Travelling to Lucca
Lucca can be reached by bus, train and car. Lucca centre, the 'centro storico' is largely pedestrianised. The easiest way to travel there is on foot from a car park, the train station or by bus.
When you are in Tuscany, a trip to Lucca is a highlight. Surrounded by intact fortified walls, this city has a long history. Founded by the Etruscans, it became a Roman Colony in 180BC - the traces of the Roman city live on in the layout of the city itself, most obviously in the gorgeous oval "Piazza dell'Anfiteatro" based on the ancient Roman amphitheatre. It was a powerful independent commune in the middle ages and was later a favourite of Napoleon, who gifted the city to his sister.
Careful travel planning will save time and allow you to make the most of your day there. With that in mind, I have written this guide in order to share some useful tips I have gained from my own personal experience of getting to Lucca.
Here is my advice for how to get to Lucca, with travel times from the nearest airports, as well as train, bus and parking information.
Which airport do you fly to for Lucca?
There is no Lucca airport so you cannot fly there directly, but Pisa Airport is very close and is the best option if you can find flights that suit you, followed by Florence, Bologna, Rome and Genoa, in that order. Pisa airport is the most popular for flights to Siena within Europe, while Rome is the most likely arrival airport for US and Canadian visitors.
Travel times to Lucca from the closest Airports
| Airport | Code | Driving Time | By Train or Bus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pisa | PSA | 30 min | 40 min |
| Florence | FLR | 50 min | 1 hr |
| Bologna | BLQ | 1 hr 40 min | 2 hr 45 min |
| Genoa | GOA | 2 hr | 3 hr |
| Perugia | PEG | 3 hr | 5 hr 15 min |
| Rome Fiumicino | FCO | 3hr 30 min | 4 hr |
| Rome Ciampino | CIA | 4 hr | 4hr 30 min |
Closest airports to Lucca
| Airport | Code | Address | Airport Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pisa | PSA | Piazzale D'ascanio, 1, 56121 Pisa | pisa-airport.com |
| Florence | FLR | Via del Termine, 11, 50127 Firenze | aeroporto.firenze.it |
| Bologna | BLQ | Via del Triumvirato, 84, 40132 Bologna | bologna-airport.it |
| Genoa | GOA | Via Pionieri e Aviatori d'Italia, 1, 16154 Genova | airport.genova.it |
| Perugia | PEG | Via dell'aeroporto snc, 06134 Perugia | airport.umbria.it |
| Rome Fiumicino | FCO | Via dell' Aeroporto di Fiumicino, 00054 Fiumicino RM | adr.it/web/aeroporti-di-roma |
| Rome Ciampino | CIA | Via Appia Nuova, 1651, 00040 Roma | adr.it/web/aeroporti-di-roma |
Getting to Lucca by train
Train is a great way to travel to Lucca - as the city centre is pedestrianised you'll only have to park your car somewhere when you arrive. You can then hire a bike to explore the city, or take a Taxi.
Where to buy train tickets in Italy
There are several websites, but I've found myself using Trainline.com as it works right across Europe and is reliable and intuitive. Digital tickets are becoming more common but if you do have physical tickets you must always remember to punch them or "obliterate" them in the special machines, delightfully called "obliterators" (obliteratici). Your ticket won't be valid unless you've time-stamped it so beware!
ALERT: Always remember to stamp your ticket before travel. This is the case for buses and for trains!
How to get to Lucca from Pisa by train
Pisa Airport to Lucca by Train
The train is a great way to get from Pisa to Lucca. From the airport take the PisaMover to the main central station. Turn left when you exit arrivals and the PisaMover is at the end of the airport.
It will take 5 minutes to get to the central station from the airport. From the central station, you can take a direct train to Lucca. The trip will take around 22 to 27 minutes and cost around €4 (four EUR).
Please note You cannot buy tickets for the Pisa Mover in the main railway station. You have to walk down to the Pisa Mover itself where there are separate train ticket machines.
How to get to Lucca by train from Florence
Florence Airport to Lucca
If you are landing in Florence airport, you can get a shiny new tram into the centre of Florence. The line you'll need is the T2 Vespucci. The trip from the airport to the railway station will take around 20 minutes and deliver you to the main Florence railway station of Santa Maria Novella.
You can buy a ticket for the tram at the stop from an automatic machine. Contactless cards will work and a one-way ticket is €1.70.
From Florence "Santa Maria Novella" a train will take you to Lucca station in around 1 hr 40 min, usually with a change in Pistoia. Prices start at around €9 one way (yes, trains really are an affordable option in Italy!).
Getting to Lucca by Train from Rome or Bologna
To reach Lucca from Rome or Bologna you must first reach Florence and then follow the instructions above. Very fast trains run from both cities to Florence.
A fast train from Rome will take around 1 hr 40 min and cost from €20 - or €28.90 for First Class Travel.
A fast train from Bologna will take around 40 min and cost from €18.90. A slower train will take around 1 hr 45 min and cost under €10.
Getting to Lucca by train from Genoa Airport
You can get a shuttle called "VolaBus" from the airport into Genoa Station, Genova Piazza Principe - it takes 30 min and runs every 40 mins. It is sometimes easier to take a taxi.
From Genoa station a train ride will take you to Lucca in around 2 hr 20 min, with a change in Viareggio and at a cost of around €17.00.
How to get to Lucca from Perugia Airport
From Perugia airport you can get a bus to Perugia Train Station.
From Perugia a train can get you to Lucca in just over 4 hr, with a couple of changes at a cost of around €26.
How to get into Lucca Centre from the Train Station
The train station in Lucca is close to the centre, so an easy walk will get you into the city centre. Piazza Napoleone is under 10 minutes, San Michele in Foro and Piazza dell'anfiteatro both around 15 min.
If you prefer to take a bus, and with little ones it may be necessary, little buses do run into the city centre.
Getting to Lucca by car
All of Lucca's historic city centre is closed off to traffic; and many of the areas that do allow cars are exclusively reserved to residents. Once you reach the city you will need to park outside the walls; there are a few parking areas inside the walls but be wary and make sure you read the signs and look for indications that it is parking open to everyone.
If you decide to drive to Lucca, you will find that directions to Lucca by way of road signs are well marked and frequent on the main roads in particular. Lucca is close to the A11 Motorway, the Firenze - Mare, a fast road that connects Florence with Pisa and the Versilia Coast. If you’re coming from either the North or South, you need to take A11 and exit at Lucca Est or Ovest.
If you’re coming from the Pisa or Florence airports and have a rented car, start by following the indications to the A11 in both cases.
Parking near me in Lucca
| Parking Lot | Address | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Parcheggio Mazzini | Via dei Bacchettoni | Piazza dell'Anfiteatro |
| Parcheggio Stazione | Piazzale B. Ricasoli | Railway Station |
| Parcheggio Cittadella | Via della Cittadella | City Centre (narrow access) |
| Parcheggio Via del Peso | Via del Peso | Piazza Napoleone |
Generally, with all these car parks, you take a ticket on entering and then go to a machine to pay on your return. The charges are not too bad, usually around 2 Euro per hour or 35 Euro for a day.
Where to stay near Lucca
We recommend this fabulous villa in the hills close to Lucca:
Villa Fobbia, luxury villa close to Lucca
You can see all our Villas near Lucca here.
Or simply get in touch for advice: Ask us about finding a villa close to Lucca