Last Updated on November 15, 2024
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Pisa and Lucca are two of the best day trips from Florence. You can easily spend a full day in each city, but if you are short on time, you can combine both into one day trip. They are small, close to each other and well connected by trains, which makes visiting both in one day possible.
Aim for an early start and head to Pisa in the morning, then from there to Lucca in the afternoon. The goal is to be at the Leaning Tower of Pisa as early as you can, to beat the biggest crowds. By the time you leave Pisa, you’ll get a glimpse at just how crowded it gets and Lucca will be a nice break from it.
There are quite a few things to do in Lucca and you won’t be able to do and see it all in half a day. I chose several things, that I think are a great overview of what this city has to offer. So if taking a day trip from Florence to Pisa and Lucca sounds like something you’d like to do, here’s the step-by-step guide.
Pisa and Lucca
Pisa – this small city in the Tuscan region needs no introduction. It’s home to one of the biggest tourist attractions in Italy, the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Even though the tower is the reason everyone visits Pisa, there are several other beautiful monuments within Piazza dei Miracoli.
Lucca – a charming small town in Tuscany, that is often overlooked in favor of more popular Siena and San Gimignano. Lucca is known for the beautifully preserved Renaissance Walls, that encircle the entire Old Town. In Lucca you will find picturesque alleys, towers, many churches and beautiful squares. And just a fraction of visitors compared to Pisa and Florence.
Getting to Pisa and Lucca from Florence
Both Pisa and Lucca are well connected by trains with Florence, which makes this day trip an easy one. The trains are cheap, very frequent and train stations are within a short walk to anything you want to see.
If you are doing a road trip through Tuscany and have a rental car, you can also drive to both cities. This will give you more flexibility, but you’ll need to deal with parking. Keep in mind, that cars are not allowed with the Old Town in Lucca, so you’d need to park outside of the city walls.
I think day trip from Florence to Pisa and Lucca is best done by train, and I wrote this guide with that in mind.
Pisa and Lucca day trip from Florence
Take a train from Florence to Pisa
Trains from Florence to Pisa depart from Santa Maria Novella station and arrive at Pisa Centrale. It’s a one-hour ride and trains run frequently. My suggestion is to leave around 7 am, which will get you to Pisa by 8 am. It’s a 20–25 minute walk from Pisa Centrale station to the Leaning Tower. You can always hop in a taxi too.
You can check the train schedule on Trenitalia, I recommend downloading the app on your phone as well. Tickets can be bought online, but it’s not necessary. When searching, be sure to put in Firenze for Florence.
Take photos outside of the Leaning Tower of Pisa
Once you arrive in Pisa, head straight towards the Leaning Tower, which is about a 25 minute walk. If you want to get photos with not too many people in them, this is the time to do it. You probably won’t be the only person there, but hopefully you’ll be there before the first tour groups arrive.
The photos below were taken between 7.30-8 am. Shortly after, first big groups started arriving and by 9 am it was already pretty crowded. By 10 am, completely packed with people.
Climb the Leaning Tower of Pisa
After you got your pictures and photographed the tower from every angle, it’s time to climb to the top. I’ve read more than once, that it’s not worth it, but I strongly disagree. The views are great and it’s a fun experience. Yes, it’s kind of pricey, but I still think it’s one of the must things to do in Pisa.
First of all, you need to book your tickets online, especially if you are visiting in high season. The tower opens at 9 am and you want to book the very first time slot. They let a new group of people every 15 minutes, so it’s best to go up as the first group.
Besides the great views from the top, climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa is a fun and unique experience. There are 294 steps on one side and 296 on the other, and you definitely feel the tilt as you go up. Kids under 8 years old are not allowed to climb the tower, so keep that in mind if you are visiting Pisa with kids.
Purses and backpacks are not allowed, and you can use of the free lockers to store whatever you have with you. They are located in the Cloak Room, which is right behind the Fallen Angel statue.
Explore the rest of Duomo Complex
While the Leaning Tower of Pisa is what most people come to see, there are several other amazing buildings within Piazza del Duomo, where the tower is located. Right next to it, there’s Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta, one of the most beautiful Cathedrals in Italy.
The stunning Baptistery of San Giovanni is the largest one in Italy and that’s where Galileo Galilei was baptized.
Another impressive place worth visiting is Camposanto Monumentale. The big building with a courtyard in the middle is basically a massive cemetery, where a lot of important people are buried. You can take a walk around and admire many beautiful tombs and frescoes.
The entire Duomo complex is recognized as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Individual tickets for each monument are €7 (except for the Cathedral, that is free), but if you want to see it all, get a combined ticket for €27. This gives you access to all the monuments and the Tower.
Take a train from Pisa to Lucca
After lunch, it’s time to catch the train from Pisa to Lucca. You don’t need to walk back to Pisa Centrale, as there’s another train station, that is much closer. Rossore is located about a 5-minute walk from the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the regional train from Pisa to Lucca passes through it anyway.
It’s a short 20 minute train ride and one way ticket costs about €4. This is a regional train, there’s no need to purchase your ticket in advance. Just come to the station a few minutes earlier and buy it at the automated machine. Do not forget to validate your ticket!
Once you arrive in Lucca, it’s a short walk from the train station to the city center. It shouldn’t take you more than 5 minutes to reach Porta San Pietro, which is one of the six entry gates to the city.
