Has anyone been to Lucca?
 

I am planning on going to Lucca and San Gimignano. Any advice on hotels?

Lucca is boring, boring, boring. There is nothing special to see or to do. It was completed wasted time.

I actually liked Lucca. It was fun to just a bike around the city wall and picnic. Also, Pisa is such an easy day trip from there.

I stayed in a hostel, so sorry I can't help you there. :(

I have been to Lucca and wouldn't go back, but I did enjoy my stay. There are things to do, but you can do them all in a day or day and a half. Riding a bike around the walls is the very best thing to do in Lucca. Albergo San Martino is very reasonable and friendly and they have bikes for their guests.

lorena,
I liked Lucca. Click on my name to find my trip report. There are plenty of hotels, what are you looking for? I have stayed at the Piccolo Puccini, Universo, Rex, Diana and an apartment. E-mail me if you want more information.

We liked Lucca a lot - especially as a place to "recover" after many hectic days in Rome.
The high point for me was a visit to Puccini's home but that may not be a turn on for you.
We stayed at the Rex Hotel, which was convenient to the train station. Just across the street from an opening in the walls to town.
Unfortunately, we were there when it was very cold and rainy (in early November). I'd certainly recommend it in better weather if you're looking for a little relaxation.

We enjoyed our short stay there--two nights.

We spent one day in Lucca, the next we took the bus to Pisa and back.

We stayed at Palazzo Alexander, which we loved.

Byrd

Hi Lorena,

Without knowing the particulars of your trip, I can only say that Lucca is pleasant, quiet town that is easily seen in a day.

We were very underwhelmed by the flea market they advertise as an "antique fair".

One of the things I enjoyed most about Lucca was the beautiful surrounding area. Don't miss an opportunity to visit some local olive oil producers and bring home some of the best olive oil you've ever had. In our treks we went north to Matraia in the hills and found a couple of small farms that produced wine and oil.

as far as hotels go, you can do a search here and will find dozens of recommendations.

Just got back..we liked Lucca! would definetly suggest it for a day,and then to to Cinque terre or St Margarita...stayed at the B7B La Romeo which was lovely,highly suggest it.
Gigi a tattoria was great and L'olivio. the bikes are terrific and climbing to the top of the tower..I really liked the flea market and bought some wonderful wood blocks.Wish I had had more time to putter. We also bought incredible contempoary art from a small gallery just out the door to the B&B.

I have also been to Lucca for a few days on my 4th trip to Italy, after having already seen much of Italy and scoured Tuscany by train and by car a few times. We used it as a quiet stopover to rest after some busy hectic travel days and had some friends from Lucca make a few restaurant recommendations.

It's a nice, quiet place with some good shoe shopping and a nice wall to walk around but I won't go back. There are simply more charming, quaint, interesting things for me to see in Italy when I have such limited travel time. That's not to say it isn't an interesting town... just that I prefer the smaller villages (Lucca's fairly large). Lucca is also not really a "hill town" the way San Gimignano is.

Without knowing much about where else you've been or are going on this trip, I'd say stay longer in San Gimignano and use it as a base to see Siena and Montepulciano and Montalcino etc..., or instead of Lucca stay in Cinque Terre or visit the Chianti Region (nearer Greve in Chianti).

~k