Lucca, Italy: A Day In Tuscany’s Beautiful Walled City

How to spend a day in Lucca, a medieval walled city in Tuscany (Italy).

Our comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about spending one day in Lucca, Italy. Discover the best way to see Lucca’s World Heritage historic centre (and find out why this beautiful walled city makes the perfect base for your holiday in Tuscany).

If you’re planning to visit northern Italy and heading towards Tuscany, add the historic walled city of Lucca to your itinerary. Italy is packed with famous sights but the peaceful riverside ambience of this medieval township, away from the usual tourist crowd, is entirely unique.

After you’ve seen the magnificence of Florence, spend a day or two discovering the kingdom of Lucca. Follow our 1 day itinerary of Lucca, the prettiest town in Tuscany, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of Italy’s lesser known gems.

PLANNING A TRIP TO NORTH ITALY?
SEE OUR HELPFUL GUIDES TO:
* Cinque Terre
* Florence
* Pisa
* Siena
* Venice
* Bologna

Although you can see the top sites on a day trip to Lucca, staying overnight is the ideal way enjoy the experience – take time to delve into the history, eat local food, visit the cute shops, Renaissance churches and palaces, and most of all, walk or cycle ride along the footpath atop those picture perfect rampart walls.

Ultimately, Lucca is worth more than a quick visit – a rural riverside setting in the foothills of Tuscan wine country, and only a short drive from the coast, makes Lucca the ideal choice for a week’s holiday.

These are just some of the reasons to see Lucca, Italy – Tuscany’s beautiful walled city.

Why Visit Lucca in Tuscany

Map of Lucca, Italy

To put it on the map, Lucca is the capital city of Lucca Province, in the Toscana Region (northern central area of Italy), not far from the west coast and Ligurian Sea. River Serchio flows from the Apuan Alps, through this picturesque valley, meandering around the town walls, on it’s way to Pisa, and eventually the Mediterranean Sea.

How Many Days Do You Need in Lucca?

Lucca is such a special place, the only dilemma is deciding how many days to spend here. While you can certainly see Lucca on a day trip from Florence, staying overnight is the best plan as you’ll want to experience the medieval mood of an evening inside the walled city. Better still, spend a week in Lucca, it makes an ideal base for exploring Tuscany and Cinque Terre on the Ligurian coast.

The decision of how to fit Lucca into your holiday plans depends on where you are travelling from and whether you’ve visited Italy before.

Visit Lucca on a day trip from Florence: if you’re travelling from overseas (America, Asia or Oceania) on a once-in-a-life-time vacation and need to include as many places as possible in one unique trip. It’s easy to get from Florence to Lucca by direct train (1 hour 20 minutes). Purchase tickets at Firenze Santa Maria Novella station. Lucca is pronounced Lou-kah if you were wondering.

Spend one day or two days in Lucca: if you plan a multi-destination tour of Tuscany, or a northern Italian itinerary, combine Lucca with Venice, Bologna, Florence, Siena and Cinque Terre, or Rome. Moreover, Lucca makes a good weekend getaway from London, and other European countries, as flights are quick and often cheap. Spend a whole day and the evening in Lucca, at least. Look for accommodation inside the walled city.

Enjoy a week in Lucca: anyone from Europe looking for a perfect Italian holiday, especially in summer when the weather is warm and sunny. Within easy reach of Tuscany’s main attractions (Florence, Pisa, Siena), and only 30 minutes from the coast, Lucca is ideally located in the countryside away from the tourist crowds. Stay in a rental villa with a pool, hire a bicycle or car, or day trip around by train.

You’ll find information on how to get to Lucca and suggestions for day trips at the end of this post.

Brief History of Lucca, Tuscany

The marshy lands of Luk were settled in the third century BC, more than 2 millenniums ago! The Romans arrived in 180 BC and developed the town layout, the typical grid work of thoroughfares which can still be appreciated today.

Originally erected in Roman times, the defensive walls circling Lucca were were reinforced and extended three times during the Middle Ages to protect the population as the city grew.

Over the centuries, the dramatic history of feudal Lucca played out with a series of sieges and battles. This fortified city was an independent republic from 1160 until 1805, the Duchy of Lucca was created in 1815, and it eventually became part of the Kingdom of Italy (1861).

