hi. My husband & I are planning on visiting Lucca in mid October. We are mtng my parents there. My son & his wife who live in Spain will be meeting us as well. So 3 generations. Its all of our first time in Lucca but by no means our first time in Italy. Havent booked our accommodations yet but believe we have found the place right in the city. Any suggestions of what to see? where to go? what not to miss? We are wanting a low key relaxing over 2 week stay & dont plan on travel all around much at all. Happy to stay right in Lucca, maybe hire a chef, take a cooking class.....do something off the beaten path. Im looking forward to simply walking the city wall path(s). My mother will want to visit a vineyard Im sure. I love to cook so any farm to table restaurants or actual farms would be wonderful. thanks in advance for any info cheers!
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Lucca October 2025
- Thread starter hmsigala
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Ian Sutton
1000+ Posts
As you mentioned vineyards, you'll probably like Enoteca Vanni. The shopfront is small, but out back they have a cave with older wines, and it's interesting to see what they have there. I also understand they do tasting events and open some wines of an evening.
For a winery, I like the wines of LUNAE, who are about 45 mins away by car, inbetween La Spezia and Massa. Both reds and whites (and fizz, grappa and olive oil), but better known for their vermentino whites.
Lucca is a good place for casually exploring, heading out for a stroll in a different direction on different days, and because of its size, this can be done in bite size chunks.
Others here have more in-depth experience of Lucca
For a winery, I like the wines of LUNAE, who are about 45 mins away by car, inbetween La Spezia and Massa. Both reds and whites (and fizz, grappa and olive oil), but better known for their vermentino whites.
Lucca is a good place for casually exploring, heading out for a stroll in a different direction on different days, and because of its size, this can be done in bite size chunks.
Others here have more in-depth experience of Lucca
Penn251
100+ Posts
If you will still be in Lucca at the very end of the month you will be there for Lucca Comics and Games Festival. Lucca will be transformed into a fantasy world full of costumes and displays. The juxtaposition between the historic backdrop of Lucca and the futuristic and fantastical is quite breathtaking. The streets will be very crowded but the experience will be unique. Some pictures below.
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Penn251
100+ Posts
Quick off the top of my head:
Lucca - Lots to do in Lucca itself.
Walk or bike along the Renaissance Wall (about 2.5 miles around). This can be a daily ritual. The top of the wall is a park.
Puccini Opera recitals (about an hour long) in Chiesa San Giovanni (a deconsecrated church) There is one every night that features arias from various operas by Puccini (born there) and other composers. Great acoustics.
Climbing the Torre Guinigi - a 14th Century tower in the center of Lucca. There are oak trees growing on top. 300 steps up but beautiful views. https://www.visittuscany.com/en/attractions/the-guinigi-tower/
Lucca Botanical Garden - located inside the walls.
Villa Pfanner - Renaissance Villa inside the walls.
Several churches - Santa Caterina is one we like a lot - small but beautiful.
A few small historical museums.
Streets and Piazzas are nice to wander through.
A walk/hike from Lucca into the surrounding hills along a 19th Century aqueduct. https://www.mykindofitaly.com/post/the-aqueduct-walk-lucca-to-vorno
Florence - Good day trip by train. Lot’s to see - The Uffizi Museum, Michaelangelo’s David, the Duomo (Cathedral), Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens, the Ponte Vecchio, etc., etc.
Pisa - easy train ride - can see the Leaning Tower complex. A good half day trip or longer if you want to explore the city itself.
Cinque Terre - Could do this in a day by train (or by car) to La Spezia and then a train to the 5 towns. Easy to get between the 5 towns, One good way to see a lot is to take the train from La Spezia to Riomaggiore (the southernmost town) and then take a boat along the shore to Vernazza. You will see the coastline. Then there is a good hike through the vineyards with coastal views to Monterosso al Mare (the northernmost town) and then train back to La Spezia (and train or car back to Lucca).
Pietrasanta- a town near the coast that is a an artist community city with outdoor sculptures throughout. Can get there by train.
The Garfagnana - The rugged mountain region just north of Lucca. It’s a car trip - there is a nice hike up to a fortress from Castelnuovo di Garfagnana. https://www.montalfonso.it/en/fortezza/fortezza , A few interesting small towns en route, e.g. Barga and Bagna di Lucca.
Villa Reale di Marlia - A short bus ride (or car ride) from Lucca, Beautiful gardens and estate that was the former estate of Napolean’s Sister. https://villarealedimarlia.it/en/about/the-history/
Carrera Marble Quarries - A car trip to Carerra to take a tour of the quarrying operations for Carrerra marble - the same marble that Michaelangelo and Bernini used for their classic sculptures - and the same marble that covers bathrooms and kitchens all over the world.
