Where To Stay in Lucca for History, Culture & the Great Outdoors

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably already decided to make Lucca your next holiday destination. This Tuscan province offers a diverse blend of landscapes, from bucolic countryside to ancient towns and a dramatic coastline. Wondering where to stay in Lucca? There’s something for everyone here, be it seaside cities or peaceful market towns, so trying to decide where to base yourself can feel overwhelming. Lucky for you, our travel experts at Plum Guide know a thing or two about this part of Tuscany – keep reading for our favourite places to stay.

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It goes without saying that there is no list of where to stay in Lucca would be complete without a mention of the province’s capital. It’s a great place to stay for those who want to experience an Italian city without the number of tourists that nearby Florence and Pisa see. But the absence of large crowds doesn’t mean that there’s nothing to do here – quite the opposite, in fact, as you’ll find plenty of exciting reasons to visit Lucca.

Architecture lovers can spend long days strolling through the historic centre encircled by Renaissance-era walls. There are numerous grand palaces like Palazzo Ducale and Palazzo Pfanner, as well as ancient churches to discover – our favourites are the magnificent Lucca Cathedral and the Church of San Giuseppe. If you’re feeling up to it, climb one of the many medieval towers, such as the Guinigi Tower, for breathtaking views across the city and countryside.

Depending on when you visit, you’ll also get to experience some of Lucca’s cultural events and festivals. The Lucca Summer Festival is a month-long schedule of concerts performed in historic venues across the city. In the fall, the Lucca Comics and Games festival showcases tournaments and cosplayers, whereas the Settembre Lucchese is a mix of music and art performances.

Lucca is also a fantastic base for those who want to explore more of Tuscany. From here, you can enjoy day trips to the various wineries set in the nearby hills – we recommend Fattoria Sardi for its exquisite Sangiovese, Merlots and Syrahs.

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Just a forty-minute drive north of Lucca is the pretty spa town of Bagni di Lucca. Its thermal springs are thought to have healing properties, and people have been coming to bathe in its waters since Roman times. The town is a lovely destination for those seeking rest and relaxation, where you can spend your days pampering yourself with a range of beauty treatments in various spas and thermal baths like Terme Bagno Bernabo.

But it’s not all R&R here. Surrounded by lush countryside, the town serves as an excellent base for outdoor enthusiasts, with many hiking, cycling and horse riding trails. You’ll also find the Orrido di Botri nearby, a spectacular canyon in the Serchio Valley. Boasting waterfalls, dramatic gorges and inlets of water, the canyon is perfect for those who want to trek off the beaten track. There’s also the Canyon Park adventure park where you can try various outdoor activities like paddleboarding, zip-lining and rock climbing.

Whether you’ve spent the day at the spa or getting a sweat on in the mountains, Bagni di Lucca offers a handful of bars and restaurants for you to try the local cuisine. We love Ristorante Circolo dei Forestieri, which is set in a stunning period building.

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Barga is a picturesque town nestled in the Serchio Valley, just a twenty-five-minute drive from Bagni di Lucca. It’s found in the Garfagnana, a verdant area surrounded by the Apennines and the Apuan Alps. Nature lovers looking for somewhere to stay in Lucca will want to be based here, as there are plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventures such as hiking and cycling. The nearby Parco dell’Orecchiella on the slopes of the Apennines is a wonderful place to explore, with a range of trails of varying difficulty. It’s also home to an interesting botanical garden – the Giardino Botanico Maria Ansaldi Pania di Corfino – with rare and endangered plants and species used for cooking and medicine by the local communities in the area.

You may want to be out and about in the great outdoors daily, but Barga is worth spending time in. Once an important market town, its winding alleys are lined with colourful Renaissance-era buildings, historic palaces and bustling squares – visit Piazza Salvi to see the Loggia dei Mercanti where silk, cheese and honey were traded. The Cathedral of San Cristofano (or Duomo di Barga) is a grand piece of architecture watching over the town. From up here, you’ll be treated to mesmerising views of the surrounding peaks and valleys.

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Even further up the valley is Castelnuovo di Garfagnana. Considered to be the capital of Garfagnana, this town is a magical blend of nature and history. Its crowning glory is Rocca Ariostesca, a 12th-century castle named after Ludovico Ariosto, an Italian poet who lived in the town in the early 1500s. Today, it’s home to the Archaeological Museum and is used as an events space. After brushing up on your history, have a wander through the town and pop into the selection of independent shops and boutiques. If you’re here on a Thursday, be sure to browse the market stalls for everything from fresh local produce to clothes and bric-a-brac.

Keen hikers should visit the nearby Alpi Apuane Geopark. The mountain range offers day and multi-day routes, where you can discover pristine mountain lakes, karst caves and dramatic views. When you feel like exploring the rest of Tuscany, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana is well connected by road and rail to Lucca, Pisa, Florence and the coast.

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Wondering where to stay in Lucca for a seaside break? With its breathtaking countryside, Tuscany’s coastline goes largely unnoticed. But take a trip to the seaside and you’ll find 230 kilometres of stunning beaches and azure waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

One of the best seaside cities to stay in is Viareggio. It’s largely known for its carnival, a celebration that takes place for an entire month each spring. This is one of Italy’s best-known carnivals, with marching bands, costumes, floats and dancers taking over the promenade known as the Passeggiata. But there’s plenty to do even if you’re not visiting during the spring. Take your pick from the many glorious beaches, where rows of loungers provide the perfect spot to set up for a beach day. There are family-friendly sections with calm, shallow waters as well as stretches where you can try all kinds of watersports. Being by the sea, it’s a no-brainer that Viareggio serves up some of the best seafood in Tuscany. There is an abundance of seafood restaurants dotted around the city, from traditional trattorias to upscale establishments. For special occasions, Osteria Pazza Idea is a fantastic choice.

The city is also a popular destination for art and architecture enthusiasts. Stroll down the promenade and admire the dazzling Liberty and Art Deco buildings from the early 20th century. Worth visiting is Villa Argentina, an Art Nouveau museum with ornate decorations, as well as Villa Borbone, a historic palace surrounded by lush gardens.

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Another coastal town worth staying in is Pietrasanta, just a twenty-minute drive up the coast from Viareggio. It’s been dubbed ‘Little Athens’ thanks to its rich artistic heritage and proximity to Carrara, notable for its marble quarries – the Bozzetti Museum is a must-visit for its marble and bronze art. Pietrasanta is also home to a large number of galleries and permanent open-air sculptures such as the Warrior of Botero and the Centaur, and the Annunciation of Mitoraj. Take your time wandering through the town centre, breaking up your museum and gallery tours with a quick drink in one of the many wine bars.

Fans of historic buildings should add Pietrasanta’s churches to their itinerary. Overlooking the Piazza Duomo (used as an event space for exhibitions), the Cathedral of San Martino is one of the town’s finest buildings, dating back to the 13th century. Beyond its marble facade, you’ll find a collection of incredible artwork and architectural features, including paintings, a marble pulpit and a 14th-century wooden crucifix. Also in the piazza is the deconsecrated church of Sant’Agostino with its spectacular cloister and Baroque bell tower.

When you’re not nose-deep in art, take the day off and relax by the sea. The maritime district of Marina di Pietrasanta is just an eight-minute drive from the historical centre. Stretching for 5 kilometres, the beach here is never too crowded, and there are plenty of bars, restaurants and gelaterias for when you get hungry.

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