Lucca is a great place to stay for short breaks or longer periods where it can be used as an excellent base to explore the rest of Tuscany 

Many tourists visit Lucca sometimes for just a morning or afternoon en route from Pisa or Florence. Indeed the main attractions can be seen in such a short time-frame but rarely fully appreciated. We always tell people to stay in Lucca as its quieter and easier to really get to know, its the perfect base for day trips to Florence, Sienna and Pisa- just a bit more relaxed than the hustle and bustle of those cities.

A weekend in Lucca will allow time to stroll through its charming streets, to pick an interesting place to eat and browse at the many local individual shops. Our recommendation is to hire a bike so as to cycle around the walls and streets like the locals do – its easy to get lost but equally easy to find a familiar landmark such as the Guinigi Tower or the Anfiteatro.

A week in Lucca gives you time to know the city well and to explore the districts just outside the walls such as Borgo Giannotti, San Concordia, San Marco and Sant’Anna. You a likely to experience at least one festival or local event that occur regularly.

A month’s stay can allow you to rent an apartment or villa and live like a local – stay a year and you are almost a Lucchese!