Arriving in Lucca

We recently took the train from Florence to Lucca, as part of our 15 day Italy itinerary. Car hire is another option, it just depends on how you prefer to travel around the country. Frankly, I preferred travelling by rail as you can sit back and watch life roll by, and there’s no need for a car in the cities anyway (historical city centres are traffic-free).

Italy’s railway system is reliable, efficient, extensive and pocket friendly. A scooter is a good idea for exploring the countryside in summertime too.

The train from Florence speeds westwards through the plains of the ‘Toscana’ until the historic little city of Lucca appears like a fairytale scene on the horizon. Beyond manicured lawns, a narrow moat encircles the dark stone walls which enclose a medieval world spiked by towers.

Enter the gateway to the ancient realm hidden within, a labyrinth of walking streets and cobblestoned piazzas, churches and palaces, and the prettiest of gardens, a wonderland from the Middle Ages!

How to Get Around Lucca

The walled Renaissance city of Lucca is pedestrianized (excepting local residents), although riding a bicycle is allowed. Lucca is a fairly small town and simple to walk round, just get a map from the tourist information bureau to pinpoint the best sites to visit. It’s easy to see the sights on your own at a leisurely pace. Alternatively, a walking tour is a convenient option with a guide to explain a detailed itinerary of things to do.

A paved walking route on top of the medieval walls is a great way to view the whole historical centre from above and to get your bearings. If you’re only in Lucca for one day, check the weather forecast beforehand to plan the agenda (to avoid cycling the walls in midday heat or on a showery afternoon, for example).

Lucca is worth visiting for a number of extraordinary reasons which I’ve detailed below.

What to See and Do in Lucca, Italy

The Walls of Lucca

The Italian city of Lucca is famous for the beautifully conserved Renaissance walls which encircle the atmospheric ‘old town’. Originally constructed to defend the settlement in Roman times and rebuilt in the medieval era, the ‘walls of Lucca’ were totally redesigned in the 16th century. In the 1800’s, a boulevard was laid out on top of these walls – this singular promenade continues to be a popular place for a leisurely walk.

Tour Lucca City Walls

Above all, Lucca is known for its historic city walls which were built over 500 years ago. Walk, jog, cycle or hire a carriage along the footpath on the tree-lined ramparts, a level 4.2 km circuit which is totally free of charge to enter. There are open vistas over River Serchio to the outlying Tuscan countryside and an amazing bird’s eye view of Lucca’s inner sanctum. It’s a strategic place to take panoramic photos.

Concerts, theatre, and exhibitions are some of the cultural events which are commonly staged on the ‘Mura di Lucca’.

Bicycle hire is available at various points inside the city gateways and is typically inexpensive. If you have time, it’s fun to cycle on top of Lucca’s walls and later return to stroll along the same embankment for awhile, capture the scene on film, and then go down into the town at any point along the way.

The walls of Lucca are 12m high and some 30 metres wide, with a network of passageways secreted within. If you’re feeling inquisitive, you can venture inside to explore the tunnels and galleries. For example, the barracks where soldiers once lived are beneath the San Martino bulwark (one of 11 ‘baluardi’).

Visit Lucca Cathedral and Churches

Once you’ve ambled along the city walls, it’s time to enter the realms of Lucca old town. Pass through Porta San Pietro (the entry gate in front of the railway station), and turn right towards the white-tipped crenellated bell tower of Duomo di Lucca.

Lucca Cathedral

Known as the ‘city of a 100 churches’, Lucca Cathedral is naturally a must-visit. Cattedrale di San Martino is a beautiful example of Roman Catholic sacral architecture with a marble façade.

Generations of Luccans have worshipped in Saint Martin’s since the 11th century or earlier still. The bell tower and almighty apse actually date back to this time. The frontage is particularly stunning, with three tiers of sculptured columnata inset above the archways of a grand portico intricately embellished with pink, white and green marble. Step through the doors to admire the high vaulted Gothic interior.

Elements of interest include the ‘Holy Face of Lucca’ a sacred wooden crucifix, the tomb of ‘Ilaria del Carretto’ (a masterpiece by sculptor Jacopo della Quercia), and the ‘Madonna and Child Enthroned by Saints’ (painted by Domenico Ghirlandaio).

