Lucca Holidays

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A vibrant, historic Tuscan city

At the foot of the Apuan Alps, the walled city of Lucca is one of Tuscany’s greatest glories. A patchwork of slanted red roofs, narrow medieval towers and sherbet-hued houses, this historic gem is both remarkably well-preserved and full of modern life, with lively markets and chic boutiques.

On Lucca holidays you’ll be enchanted by the atmospheric city centre: a web of winding lanes with wooden-beamed, honey-stone houses. The city is encircled by impressive Renaissance ramparts, which have been turned into a pretty pedestrian promenade, planted with trees and grass. A walk along the walls rewards with magnificent views over the surrounding mountains, forests and rolling fields – all of which are within easy reach for exploration. Whether you decide to just soak up the city and its history, or use it as a base from which to discover other parts of this beautiful region, holidays to Lucca showcase Tuscany at its finest.

Best things to do Beaches

Walk the walls
The 4-kilometre path atop the walls is a must-do. It’s a wonderful way to get a bird’s-eye perspective on the city and admire the brilliant blue sea in the distance.
Climb a tower
To enjoy another great view, head up one of the city’s towers – try the 13th-century Torre delle Ore or the Guinigi, which is topped with a tiny garden.
Eat a sweet treat
No trip to Lucca is complete without trying the local speciality ‘buccellato’, an aniseed-flavoured sweet bread studded with raisins. The recipe dates from Roman times.

Explore our map of Lucca

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Your Lucca questions, answered

What’s the food like?

Excellent. Tuscany is famous for its food, including delicious steaks, hearty soups and flatbreads. Be sure to try the local speciality ‘tordelli Lucchese’ – pasta parcels stuffed with beef or pork and nutmeg.

Can I do day trips?

Lucca is ideally located for excursions to the dramatic Apuan Alps, the famous oak- and Mediterranean scrub-filled Tuscan countryside, and the lively city of Pisa.

When’s the best time to visit Lucca?

Lucca is good to visit any time of the year. There’s always something to do – from walking the city walls to sightseeing and browsing the markets. If you want the best of the weather, between May and October is ideal. This is the perfect time to head to the beaches or get out into the hills. Lucca has music festivals in both summer and winter. And there’s a traditional candle-lit procession in September too. So, if you’re looking for something a little extra on your trip, these are also good times to go.

How far is Lucca from the beach?

From the historic centre of Lucca, it’s about a 30-minute drive to the coast. It’s well connected by road and rail. Viareggio is perhaps the easiest spot to travel to. This is where you’ll find Lecciona beach. The Province of Lucca is the district surrounding the old city itself. This stretches along the coast as far as the upscale seaside town of Forte dei Marmi. And the beach here is well worth a visit too. However, all along this part of the coast, you’ll find wide and flat sandy beaches.

Is it family-friendly?

There’s lots to keep families busy here. Kids will enjoy the drama of the architecture and biking or walking the city walls – not to mention the pizza and pasta suppers.

What is Lucca known for?

Lucca is an old walled city in Tuscany, known for its beauty. And it’s just steeped in history. You’ll find plenty of the traditional red-tiled roofs and church towers this area is famed for. In fact, there’re more than 100 churches in this historic town. It also boasts a Roman amphitheatre square and an old tower with trees growing out of the top. And Lucca is surrounded by lush green countryside and hills too. So, it really is a scenic spot.

How far is Lucca from Tuscany?

Lucca is in the northern part of Italy’s Tuscany region. So, Lucca is the ideal spot to base yourself on a holiday to Tuscany. It’s about an hour and a half’s drive from the Tuscan capital, Florence. And it’s easy to travel around this beautiful region from Lucca. Perfect for visiting Tuscany’s famous highlights like the leaning tower of Pisa and the many vineyards.

How long do you need in Lucca?

Lucca is nice and compact, so it doesn’t take too long to explore inside the city walls. There are a couple of good museums, a lovely art gallery and plenty of historical landmarks to discover, as well as the city walls themselves. And you may need some extra days to explore further afield, especially if you want to include beach days and day trips to some of Tuscany’s other gems. With Pisa, the fabulous coastline and nature parks nearby, there’s plenty to keep you busy for a week or more.

Is Lucca a good place for a couples’ holiday?

Lucca is a lovely Tuscan city, with quaint streets and charming squares. The ideal setting for a couples holiday. It’s as pretty as Florence but without the crowds. Amble through the old town soaking up the atmosphere. Or take a scenic bike ride around the ancient city walls. Stop for a bite to eat in the laid-back cafes around the piazzas and explore the traditional shops. It’s not simply for couples though. With lots of sightseeing and history, it’s for anyone looking to soak up Italian culture.