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LUCCA TRAVEL GUIDE

all things Lucca!

AIRPORTS

Pisa Airport: 40 minute drive or 1.5 hour train ride to Lucca.
Florence Airport: 1 hour drive or 2 hour train to Lucca
Rome Airport: 3.5- 4 hour drive, 4-6 hour train to Lucca
Milan Airport: 3.5 hour drive, 5-6 hour train to Lucca

Tip: If direct flights to Pisa or Florence are quite pricey from where you're flying from, get a bit adventurous and fly into another European city! From there you can usually catch a budget airline right into the heart of tuscany!

HOTELS & RENTALS

Wedding transportation will pick up and drop off at Porta San Pietro in the historic center of Lucca. Keep in mind that wherever you stay, you will have to walk to and from Porta San Pietro for wedding transportation. The Grand Universe Lucca is the closest hotel to the shuttles. However, any accommodation within the historic center would be walking distance from Porta San Pietro.

Hotels: (this is a small selection, please note there are many other hotels in the historic center and we encourage you to do research to find what best suits your needs)

  • The Grand Universe Lucca, autograph collection

  • The Tuscanian Hotel

  • Palazzo Dipinto

  • Antica Residenza Dell’angelo

  • Hotel Palazzo Alexander

 

VACATION RENTALS

Lucca Apartments and Villas - this a family owned vacation rental management company based in Lucca. They have various properties for rent. Visit their website for more information. https://www.luccaapartmentsandvillas.co.uk/ (we personally stayed in one of their properties and highly recommend!)

 

Airbnb & VRBO are also great resources for finding vacation rentals within the walled city.

TRANSPORTATION IN LUCCA

BUSES-

The public city bus service, inside and outside the walls, is LAM. It offers three lines; Red, green, and blue. Tickets are available at any newspaper store or bar. There are several bus stops to catch a bus and you can find more information visiting www.lucca.cttnord.it

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The bus station is located in Piazzale verdi, at the west end of the historical center, just inside porta Sant’Anna.

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TRAINS-

The train station is located just outside the city walls (south area) in Piazzale Ricasoli. You can easily reach it by passing through porta San Pietro. For more information about trains, visit www.trenitalia.com. If you need a “luggage deposit”, you can find one just in the square at the train station at “Tourist Center of Lucca”.

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TAXI-

Taxis are NOT plentiful in lucca. You can typically find them at the train station or in Piazza Napoleone. We suggest you book it by:

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PRIVATE DRIVER-

  • Lucca Tour tel. 0039 333 8227196 or 0039 392 6790986 (also by Whattsapp)

  • Tuscan Driver tel. 0039 331 5647095 (also by whattsapp)

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RENT A BIKE-

In our opinion, you dont need a car for your stay in Lucca. The entire city is extremely walkable with very little car traffic. The walls of the city are designed for pedestrians and bikes. You can easily rent bikes at:

  • Tourist Center Lucca- (ebikes available) Piazza Ricasoli (next to train station). Here, they also rent scooters.

  • Poli- Piazza Santa Maria

  • Cicli Rai- Via San Nicolao, 66

  • Chrono- corso garibaldi, 93

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RENT A CAR- 

We do not recommend renting a car if you are staying in the historic center. Please keep in mind that cars are NOT allowed in the history center/ walled city of Lucca. If you are planning to travel via rental car, please know that any ZTL zone (Zona a traffico Limitato) requires a special permit to drive through which is reserved for only residents of Lucca. You will be fined by police. Therefore, if you are staying in the walled city historic center of Lucca, you will have to park the car outside the city walls.

Avis- www.avis.com Viale Carlo del prete, 417 

Europcar- www.europcar.com Viale Castracani 110 

Autonoleggio Romano- Viale G. Piccino, 82 

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PARKING-

Parking locations:

Parcheggio Mazzini along Via dei Bachettoni

Parcheggio Cittadella, along via della Cittadella.

