Is Lucca Worth Visiting? 10 Things To Do in Lucca [2024]

By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 11th June 2020 | Updated: 29th November 2024

Just a short 30-minute train ride from Pisa, Lucca is well worth a visit. With a historic city centre, beautiful cobblestone streets and a church or two, Lucca is the perfect place to escape the crowds and enjoy a cannoli.

So is Lucca worth visiting? Here are our top things to do in Lucca, that prove that Lucca is definitely worth a visit.

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Is Lucca worth visiting?

100% yes. We have Italian family members who will visit Lucca multiple times a year because it is so beautiful, the food is wonderful, and it is within an easy train ride to numerous more tourist-known destinations such as Pisa and Cinque Terre. Plus, with such a historic city to explore, what is there not to like?

10 things to do in Lucca

1. Cycle the Lucca city walls

This was quite possibly the best thing we did in Lucca. The preserved Renaissance walls that surround the city centre are only 4km long but if you hop on a bike you can see them from a whole new perspective. Just be careful of the walkers and runners who also use the walls!

2. Visit the Cattedrale di San Martino / Lucca Cathedral

Lucca’s cathedral is one of the most beautiful in Italy. The outside is covered in ornate mouldings and paintings, so from every side it is stunning. We weren’t lucky enough to get to go inside but if the outside is anything to go by it will be amazing in there!

3. Marvel at some of the 101 churches.

Lucca is often called the ’City of Churches’ due to the fact there are 101 there. We obviously didn’t visit them all but try to visit Chiesa de San Michele in Foro and San Frediano Basilica, two of our favourites.

Check out our other Italy Guides here.

4. Eat the local cuisine

Leave the pizza and gelato alone for this trip and opt for focaccia, risotto or cannoli instead. Amorini Pasticceria & Gelateria in the north of the city has particularly good cannolis…

5. Climb the Torre delle Ore

Who doesn’t like getting up above the main city streets for some amazing views? Well in Lucca you can do it at the Torre delle Ore. It’s 5 euros to climb or 9 euros for joint entry with the other famous tower in Lucca…

6. Climb the Torre Guinigi

The other medieval tower in the city is the Torre Guinigi. Topped with trees it is a sight to behold from the ground and from the tower itself! As per the Torre delle Ore, it’s 5 euros to climb or 9 euros joint entry with the other tower.

7. Sit and eat within the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro

This ancient Roman amphitheatre is not only stunning architecture but also a great place to sit and soak up the sun with some local cuisine and drinks in hand.

8. Wander along the Via Fillungo

The Via Fillungo is the main street that goes directly through the historic centre of Lucca. Brimming with shops and cafes, you could easily spend hours just wandering along here!

9. Find the Lucca canals

Yes, Lucca has canals, they’re obviously not quite as grand as the ones of Venice, and in fact, they are much much smaller, but they are still quite beautiful. They are a little oasis in the city surrounded by buildings.

10. Find all the city wall doors / Porta

With 6 main entrance gates and 3 ancient gates, alongside 11 bastions you will have your work cut out if you want to find them all! You can see a few whilst cycling the walls but you will want to walk in and out of a few of the more impressive ones.

Where to stay in Lucca

We visited Lucca during our long weekend staying in Pisa, however, there are numerous options for where to stay close to Lucca through Bookings For You. If you use our code ‘TRAVELLINGTEDALDI’ when booking you will receive an exclusive discount!

You should also check out Booking.com or the below for some great accommodation options in Lucca and nearby towns.

Is Lucca worth visiting? 10 things to do in Lucca FAQs

Where is Lucca?

Lucca is located in Tuscany in central Italy, within easy reach of Pisa and Florence.

How to get to Lucca

To get to Lucca, the nearest international airport is actually Pisa, which is only 18km away. From there either hire a car for the short drive to Lucca or do as we do and use the rail network. We’ve done this on numerous trips, and it is always really easy to follow, if not there is always some lovely Italian willing to translate for you, (precisely what happened when we were on a train to Bologna and then had to get off and on to a coach but didn’t speak enough Italian to quite understand – thank you whoever you are!).

