Lucca guide
How to get to Lucca and where to stay
For many visitors, the best Lucca stay is not about having a car at the door. It is about choosing a calm base inside the Renaissance walls, then walking to the city’s squares, restaurants, shops and evening life. You can reach Lucca comfortably by plane, train or car, then live the old town on foot.
By plane
The most convenient airport is Pisa (Galilei): from the terminal, bus or People Mover to Pisa Centrale station, then a regional train to Lucca (about 20–30 minutes in total). Florence Peretola is also common: tram or taxi to Santa Maria Novella station, then a regional train to Lucca (about 1–1.5 hours). A taxi from the airport all the way to Lucca is possible but expensive — always check times and tickets on Trenitalia before you travel.
By train
You arrive at Lucca station on the Pisa–Florence line. From Note tra le Mura at Via Pelleria 14 it is about 20 minutes on foot with luggage; alternatively a few minutes by local bus or taxi to the apartment.
By car
Take the A11 motorway (Florence–coast) and exit at Lucca Ovest, then follow signs for the city centre. The old town has limited-traffic zones — do not drive into the ZTL without permission. Park as in the section below and continue on foot with your luggage.
Why stay inside the walls
Lucca’s historic centre is compact, flat and made for walking. Staying inside the walls means you can leave the apartment in the morning, reach Piazza San Michele, Piazza Napoleone, Via Fillungo or the city walls on foot, and return during the day without reorganising parking or transport.
Old town vs outside the walls
Accommodation outside the walls can work well for drivers, but international guests often prefer the old town because the experience is more immediate: breakfast nearby, evening walks, restaurants close by and less dependence on taxis or repeated car journeys.
Parking
Lucca’s centre has limited-traffic areas, so most guests park outside or near the walls and continue on foot with luggage. A convenient option is Parcheggio Palatucci, west of the walls on Via delle Tagliate di Sant’Anna; from the pedestrian access towards Porta San Donato or the Santa Croce bastion it is typically about 8 minutes on foot to the old town, then a few more minutes to Via Pelleria. For a free parking option, check Piazzale Maestri del Lavoro: it is outside the walls and usually around 15-20 minutes on foot from Via Pelleria 14, depending on the exact spot and pace. Parking rules can change, so always check the signs on arrival.
Who this area suits
This part of Lucca is a good fit for families, couples and small groups who want restaurants, monuments and quiet streets close together. The apartment is on the second floor of a historic building with two short flights of stairs and no lift, so it is best for guests comfortable with stairs. For eating out, a day in town and day trips from Lucca, see our other guides.
Note tra le Mura is at Via Pelleria 14, inside Lucca’s walls.
See the apartment