How to Get to Lucca: 3 Easy Ways from Pisa and Florence

If you’re planning a trip through Tuscany, you have to add Lucca to your itinerary.

Nestled inside well-preserved Renaissance walls, this charming town feels like stepping back in time with its narrow cobblestone streets, churches, and quiet piazzas.

I lived in Lucca for two months while I went to Lucca Italian Language School and visited both Pisa and Florence during my stay. I took the train and also drove several times from both cities.

Here’s exactly how to get to Lucca Italy!

Key Takeaways

• The easiest way to get to Lucca is by train from either Pisa (30 minutes) or Florence (1.5 hours).
• From Pisa Airport, take the PisaMover to Pisa Centrale, then catch a direct train to Lucca.
• Driving is possible but plan to park outside Lucca’s historic center due to traffic restrictions.

How to Get to Lucca From Pisa

The easiest way is to take the train to Lucca. The train station is located on the south side of the walled city. You can also drive or take a bus, but I will get into those options later.

Check out my guide to Lucca for your first visit for a map of the area.

Take the Train (My recommendation)

The easiest and most popular way to get from Pisa to Lucca is by regional train.

The ride only takes about 25 to 30 minutes, and trains run frequently throughout the day.

You’ll depart from Pisa Centrale and arrive at Lucca’s main station, which is conveniently located just outside the historic city walls.

There is no need to book in advance for these regional trains. Just buy a ticket at the station, validate it, and take any seat on the train.

A train ticket from Lucca to Pisa typically costs between €3 and €5, and you can pay with a credit card at the station.

Coming from the airport? This is how to get to Lucca from Pisa airport:

• First, take the PisaMover shuttle from the airport to Pisa Centrale station. It runs every 5 to 10 minutes and takes only 5 minutes.
• From there, buy a regional train ticket and take the next regional train to Lucca.

How to Get to Lucca from Florence

Coming from Florence? You have the same options: take the train or drive. The summer I stayed in Lucca, the train was under construction, so there was no direct route.

From Florence, you go to Pisa, then connect to the train to Lucca. It only took an extra 30 minutes, but check the current schedule before booking.

The drive is also very easy if you have a car and only takes 90 minutes.

Train Travel Tips

Trains depart from Firenze Santa Maria Novella station and take between 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes, depending on the route and any transfers.

Just like with the Pisa route, you don’t need to book these tickets in advance, but you can if you prefer using RailEurope.com, or you can use the ItaliaRail.com website.

Other Ways to Get to Lucca (Car and Bus)

The obvious second way to get to Lucca is to drive yourself. People say driving in Italy is chaotic, but I didn’t feel this driving from Pisa and Florence to Lucca.

Buses are also available, but they are slower and less convenient than trains. I only recommend the bus if there’s a strike or you’re looking for a super cheap option.

The bus station in Lucca is located on the west side of the walls. There is a ticket booth, and the staff speak English to help you with a return ticket if needed.

You can also use Trainline.com, which shows the bus schedules.

Driving to Lucca (And Parking)

Driving offers the most flexibility and helps if you have very large suitcases.

It takes 30-40 minutes to get to Lucca from Pisa and 90 minutes from Florence.

I usually leave the car near Porta Elisa on the east side or Parcheggio Carducci on the south side.

Parking inside Lucca’s walls is almost impossible without a permit, so plan to park outside the walls and walk in.

There are free parking lots around the city’s walls. There is an image below of what the lots look like. If there is a big event going on, however, they are not free.

When you walk in, keep in mind that several of the wall entrances are uphill and down a few steps.

Even with my two backpacks, it was a bit challenging to navigate the tunnels in high heat.

Here are some driving tips for Italy:

• Be prepared that most rental cars are manual (stick shift).
• Italians drive on the right side of the road in Italy.
• Tolls on the highways do take credit cards, but just in case yours does not work, make sure you bring Euros with you.
• There will be a few toll booth options for you to choose from. Some will have a human at the booth, and others just have a credit card (CARTE) and cash machine. You can see the options on the Autostrade website.
• Each gas station is different in Italy, so pumping gas can be confusing at first. Some will make you pay before you pump gas, and others, you pay after. Some gas stations have an attendant, while in others you pump the gas yourself.
• My suggestion is to search on maps for an “AutoGrill”. This is the equivalent of a rest stop on the highway. They have food, and drinks, and the gas pumps are easy to navigate.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re sipping coffee on a quiet piazza or riding a bike along the city walls, Lucca offers a peaceful slice of Italian life that’s hard to beat, so try not to miss it.

Now that you know exactly how to get to Lucca, whether from Pisa or Florence, there’s no excuse not to visit.

With easy train access, scenic drives, and flexible options, it’s the kind of destination that’s both off the radar and incredibly easy to reach!

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