Church of Saint Reparata & Saint Giovanni Baptistery

A few steps away down Via Duomo, you’ll find Saint Reparata Church and the Baptistery of Saint John (Santi Giovanni), which are part of the cathedral complex. Built over a Roman settlement, these holy edifices have been rebuilt, added to, and renovated through the ages. Most interestingly, the foundations of the original 5th century church are revealed under a glass floor.

Lucca Cathedral and Museum: Piazza San Martino.
Church of Saint Reparata and Saint Giovanni Baptistery: Piazza Giovanni.
See the official website for opening hours and entrance tickets.

Other Churches to See in Lucca

Other churches to see in Lucca on a one day trip include San Michele in Foro and the Basilica of San Frediano.

San Michele in Foro is a 5 minute walk from Lucca Cathedral, while the Basilica of San Frediano is another 6 minutes further on and close to the legendary Piazza dell’Anfiteatro.

You can’t miss Chiesa San Michele in Foro, an ornate white basilica in 13th century Romanesque style, topped with a large marble statue of Archangel St Michael. Once again, a much earlier church was sited here, over the remains of the Roman Forum or ‘foro’.

Basilica of San Frediano has a less fanciful Romanesque design. It is, however, one of the most beautiful churches in Lucca. ‘The Ascension of Christ the Saviour’ is portrayed in a gigantic golden mosaic emblazoned above San Frediano’s plain white marble façade.

Climb the Towers of Lucca

The towers of Lucca are equally famous and you’ll want to climb at least one of these during your stay. While the churches have their own campaniles, Guinigi Tower and Torre delle Ore ‘clock tower’ are the best towers to climb, to enjoy the views over the terracotta rooftops of Lucca’s old town neighbourhoods.

Both towers date to the 1300s, when the fashionable merchants of Lucca built turrets on their mansions (there were 130 tower houses in Lucca at the time, but these are the only ones still standing).

Guinigi Tower

Guinigi Tower is an unusual sight, and a landmark in Lucca. This is the tower with the trees on top. From afar, the holly oaks which grow on the rooftop terrace seem like a mass of green hair sprouting from an imaginary giant.

Torre Guinigi is a 14th century tower connected to Palazzo Guinigi, ancestral residence of the prestigious local family. The small ‘hanging garden’ on the roof patio was conceived as a kitchen garden, in a sunlit spot above the narrow, shady medieval streets.

It’s worth paying your pennies (or 5 euros to be exact) and climbing the 223 steps up to the top, 45 metres above street level (the last flight is a narrow metal staircase which leads directly onto the open-air terrace). Seven holm oaks grow in earth-filled brickwork plant boxes that frame the otherwise bare ‘garden’.

From this 360º vantage point in the heart of Lucca, you can appreciate the circular layout of the old town, the countryside beyond the walls, and mountains on the horizon. Snap a few selfies against this remarkable backdrop, then it’s time to continue exploring.

Guinigi Tower: Via S. Andrea 41.
An entrance ticket can be bought at the door, or online. Combination tickets are also available for Guinigi Tower, Lucca Clock Tower, and the Botanical Gardens.

Torre delle Ore (Lucca Clock Tower)

Torre delle Ore is the highest tower in Lucca. Previously known as Torre dei Quaritigano, this landmark became the town’s ‘Tower of the Hour’ in 1390 when a bell was installed to chime the hours. A century later, the clockface was added to the campanile. Lucca authorities commissioned a new clock and three bells in the 1750s, which continue to ring every hour and quarterly (during daylight hours) today.

Climb the 207 steps up the clock tower’s original narrow wooden staircase, past the Swiss mechanism on show, and up to the belfry 50m above street level. Information panels explain the tower’s history and how the clock has been maintained over the centuries.

While it’s fascinating to watch the hammers strike the huge bells, remember to avoid midday as the peals are deafening!

Torre delle Ore: Via Fillungo 24.
Purchase entry tickets at the Guinigi Tower or the Botanical Garden.

