Lucca is a beautiful medieval walled city in the heart of Tuscany, Italy, and an ideal destination for a short European city break. Compact, walkable, and packed with history, Lucca is perfect if you’re planning a 1–2 day trip to Italy from the UK and want to experience Italian culture without the crowds of larger cities like Florence or Pisa.
In this 2-day Lucca itinerary, I’ll share how to make the most of a short visit, from walking the famous city walls and climbing historic towers to discovering hidden squares, local food spots, and some of Lucca’s most iconic landmarks. I spent two full days in Lucca, Italy, which felt like the perfect amount of time to see the highlights while still enjoying the relaxed rhythm of the city.
Day One
Italians aren’t big on breakfast, preferring to save their appetites for a long, leisurely lunch, so I recommend finding a cute café within the city walls for a cappuccino and a pastry to tide you over. I ate at Pult on Via Fillungo, watching local traders set up their shops for the day, chatting animatedly with neighbours as the city slowly came to life.
After breakfast, head straight for the walls while Lucca is still waking up. Things don’t really pick up until around 10–11am, making early morning the perfect time for a peaceful stroll.
The 4.2km city walls are wide, flat, and beautifully maintained, lined with trees and dotted with grassy bastions, picnic spots, and even a small play park. You can walk the full circuit or just a section of it. Cycling is also popular, with bike hire available both inside and outside the walls. I hired an electric bike from Biciclette Poli on Via Santa Maria 42, just beside Porta San Maria, one of the main entrances. I spent a wonderful couple of hours cycling, relaxing on benches, and stopping to photograph the rolling Tuscan hills beyond the walls.
The main shopping street, Via Fillungo, runs through the heart of the old town and is perfect for a leisurely wander. You could easily spend a couple of hours browsing the mix of independent shops, hidden lanes, cafés, and incredible-smelling restaurants tempting you in for lunch.
I opted for a ham and cheese focaccia and an obligatory Aperol Spritz at Pizzeria Itaco, after admiring everyone else’s orders from the outdoor tables. Sitting opposite another beautiful old church on Via S. Paolino, it was the perfect spot for people-watching and soaking up the sunshine before heading off in search of gelato.
My first taste of proper Italian gelato did not disappoint. I chose pistachio and hazelnut from Il Gelato di Piero, and it was everything I hoped for - creamy, soft, and packed with real flavour.
In the afternoon, it was time to burn off some gelato by climbing one of Lucca’s towers. At one point the city had over 130 towers, though only a handful remain today. The most famous is Torre Guinigi, instantly recognisable for the oak trees growing at the top. The climb is not for the faint-hearted with 230 steps, but the view over Lucca’s terracotta rooftops and out towards the lush Tuscan hills makes it completely worthwhile.
One of the things I loved most about Italy is the tradition of an aperitivo. Why haven’t we adopted this in the UK? Near my accommodation, I found Undici Undici in Piazza Antelminelli, where another Aperol Spritz was served with small bites of focaccia, Serrano ham, local cheeses, grapes, and crisps. I sat listening to Italian piano music and admiring the effortlessly elegant style of the locals.
I saved my final stop of the day for sunset. The Piazza dell’Anfiteatro is Lucca’s most photographed spot, and seeing it lit up in the evening is something special. Once a Roman amphitheatre, the oval shape is still clearly visible, with colourful buildings and restaurants encircling the piazza. Parts of the original structure remain beneath the surface, and you can still spot arches and vaults among the surrounding shops.
Dinner options in Lucca are endless. I fancied a traditional pizza and chose Piazza Napoleone, a restaurant I’d noticed the night before. Sitting outside again (always, if the weather allows), I enjoyed exactly the meal I needed before a gentle evening stroll and an early night.
Day Two
Unlike most Italians, breakfast is my favourite meal of the day. The next morning I headed to Conad for a picnic: fresh orange juice, a handmade seeded loaf, local meats and cheeses, a flaky chocolate croissant, and a pot of fresh fruit. I took everything back to the walls for another early-morning wander, sharing the space with joggers and dog walkers. It was wonderfully peaceful. I sat in one of the arches overlooking the main entrance to the city, watching Lucca slowly come to life, before stretching out on the grass with a book.
A little further along the walls are the Botanical Gardens of Lucca, which I visited next. Founded in 1820 by Maria Luisa of Bourbon, Duchess of Lucca, the gardens span over two hectares and are home to thousands of plant species. There are medicinal plants still used by locals, greenhouses, and a small pond steeped in folklore. It’s an utterly dreamy place to wander. Tickets cost around €6.
After a serene morning, I was ready for a little retail therapy before lunch. I lost myself in Lucca’s squares and lanes, picking up illustrated postcards, a fridge magnet, and a couple of beautifully designed Italian recipe books. Sitting on another perfectly placed carved bench, flicking through one of the books, I decided on pasta for lunch and headed to InPasta near my accommodation. My ravioli, sadly not noted down by my ADHD brain, was flavoured with lemon, honey, orange, and pistachio, and it was every bit as delicious as it sounds.
Renowned Italian composer Giacomo Puccini was born in Lucca, and his birthplace is now a fascinating museum dedicated to his life and work. Inside you’ll find original furniture, paintings, instruments, and the piano he composed his earliest works on. Tickets cost around €9.
Before leaving, there was one last thing on my list: a great photo of Torre Guinigi from above. That meant climbing another tower. Torre delle Ore, Lucca’s tallest tower at 50 metres, is located on Via Fillungo. After 207 narrow wooden steps, you’re rewarded with sweeping 360-degree views over the city, surrounding hills, and the famous oak trees of Torre Guinigi. The tower still houses a working clock mechanism installed in 1754, so beware of your ears if it chimes while you’re climbing.
For my final evening, I grabbed a loaded focaccia from La Cranceria on Via dei Carrozzieri. Their selection of breads was impossible to resist, and it made the perfect dinner while wandering the streets and squeezing in some last-minute shopping.
Lucca offers an incredible range of places to eat, and you’ll be spoilt for choice whatever you’re craving. If there’s somewhere specific you want to try, I’d recommend booking ahead. Traditional dishes are widely available, including Tordelli Lucchesi, crescent-shaped pasta filled with meat and served with rich ragù. For dessert, don’t miss Buccellato di Lucca, a dense ring-shaped bread flavoured with aniseed and raisins.
Lucca’s towers, warm terracotta rooftops, and quiet streets make it a wonderful city to photograph and illustrate, and many of my travel-inspired designs are created from places like this - colourful towns and cities that can be explored, even on a short trip.
If you’re looking for a destination that works perfectly as a 1 or 2 day trip in Italy, Lucca is an excellent choice. Its compact size, walkable historic centre, and wealth of landmarks make it easy to see a lot in a short amount of time. From walking the Lucca city walls and climbing Torre Guinigi, to exploring the Piazza dell’Anfiteatro and enjoying incredible food, Lucca offers a memorable Tuscan experience without needing a long stay.
Lucca is especially well suited to quick, affordable trips from the UK, whether you’re flying from Scotland or elsewhere in Britain and want to maximise your time on the ground. I visited Lucca in May and stayed near the Duomo at Casa Nocchi, booked through Booking.com. I stayed for three nights, but two days in Lucca is enough to see the main highlights although, like me, you may find yourself planning a return visit.