If you are carrying a lot of luggage from these parking locations, you can call a taxi from the parking area. Taxis are allowed to drive in town. If you are planning to use parkings for several days, we suggest you buy a parking subscription:

Daily subscription- 15 Euro

Monthly subscription- 50 Euro

SUPER MARKETS

Supermarkets are usually open Monday- Sunday from 8:30 am- 8:00 pm

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  • Carrefour in Corte Portici

  • Conad in Piazza del Carmine

  • Tambellini in Piazza San Frediano

  • Conad in Via Vittorio Emanuele

  • Pam in Via San Paolino

GROCERY STORES

Grocery stores, vegetables, fruit, and bakeries can be found everywhere in the historic center. They are usually open Monday- Saturday from 8am-1pm and 4pm-8pm. They are usualy closed Sundays and Wednesday afternoons.

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Tuccori, located in Via Santa Croce . 40 (specia for meat and ready to eat dishes)

Fruit and Vegtable Shop right in front of Tuccori, owned by a nice couple, Mr. & Mrs. Aristide

 

La Grotta- Nice Deli shop located at Via dell Anfireatro n. 2

 

Ortofrutta Lucca centro- fruit and vegetable shop i Piazza della Misericordia

WATER FOUNTAINS

In Piazza San Salvatore there is a fountain that many locals use for drinking water. You can drink that water and use it to fill bottles to take home.

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Another is in Via del Gonfalone, very close to Piazza Santa Maria. One is in Via del Fosso, in front of the statue of Madonna dello Stellario

 

Another is almost at the end of Via del Fosso, near Porta San Gervasio

CAFES (Breakfast and quick Lunch)

  • CAFFE' Antico Caffe' Tessieri - Via Santa Croce (an antique cafè with antique furniture!)

  • CAFFE' UNDICI UNDICI - Piazza San Martino

  • CAFFE' SAN COLOMBANO - On the top of the city walls close to Via della Rosa

  • CAFFE' PLAZA - Piazza Napoleone

  • CAFFE' TURANDOT - Piazza San Michele

BAKERIES

  • Forno Giusti- Via Santa Lucia, 20

  • Forno Casali- Via Guinigi, 32

  • Forno Chifenti- Via San Paolino, 66

TRATTORIE (reservations recommended)

  • Trattoria da Gigi - Piazza del Carmine, 7 

  • La bottega di Anna e Leo - Via San Frediano, 18 

  • Osteria Miranda - Via dei Carrozzieri, 27 

  • Trattoria Baralla - Via dell'Anfiteatro, 9 

  • Osteria del Mecenate- Via del Fosso, 64 

  • Osteria San Giorgio - Via San Giorgio, 26 

  • Da Leo - Via Tegrimi, 1 

  • Giulio - Via delle Conce, 45 

  • Gino Bistrot Bar - Piazza Santa Maria, 18 

Gluten Free Shops

  • Mamey- Via Pisana, 998 (outside city walls)

  • Star Bene Senza Glutine- Via Catalani, 200 (outside city walls)

WINE STORES

There are several places in Lucca where you can find wines produced in Lucca and in other wine regions of Italy. You can also buy wine at any grocery store or super market. However, you may find a more specialized selection of wine at the following stores: 

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  • Enoteco La Dolce Vita- Via Santa Croce, 87

  • Enoteca Massei in Via Sant Andrea, 19

  • Enoteca Vanni in Piazza San Salvatore (probably best in town)

  • Enoteca Marsili in Piazza San Michele next to Bar Taddeucci. Here you can also buy “Buccellato”, a traditional Lucca Cake.

GELATO SHOPS

  • Gelateria Veneta- Via Vittorio Veneto, 74. This is the most traditional and famous ice cream store in Lucca. They have several stores in town but this is the main one.

  • Gelati Amo- Corso Garibaldi, 42

  • Ristori- Via Fillungo, 83.