Discover Lucca Town Squares

Within the walled confines of Lucca, the narrow walking streets open onto a surprising number of town piazzas. Characteristically, many of these are church squares – Piazza San Martino (Cathedral Square), or Piazza San Michele are prime examples. Others are meeting places where the citizens of Lucca have gathered for events over the ages – the most iconic of these are Piazza Napoleone and Piazza dell’Anfiteatro.

Piazza Napoleone (Piazza Grande)

Piazza Napoleone aka Piazza Grande, is the big public square with the statue of Napoleon, near San Pietro gateway. This is Lucca’s tree lined main square, a focal point where events are staged throughout the year. There is usually something interesting going on, such as the Saturday antique market or Lucca Summer Festival.

Lucca Town Hall is located inside the Ducal Palace, the large 15th century Palazzo Ducale which borders one length of Piazza Grande. Historic restaurants and cafés occupy the ground floors of the elegant townhouses that enclose the other three sides.

Piazza dell’Anfiteatro

Lucca’s Piazza dell’Anfiteatro ranks as one of the most beautiful ‘squares’ in Italy (high on the list after the world famous piazzas of Rome, Venice, Florence, Pisa, and Sienna). The perfect oval enclosure is hidden away behind a ring of yellow-toned medieval houses, and can only be reached through the four covered archways.

Beneath the flagstones are the remains of a Roman Amphitheatre. Shut your eyes and picture the scene back in antiquity – imagine sitting with 10,000 spectators and cheering the charriots racing around the arena. But that was two centuries before Christ was born, and Piazza dell’Anfiteatro is now the idyllic place for a quiet lunch, especially on a warm day under a sun umbrella at one of the restaurant terraces.

Admire Lucca’s Renaissance Palaces

Admittedly, the Renaissance Palaces in Lucca can’t be compared with the grandeur of Pitti Palace and other Medici Villas in Florence which draw huge crowds of sightseers. Several old town palazzos are worth visiting, however, especially if you’re in Lucca for a few days. On a day trip and strapped for time, you can still admire the ones listed below on a walk around town.

Palazzo Ducale di Lucca

As previously mentioned, the Ducal Palace runs along one side of Piazza Napoleone. The illustrious building has been reformed, enlarged, added to, and renovated many times since the 14th century. It has, however, always been the Lucca’s seat of Government, where the Elders held council, the Parliament of Repubblica di Lucca sat (the coins of the Republic were minted here), and Maria Luisa of Parma held court with her husband King Charles IV of Spain.

Three flights of red-carpeted Carrara marble steps grace the Royal Staircase, which leads up from the Carriage Entrance. In the 18th century, the Royals would have walked this way to their grand apartments and the Throne Room, passing Monumental Halls festooned with frescoes, friezes and exquisite painted panels.

The Sovereign Apartments, the Parade Quarter, Nottolini’s Palazzina, the Courtyards, Statue Gallery and Museum are generally open to visit.

Palazzo Ducale di Lucca: Cortile Carrara 1.
Full info on the official website.

Palazzo Pfanner

A Renaissance mansion that you’ll notice on your wanders around Lucca is 17th century Palazzo Pfanner, only 3 minutes walk from Basilica di San Frediano.

The ornamental gardens are easy to spot from Lucca town walls – a baroque fantasy of flowering magnolias, hydrangeas, camellias, gardenias, geraniums, peonies, begonias and roses colour and perfume the Italian giardino, while marble statues and a hundred potted lemon trees frame the lawns and main path to a water feature fountain.

The palazzo itself is ornately designed with a grand stone staircase, columns, balustrades and vaulted arches, the frescoed inside embellished with antiques and sacred artefacts.

Not surprisingly, this setting has seen many a noble romance, and has been immortalised in numerous movies (among them ‘Portrait of a Lady’ with Nicole Kidman). Fancy staying at Palazzo Pfanner for a special treat? The ‘Principe Federico’ suite is available for guests. I checked the price for my birthday and it’s not too crazy!

Palazzo Pfanner: Via degli Asili 33.
The mansion is privately owned but can be partly visited along with the museum (the gardens are open to the public for free).
Visit Palazzo Pfanner web to learn more about their history.

Palazzo Mansi

Back in 1616, a local silk merchant designed a mansion for his family within prospering Lucca city, the Palazzo Mansi. His descendants lived here for generations, filling their historical home with art treasures and making it even more sumptuous over the centuries.