Montecarlo - A car ride into the wine country. Montecarlo itself is a cute small town, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. Winery tours abound.
Montecatini Terme - A train ride to a town that has hot spring spas and an old part of the town that you take a funicular up to.
San Gimignano and Volterra - A longer car ride but easily doable. These are two Tuscan hill towns. Volterra has Roman ruins and San Gimignano is famous for its many 14th and 15th century towers.
Viareggio - A very short train trip to a beach town. You can walk along the beach, put your feet in the Mediterranean - or even swim. Forte di Marmi is another nearby beach resort town which is very upscale.
Giardino Garzoni - A train or car ride to Collodi (where the author of Pinocchio is from). there is a nice villa and gardens https://www.visittuscany.com/en/attractions/villa-garzoni-and-its-garden/ Pinnocchio Land is in Collodi also if you will have small children in tow.
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Lucca - Lots to do in Lucca itself.
Walk or bike along the Renaissance Wall (about 2.5 miles around). This can be a daily ritual. The top of the wall is a park.
Puccini Opera recitals (about an hour long) in Chiesa San Giovanni (a deconsecrated church) There is one every night that features arias from various operas by Puccini (born there) and other composers. Great acoustics.
Climbing the Torre Guinigi - a 14th Century tower in the center of Lucca. There are oak trees growing on top. 300 steps up but beautiful views. https://www.visittuscany.com/en/attractions/the-guinigi-tower/
Lucca Botanical Garden - located inside the walls.
Villa Pfanner - Renaissance Villa inside the walls.
Several churches - Santa Caterina is one we like a lot - small but beautiful.
A few small historical museums.
Streets and Piazzas are nice to wander through.
A walk/hike from Lucca into the surrounding hills along a 19th Century aqueduct. https://www.mykindofitaly.com/post/the-aqueduct-walk-lucca-to-vorno
Florence - Good day trip by train. Lot’s to see - The Uffizi Museum, Michaelangelo’s David, the Duomo (Cathedral), Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens, the Ponte Vecchio, etc., etc.
Pisa - easy train ride - can see the Leaning Tower complex. A good half day trip or longer if you want to explore the city itself.
Cinque Terre - Could do this in a day by train (or by car) to La Spezia and then a train to the 5 towns. Easy to get between the 5 towns, One good way to see a lot is to take the train from La Spezia to Riomaggiore (the southernmost town) and then take a boat along the shore to Vernazza. You will see the coastline. Then there is a good hike through the vineyards with coastal views to Monterosso al Mare (the northernmost town) and then train back to La Spezia (and train or car back to Lucca).
Pietrasanta- a town near the coast that is a an artist community city with outdoor sculptures throughout. Can get there by train.
The Garfagnana - The rugged mountain region just north of Lucca. It’s a car trip - there is a nice hike up to a fortress from Castelnuovo di Garfagnana. https://www.montalfonso.it/en/fortezza/fortezza , A few interesting small towns en route, e.g. Barga and Bagna di Lucca.
Villa Reale di Marlia - A short bus ride (or car ride) from Lucca, Beautiful gardens and estate that was the former estate of Napolean’s Sister. https://villarealedimarlia.it/en/about/the-history/
Carrera Marble Quarries - A car trip to Carerra to take a tour of the quarrying operations for Carrerra marble - the same marble that Michaelangelo and Bernini used for their classic sculptures - and the same marble that covers bathrooms and kitchens all over the world.
Montecarlo - A car ride into the wine country. Montecarlo itself is a cute small town, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. Winery tours abound.
Montecatini Terme - A train ride to a town that has hot spring spas and an old part of the town that you take a funicular up to.
San Gimignano and Volterra - A longer car ride but easily doable. These are two Tuscan hill towns. Volterra has Roman ruins and San Gimignano is famous for its many 14th and 15th century towers.
Viareggio - A very short train trip to a beach town. You can walk along the beach, put your feet in the Mediterranean - or even swim. Forte di Marmi is another nearby beach resort town which is very upscale.
Giardino Garzoni - A train or car ride to Collodi (where the author of Pinocchio is from). there is a nice villa and gardens https://www.visittuscany.com/en/attractions/villa-garzoni-and-its-garden/ Pinnocchio Land is in Collodi also if you will have small children in tow.
