From Rome and Milan you can take a high-speed train to Florence (Firenze Santa Maria Novella station). The high-speed train from either airport is a beautiful, scenic ride through the Italian countryside. The car ride from both MXP and FCO is approximately 3.5 hours.
Once in Florence, you can either take a local train to Lucca or arrange a taxi or private car to the city. Both the train and the car ride are approximately 1-hour from Florence.
Taxis and car rentals are an alternative option to train transportation from the airports to Lucca.
Car Rental/Driving
If you plan to rent a car or drive at all…good news - Italy drives on the same side of the road as the United States! The driver will need to obtain an International Driving Permit (IDP) through the American Automobile Association (AAA) in advance of your travels. It costs about $20 and is good for 1 year.
Uber does not exist in Italy. Blame the mafia. No really. So we recommend renting a car OR taking taxis. We recommend THIS private car service.
Alternatively, if you would prefer to use taxis, we recommend calling Radio Taxi OR downloading the “AppTaxi” app.
HOTEL
See below for our Lucca hotel suggestions. Please keep in mind that you can also find some charming Airbnbs and VRBO options. There are several guests who are also staying in Florence & either driving or taking the train in for the day of the wedding.
Restaurant | Despite this restaurant’s unassuming façade, enter to find an extraordinary world of Venetian stuccoed ceilings and 18th-century frescoes commissioned by the noble Arnolfini family. The refined environment sets the tone for the level of service and standard of food at Ristorante Il Giglio. It was taken over in 2013 by three young chefs, Lorenzo, Stefano and Benedetto, who, through passion and innovation, have brought a fresh meaning to fine dining. Exceptional homemade, crispy sourdough and local olive oil kick start the meal, which can be taken either a la carte or as one of three tasting menus. Menus change on a seasonal basis, but if you see the tartelletta with almonds, persimmon and vanilla cream, be sure to order it – you won’t regret it.
Restaurant | This contemporary restaurant in the heart of the city was opened during the pandemic by Francesco Aytano and Nicola Galatà, who, despite obvious difficulties, managed to successfully create an exceptional foodie hotspot in the city. An intimate space for a dinner date or a laid-back meal with friends, come to sip on excellent local wines and taste food that toes the line between innovation and tradition. A sharing platter of Tuscan cheeses is always a winner, but the selection at Osteria Nova takes it to a whole new level, with a selection of cheese aged under hay, blue cheese and a soft, creamy brie-type cheese, all sourced from local farms. Among the mains, the 800g Fiorentina is a solid option, especially when paired with a glass of San Genovese wine.
Restaurant | Whenever he went on surfing holidays with friends, chef Cristiano Tomei would sneak off to visit local markets and see what exciting produce he could discover. He later opened L’Imbuto within the Lucca Center of Contemporary Art, gaining a Michelin star only two years later. Today, however, the restaurant resides within the elegant setting of Palazzo Pfanner’s Limonaia, facing the splendid baroque-style gardens. The chef is known for his creativity and perseverance in curating constantly evolving dishes with seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. All you have to do is choose between five, seven or nine courses and sit back to enjoy the experience.
Restaurant | Buca di Sant’Antonio is a typical Italian osterie offering a warm environment and rustic Tuscan dishes. Think tables huddled close together, copper pans hanging from the wooden-beamed ceilings and warm, dimmed lighting. The menu is extensive, so it may be hard to choose, but you can’t go wrong with the homemade tagliolini with butter and truffle when in season, although rumor has it Princess Margaret loved the Farro Minestrone...
Restaurant | Antica Locanda di Sesto is a favorite among locals here. Secluded from the city centre, the restaurant’s humble exteriors lead you to a warm, friendly space with wooden boiserie and shelves showcasing local delicacies. Here, you’ll find traditional Tuscan recipes such as the fantastic gigli pasta with Cinta Senese sausage ragù as well as a revived version of a Roman carbonara flamboyantly mantecato (creamed) in a large pecorino wheel. Grilled meats are also a home run, especially when paired with a glass of red wine.
Bakery | Pasticceria Taddeucci is considered one of the most historic cafés in Lucca, dating back to 1881 when this small space allured passersby with its exquisite displays of biscuits, nougat, Tuscan cantucci and Pan Puccini in the shop window. But it’s the Buccellato that has this shop famous on an international level, made from a secret recipe handed down from father to son for five generations. A soft, bread-like texture with raisins and star anise, traditionally dipped in Vin Santo or toasted with a spread of mascarpone or jam.
Restaurant | Caffè Santa Zita reopened this year in a new, more sumptuous and opulent setting in Piazza San Frediano, at the feet of the eponymous Basilica and its extraordinary mosaic-filled façade. It’s the perfect example of where tradition meets contemporary; enter for beautifully restored frescoed walls, Murano glass chandeliers and tiled Tessieri floors found in most historic residences of Lucca. But it’s the open cooking that mesmerises guests – watch the pastry chefs lovingly fill Giunchiglie (flower-shaped French-style croissants) with crema pasticcera, chocolate or pistachio cream upon request.
Restaurant | Gigliola is the spin-off daughter of Ristorante Il Giglio for those seeking a more casual, quirky spot. Upon entry, a shelf of perfectly baked sourdough bread welcomes you. Opposite, you’ll find a carefully curated selection of wines: predominantly natural and biodynamic. Visit for sharing plates (the pita with falafel is delicious) as you taste-test your way through local wine in a warm, convivial atmosphere.
Restaurant | Located within the historic walls of Lucca, Magellano is your go-to for a classic Negroni. Inside this red-brick building, sit back and relax on the distressed, brown leather Chesterfield or take your pick of one of the upholstered antique chairs and sip on your favourite cocktail – there is a separate cocktail menu that changes in line with seasonal produce and mirrors the cuisine at their most recently opened restaurant Magazzino. If you wish to broaden your taste buds and taste something new, then venture for a TPOP: Amaretto, orange liqueur and vanilla.
Restaurant | Enoteca Vanni is one of the most ancient wine cellars in the city, dating back to the third century AD. The owner, Paolo Petroni, welcomes wine enthusiasts and those eager to experience the finest Italian wine paired with local charcuterie and cheese boards. The selection counts around 55,000 labels meticulously sourced from around the country and across borders, resulting in a collection of some of the finest and rarest bottles in Europe.
Gardens | The scenographic garden of Palazzo Pfanner, attributed to the genius of Filippo Juvarra (1678-1736) who designed it at the beginning of the eighteenth century, represents a valuable example of an Italian-style baroque garden set between the town walls and the intricate maze of winding streets of mediaeval Lucca.
Music | To celebrate Giacomo Puccini 100 years after his death, the Puccini Festival of Torre del Lago, in its 70th edition , presents a program that retraces the artistic career of the composer.
Pier Luigi Pizzi signs the program of this extraordinary edition with the proposal of 6 new productions of Puccini masterpieces performed in chronological order according to their first performance: LE WILLIS- EDGAR, MANON LESCAUT, LA BOHÈME, TOSCA, TURANDOT.
Music | I don’t know why or how…but there are some incredible musicians coming through Lucca, including Lenny Kravitz & The Smashing Pumpkins. Click the link to check tickets.
