Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Lucca?

Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Lucca?

Many visitors spend one to two days in Lucca during their visit. If you're not sure how much time you might need here, we have the answers because there's so much to see and do. This city offers a number of attractions to explore, including the historic old town, the museums and landmarks, the restaurant scene, and the beautiful scenery.

Lucca is a beautiful walled city that makes a lovely base for exploring Tuscany. The city is filled with cobblestone streets and charming buildings. It's a wonderful place to explore for a day or two, or you could use it as a base for your trip to Tuscany.

Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Lucca? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is 3 days enough time in Lucca?

Three days provides ample opportunity to explore the entirety of Lucca at your own pace to experience the historic old town, the museums and landmarks, the restaurant scene, and the beautiful scenery. Then you can use this spot as a convenient base for venturing into nearby destinations where you'll discover exciting day trip options.

How to spend 3 days in Lucca

The charming atmosphere and history of the old town area is worth exploring, so spend the day learning about the history and culture of the area. The historic city is surrounded by city walls, which you can walk around. Within the walls there are cobblestone streets and a charming atmosphere.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Flavours of Lucca, Art, History, Food for Small Groups or Private ($77)
  • Discover Lucca’s Secrets on a Guided Walking Tour ($16)
  • Half-Day Lucca Traditional Food Walking Tour with Lunch ($131)

You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this city, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. There are many great Tuscan restaurants inside the city walls. Perhaps the most popular local dish is tordelli Lucchesi. Its a meat filled pasta that has a beef ragu sauce. There are also other Tuscan recipes that include steak, boar, or rabbit.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Tuscan Wine Tour in Lucca by shuttle ($153)
  • Guided E-Bike Tour with Wine Tasting from Lucca ($120)
  • Lucca Bikes and Bites with food tastings for Small Groups or Private ($97)

Lucca is a very walkable city. With only a day in the city, you'll have no trouble exploring the local sights. Much of the city can be explored on foot.

Plenty of amazing museums and famous landmarks make Lucca a special place to visit. Spend at least one full day visiting the sights that are appealing to you. There are many interesting historic sights and buildings around this charming town. You can climb to the top of the Guinigi Tower or visit the Roman Amphitheater. Many visitors enjoy walking or biking around the city walls as well. Also make sure you visit the cathedral.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Lucca City Tour and Pisa Tower with WineTasting from Livorno Port ($175)

Lucca is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. It's a beautiful city that's surrounded by walls and filled with winding streets.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Discover Lucca’s Secrets on a Guided Walking Tour ($16)
  • Half-Day Lucca Traditional Food Walking Tour with Lunch ($131)
  • 2 Hour Walking Tour at Lucca ($143)

Perhaps the most famous place in Lucca is the Guinigi Tower, so don't miss it. It might not be at the top of your list, but it's worth experiencing during your trip.

This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. The nightlife scene is most lively during the spring and summer months when tourists crowd into the city. For the highest concentration of bars, clubs, and lounges, head to Piazza Amfiteatro, Piazza San Michele and Via Fillungo.

Is 4 days enough time in Lucca?

With four days at your disposal, you'll have more than enough time to take in all that Lucca has to offer, giving you the flexibility to unwind in your hotel or use Lucca as a base for day trips to nearby destinations. You can admire the historic sights, browse the museums, taste delicious cuisine, and admire the wonderful scenery at your own pace. We have some suggestions of things to do below, too.

Lucca, Italy Lucca, Italy

How to spend 4 days in Lucca

With 4 days in Lucca, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.

Shopping in Lucca is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. The city is filled with a mix of tourist shops and more authentic local vendors. If you look hard, you can still find some interesting local items that make for a more unique and personal shopping experience.

There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Lucca.

Is 5 days enough time in Lucca?

Five days is more than sufficient for an in-depth trip to Lucca, giving you the freedom to set your own pace. Admire the historic sights, browse the museums, taste delicious cuisine, and admire the wonderful scenery on your own schedule. Then, unwind at your hotel or use Lucca as a hub for some nice day trips in the surrounding area.

How to spend 5 days in Lucca

If you have more than 5 days in Lucca, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the city has to offer.

After you've explored most of Lucca, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.

There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Lucca.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Lucca, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.

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