What to do in Lucca

Activities, attractions and tours

A densely packed town with red-tiled roofs, historic buildings, and a prominent church tower.
A historic square with outdoor cafes, yellow buildings, and a prominent tower.
A historic square with cobblestone pavement, traditional buildings, and outdoor seating areas.
A historic square with colorful buildings, cobblestone pavement, and outdoor seating areas.
An aerial view of a coastal city with a beach, a pier, and mountains in the background.

Lucca Attractions

Let Expedia help you experience the best that Lucca has to offer! If you’re looking for fun itinerary ideas, we can provide you with a list of the top sightseeing attractions, as well as helping you to find unmissable activities. Whether you’re travelling with your family, planning a romantic trip with your loved one, or visiting on business, we’ll make it easy to plan an unforgettable holiday that checks all the boxes.

Activities and Tours

Lucca is crammed with must-see places to visit and things to do. We can help you decide where to stay, and make it a breeze to explore the surrounding areas with our guides on where to go, what to see and when to see it. No matter how long your stay, it’s easy to find places of interest in Lucca to make sure that you enjoy your experience to the fullest and don’t miss a thing. Leave the local knowledge to us and leave the hassle behind.

If you’re planning a visit, why not check out our handy guides to places of interest in the area? You can browse lists of things to do, learn about the most popular attractions, and get help with planning the details of your trip. Expedia makes it easy for you to check out all the top sights.

Lucca Attractions

Expedia has something for everyone, so whether you’re planning to get active on a summer holiday, put a spring in your step with a romantic rendezvous, or pamper yourself with a leisurely winter trip, you’ll find plenty of attractions to keep you entertained. In addition to scheduling local tours, booking reservations and scoring advance event tickets, Expedia makes it easy to book your flight, hotel and rental car in advance, all on one consolidated travel itinerary, making for hassle-free travel and freeing you up to explore the sights of Lucca.

Looking for things to do can be time consuming, but we can take the hassle out of planning your holiday. Whether you’re looking to get active in the great outdoors, sample the cuisine or catch up with the vibrant local culture, our guides to Lucca attractions ensure that you’ll have a successful trip, whatever the season.

Things to do


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Top places to visit

1. Piazza Napoleone

With rock concerts, cafés, interesting architecture and a wide open space, the sprawling tree-lined Piazza Napoleone has a broad appeal that attracts thousands of visitors every day.
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A street lined with yellow buildings, a sign for Via Becceria, and people walking and cycling.

2. Piazza dell'Anfiteatro

Pull up a seat at a pavement café, sip a strong espresso and people-watch in one of Lucca’s most beautiful squares. Piazza dell’Anfiteatro is enclosed by brightly colored buildings of uneven heights. It was built on the ruins of a second-century Roman amphitheater where chariots raced. More maudlin, gladiators once fought to the death in front of crowds of up to 10,000 spectators within the piazza’s walls.
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A sculpture of a seated figure in a public square with buildings in the background.

3. Guinigi Tower

Rising 145 feet (44 meters) into the air and crowned by a roof garden of centuries-old holm oaks, Guinigi Tower is one of the most intriguing sights of the Lucchese skyline.
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A tree with a metal railing overlooking a cityscape with buildings and a tower.

4. Palazzo Pfanner

Immerse yourself in baroque splendor in one of Lucca’s most elegant sights, Palazzo Pfanner, a 17th-century palace famous for its frescoes, walled garden and classical music concerts. The palace was originally built for the wealthy Moriconi family in the 1660s. Since then it has changed hands several times, coming into the possession of the Pfanner family in 1856. They are still the owners of the property.
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A courtyard with two statues on pedestals, a gated entrance, and a building with arches and columns.

5. Lucca Roman Amphitheatre

Stroll through one of the many archways into Lucca’s Roman Amphitheatre and you’ll notice bright yellow buildings arranged in an elliptical shape, a significant focal point in a unique destination town. Try to imagine the armed gladiators fighting beasts to the death for the entertainment of a roaring crowd. Up to 10,000 spectators once sat in the stands here. Originally an arena for gladiatorial blood sports, the structure became a fortified military base, a warehouse, a prison and eventually, a bustling city square.
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A yellow building with green shutters, outdoor seating, and people walking in front.

6. Basilica of San Frediano

The first thing that attracts your attention is the gold Byzantine-style mosaic at the top of the wide facade. The decorative piece represents the Ascension of Christ, below which are depictions of the 12 apostles. Inside the Basilica di San Frediano the views are just as arresting, with several notable works of art and the mummified body of a saint.
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A historic square with a prominent church featuring a colorful mosaic, surrounded by traditional buildings with green shutters.

7. Torre delle Ore

Look down on Lucca’s Renaissance walls and narrow streets from the highest point in the city, the top of the Clock Tower.
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A historic cityscape with prominent architecture, including a large white building with arched windows and a bell tower.

8. Cathedral of St Martin

The Cathedral of St. Martin has been part of Lucca since the 11th century. The elaborate architectural designs come from renovation work from the 12th century onward as little remains of the original building. Housed within is an ancient venerated crucifix.
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A grand hall with ornate blue and gold ceiling patterns and white columns.

What to do in Lucca


Stay near popular Lucca attractions

Where to stay in Lucca

Find the best Lucca areas and neighborhoods for the activities you enjoy most. Learn more about Lucca
Learn more about Lucca

Lucca Historical Center

Unique features of Lucca Historical Center include the historic sites and cafes. Make a stop by Piazza Napoleone or Lucca City Hall while you're exploring the area.

Pontetetto

Though Pontetetto might not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Porta San Pietro and Piazza Napoleone.

 

Looking for fun things to do nearby? Check things to do near me to find and book the best things to do, fun activities, and top attractions wherever you happen to be.

 


 

Day trip destinations from Lucca

Frequently asked questions

Is Lucca worth visiting?
One of the most common things to do in Lucca is visit Cathedral of St Martin. Tick this major attraction off your itinerary, then discover more of the area's camping and walking trails.
How do I spend a day in Lucca?
After you've visited key attractions like Palazzo Mansi National Museum and Real Collegio, spend some time discovering the food and retail options in Lucca.
What is the top tourist attraction in Lucca?
Don't leave without checking out Cathedral of St Martin, ranked the top tourist attraction in Lucca.
Is three days enough to stay in Lucca?
You can easily enjoy leading sights like Cathedral of St Martin, Teatro del Giglio and Museum of Torture with a three-day break in Lucca. On average, many travellers book three days here. There's plenty to discover nearby too, so stay a little longer and venture to Pisa.
Is Lucca a walkable city?
It all comes down to what you plan to see and do in Lucca. Several sights, including Cathedral of St Martin and Teatro del Giglio, are accessible on foot. If you're up for a wander around some of Lucca's best neighbourhoods, Lucca Historical Centre is 0.32 kilometres away from downtown, while Massa Pisana is 3 kilometres away from the centre and also within walking distance.
What are some activities to do in Lucca with kids?
What to do in Lucca for adults?
Whether you're an avid foodie, culture enthusiast or outdoor explorer, there's no shortage of things to do in Lucca for adults including Tenuta del Buonamico and Fattoria Sardigiustiniani s.s.a.
Are there free things to do in Lucca?
In Lucca, Cathedral of St Martin is a must-see spot for anyone looking to see the city without opening their wallet. Also, stroll around the local parks and neighbourhoods, and ask for tips from a local tour guide. It's a great way to discover the best free things to do in Lucca.

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