Lucca is a walled city on a plain ringed by hills and mountains, and Pisa’s Galileo Galilei International Airport is the nearest airport. It suits travelers who like to explore on foot, with the heritage packed within a few kilometers of the walls and trails for a day outside the center.
Most of the historic center is a restricted traffic zone (ZTL), so a rental car is of little use once you arrive. Plan to park outside and walk in through one of the six city gates.
At a glance
- Nearest airport: Pisa Galileo Galilei International; Florence Amerigo Vespucci International also serves Lucca
- Train station: Piazza Ricasoli, about 650 feet (200 m) from the walls
- Historic center: restricted traffic zone, six city gates
- Climbs: Guinigi Tower 230 steps, Torre delle Ore 207 steps, Cathedral bell tower 217 steps
- Spring afternoons: from 60°F (16°C) in March to 73°F (23°C) in May
- Entry for U.S. citizens: up to 90 days without a visa
Where is Lucca and what is it like?
Lucca sits on the Lucca Plain, surrounded by hills and mountains. The Monte Pisano range closes the plain to the south. Pisa’s airport is the nearest, and Florence’s airport also serves the city.
The historic walls define the city, and the heritage lies within a few kilometers of them. From the bastions you look over the flat and hilly landscape and some peaks of Monte Pisano. From the bell tower of San Frediano the view runs to the Serchio River, the hills that separate the plain from Versilia, and the Apuan Alps. The Monte Pisano karst hills have been inhabited since ancient times and hold a wide variety of vegetation and landscapes.
The Cathedral of St. Martin was founded in the 6th century and rebuilt in the 8th century on the site of the ancient church of San Giovanni and Santa Reparata. The Torre delle Ore and the Torre Guinigi are the only fully preserved examples of the noble towers that crowded the center of Lucca in the Middle Ages.
What is there to do in Lucca?
The Walls of Lucca and the view from the bastions
A stroll along the Walls is a good start for a bird’s-eye view of the city. From the bastions you see the flat and hilly landscape around Lucca and some peaks of Monte Pisano.
The walls circle the historic center, which can be entered through six city gates. That makes them a practical orientation: walk a stretch, then drop into the center through whichever gate is closest.
The train station is only about 650 feet (200 m) from the walls, so the walk can start the moment you step off the train.
The Guinigi Tower and the Torre delle Ore
The Guinigi Tower has 230 steps and is crowned with holm oaks at the top. The Torre delle Ore has 207 steps.
Both towers are included in the Lucca Visit Card, so one card can cover the two climbs. Pick one for a short visit, or take both if you like seeing the same roofs from two angles.
The climbs are all stairs, so they suit walkers in decent shape. Anyone who prefers to stay at street level can give the towers a miss and keep the walls for the view.
The Cathedral of St. Martin and its bell tower
Its bell tower is about 197 feet (60 m) high and has seven bells.
The bell tower has 217 steps and is crowned by Guelph battlements. From the top you can glimpse the 19th-century aqueduct that runs through the countryside to Monte Pisano. The bell tower of San Frediano gives a different view, out to the Serchio River and the Apuan Alps. The bell tower of the church on the ancient Roman forum has also opened to visitors, from September 29, 2026.
The Lucca Visit Card covers the Cathedral museum and archaeological complex, the Basilica and Bell Tower of San Frediano complex, the National Museum of Palazzo Mansi, the National Museum of Villa Guinigi, the Botanical Garden, the Puccini Museum, the Domus Romana, the Museum of the Ancient Mint and the Barsanti and Matteucci Internal Combustion Engine Museum. If you plan three or four of these sights, the card is worth pricing against single tickets. The Botanical Garden is the one to note for camellias, with ancient Lucchese cultivars among the flowers.
Markets and fairs in the center
Two second-hand markets used the Foro Boario at Monte San Quirico: Una nuova vita per ogni cosa on October 3 and 4, and Fiera del Riuso on October 24 and 25.
Trekking Urbano, a slow itinerary through three historic places of the city following St. Markets like these suit browsers and collectors. Check the local tourism calendar for the dates of the next edition before you plan around one.
