Lucca and trips from Lucca

H

HanaN.

Member
Hi, I will be staying in Lucca near Piazza Napoleone in September, will have time since Saturday late afternoon till next Saturday.
Will be seeing this town and want to go to other places near Lucca. I wont have a car as i dont drive so i need to go on tours or use my feet or public transport.

Would be very grateful for any useful suggestions :)
What to see, where to eat ? Is there some tourist price reduction card for Lucca?
What is absolutely necessary to see in Lucca? good eateries ?

I want to go by train to Cinque Terre, will buy a Cinque Terre Card. It is more economical than an organized tour and not less fun :) its also possible to buy a day ticket for boat transport among the villages I read on the net. Which of the villages to not miss???

I would like to see Barga or some of Garfagnana - any hints ? Also how to get there best. and maybe to Torre del Lago (am an pera fan).

I was thinking of visiting some thermal spas (Montecatini Therme, Bagni Lucca???) what do you suggest? i am not able to spend too much.

I would like to go to the seaside - Viareggio ? I think Viareggio could be a good choice if i am staying in Lucca but am rather worried where to bath, which beach (i dont mind paid beach with reasonable prices) but i am rather worried about where to leave my money and cell phone and other precious things while being swimming. any lockers on some beach??
 I simply want to enjoy also the Tuscan sea for a little while, not necessarily in Viareggio (the same safety question is there for possible bathing on some Cinque Terre beach - where to swim in Cinque Terre).

I found out there is quite a good connection by train to Pistoia and Prato ... Would you recommend it?
I know it is probably possible to travel to Carrara and Volterra (maybe an organized tour) ... or go to some little town in Chianti (there should be easy connection to some places in Chianti from Lucca by bus.... ?).

I was already in Firenze in 2014 for a week or so but if there is a gooood exhibition in Firenze, i would go. and i will probably have some time for Firenze on the Saturday of my departure back home.
I was for a little trips in Pisa and Siena and San Gimignano but if there is a gooood exhibition or something feel free to tell me:)

I have only six days plus day of my arrival (late afternoon, evening) plus day of departure (i go in the morning to Firenze, stay a little in Firenze and in early evening i leave Firenze going home).

Many thanks for your advice. Please help.
 
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Traveling in Lucca

Buongiorno,

Busy Busy Busy!!!

Fantastic - first thing is there is no good connection to Chianti from Lucca. If you are staying in Florence (Firenze) then make your day trip into Chianti during this time.

Both Prato and Pistoia are definite must sees for a season traveller like yourself - both are easily accessible from Florence and make excellent day trips

https://www.discovertuscany.com/pistoia/
https://www.discovertuscany.com/prato/

I know you said Viareggio - which definitely has some great beaches (the article below will give you a few pointers of where to go), but I would also tell you to check out Livorno which has quite a few surprises for a curious traveller.

https://www.discovertuscany.com/viareggio/
https://www.discovertuscany.com/livorno/

Buon Viaggio,
Donna Denise
 
Thanks!!i am concerned very much about the safety on beach.is there a beach , paid, with lockers to put things in?
Livorno looks interesting.
What d"o you think of my spa plans + cinque terre plans?

Is it good idea to take ferry to Sardegna???



DonnaDenise said:
Buongiorno,

Busy Busy Busy!!!

Fantastic - first thing is there is no good connection to Chianti from Lucca. If you are staying in Florence (Firenze) then make your day trip into Chianti during this time.

Both Prato and Pistoia are definite must sees for a season traveller like yourself - both are easily accessible from Florence and make excellent day trips

https://www.discovertuscany.com/pistoia/
https://www.discovertuscany.com/prato/

I know you said Viareggio - which definitely has some great beaches (the article below will give you a few pointers of where to go), but I would also tell you to check out Livorno which has quite a few surprises for a curious traveller.

https://www.discovertuscany.com/viareggio/
https://www.discovertuscany.com/livorno/

Buon Viaggio,
Donna Denise
Click to expand...
 
Buongiorno,

yes you will find beaches with lockers to store your stuff.

read our article about CT and it should give you some pointers: http://www.discovertuscany.com/cinque-terre/

As per a spa day...with so much else on your itin, will you even have time?:p

I have never been to Sardegna, but everyone (absolutely everyone) tells me that it is beautiful and definitely worth the trip.

Donna Denise
 
I will look at the beach link. I would like to spend some time not much on beach and in thermal spas, i do always much sightseeing.i think also countryside, barga????, beach, spas is part of tuscany. I suppose sardegna is worth going,but for a day trip???does it pay??
 
Thanks for all your advice.
I have late afternoon and evening on Saturday 17th., than Monday-till Friday, on Saturday 24th i go to Firenze in the morning and in the late afternoon i leave Firenze by bus going home.
Its not that much time.
I have already paid for the accomodation in Lucca and I will be staying in Lucca all the time but I can make day trips by train or bus (I dont drive).
I have never been to Lucca, I spent more than one week in Firenze two years ago, seeing also Pisa, Siena and San Gimignano for a day trip.

What schedule would YOU recommend me if i stay in Lucca? How much for Lucca and which are the best places for day trips??

How about the Torre del Lago? I am an opera fan.
Which of the Cinque Terre villages to see? Or shall i go twice for a day trip? I think I might swim in Monterosso or somewhere else if I find a beach with lockers or seeming safe and to go to some other village too...to see two in one day??
maybe it would be wise to make there one or two oneday trips now and return some time in future and spend another time in Tuscany (staying a few nights in Cinque Terre and some night in other Tuscan place)
Is it possible to see Pistoia AND Prato in one day???

DonnaDenise said:
Buongiorno,

yes you will find beaches with lockers to store your stuff.

read our article about CT and it should give you some pointers: http://www.discovertuscany.com/cinque-terre/

As per a spa day...with so much else on your itin, will you even have time?:p

I have never been to Sardegna, but everyone (absolutely everyone) tells me that it is beautiful and definitely worth the trip.

Donna Denise
Click to expand...
 
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Ciao Hana,

I would definitely rule out Sardegna as out of the question -- not a day trip but a vacation on itself.

I would do Pistoia and Prato in one day, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon.

I would also do a whole day in CT and see as much as you can -- you can go from one town to the next with the train. Absolutely visit Vernazza and Manarola, you can skip Corniglia and if possible, Monterosso and Riomaggiore. Beach in Monterosso. I assume you're traveling solo given your concern about leaving your things on the beach but if your base is in Lucca, don't carry around valuables with you on your day trips. Most places have a safe box in the room, so leave documents (carry a photocopy with you at all times) and as much as possible there when you head out - basically just carry what you think you'll need for the day. There are lots of pickpockets, particularly in CT.

You can do train to Garfagnana and Gallicano, with bus to Barga to enjoy the small town. The area is very popular with hikers, so if you enjoy it, plan a walk there!

As for affordable spa/thermal centers -- there are affordable ones all around, search for the spas in Montecatini Terme (easily reachable by train) and take a look at their price list.

As far as Chianti (and to Carrara, for example), I would recommend a group tour - take a look at the ones offered from Lucca here: https://www.partner.viator.com/en/8357/Lucca-tours/Tours-and-Sightseeing/d22436-g12

Make sure to dedicate at least an entire day to Lucca too! Here are some recommendations for a day itinerary as well as info on places to eat: http://www.discovertuscany.com/lucca/
 
Thank you very much for the advice.

I was unable to find a nice place in the Montecatini.Maybe if I travel there to see the town itself i will find something on spot.
Sardegna is tempting but next time.
Elba is also not easy to go on a trip from Lucca, I suppose.
 
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