Has anyone been to Lucca (Tuscany)....if so, any recommendations?

[shadypines]

Hi, I am going there in Autumn, it looks like there is a lot to see/do but just wondered if anyone could give me any nuggets of info/recommendations re what to see, do and where to eat/drink. Thank you.

It’s very walkable, and easy to use as a base for visiting Florence and Pisa. Fabulous music festival in the summer. Lots of beautiful squares and no problems finding good restaurants.

We stayed outside the walls, think it was the Hotel San Marco but it was a while ago and during the festival, so much of the accommodation in the centre was booked up.

Following. Going in September.

That's good to know Sabrina, thanks, yes intend to go to one or both if possible.
Might see you there then Demons!

I spent the day there years ago on a very hot day. It's lovely. All I remember is the ice cream.

Hire the bikes and do the circular of the city walls. We also climbed a bell/church tower for fabulous views across the city - can’t remember name of it now rest of the time we just pottered around, had lunch and soaked up atmosphere. It’s a fabulous city and we really enjoyed our day there.

Only been there for a day from Florence. Wandered around, walked part of the wall and had a delicious pasta lunch, but I can’t remember where.
Beautiful place, enjoy.

It's good destination to spend time during weekends, walkable, slow summer.....You can visit to some wineyards

Matt Cain’s latest book is set there - The Castle of Stories.
I’m a fan of his books and really enjoyed the audiobook

I loved it. One day was heavy rain all day so I went a couple of stops on the train to a big spa and sat in jacuzzis with a book. The train stop was called Termes something.

You can do a day trip to Siena too - although Lucca is so lovely you might not want to leave....

Definitely came to say cycle the wall around the city. Queue for tower was sadly too long for us

Guinigi Tower (the one with the tree on top) is worth climbing for the amazing views although quite expensive at around £15 for two adults. Piazza dell'Anfiteatro is so pretty with lots of places to have a drink and people watch, we spent ages trying to find it as Lucca old town is a labyrinth of cute alleyways, churches, shops and piazzas, very easy to get lost, get a map from the tourist office. We went in June and it was nice to go somewhere that wasn’t rammed with tourists. We only went for one day, I wasn’t expecting much but it blew me away. I can’t wait to return.

Love Lucca but be warned it can rain! Been 3 times and every time it’s rained! lol it’s beautiful, sit in the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro and have lunch and people watch. Wander the cobbled streets. We walked the whole of the wall. Go to Trattoria Da Ubaldo for an interesting dining experience lol. Book the vineyard Fattoria al Dotto they do a wine tasting with food for each course, the views and the experience were amazing! Get a taxi as you will get tipsy! Enjoy!

Lucca in Autumn will be great for seasonal food- stews, pasta with slow cooked meat sauces, wild boar and truffle dishes.
There’s the Lucca Comics event at the end of October (lots of people dressed up and roaming the streets). Maybe avoid those days.

Oh we had a lovely few nights in Lucca a couple of years ago. Agree with previous posters - hire city bikes to go around the walls, go up the tower with the tree at the top for views, mooch around the shops, there’s a big square (which is actually oval) which is busy in the evenings, we ate here one night, it was a bit of a tourist trap, but a nice atmosphere. I bought a beautiful jacket in one of the shops and it gets complimented every time I wear it. I’ve never seen anything like it here.

It was just a lovely lowkey city after a busy holiday (make sure to get to Florence!)

I bought a fabulous leather bag in Lucca, with a clever strap arrangement that changes it from shoulder bag to backpack.

Was it Montecatini Terme? That is a spa town on Tuscany and I think on the train line between Luca and Florence.

enjoy Lucca OP! It’s beautiful, I have no specific recommendations as only went there for a day over 25 years ago but it was gorgeous

We stayed in Pisa and visited Lucca for the day...loved it! So no recommendations sorry but just to say it's so beautiful I hope you enjoy it

Oh and the trains are so easy you can easily visit pisa, Florence, viareggio

We spent a week there a couple of years ago, and had a great time! We were staying inside the walls, and got into a routine of going out for a passeggiata (and some people-watching and a gelato) after dinner every evening. If you're there on a Saturday, you can do the Lucca Parkrun, which is on a route round the walls. Climbing the tower is expensive, but worth it for the views and the bizarre tree growing out of the top IMO! We had a car, so we did day trips to Pisa and San Gimignano, as well as to the beach at Viareggio and to see the Devil's Bridge near Borgo a Mozzano.

Thank you all for your replies, much appreciated,lots of ideas, a lot of people seem to have done a day trip but I'm sure we'll busy ourselves for a week.

Went to Lucca on a day trip whilst staying in Tuscany and loved it.
As other op have recommended train to Florence is a good option if you want to visit.
We also enjoyed the Vespa scooter museum in Pontedera which is about 45m drive from Lucca.

Thank you, it will be a good opportunity to visit Florence by the sound of it.

I’m off to near Lucca later this month for a few days. Close friends own a villa just north of there although it’s my first time staying there in ages. (Used to go there a lot when we were all younger i.e. pre-kids).

Lucca’s lovely but recommend you explore some of the villages in the hills further North if you have a car (such as Barga) as it’s a totally different experience and much less touristy than southern Tuscany.

I will look into that thanks @HundredMilesAnHour but am a bit wary of hiring a car, having seen the locals driving in other parts of Italy!! Are any accessible on public transport?