The map below shows the city of Lucca, Italy and the major tourist attractions found in the Tuscan city. Lucca is one of the more interesting towns in Tuscany, although rather lightly touristed.
The line indicates a walk that starts and ends at the train station. It is approximately 2 miles, but of course you'll stop a lot along the way for coffee, gelato, and lunch. This line represents the minimum you should plan to do on a day trip to Lucca. Wandering any of the streets within the walls is rewarding. You could spend a week here and not run out of things to do (although if you did, you could always take the train north to the more rural parts of the Gafagnana and onward to the Lunigiana region, or to the marble cities of Massa and Carrara).
Lucca Itinerary Map
Lucca is capital of the Province of Lucca.
Lucca's intact Renaissance walls, quite visible on the map, can be walked or biked upon. A stay at the Hotel Rex near the train station will allow you complimentary bikes with baskets for your picnic goods, or you can rent bikes near the wall. Look for the bike icon on the map.
Lucca is Puccini's city. June through August is time for the Puccini Festival.
The map above shows the centro storico of Lucca with the walls visible and outlines some of the tourist places to visit, with restaurant and hotel recommendations.
Click on each icon for more information and pictures of some of the sites.
A good time to go to Lucca is during the Luminaria di Santa Croce, when the procession route through the city is totally illuminated by candle light.
If you wish to escape from inside the walls, you can have an interesting visit to one of two of the merchant villas in the countryside of Lucca like Villa Torrigiani or Villa Oliva.
When you've finished exploring Lucca, getting to Florence is easy, and Siena, well, not quite as easy! Here are some recommended day trips from Lucca.
Lucca Travel Toolbox
The train station is just outside the walls. You have your choice of two openings to enter. If you exit the station and go left on the main street as shown on the map, you will enter through the San Pietro Gate, the more impressive of the two options.
The closest airport is Pisa Airport. A train takes you from the airport to Pisa Centrale train station, where you can get a train to Lucca that takes about 26 minutes.
For historic climate conditions and current weather, see: Lucca Travel Weather and Climate.
Where to Stay
Staying outside the city can save money. The B&B Villa Corte Degli Dei is a four star favorite with travelers. It's inside a 19th century lodge and just 10 minutes by car from Lucca.
The top user-rated Bed and Breakfast Il Seminario is another wise choice.
If you have the time or are traveling with family or a large group of friends, renting a villa or apartment could make economic sense. You'll also get more room and a kitchen. See Florence Vacation Rentals from VRBO to see what's available.
For other Lodging options, check out the booking box below. It will allow you to compare prices on hotels from various booking services.
