Lucca & Pisa Day Trip from Florence
A city wall you cycle around, and the leaning tower half an hour further
A one-day drive from Florence to Lucca & Pisa — 159 km round trip, about 2h 38m behind the wheel, with stops, timings and where to eat already worked out.
Guinigi Tower
Climb the oak-topped medieval tower for the best rooftop panorama over Lucca's red-tiled old town.
💡 Go early morning to beat tour groups and the midday heat on the stairs.
Via Guinigi, 29, Lucca
Mura di Lucca
Lucca's intact Renaissance ramparts form a tree-lined promenade unlike anywhere else in Tuscany — walk or rent a bike.
💡 Bike rental stalls sit near Porta San Pietro; a full loop is about 4km, flat and easy.
Via delle Mura Urbane, Lucca
Piazza dell'Anfiteatro
An oval square built directly over the footprint of Lucca's Roman amphitheater — a striking, photogenic curiosity.
Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, Lucca
Buca di Sant'Antonio
A historic Lucchese trattoria serving classic Tuscan dishes like tordelli lucchesi in a centuries-old setting.
💡 Book ahead for lunch — it fills with both locals and travelers.
Via della Cervia, 3, Lucca
Duomo di San Martino
Lucca's cathedral holds the Volto Santo relic and Tintoretto's Last Supper, a quieter alternative to Florence's crowds.
💡 Small fee for the sacristy and Ilaria del Carretto tomb — worth the extra euros.
Lucca Cathedral, Piazza Antelminelli, Lucca
Basilica di San Frediano
A Romanesque church with a glittering 13th-century golden mosaic facade, less visited but equally striking.
Piazza S. Frediano, Lucca
- Lucca's historic center is largely pedestrian/ZTL — park in the free/paid lots just outside the walls (e.g. Piazzale Don Franco Baroni).
- Florence center is a ZTL zone — if your hotel doesn't grant access, park at an outer garage before heading in.
- Rent bikes at Porta San Pietro for the wall loop — cheap and a great way to see Lucca quickly.
- Sunday mornings can bring a small market to Piazza San Michele — lively but adds foot traffic.
- Bagni di Lucca+30 km
Charming 19th-century spa town in the hills with thermal baths and Ponte a Serraglio — a relaxed detour.
- Collodi (Pinocchio Park)+25 km
Birthplace-inspired village with a whimsical Pinocchio-themed garden, fun and quirky for a quick stop.
- Pisa+20 km
The Leaning Tower and Piazza dei Miracoli are only about 20km from Lucca — an easy add-on if time allows.
Make this trip your own
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