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Whether you’ve been there before or you’ve only seen the pictures, we can all instantly recognize it: a monumental red dome rising above a sea of ocher-colored buildings, a winding river spanned by a medieval bridge, and golden sunsets.
Florence is like something straight out of a fairytale, and it’s no wonder that, for some, it even outpeaks Rome as their favorite Italian city.
There’s just one issue with Florence that can’t be so easily ignored.
Gorgeous as it may be, it can get seriously busy—we’re talking booked-out museums for months, long waiting lines at the wine window, and wading through a mass of bodies at Piazza del Duomo.
What they don’t tell you, however, is that you can still soak up all the culture and revel in Tuscany’s idyllic atmosphere without the sight of crowds, if only you’re willing to tread off the beaten path. For habitual Travel Off Path readers, Lucca’s a tale as old as time:
A Fairytale Medieval City By A River
Lining the green-tinged Serchio River, and completely surrounded by intact Renaissance-era walls, Lucca is a smaller Tuscan city with around 89,000 inhabitants, roughly an hour away from Florence by train.
Despite its proximity to and easy access from the capital of Tuscany, one of the most over-touristed spots across the pond, Lucca remains protected from mass tourism. That’s not to say it doesn’t get tourists, far from that, but compared to Florence, it feels like an untouched oasis.
Though it is growing fast in popularity, having registered 171,000 arrivals in 2025 so far, that’s still a drop in the ocean of Florence’s usual 15 million-a-year.
It may not have a Brunelleschi dome to its name, nor a delicately sculpted Michelangelo masterpiece of its own, but its myriad of medieval monuments and rich gastronomy leave nothing to be desired compared to Florence’s:
Small, But Mighty
Lucca’s Historic Center may be tiny compared to Florence, which is roughly 2 times larger, but you’d be surprised by how many landmarks you can cram into a single sightseeing day here, starting with Piazza dell’Anfiteatro.
Lucca’s main square, and its main meeting point, is an elliptical square built right on top of an ancient Roman amphitheater. That’s cool enough as it is, but wait until you see all the beautiful, pastel-colored edifices, cozy cafes, and boutique shops that surround it.
Once again, you won’t find a striking red dome dominating Lucca’s skyline, but in its place, there is an equally impressive Cattedrale di San Martino. Wherever you are in the walled city, you just can’t miss it: just look for the soaring white-tipped tower.
It’s also the home of Volto Santo, or Holy Face, an eight-foot-tall ancient wooden carving of Jesus that arrived to Lucca in the year 782 AD.
Though its origins are disputed, medieval legends state it was made by none other than Nicodemus, who assisted St. Joseph of Arimathea in laying Christ in his resting place following the crucifixion.
Epic Views And Lush Gardens
Speaking of a walled city, the Mura di Lucca is an attraction in its own right. Built during the Renaissance, they encircle the city entirely, offering views of the medieval townscape, and its tree-interspersed promenade makes for a pleasant post-lunch stroll.
Looking for another epic viewpoint? Make sure to check out Torre Guinigi, a medieval tower famous for the oak trees that almost miraculously grow at its top.
Lucca’s most beautiful green area, on the other hand, is not atop the tower, but within the confines of Palazzo Pfanner. For only €10, or roughly $12, you can stroll the lushest, dreamiest landscaped autumnal gardens, or wander frescoed 17th-century chambers with period furniture.
Then, of course, there’s Lucca’s never-ending list of minor medieval churches, from San Michele in Foro, with its intricate façade adorned with angels and mythological beings, to San Frediano, a 6th-century religious site housing an unusually large Ascension of Christ mosaic, and many more.
The best part? You get to explore all of this, minus the unsettling sight of 40-plus-people tour groups, clout-chasing Instagrammers, and Florence’s pickpockets.
Where To Eat In Lucca
As you can see, there’s plenty to keep you busy on a day out in Lucca, but wait, we haven’t even got to discuss the food yet!
Here are some of our favorite Italian restaurants in Lucca, what they serve, and how much you should expect to pay:
| Restaurant | Specialty | Average cost | Vibe |
| Osteria Da Pasquale | Tordelli lucchesi (meat-filled pasta) | $25–$35 | Family-owned, no-frills, cozy ambiance |
| Buca di Sant’Antonio | Homemade tagliolini with butter and truffle | $30–$40 | Wood-fired food, warm, romantic |
| Antica Locanda di Sesto | ‘Gigli’ pasta with cinta senese sausage ragù | $35–$50 | Traditional, rustic, quintessentially Tuscan |
| Pizzeria Da Felice | Thin-crust pizza | $10–$15 | Casual, affordable, local-frequented |
Getting To Lucca
Getting to Lucca this fall, the closest airports to fly into are:
- Pisa International Airport (PSA) – 30 min away
- Florence Airport (FLR) – 1 hr 10 min away
If you’re already in Italy, and you’re approaching Lucca by train, it’s a short 1h train ride from Florence. One-way tickets cost $10–$12, with trains running about every 30 minutes from Firenze S.M.N. (Santa Maria Novella Station) to Lucca Station.
From Pisa, it’s an even shorter 25–30 minute train, and tickets are as cheap as $4. If you’re coming from farther away, like Rome, you’ll first need to hop on the high-speed train to Florence or Pisa (1 hr 30 min to 2 hr 17 min, $40–$60), and then switch to the regional train to Lucca.
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