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Tina
100+ Posts
I think Penn has mentioned everything. This is just to say even if you don't want to travel much, Pietrasanta is a really charming place off the beaten track for a day out, unknown even to many Italians:
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Pietrasanta
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California Go Girl
New Member
If you have a chance to visit (or revisit) Pisa on a clear night, the tower, cathedral and baptistry are are magical at night. It made my heart sing. Maybe a stop for dinner and a walk around the exterior of the Tower on your way home from another day trip? (Of course it would be a shame to miss the opportunity to climb the tower and visit the inside of the baptistry, so maybe two short trips?)
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NoSpin
100+ Posts
Yes, I think Penn has just about covered it all. What an extensive response.
Since you haven't booked a place yet, I would stronly recommend the San Lucca Palace Hotel. We stayed there for a week a couple years ago and realy enjoyed it. The staff was excellent. I'm guessing you won't have a car, but if you do their parking space is in the Police Station parking lot, so it's pretty secure!
There's a piazza near the main church that has a market on Saturdays. A good place to stroll around.
We dined at Buca di Sant'Antonio. I recommend that as well.
Since you haven't booked a place yet, I would stronly recommend the San Lucca Palace Hotel. We stayed there for a week a couple years ago and realy enjoyed it. The staff was excellent. I'm guessing you won't have a car, but if you do their parking space is in the Police Station parking lot, so it's pretty secure!
There's a piazza near the main church that has a market on Saturdays. A good place to stroll around.
We dined at Buca di Sant'Antonio. I recommend that as well.
Alpinista
500+ Posts
A very comprehensive list above. As also noted, Pisa at night is magical and we've found that you can just walk to ticket office to get the last admissions of the day to climb the tower. We always visit San Giuliano Terme in Bagni di Pisa during our time there.
My restaurant recommendations are always: Gigi Trattoria, Ristorante da Giulio, and (for the not easily offended by the decor), Trattoria da Ubaldo (great for lunch). If you are driving, a short way up the Serchio Valley takes you to two other great restaurants, Antica Locanda and Ristorante Erasmo.
There are a lot of little festivals in the towns around Lucca -- from chestnuts to pumpkins. Always entertaining and some nice food choices. Check the tourist office for information. We always take mailing tubes with us so that we can buy things like honey and olive oil at the fairs and pack them for return home.
The Lucca Comics Festival was mentioned above -- Borgo a Mozzano has an amazing Halloween celebration that is worth finding.
Poli's at Piazza Santa Maria is our go-to for bicycle rentals for the wall.
My restaurant recommendations are always: Gigi Trattoria, Ristorante da Giulio, and (for the not easily offended by the decor), Trattoria da Ubaldo (great for lunch). If you are driving, a short way up the Serchio Valley takes you to two other great restaurants, Antica Locanda and Ristorante Erasmo.
There are a lot of little festivals in the towns around Lucca -- from chestnuts to pumpkins. Always entertaining and some nice food choices. Check the tourist office for information. We always take mailing tubes with us so that we can buy things like honey and olive oil at the fairs and pack them for return home.
The Lucca Comics Festival was mentioned above -- Borgo a Mozzano has an amazing Halloween celebration that is worth finding.
Poli's at Piazza Santa Maria is our go-to for bicycle rentals for the wall.
vicogirl51
10+ Posts
My home is a 45 min drive from Lucca in the mountains but with family members living in Lucca .
Other restaurants worth trying:
1.Ristorante Pizzeria K2
Via dell'Anfiteatro, 107, (Arianna is the owner )
2. Osteria La Diretta ( won the contest last year on TV with a famous Italisn chef)
3. Carbone
4. Nida which is Japanese but Masuki the chef came in 3 rd in Top Chef
5 Gelateria Paniko is my favorite gelato place
6. Gelateria La Crema Matta my second favorite
Don’t buy gelato that’s all puffed up as iit has air in it which causes ice crystals ! Looks pretty but not good!!
Will you have a car??
Other restaurants worth trying:
1.Ristorante Pizzeria K2
Via dell'Anfiteatro, 107, (Arianna is the owner )
2. Osteria La Diretta ( won the contest last year on TV with a famous Italisn chef)
3. Carbone
4. Nida which is Japanese but Masuki the chef came in 3 rd in Top Chef
5 Gelateria Paniko is my favorite gelato place
6. Gelateria La Crema Matta my second favorite
Don’t buy gelato that’s all puffed up as iit has air in it which causes ice crystals ! Looks pretty but not good!!
Will you have a car??
misstravelbug
100+ Posts
Following along as we will be there in September for a week. So many great recommendations on this thread. x