There are tourists here, but it is significantly less crowded than Florence or Rome. You will definitely find a lot more locals in this town.

Lucca is a mid-sized city (around 90,000 people) on the northwestern edge of Tuscany. It`s about a 30-minute drive or train ride from the tourist droves in Pisa. But somehow, Lucca has escaped everybody`s notice. It`s not for lack of charm. Lucca is high up there on a list of the most charming Tuscan cities. What is the main draw for this city is its “everyday-ness`. It`s a place still owned and operated by local people – not the tourist-industrial complex. It`s simply a delight to wander.

People have been calling Lucca the hidden gem of Tuscany for literally years, but somehow the droves of tourists and travelers have yet to overtake the town. Maybe having Pisa as a neighbor has something to do with it. Most people who come to Tuscany on a whirlwind trip will probably focus on Florence and Pisa, while passing up their little sister Lucca. The breathable streets and the fact that you don`t have to deal with crowds is a huge selling point. You can be in the most magical place in the world, but if there are dozens of others there with you fighting for the same magical moment, something gets lost along the way. That`s a huge reason why Lucca is such a pleasure for most travelers that visit here. Also, fewer tourists mean lower prices. With less crowds and fewer tourist traps, visiting Lucca is a more authentic experience. Plus you’ll avoid hotels and restaurants well-practiced at ripping off travelers – so it`s cheaper too!

Lucca is a safe place to visit. Having said this, there are certain precautions that travelers to the area should take in order to ensure a smooth trip through Tuscany. Like always, the most important tool for staying safe is common sense. Avoid traveling alone at night. This is a general recommendation for any unfamiliar area, but should be followed in Lucca as well. If staying with a group is not an option, make sure to remain in lighted areas and take safe modes of transportation (car or taxi). Walking alone at night is never a good idea.

Although street crime and theft is not common, taking certain precautions can avoid these rare situations. Don`t carry around large amounts of money, and avoid wearing expensive jewelry or looking flashy. Drawing un-needed attention is never a good idea.

Pickpockets in the area do exist, but can be avoided by not being a target in crowded public areas (the places that they thrive). Men should store wallets in front pockets instead of rear, and women should keep purses and bags close to their sides.

Lucca provides great options to travel by bike. One of the most famous bike routes around the city is actually atop its 2.5 mile ancient city walls. However, biking is hardly necessary for the old city as it is so compact, but helpful if you have accommodations further out of town.

For bike rentals, check with your hotel to see if they have bicycles you can use. If you`re only in Lucca for a day trip, you can rent bikes outside the train station at Tourist center Lucca`s Bike Rental. Prices run about €2.5 per hour or €10 per day. One hour will take you around the ramparts a couple of times.

Lucca has several parking areas both outside and inside the city walls. Most of them are paid parking lots, but outside the old city center you may also find some free ones. If you intend to get to Lucca by car then, you shouldn`t find any difficulty in finding a free spot, except when there are events that always attract thousands of people.

i The free parking is located outside the city wall, close to the ex hospital building and in the area of Giannotti (except the whole month of September, during which the large parking area is completely taken up by the famous Lucca Fanfair). These parking areas are quite close to the old center of the city, so if you feel like walking to the city walls, it will be a pleasant and short stroll – about 10-15 minutes. In alternative, all the outside areas are well connected to the center by city buses. Bus rides are frequent and a 70 minute ticket costs about €1.20. Tickets may be also purchased directly on the bus, but costs €2.

There are tourists here, but it is significantly less crowded than Florence or Rome. You will definitely find a lot more locals in this town.

Lucca is a mid-sized city (around 90,000 people) on the northwestern edge of Tuscany. It`s about a 30-minute drive or train ride from the tourist droves in Pisa. But somehow, Lucca has escaped everybody`s notice. It`s not for lack of charm. Lucca is high up there on a list of the most charming Tuscan cities. What is the main draw for this city is its “everyday-ness`. It`s a place still owned and operated by local people – not the tourist-industrial complex. It`s simply a delight to wander.

Lucca is a safe place to visit. Having said this, there are certain precautions that travelers to the area should take in order to ensure a smooth trip through Tuscany. Like always, the most important tool for staying safe is common sense. Avoid traveling alone at night. This is a general recommendation for any unfamiliar area, but should be followed in Lucca as well. If staying with a group is not an option, make sure to remain in lighted areas and take safe modes of transportation (car or taxi). Walking alone at night is never a good idea.

Although street crime and theft is not common, taking certain precautions can avoid these rare situations. Don`t carry around large amounts of money, and avoid wearing expensive jewelry or looking flashy. Drawing un-needed attention is never a good idea.

Pickpockets in the area do exist, but can be avoided by not being a target in crowded public areas (the places that they thrive). Men should store wallets in front pockets instead of rear, and women should keep purses and bags close to their sides.

Lucca`s atmospheric markets are definitely worth a visit. Every third Saturday and Sunday of the month Lucca hosts a famous, and one of the largest, antique markets in Tuscany. It overflows into the streets surrounding Piazza Antelminelli from 8:00am – 3:00pm. The last weekend of the month local artisans sell their arts and crafts throughout the town. Again 8:00am – 3:00pm. The general market is held outside the town walls on Wednesdays and Saturdays and is a great source of fresh produce and household goods (8:00anm – 1:00pm).

The currency of Italy is the Euro. US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for euros upon arrival. Currency exchange desks can be found at the airports and some train stations.

ATMs are widely available in Tuscany; this is the best way to obtain local currency. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels and many restaurants.

Notes come in denominations of €500, €200, €100, €50, €20, €10 and €5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and €1, and 50, 20, 10, five, two and one cents.

English may be spoken at your hotel and in the tourist areas, but not everywhere. We suggest you get a good English-Italian dictionary and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

Eating hours for lunch are between 12 – 2pm and dinner between 8 – 10pm. Most restaurants are open at those times, closed between meals, and rarely open throughout the day. Sundays and Mondays are the most common days for restaurant closings.

Lucca serves up some of the best food in Tuscany. Cucina lucchese (cuisine from Lucca) is considered to be some of the finest food in the region – and usually served cheaper than many restaurants in Pisa. Look for these specialties for an authentic culinary experience: tortelli (pasta stuffed with meat, vegetables and cheese topped in a meat ragù sauce), garmugia (bean soup with pancetta and vegetables) and the unique torta coi becchi dessert pie made with rice, swiss chard, parmigiano cheese, sugar and spices. In addition, only in Lucca you can find a special sweet-bread in the shape of a small baguette or bun. It`s called Buccellato and it has raisins inside and has a unique taste of anise.