Eventually sold to the Italian State in the 1960’s, Mansi Palace is now a National Museum with an important collection of tapestries and art.

Palazzo Mansi National Museum: Via Galli Tassi 43.

Villa Bottini

Just three minutes from the botanical gardens, Villa Bottini is another of Lucca’s 16th century mansions. Once owned by Napoleon’s sister, and Princess Baciocchi, among other European aristocrats, the interior is still decorated with original medieval frescoes, and 19th century neoclassical features.

The grounds of Villa Bottini are a now a public park and you can usually just pop in for a quiet stroll around. A popular venue for events throughout the year, on summer evenings there’s an open-air cinema set up in the gardens and, in autumn, part of the famous Lucca Comics & Games convention is held here.

Villa Bottini: Via Elisa 9.
The gardens are free to enter during the day. Villa Bottini itself is open to the public for events and temporary exhibitions.

Enjoy Lucca Botanical Garden

Orto Botanico Comunale di Lucca is the botanical garden, laid out inside the walled town in the 19th century. A sensory walk takes you down paths shaded by evergreen trees, through the arboretum, across lawns framed by magnolias, rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias, to the ornamental lily pond, and tropical greenhouses.

The botany school and museum are all about medicinal plants, herbarium, seed banks, and the conservation of Tuscany’s native flora.

Lucca Botanical Garden: Via del Giardino Botanico 14.
More photos, opening hours and tickets on the Orto Botanico Comunale di Lucca website.

Browse Lucca’s Quaint Shops

Window shopping on your walk through Lucca you’ll be tempted to enter the quaint little stores, which have amazingly steered clear of tacky touristy – a cute bridal boutique with authentic lace wedding dresses, an ‘Alice-in-Wonderland’ silver jewellers (the earrings make beautiful gifts), and the gourmet delicatessens caught my attention.

Via Fillungo, Via Santa Lucia and Via Buhia are the elite ‘shopping streets’, but you’ll find pottery shops, art galleries, book stores and dozens of speciality gift shops tucked away in the ‘old world’ backstreets.

Smaller shops usually close for an extended lunch break (like many places over Italy and Spain do traditionally), so will typically be open mornings until 1.30pm, and then from 4pm until 7.30ish in the evening.

Dine in a Traditional Restaurant

Wondering where to eat in Lucca? My favourite place is Antica Drogheria Lucca, a traditional Ristorante and Wine Bar with a wood burning pizza oven.

In 1895, the old stables of Villa Bottini were converted into a drogheria. This grocery-cum-café quickly became one of Lucca’s top venues, a fashionable place where local artistes enjoyed chatting over a cup of coffee. Just imagine dining in these authentic premises with the same original decor, some hundred years later!

You’ll love the unique ambience, wonderful food -traditional recipes, fresh local produce, home-made pizzas and pasta, local sausages and cheeses, select meats and wines from Tuscany region- and the reasonable prices.

TIP: Do reserve a table. We just walked in as the doors opened at 7pm to find the ristorante fully booked for the evening – fortunately, the helpful staff gave us a table for two at the back of the adjoining delicatessen!
Antica Drogheria (Ristorante Pizzeria): Via Elisa, 5 Lucca; Phone +39 0583 467732.

Best Restaurants in Lucca

Colline Lucchesi Wine Region

Vineyards in the hills around Lucca produce excellent wines, in fact, they have been doing so for centuries. It’s thought that vines were first cultivated here by the Etruscans some 10 thousand years ago.

In any case, ancient records are proof that this has been a wine growing region since the 9th century.

Today, the Colline Lucchesi wine region is known for fine rosso and bianco wines: delicate dry whites to drink with seafood and soft cheeses, cherry coloured semi-dry reds to accompany meats, and the sweet vin santo dessert wine.

Main Events in Lucca

Think about planning your trip to Lucca around the following events. Flower shows, concerts, religious celebrations, cultural events… the yearly programme of festivals is something to bear in mind, whether there is something special that you particularly want to attend or prefer to mark down the busiest dates as times to avoid.

Holy Week

Like many places in Europe with a historical Roman Catholic tradition, Lucca celebrates Easter with Holy parades, a traditional Easter concert and Mass with sacred music, along with all kinds of children’s activities and even a treasure hunt.

