spacious. There are almost no crowds here, even in the “high” season, thanks to the spacious and long beaches.
In addition to swimming in the sea, Pietrasanta can offer other typical resort activities. So, here you can easily find numerous tennis courts and golf courses. In your free time, I would also recommend visiting the area around Pietrasanta. By car or by train you can get to such towns as Pisa, Lucca, San Gimignano and others. In my point of view, all of them deserve tourist attention.

Take a note! When going on a trip to Italy, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Graeme Maclean

Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…