B&B Red Horse, a simple B&B a short walk from Pisa station
B&B Red Horse is a simple bed and breakfast in Pisa, a few steps from the central station and a short walk from the Piazza dei Miracoli. It has retro rooms and breakfast at a partner bar nearby. It suits anyone who puts location and price first, less so anyone who needs total silence.
Written by Valeria Romano
Published
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Where B&B Red Horse is in Pisa
B&B Red Horse is on Via Nino Bixio, in Pisa, a few steps from the central station. According to the description, it takes about 15 to 18 minutes on foot to reach the Piazza dei Miracoli and the Leaning Tower.
Location is the reason people choose it, and the reviews confirm it almost every time. One guest describes it as just outside the historic centre, another talks about the Lungarno and the station being within easy walking distance. There is also a covered, supervised garage very close by, and the Tuttomondo mural by Keith Haring is about a hundred metres away.
For me it is a place for arriving by train: you drop your bags and get around on foot or by public transport. If you come by car, keep in mind that the parking nearby is paid.
What the rooms are like
The B&B has 4 rooms in a restored building, with an outdoor garden. Some have a private bathroom inside the room, others a private bathroom outside it on the same floor, so check carefully which one you are given.
- The facilities. Air conditioning, heating, mosquito screens, flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, a desk and a hairdryer.
- The style. One guest talks about pleasantly retro, well furnished rooms, another about a quadruple room with a fireplace and a bookcase that felt like being at home.
- The warmth. Someone says that, despite bad weather, the house stayed warm thanks to a steady temperature.
- Breakfast. Italian style, with pastries and coffee, served in a partner bar in the nearby square.
Don't expect magazine design. It is a house with rather old furniture, and even the guests who liked it say so.
What guests say about B&B Red Horse
On Google the rating is 3.6 out of 127 reviews, an average that hides a divided opinion. Those who speak well of it always mention the same things: location, a modest price, a kind and helpful host, comfortable beds and clean rooms.
Several guests appreciate the host, who gives useful advice, for example where to park cheaply. The arrangement with the bar for breakfast pleases many, although for others it is a drawback, since there is no choice.
Other points come up again and again: the room is spacious for some and small for others, and the atmosphere is familiar, more like a private home than a hotel. I think it depends a lot on which room you get.
What to know before booking
The downsides need saying clearly. Several recent reviews mention a strong smell of mould in the bathroom, particularly in a room whose bathroom is outside, opposite. It is the point that would make me ask in advance which room you will be given.
Then there is the noise. Several guests talk about thin walls that do little to muffle sound, slightly noisy bathrooms if someone uses them at night, and a lively area, with people stopping on the low wall in front of the building. One review also mentions noisy guests in the property.
| What works | What to know |
|---|---|
| Very close to the station and the Lungarno | Noisy area and thin walls, worth weighing if you are a light sleeper |
| Kind host and useful advice | Some rooms have the bathroom outside, with a reported smell of mould |
| Low price and rooms with air conditioning | Cleaning not daily for some, and rather dated furniture |
| Italian breakfast in a bar nearby | No choice on the menu, and no pets allowed |
One guest asked for a few hooks to hang clothes in their room. Small things, but they point to simple rather than meticulous management.
Who I would choose it for
I would pick it for a night or two in Pisa, especially if you are travelling by train, want to spend little and do not need hotel services. It works well for a couple, for a family using the quadruple room, or for a solo traveller who has the train timetable at the top of the list.
I would avoid it if sleep is an absolute priority, if you are sensitive to smells, or if you want to choose your breakfast. In that case, it is better to look elsewhere.
What to do in Pisa and around
From Via Nino Bixio, the walk to the Piazza dei Miracoli and the Leaning Tower is the classic nobody skips. Along the Lungarno there are bars and restaurants, and guests say the restaurants in the centre are not too expensive.
If Pisa is just a stop and you want to explore more of Tuscany, I would point you to B&B Casa Giorgini in Stazzema and Hotel Zeno in Cinquale. I only know their names and villages, so open their pages before you decide.
Passionate about travel and about the kind of places that turn a getaway into something unforgettable. I love writing about hotels, country houses and charming hideaways, helping every traveller find the perfect place to rest and feel at home.