  • Gelateria De Coltelli- Via San Paolino. Natural Ice cream

RESTAURANTS (reservations recommended)

  • Ristorante Il Giglio - (one Michelin Star) Piazza del Giglio, 2 

  • Ristorante Da Pasquale Pasqualino Gubitosa - Via del Moro, 8 

  • Ristorante La Norma - (amazing creative cuisine) Via San Nicolao, 26 

  • Ristorante allOlivo - Via dell'arancio, 38 

  • Ristorante La Buca di Sant'Antonio- Via della Cervia, 3 

  • Ristorante Antica Locanda Dell'Angelo - Via Pescheria, 21 

  • Ristorante Canuleia - Via Canuleia, 14 

  • Ristorante Carbone - Via Michele Rosi, 8 

PIZZA

  • Pizzeria Da Umberto - Piazza Napoleone, 24 

  • Pizzeria Restaurant Gli Orti di via Elisa- Via Elisa, 17 - www.ristorantegliorti.it

  • Pizzeria Sbragia - Via Fillungo, 144 

  • Pizzeria Lo Skianto - Via Vittorio, 80 

  • Pizzeria Mara Meo - Piazza San Francesco, 17 

  • Pizzeria Bonny Pizza - Piazza San Francesco, 2 

BARS/ NIGHT LIFE

Lucca historic center is not known for its night life. However, there are a couple of places that you can grab a late night cocktail: 

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  • Magellano- located on Via dell’Olivo. Small bar known for their unique cocktails.

  • Caffè San Colombano- on the top of city walls, above Porta San Pietro (south side), is a place where you can have a drink and stay for dinner, viewing the promenade on the top of the city walls.

WHAT TO DO IN LUCCA

THE WALLS-

Lucca is the only historic center in Italy which is still entirely surrounded by a perfectly preserved Wall. It offers a 3 mile loop around the city that is entirely for pedestrians or bikers. It is as beautiful as it is impressive. This is also a perfect place for children to run and play freely.. There are several green areas (so called BALUARDD where you can sit and relax. The view of the city from the Walls is absolutely gorgeous and easily accessible. From within the walls there are plenty of ramps or stairs that lead atop of the walls. From the outside you can use one of the many entrances that will also have a path to the top of the walls.

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The GUINIGI TOWER and the CLOCK TOWER-

In Luca there are two unforgettable opportunities for a birds eye view of the rooftops: The Guinigi Tower and the Clock Tower are both accessible for a climb to the top. The Guinigi Tower (entrance from Via Sant'Andrea has the unique feature of having full size trees growing on top of it.

From the Clock Tower (entrance at Via Fillungo) you can admire the ancient clock bell system perfectly preserved since 1390 when it was originally commissioned.

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The BOTANICAL GARDEN-

Luca's Orto Botanico is a magical and enchanting place. Open every day from 10. am to 6 pm, it truly deserves a visit. It is located on Via del Giardino Botanico, just under the south-east side of the city's walls.

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SAN GIOVANNI CHURCH - PUCCINI CONCERTS-

Every night at 7.00 pm inside the Church of San Giovanni, you can enjoy a concert in memory of Giacomo Puccini. Information is available at the Church itself one hour before the concert. Visit www.puccinielasualucca.com

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MUSEUMS-

Lucca Comics and Games - Some may not know that Luca is one of the world main capitals for Comics and Games. Every year at the end of October there is a big 3-day exhibition which attracts people from all over Italy and world. Even if you do not have the opportunity of attending the live event, you can visit the permanent exhibition - www.museoitalianodel fumetto.it located in Piazza San Romano.

Lu.C.C.A Center of Contemporary Art - In front of the statue Madonna dello Stellario, next to Piazza San Francesco, you can find L. u.C.C.A Luca Center of Contemporary Art, the beautiful contemporary

For more information please visit www.luccamuseum.com.

VILLA GUINIGI AND PALAZZO MANSI - National Museums

More traditional and historical sites www.museinazionali.it

Domus Romana at Via Cesare Battisti is said beautiful http/ / domusromanalucca.it

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PRIVATE TOUR-

If you are interested in a private walking tour focused on the history of Lucca, we recommend booking with Sara tel. +39 338 549 5100. 

