How to get to Lucca: complete transport guide

How to get to Lucca by train

Lucca has a well-connected railway station located just outside the historic walls (Porta San Pietro), 5 minutes' walk from the centre. The city is served by regional trains on the Florence-Viareggio line and the Pisa-Lucca line.

From Firenze Santa Maria Novella the journey takes about 1 hour 20 minutes on direct regional trains (departures every 30-60 minutes). From Pisa Centrale it is just 25-30 minutes (very frequent trains, every 15-20 minutes). From Rome the fastest route is a Frecciarossa to Florence (1 hour 30 minutes) then a regional to Lucca. From Milan you arrive in about 3 hours 30 minutes via Florence or Pisa.

Practical tips

From Lucca station enter through Porta San Pietro and you are immediately in the heart of the walled city
Regional trains from Pisa to Lucca are cheap and very frequent: perfect for those landing in Pisa
Buy your regional ticket at the machines: it costs much less than buying on board
The station has luggage storage, useful for day visits

How to get to Lucca by car

Lucca is well served by the motorway network:

From Florence: A11 Firenze-Mare, exit Lucca Est (80 km, about 1 hour)
From Pisa: FI-PI-LI dual carriageway or A11 via Capannori (30 km, 25 minutes)
From Milan: A1 to Firenze Nord, then A11 (300 km, about 3 hours 15 minutes)
From Rome: A1 to Florence, then A11 (350 km, about 3 hours 30 minutes)
From Versilia/Viareggio: A11 or SS12 (25 km, 20 minutes)

Parking

**Carducci car park** (outside Porta Sant'Anna): the largest, paid, very close to the walls (1.50 euro/hour)
**Palatucci car park** (former Valadier, outside Porta Elisa): large, affordable and nearby
**Free parking** on Viale Luporini and Via Nottolini (residential areas outside the walls, 10 minutes' walk)
**Always park OUTSIDE the walls**: the ZTL inside is strictly enforced with active cameras. Hefty fines guaranteed
On Saturday mornings the Carducci car park hosts the market: not available

How to get to Lucca by plane

The nearest airport is Pisa Galileo Galilei, just 25 km away:

**From Pisa Airport**: People Mover to Pisa Centrale (5 minutes), then regional train to Lucca (25 minutes). Total about 40 minutes
**Car rental** at the airport (25 minutes' drive to Lucca)
**Taxi** from Pisa airport to Lucca: about 60-70 euros

Alternatives:
- **Florence Peretola** (80 km): useful for those coming from outside Europe, then tramway T2 to SMN and regional to Lucca
- **Bologna Marconi** (160 km): for low-cost flights from northern Europe, then high-speed train to Florence and regional

How to get to Lucca by bus

Bus services to Lucca are mainly operated by Autolinee Toscane (formerly CTT Nord/Vaibus):

**Florence-Lucca line**: frequent services from Florence bus station (about 1 hour 15 minutes)
**Pisa-Lucca line**: every 30 minutes (40 minutes)
**FlixBus**: direct connections from Rome, Milan, Bologna, Naples with a stop in Lucca (Piazzale Verdi)
**Autolinee Toscane Garfagnana**: connect Lucca with Barga, Castelnuovo and the Serchio Valley

The main stop is in Piazzale Verdi, inside the walls, in the heart of the city.

Local transport in Lucca

Lucca's walled old town is small (about 500 metres in diameter) and entirely walkable: Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, the Cathedral, Torre Guinigi and Via Fillungo are just minutes apart. Walking on top of the walls (4.2 km) is the best way to get your bearings.

The bicycle is the ideal transport in Lucca: flat streets and numerous rental shops inside the walls (from 15 euros/day). To reach the Lucchese villas (Villa Reale, Villa Torrigiani) or the Garfagnana you need your own transport or intercity buses.