Verdemura Gardening Exhibition

Ancient camellias, bougainvillea, roses, spring perennials… Lucca is blooming with flowers in springtime. Verdemura Gardening Exhibition is held over the 1st weekend of April with an agenda of guided visits and workshops for all ages.

Santa Zita Flower Festival

Patron Saint of Lucca, Santa Zita inspires this historic flower festival which takes place for 5 days around the 27th of April. Highlights include the traditional flower market at Piazza dell’Anfiteatro and celebrations in Piazza San Frediano by the basilica where ‘the saint of flowers’ rests.

Lucca Summer Festival

Throughout July, Lucca hosts a series of gigs by top Italian and international artists. The first Lucca Summer Festival kicked off in 1998 with Bob Dylan and Joe Cocker among other mega stars. Mark Knopfler, Sting, Lenny Kravitz… and a succession of big names have played in the historical setting of Lucca.

The 2023 Summer Fest sees Dylan back again, Norah Jones, Jacob Collier and Robbie Williams, among other musical geniuses in the line up.

Murabilia Horticultural Exhibition

Held yearly on the 1st weekend of September (Friday to Sunday), Murablia Exhibition is a must-see for gardening enthusiasts. A yearly event held on the walls of Lucca and in the botanical gardens, with over 200 nurseries taking part, thematic exhibitions and workshops.

Luminaria di Santa Croce – Holy Cross Celebration

Luminaria di Santa Croce candlelight procession takes place through the medieval streets of Lucca on September 13th. As dusk turns to night, electrical street lighting is turned off and millions of lumini votive candles are lit to illuminate the darkness, and transport you back to the Middle Ages.

You’ll hear the bells of San Frediano ringing at 8pm, followed by cannon shots as the parade solemnly leaves the churchyard, flickering candles guiding the way of Christians on their way to pay homage to the ‘Holy Face’, the ancient wooden crucifix in St Martin’s Cathedral – a tradition that goes back a thousand years.

Archbishops and white-robed priests bearing ceremonial artefacts, people in Medieval costume, and townsfolk carrying taper candles file by to the sound of prayers, drummers, brass bands and hymns. The evening culminates with a firework display at 11.30 (best seen from the city walls). The Holy Cross Celebration continues next day with feasting and merriment.

Lucca Comic and Games

Probably Lucca’s most famous event, Lucca Comic and Games takes over the old town during 5 fun-packed days around the 1st of November. Huge marquees are set up throughout Lucca for the comic book and gaming show. The iconic pop culture festival, which has been entertaining people since 1966, is Europe’s top comic book convention. The event attracts 300,000 plus attendees.

Lucca 1 Day Itinerary

In conclusion, you can’t possibly see everything that Lucca has to offer in one single day, but that doesn’t matter. If you’re only here for a day, this is the best itinerary to take in the main sites, in a laidback and enjoyable way.

This is what we did on our 1 day Lucca itinerary, arriving by train first thing one morning, a walk along the medieval walls to start with, then down into the historic centre to explore, and finally staying for the night near Porto Elisa. Adapt it as you wish.

• Arrive at Lucca train station
• Enter Lucca Historical centre at Porta San Pietro
• 1. Walk or cycle along the Medieval Walls
• 2. Head to Piazza Napoleone and Palazzo Ducale
• 3. See Chiesa di San Michele in Foro
• 4. Browse the boutique shops on Via Fillungo
• 5. Admire Basilica di San Frediano
• 6. Late lunch in Piazza dell’Anfiteatro
• 7. Climb Guinigi Tower
• 8. Visit Lucca Cathedral
• 9. Stroll around the Botanical Garden
• Leave at Porta San Pietro (and return to the train station) or
• 10. Dine at Antica Drogheria (near Porto Elisa)

What to Do Near Lucca

As you can imagine, there are lots of interesting places to see around Lucca, and cool things to do, when staying for more than a day.

Just behind the train station you’ll see Acquedotto del Nottolini, a massive 19th century aqueduct. From here you can walk or cycle through the countryside to Vorno, a hamlet some 8 kilometres away in the Lucca hills.