It’s easy to explore Lucca on your own, but if you’d like a visit all the main spots with a guide, this is a great 2- hour walking tour of Lucca.
See Lucca’s Cathedral
If you love churches, Lucca is for you. It’s known as a “City of a Hundred Churches” and there sure plenty of them. One not to be missed is Cathedral of Lucca, also known as Cattedrale di San Martino. The church dates back to the 11th century and combines two styles: Gothic and Romanesque.
The Cathedral is located in Piazza San Martino, not far from the train station, so it’s a good first stop after you arrive in Lucca.
If you’d like to see the Cathedral only, the entrance fee is €3. You can also get a combined ticket for €10, which gives you access to the Cathedral, the bell tower, the Church of Saints Giovanni and the museum.
Stop at Piazza San Michele
Piazza San Michele is one of the squares in Lucca and a must visit on your day trip. That’s where you will find one of the most beautiful churches, San Michele in Foro. The church dominates the square and impresses with its stunning exterior. San Michele in Foro is dedicated to St Micheal the Archangel, and if you look up, you will see his statue up on the top along with a couple of smaller angels.
The inside of the church is beautiful as well, and you can visit it for free. Just remember about the dress code. To step into churches in Italy, you must cover your shoulders and knees.
You will find many cafes and restaurants around the Piazza, so it’s a good place to stop for a drink and people watch. It’s a hopping place and often, there are various events happening in the square.
Climb to the top of Guinigi Tower
There are several towers in Lucca you can climb, but one that sure stands out is Torre Guinigi. Built in the 14th century for a wealthy family, it’s one of the few remaining towers in town.
Torre Guinigi is 45 meters (125 feet) high and there are 233 steps to get to the top. Once you make it, you are rewarded not only with spectacular views, but also a rooftop garden. Several holm oak trees were planted on the top terrace, which makes Torre Guinigi the most unique of all towers in Lucca.
The trees are sure an interesting addition and if you’d like to see it from the distance, you can also head over to Torre delle Ore, which is just a short walk away. The views will be similar, but you can photograph Torre Guinigi with its oak trees from there. If you’d like to climb both, you can get a combo ticket for both at either tower.
Entrance fee: €6 / opens every day at 10 am, but closing time varies depending on the season
Visit Piazza dell’Anfiteatro
You’ll find many squares in Lucca, but Piazza dell’Anfiteatro is the most unique one. It got its name from the Roman Amphitheater, that once stood there. Hence the oval shape of the square.
Like other piazzas, it has many cafes and restaurants.
Pizza da Felice
Just a short walk from Piazza dell’ Anfiteatro is Pizza da Felice, the oldest pizzeria in Lucca. It’s a small, family run place, that has been opened since 1910. It’s a great place to grab a slice of pizza to go. There are some stools and high top table outside, but not much seating besides that.
Prosciutto pizza I had was excellent, hands down the best pizza I’ve had in Italy so far. One of their specialties is chickpea pizza. If you are not in the mood for pizza, they also have focaccia.
The place is tiny and gets busy, but the service is quick.
Pizza da Felice is open 12-2.30 pm and 4-8.30 pm ( 9 pm on Saturdays ). It’s closed on Sundays.
Bike the city walls
One of the biggest Lucca attractions are the perfectly preserved Renaissance walls, that go around the entire city. Built to defend Lucca, the walls are still in tact and today it’s a great place to walk and bike. There is wide, tree-lined promenade with plenty of shade to enjoy a leisurely walk or bike ride with great views along the way.
The entire loop is 4 km (2.5 miles) and if you wanted to walk it, it takes about one hour. But I recommend renting a bike instead. Biking is one of the top things to do in Lucca, and there are plenty of bike rentals around. You can rent a bike by the hour (about €5/hour) and that is long enough to go around the walls and do some biking around the city. Most places will ask you leave your ID until you return your bike, so don’t forget to bring it.
Take a train from Lucca to Florence
When you are ready to leave, walk back to the train station to head back to Florence. You’ll be going from Lucca to Santa Maria Novella station in Firenze. There are direct regional trains, that take 1 hour and 20 minutes and one way ticket costs €8.40. Trains from Lucca to Florence run until about 10 pm.
Again, there’s no need to pre-book your tickets, just allow extra time to purchase it at the station. As always, do not forget to validate your ticket! There are machines right on the platforms at the Lucca train station.
Best Pisa and Lucca tours
Visiting Pisa and Lucca on your own is very easy. But if you don’t want to deal with all the logistics, you can always take an organized tour. Both Pisa and Lucca are very popular day trips from Florence, so there are many tours you can take, that combine both cities.
- From Florence: Pisa & Lucca Day Tour with Buccellato Tasting
- Pisa and Lucca day trip from Florence
- Full day Pisa and Lucca Excursion from La Spezia
READ MORE:
- Things to do in Pisa, Italy in one day
- 2 days in Florence, Italy – the perfect itinerary for your first visit
- 21 Amazing Things to do in Cinque Terre, Italy
- Is Alberobello worth visiting? – A Guide to Puglia’s Trulli Town
- 17 Amazing Things to do in Matera, Italy – The City of Caves
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Thank You, Aga! Very comprehensive and informative, but with a smile!