Classic

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Tuscany

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Classic ~ Tuscany ~

Lucca

A charming, walkable walled city with a relaxed, local feel — classic Tuscany without the crowds.

Perfectly positioned for exploring both Tuscany and the Italian Riviera, Lucca is a wonderful base for those wanting to pair art and history with a seaside escape.

At a glance…

Choose Lucca if you want:

  • A charming, walkable city that you can explore mostly on foot or by bicycle
  • Medieval art, history & culture, without the intensity of Florence
  • Easy access to The Riviera by train
  • A convenient base to explore Northern Tuscany, either via excursion or car rental

  • 3-4 nights

    This is the perfect amount of time for an unhurried & relaxed city stay. You’ll have enough time to enjoy the historic centre, explore the city walls, linger, and perhaps enjoy a daytrip to the Tuscan countryside.

  • Coming from Pisa:

    1. Fly into Pisa airport OR arrive at Pisa train station from another leg of your trip

    2. Take a direct train from Pisa to Lucca (approx 30 mins)

    Alternatively, if coming from Florence:

    1. Fly into Florence airport OR arrive at Florence train station from another leg of your trip

    2. Take a direct train from Florence to Lucca (approx 1hr 20mins)

    Note: You can opt to rent a car and drive to Lucca for more freedom to explore the Tuscan countryside; however, if you plan to pair Lucca with the Italian Riviera this is not recommended — trains are your friend!

  • Recommended:

    • Walking ✔

    • Bicycles ✔

    • Public Transit ✔

    • Taxis ✔

    • Late summer/early fall

    • Late spring/early summer

    Note: Lucca itself can be appreciated any time of year, because after all, you don’t need perfect weather to enjoy art, culture & history. However, you will probably want to pair the city with some time either in the Tuscan countryside, the Italian Riviera, or both, meaning that you’ll want to avoid going in the dead of winter or in the blazing summer heat when the crowds are at their peak.

  • Classic.

    Lucca is well-known for its charm, and made slightly more popular due to its proximity to the coast. But it is not as popular of as Florence or Rome, for example. Because of this you will find that accommodations tend to not book up as quickly & be on the more affordable side.

 

Pairs well with

Tuscan Countryside:

Chianti

Arezzo

Seaside Getaways:

The Riviera

Bay of Naples

What to do?

Walk or cycle the circuit of the city walls

Enjoy an aperitivo in the iconic, oval-shaped Piazza dell’Anfiteatro

Stroll Via Fillungo & explore the local shops on the historic centre’s lively main street

  • Climb the Torre Guingi, a medieval tower with oak trees growing on its rooftop

Take a wine-tasting tour out in the Tuscan countryside

Take a day trip by train to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa

What’s on the menu?

Some local specialties:

Piano Piano Tips

  • I recommend staying within Lucca’s Renaissance walls. The historic centre is compact, flat, and walkable, with most notable sights, restaurants, cafés, and shops within easy walking distance. Two areas that I specifically recommend are:

    San Frediano / Piazza dell’Anfiteatro — lively, iconic, atmospheric

    San Michele / Western Historic Centre — charming, still central, more peaceful

  • One of Lucca’s greatest features is that it provides easy access to the Italian Riviera by train. It is definitely worth considering making this the next leg of your trip, or vice-versa!

    Note: I do not recommend driving yourself if this is your plan, as it could be a high-stress experience.

  • You can easily drive to Lucca from other parts of Tuscany if you already have a car rental. If this is the case, I recommend either staying just outside of the city walls and walking, or, parking outside of the city walls and walking to an accommodation within the walls.