Ponte della Maddalena is another top sight near Lucca. It’s a scenic 23 km ride beside River Serchio from Lucca to this legendary Devils’s Bridge and the village of Borgo a Mozzano (20 minutes by train).

Montecatini Terme is one of the UNESCO Great Spa Towns of Europe, and a 20 minute train journey from Lucca. A funicular railway takes you up to the medieval village of Montecatini Alto.

Put Lake Massaciuccoli coastal lagoon and Chiarone Nature Reserve on your list of places to visit near Lucca. Stroll down the boardwalks to the birdwatching observatories, and enjoy a canoe excursion down the canals into the heart of the marshlands. Oasi LIPU Massaciuccoli visitor’s centre is 15 km from Lucca.

If you’re on a summer holiday, you’ll be pleased to know that the seaside town of Viareggio, and the best beaches near Lucca, are only 30 minutes away on the Ligurian coast. Think of sun, sand and sea, and seafood restaurants!

Day Trips From Lucca

1. Enjoy a day out in Florence
2. Get the train to Pisa
3. See the Ligurian coast
4. Visit Cinque Terre
5. Join a wine tasting tour
6. Discover the villages of Tuscany
7. Explore Parco delle Alpi Apuane (Unesco Global Geopark)

Where To Go After Lucca

Related Posts on where to go after Lucca:

• La Spezia and Cinque Terre
• Florence and Rome
• Pisa and Siena
• Tour the famous Tuscan villages
• Bologna and Emilia Romagna
• Venice and the Lagoon Islands

Useful Information For Visiting Lucca

How to Get to Lucca, Italy

Nearest International Airports
Pisa (PSA): 35 km;
Florence (FLR): 70 km.

Although Lucca does not have an airport, it’s within easy reach of Pisa and Florence international airports.

Aeroporto Galilei Pisa is the best choice, as there are more international flights, and it’s only 35 km away from Lucca old town on the direct hourly bus (runs daily).

Florence airport is a 70 km away, and within easy reach – get the airport tram to Florence Santa Maria railway station, and then the direct regional train to Lucca.

By Train:

Lucca train station is located just outside the city walls, on the southern side, around a 5-minute walk from the historic city centre.

• Lucca to Pisa (Centrale Station): 30 minutes
• Lucca to Florence (Firenze Santa Maria Novella Station): 1 h 20 minutes
• Lucca to Viareggio: 20 minutes
• Lucca to La Spezia and Cinque Terre: 1 h 15 minutes (change of train at Viareggio)

By Road

Distances to Lucca by road, and the rough time this takes on a car journey along the quickest route, or by bus.

• Lucca to Pisa: 19 km, 30 minutes by car. Direct bus takes 31 minutes.
• Lucca to Florence: 78 km, 1 hour by car. Direct bus takes 1 h 20 min.
• Lucca to Viareggio: 28 km, 20 minutes by car. Direct bus 40-50 min. approx.
• Lucca to La Spezia: 76 km, 1 hour by car. Direct bus takes 1 h 10 min.

Best Time to Visit Lucca

Although Lucca is a beautiful city to visit all year round, here are a few things to consider while planning your trip.

June is the best time to visit Lucca. The weather is invariably hot and sunny. Daylight hours are the longest of the year, so you can pack more into your time here. Lively ambience but not as busy as July and August.

April and May are good months for visiting Lucca if you’re looking for warm weather, reasonably priced accommodation and fewer tourists.

September and October are also ideal for a trip to Lucca. The weather is warm but not too hot (check the forecast for occasional showers). The atmosphere is perfect, not overly busy or too quiet (avoid weekends or festivals for a more peaceful experience).

The summer months will be hot and sunny during the day, balmy at night. July and August are peak season, so Lucca will be crowded, particularly during the day. Accommodation is also more expensive. This is a good time for a family holiday or vacation with friends (stay in a rental villa with a pool just outside the walled old town). There’s plenty going on in Lucca itself, and you can daytrip to the beach or into the countryside.

November, December, January and February the weather will be cooler and may be overcast. However, accommodation will be cheaper. Lucca old town is peaceful (excepting festive days) and you’ll enjoy more of a local experience. Low season is also good for visiting the nearby cities of Pisa and Florence, which won’t be so massively crowded.

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