Don’t get me wrong; I love Florence, Italy. But over the years, the excessive crowds have managed to take away from Florence’s natural charm. Not to mention, in a post-pandemic world, the prices in Florence have at least tripled since I first visited back in 2017.
That’s not to say that Florence should be skipped entirely, because even with the herds of tourists, Florence is popular for a reason. But, if you want to avoid the crowds and save a little coin, you’d be better off basing yourself in a different Tuscan town. My advice? Head to Lucca, Italy instead.
Lucca is only about an hour twenty-minute train ride away from Florence, making it a perfect hub to visit the Tuscan Metropolis. There are even plenty of other fascinating day trips you can take from Lucca (more on that later). To best enjoy your time in Lucca, here’s what you’ll want to do, which can all be done in just a day.
Bike the walled city
The entire city of Lucca is surrounded by walls. You can walk around them in about forty-five minutes, but why not hop on a bicycle to enjoy them at a fuller speed? There are bike shops and tours offered all around the city, but I booked one directly through Grand Universe Lucca, where I was staying.
This tour offers a guided bike tour along with a few stops for a bite to eat.
Take a tour of the city
What better way to learn about a city than to hop on a quick tour? I took a city tour with Turis Lucca to explore some of the most popular attractions and some of the hidden gems throughout the city. My guide was extremely knowledgeable on several facts I would have otherwise missed, including the origins of the symbol of Lucca (it almost looks like a labyrinth), legends behind The Holy Face of Lucca (one of the world’s largest wooden crosses), and even the import of tomatoes into Italy (not until after the “discovery” of the US!). It was a fun way to learn about the city, but I would note that it was only expected to be between one and two hours, but led closer to three, so just make note if you’re on a time crunch.
You can book a two-hour guided walking tour here.
Try Cecina Toscana from Pizza de Felice
Perhaps the greatest reward of hiring Turis Lucca, aside from the wealth of knowledge about the city, was that my guide informed me of Lucca’s most popular street food: cecina Toscana. Think panelle (a very common street food in Sicily), but crispier. It’s sliced in a triangle like a pizza and for two decent size slices, will only cost you around 1 euro 50 cents. The best place to get it in the city is Pizza de Felice.
Visit the City Center and Cathedral
This might feel too obvious to write, but nothing is as crucial to visiting any Italian town or city than visiting the city center and seeing the cathedral. The Cathedral of Lucca is filled with pillars, each which have a different detail, and if you get closer to the entrance doors, you’ll see different months of the year lined up in opposing order with different symbols.
Try some of the city’s best pizza at La Linea
Cecina Toscana is just the starter. Now, it’s time for your proper meal. My favorite meal in town was at La Linea, a casual eatery who’s best known for pizza, though, I think the best thing I had there was their charcuterie plate filled with different types of cured meat. Go for lardo, a super fatty cut of pork that’s especially infamous in Lucca. They also serve pizze fritte, which is more of a Naples specialty, but is enjoyable anywhere in the country (who doesn’t love fried pizza?). For dessert, try cantucci with Amaro, similar to a biscotti but slightly different, and especially delicious when dipped in the liqueur.
See a Show at Teatro del Giglio
The Italian opera?! Don’t mind if I do. Teatro del Giglio is located directly in the city centre and makes for an ideal way to get a little bit of entertainment, a little bit of a fabulous night out, and a little bit of a local cultural phenomenon. You can tour the theatre with Turis Lucca, or you can simply book a show by checking out their calendar.
Stay at Grand Universe Lucca *or* Grand Universe La Residenza
The best way to ensure you enjoy your well-earned getaway is by getting proper sleep. After staying in both Grand Universe Lucca and Grand Universe La Residenza, I can promise you’ll sleep like a baby. Grand Universe Lucca is more of a proper hotel stay; think lobby, restaurant on the main floor, breakfast spread, and a cafe and bar attendant. Grand Universe La Residenza is more of a long-term, feel-at-home type of stay. There’s an espresso machine in the room (which there also is at Grand Universe Lucca), and the rooms are far more spacious and cozy, with most offering either a second bedroom and/or bathroom, as well as a living room.
OPTIONAL: Take a Day Trip
Lucca is a fascinating city, but I get itchy feet, and if you find yourself like me and need a little day trip out somewhere else, here are some of the best from Lucca:
- Carrara — the Italian “marble” city. I’ve been to over fifty cities and towns in Italy, and this is by far one of the coolest.
- Florence — most people stay in Florence and do a day trip to Lucca and other nearby destinations; let me suggest doing the opposite! Florence can easily be seen in just one day, and Lucca is a much more enjoyable, peaceful, and equally quintessential Italian town to base yourself out of.
- Cinque Terre — the famous five fishing villages of Liguria.
- Pisa — head to Pisa to take an iconic leaning tower photo!
DISCLAIMER: I might make a small commission from some of the links throughout this article, but the price is the same for you. This helps keep my business running so I can continue to provide free travel tips!
DISCLAIMER II: Grand Universe Lucca hosted me for one night, and Grand Universe La Residenza hosted me for one night.