Lucca Day Trip from Florence: Must-See Sights and Travel Hacks 🇮🇹

A Lucca day trip doesn’t need a military-style schedule. The city is compact, calm, and perfect for just letting the day unfold. Still, here’s a rhythm that works beautifully if you’re coming in from Florence or Pisa, a quick taste before I go into more detail:

☕ Start with coffee near the station

Step off the train (or park up outside the walls) and ease into the day. There are a couple of unpretentious cafés right by Porta San Pietro where locals grab an espresso on the go. It’s a nice way to switch from “travel mode” to “holiday mode” before diving in.

🚴 Walk or cycle the walls

Lucca’s Renaissance walls are the city’s crown jewel. Hire a bike if you’re feeling energetic, or just stroll the 4km loop at your own pace. Expect tree-lined paths, views down into the terracotta rooftops, and a surprising sense of calm for a city centre.

🏛️ Piazza dell’Anfiteatro & Via Fillungo

Drop into the oval-shaped piazza built on the bones of a Roman amphitheatre, then wander the boutiques and gelaterias of Via Fillungo. It’s the main artery of Lucca and has a bit of everything, leather shops, jewellery, and the odd eccentric antique store.

🍝 Long lunch in a trattoria

Don’t rush this part. Lucca is known for hearty Tuscan dishes like tordelli lucchesi (a meaty ravioli) or farro soup. Grab a table at a traditional trattoria and pair it with a glass of red, this is where the day slows down and really feels like Italy.

🌳 Climb a tower (Guinigi or delle Ore)

Time to walk off that pasta. Guinigi Tower is famous for the oak trees sprouting from its roof, while Torre delle Ore rewards you with panoramic views if you can handle the stairs. Both are worth the climb, so pick whichever takes your fancy.

🎶 A cultural sprinkle – cathedral or Puccini

If you’re keen, duck into Lucca Cathedral (San Martino) with its intricate façade and Tintoretto artwork. Or, if music’s more your thing, visit the modest Puccini Museum to see where the great composer grew up.

🍦 Gelato back on the walls

End the day looping back up onto the walls with a gelato in hand. By late afternoon, the light softens over the rooftops, it’s a golden, relaxed way to round off before heading back to Florence or Pisa.