📍 How to get to Lucca from Pisa – 30 minute, 20km drive or 30 minute train

📍 How to get to Lucca from Florence – 1 hour 15 minute, 90km drive or 1 hour 15 minute train

📍 How to get to Lucca from Rome – 4 hour, 350km drive or 3 hour train

How to get around Lucca

Other than on foot the best way to get around Lucca is on a set of wheels! Hire a bicycle or tandem from the northern side of the city, (which means you get to walk through the centre first), then get cycling and hit up the city walls stopping and exploring the city as and when you feel like it. It’s a really small city so you won’t feel worn out from cycling around all day.

Where to rent a bicycle in Lucca?

There are numerous bicycle rental locations in Lucca, but we would suggest going to Biciclette Poli in Piazza Santa Maria. Not only do they have a great range of bikes to choose from, but they also sell and repair bikes as well, so if you have brought your own on a trip to Italy and it needs a bit of TLC, they can help.

When is the best time to visit Lucca?

The best time to visit Lucca by far is in the autumn. Fewer tourists, lovely warm weather still and just in time for the local wine and olive oil harvests. Plus, there is something wonderful about being in Italy as the leaves turn all shades of orange.

What is Lucca famous for?

Lucca is most well-known for its 16th and 17th-century city walls that surround the city and make a great starting point for a trip there. It is also known as ‘The City of 100 Churches’ as it is home to, you guessed it, 100 churches. There are also 2 rather impressive towers and an amphitheatre-style central piazza. Basically, Lucca is known for its architecture!

How far is Pisa from Lucca?

If you are making Pisa your base for a trip, then a day trip to Lucca is really easy. By train, (which is the easiest way to get between cities in Italy if you haven’t hired a car), to get between Pisa and Lucca takes just half an hour. It’s a similar driving time too and only 20km, but then you don’t get to sample any local wine…

Can you visit Lucca and Pisa in one day?

In theory, yes you could visit Lucca and Pisa in one day, as both are small cities, but why would you want to? To get a real feel for both cities, you want to spend a least half a day in each and have some downtime relaxing, stopping in a cafe or two for a glass of local wine and to try local dishes. You don’t want to feel rushed, that is not the Italian way!

How long should I spend in Lucca?

You should plan to spend at least a day in Lucca. There are countless things to do, with towers to climb, churches to explore, city walls to cycle and local delicacies to try, so don’t scrimp on the time you spend here.

How many nights should you plan for Lucca?

If you have the time, then you should try to plan at least one night in Lucca so you can witness the city at night and first thing in the morning before any day trippers arrive.

Which is better Lucca or Florence?

Lucca and Florence are very different from one another and each is well worth a visit. If you want to get away from the crowds then Lucca is definitely the better option, but if you want to visit the heart of Tuscany and see the famous sights then Florence is your best bet.

Is Lucca touristy?

Lucca isn’t as touristy as many other towns and cities throughout the Tuscan region, as it is not that well-known a spot, making it a great place to visit in the peak seasons.

Is Lucca expensive?

Lucca is roughly 20% cheaper than other Tuscany locations such as Pisa and Florence because it isn’t as well known, but that is changing as it is becoming more known due to day trippers from Pisa.

Does Lucca have a beach?

Lucca doesn’t have a beach, being located northeast of Pisa, in the Italian region of Tuscany. Instead, it lies close to the Serchio River.

Tours in Lucca

Check out some of the best tours in Lucca from Get Your Guide here;

Conclusion: Is Lucca worth visiting? 10 things to do in Lucca

Lucca is 100% worth visiting, either as a day trip or by basing yourself there. With its incredible architecture, wonderful food and history and our list of best things to do in Lucca, you cant go wrong! Be sure to check out our other Italian guides for even more information about visiting the area.

Planning your own trip to Italy? Make sure you check out our Travelling Tedaldi Amazon Store Travel Guides for all your guidebooks and maps. (We’ve done the hard work for you and linked all the things we used to plan our trip!)

Gemma Tedaldi

Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.