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BORGO GIANNOTTI-

Via Borgo Giannotti is outside the city's walls and is a very local area. It is a great area with plenty of charm and history. You can easily get there walking through PORTA SANTA MARIA, then keep to your right and take the underpass which leads you straight to Borgo GIANNOTTI. Walking straight on (heading north) you will find GOSTO E MEA Pizzeria & Restaurant (good pizza and local food), RENZO Vegetable & Fruit, Ice cream shop FUORI DAL CENTRO and a wonderful bakery (try their Torta di Ricotta). If you continue walking straight don't miss the PASTICCERIA DA SANDRA, also known as L'Angolo Dolce.

Keep walking straight on and you get to the River Serchio Natural Park. There you can go for a walk, horseback ride or a biking trip along our river.

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OPEN MARKET-

Every Wednesday and Saturday morning there is the weekly market in Piazzale don Baroni., Lucca. You can find a wide variety of vendors selling items from clothes to food, from fruits and vegetables to flowers.

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MERCATO CONTADINO-

A Farmers' Market every Saturday morning at FORO BOARIO on the bridge over the Serchio river (north side of Luca, outside Porta Santa Maria and straight along Borgo Giannotti)

ANTIQUE MARKET Every third week-end of the month along the streets of Luca city center, between Piazza San Giovanni, Piazza San Giusto, Piazza Antelminelli, Piazza San Martino, Piazza del Giglio and Via del Battistero

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SHOPPING-

Streets in Lucca where you will find the most shopping include:

  • Via Fillungo (the main street)

  • Via Santa Croce

  • Via Roma

  • Piazza San Michele

  • Via San Paolino

  • Piazza Napoleone

 

In the historical center, shops are usually open from 9.00/9.30 am to 1.00 pm and from 3.30/4.00 pm to 7.30 / 8.00 pm, and are usually closed on Sunday and Monday morning

 

Shops are usually open the third weekend of every month

DAY TRIPS BY CAR

BARGA- (1 hour drive) Delightful mediaeval walled village, located about 50 km north of Lucca, at the beginning of the enchanted Garfagnana area. Take ss445 towards Castelnuovo and follow the signs to Barga (to the right). Don't miss the panorama from the Duomo Square.. and lunch at L'Altana Restaurant.

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PIETRASANTA - (1 hour drive) Beautiful small town near the beaches of Versilia, about 45 km west of Lucca. It is an "artistic" place with numerous art galleries, exhibitions and art works by local and famous sculptors and painters World famous sculptor Fernando Botero lives there. It is also a good place to eat. You can find many excellent restaurants where to taste local fares. Enjoy the wonderful Dome in the central square and join the crowds gathering at the many bars and cafés around the square.

A nearby destination also worth a visit is Forte dei Marmi where the famous market takes place every Wednesday and Sunday morning during summer months.

Both towns are also reachable by train: Lucca - Viareggio - Pietrasanta.

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MONTECARLO - (20 minutes drive) Located only 15 km east of Luca's historic center, Montecarlo is a tiny village on the top of a hill, very famous for its wineries, wine and olive oil producing farms.

WILD BEACHES AND PARCO DI SAN ROSSORE - (45 minutes drive) A long beautiful and quiet stretch of beaches surrounded by the natural park of San Rossore. Located between Viareggio and Pisa, about 20 km south of the more famous and crowded Versilia beaches. To properly enjoy its beauty and tranquility, we suggest to avoid visiting during the weekends. Take the A12 towards Livorno and take the first exit at PISA NORD

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THERMAL BATH - (30 to 60 minutes drive) You may want to spend the day at the luxurious and exclusive Spa Hotel in San Giuliano and bask in their rooftop thermal water pool. It is located on ss12 on the way to Pisa. For more information and reservations, you can visit their website at www.bagnidipisa.com

For all Spas aficionados, another two places absolutely worth a visit are:

VENTURINA www.calidario.it, and

GROTTA GIUSTI in Monsummano Terme, www,grottagiustispa.com

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CINQUE TERRE - (1 hour 45 minutes drive) A world renowned destination that offers a multitude of attractions, nature walks, amazing food and more.

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