Lucca Trek and the hills around the city
Lucca Trek promotes outdoor activities and spreads visitor flows among the villages. Its walking routes link villages and nature, from the CAI network to major paths and waterways between the Nottolini aqueduct and the Serchio river area.
Historic and nature trails wind through villages, hills, woods and countryside. They pass Romanesque churches, hidden springs, small village museums, ancient woods and panoramic views, from the plains to the Apennines, from wine-growing hills to the beaches of Versilia.
Thirteen itineraries cover the south-west of the Lucca territory, among them the road of the aqueducts, Monte Pisano, castles and fortifications, the river park and Puccini cycle and pedestrian path, the Via Francigena and the Cammino di San Jacopo. If you want a walking day outside the center, choose among these.
How do you get to Lucca and get around?
Pisa’s Galileo Galilei International Airport is the nearest airport to Lucca. Florence’s Amerigo Vespucci International Airport also serves the city.
The Lucca railway station is in Piazza Ricasoli, just outside the walls, a few minutes on foot. The bus station is in Piazzale Verdi, in the historic center.
By car, Lucca is reached via the A11 Firenze Mare motorway, exits Lucca Est and Lucca Ovest. Most of the historic center is a restricted traffic zone (ZTL), so check the rules for your car and your lodging before you drive in.
Inside the center the maximum speed is about 19 mph (30 km/h) and the maximum mass is 3.5 tonnes. Vehicles can be up to about 21 feet (6.50 m) long and 7 feet (2.20 m) wide.
The LAM urban line (1+, 2+, 3+) crosses the historic center. From La Spezia you can reach the Cinque Terre by train or by sea.
When should you go to Lucca?
Spring is the window to aim for. March afternoons reach 60°F (16°C), April 65°F (19°C) and May 73°F (23°C), with May nights near 53°F (12°C). Sunshine climbs from 5.6 hours a day in March to 6.5 hours in April, which suits the walls, the tower climbs and the trails.
Winter is cooler and grayer. February is similar, at 55°F (13°C) by day.
Rain falls through the whole period, with about 6 to 8 rainy days a month from January to May. April has about 8, so a light rain jacket belongs in the bag in any of these months.
What to know before visiting Lucca
According to the U.S. State Department (travel.state.gov), U.S. citizens can stay in Italy for 90 days without a tourist or business visa.
- Passports must be valid for at least 3 months beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area. A 6-month validity is recommended. Passports must have 2 blank pages for entry stamp.
- You will need proof of sufficient funds and a return plane ticket.
- Italy sets a currency limit of 10,000 euros, or equivalent, on entry and on exit.
- There are no vaccination requirements to enter Italy.
- The Consular Office of the Italian Embassy in Washington is open by appointment only. The embassy is at 3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008, tel. +1 (202) 612-4400.
Sources
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- turismo.lucca.it (https://turismo.lucca.it/en/itineraries/POV-2-towers-and-3-bell-towers/), checked 2026-10-30
- travel.state.gov (https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/travel-advisories/italy.html), checked 2026-10-30
- turismo.lucca.it (https://www.turismo.lucca.it/settembre-2025-fiere-e-mercati), checked 2026-10-30
- turismo.lucca.it (https://turismo.lucca.it/en/informazioni-utili/faq-come-e-perche-a-lucca/), checked 2026-10-30
- comune.lucca.it (https://www.comune.lucca.it/notizia/presentata-la-prima-mappa-di-lucca-trek-13-percorsi-per-scoprire-la-bellezza-del-territorio-lucchese-delle-colline-e-delle-sue-frazioni/), checked 2026-10-30
- turismo.lucca.it (https://turismo.lucca.it/en/cosa-fare/natura-e-sport/outdoor/lucca-trek/lucca-trek-sud/), checked 2026-10-30
- ambwashingtondc.esteri.it (https://ambwashingtondc.esteri.it/en/chi-siamo/gli-uffici/), checked 2026-10-25