Cheap things to do in Lucca
Walls, pasta, Roman ruins and a proper cocktail, all without breaking the bank.
This is Lucca at its most local: mornings fuelled by focaccia and gelato, afternoons on the city walls for free, evenings in trattorias that have been feeding the same neighbourhood for decades. It suits anyone who would rather spend money on a second bowl of tordelli than a hotel breakfast buffet.
Day 1: The old city on foot
Start underground in a Roman baptistery, surface for fresh pasta, then walk the full wall circuit before a plate of tordelli and a late cocktail.
- 9:30 AM
Forno Amedeo Giusti
Queue with locals for warm focaccia straight from the historic oven, the cheapest, most Lucchese breakfast you'll find.
Map - 10:15 AM
Santi Giovanni e Reparata
Descend through Roman houses and an early Christian baptistery, archaeological layers right under the church floor, small entry fee.
Map - 12:30 PM
In Pasta, Cibo e Convivio
Fresh pasta made in-house at street-food-plus prices, seasonal filled pastas and generous salads, perfect thrifty lunch.
Map - 2:15 PM
Lucca walls cycle
Free elevated 4.2 km walk along the tree-lined city walls, the best afternoon stroll in Lucca with views over the rooftops.
Map - 7:30 PM
Trattoria da Giulio
80 years feeding Lucchesi, order the tordelli lucchesi and sausage with beans, earthy and cheap.
Map - 9:15 PM
Franklin '33
A small speakeasy-style bar near Piazza San Michele; ask for a classic and let them make it properly.
Map
Day 2: Palazzo Pfanner to the amphitheatre
Buccellato for breakfast, the gold mosaic of San Frediano, pici with rabbit ragu, a tower climb, and nightcap drinks in a piazza that was once a Roman arena.
- 9:30 AM
Pasticceria Taddeucci
Baking buccellato since 1881; take a slice of the anise and raisin ring standing at the counter with a coffee.
Map - 10:15 AM
Basilica di San Frediano
Free to enter: a gold mosaic facade, a carved Romanesque font and the body of Saint Zita in a glass case.
Map - 12:30 PM
Osteria dal Manzo
Rustic Tuscan kitchen a short walk away, locals keep coming back for the pici with rabbit ragù done properly.
Map - 3:00 PM
Torre Guinigi
Climb 230 steps to the holm oaks growing on top for the best view of the amphitheatre's oval; no booking needed.
Map - 7:30 PM
Osteria Baralla
Historic osteria set inside the amphitheatre vault, farro soup and traditional plates in one of Lucca's most atmospheric rooms.
Map - 9:15 PM
Piazza dell'Anfiteatro
Nightcap in the oval piazza built into the Roman amphitheatre footprint, Lucca's living room, buzzing with locals after dark.
Map
Day 3: Day trip to Pisa
Coffee from a serious roastery, a Gothic marble church on the Arno, Keith Haring for free, and cecina from a wood oven to finish.
- 9:30 AM
Filter Coffee Lab
Pisa's serious specialty roastery cafe, proper morning coffee to kick off the day.
Map - 10:15 AM
Santa Maria della Spina
Gothic marble gem right on the Arno, free to admire outside, one of Pisa's most striking landmarks.
Map - 12:30 PM
Trattoria Sant'Omobono
Pisan home cooking in a former church, order the bordatino or pan-fried rabbit, wallet-friendly.
Map - 2:15 PM
Tuttomondo (Keith Haring mural)
Keith Haring's massive 1989 mural on Sant'Antonio church, free, unmissable, one of his last works.
Map - 7:30 PM
Pizzeria da Nando
700-year street-food tradition: chickpea cecina baked in a wood oven, cut to order, as cheap and local as it gets.
Map
Where to stay
B&B Anfiteatro
Budget price, right on the amphitheatre piazza, puts you steps from days one and two.
Ostello San Frediano
Ostello San Frediano is the best-value bed inside the walls, with a sociable common room and a central location that works for every day of this plan.
Make Lucca your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App StoreBefore you go
Book ahead
- Torre Guinigi: a few days ahead
- Torre delle Ore: a few days ahead
- Puccini e la sua Lucca: a few days ahead
- Lucca Bikes and Bites: a few days ahead
- Ciclovia Puccini Lucca to Pisa: a few days ahead
- Rafting on the Lima River: a few days ahead
Skip these
- Eating on the Anfiteatro oval frontage by default, have the drink there and eat a street away.
- Doing Lucca as a rushed 3 hour day trip and missing the evening Puccini recital and the passeggiata.
- Paying luxury prices for a large group coach that gives Lucca only 60 to 90 minutes.
- Driving into the ZTL, sat nav does not outrank the varco attivo signs.
The full Lucca travel guide: when to go, safety, getting around