Lucca / Pisa / Cinque Terre / Viareggio (Italy)

Escaping Florence: Lucca – A Solid Tuscan Base

Our mission in Florence was simple: eat. We allocated a full ten nights to the city just so we could explore every single neighborhood, wander both sides of the River Arno, and hit up as many top-tier restaurants and renowned street-food sandwich shops as Florence had on tap.

I hate to sound uncultured, but Barbie and I just aren’t big on museums, basilicas, art galleries, or duomos. When you factor in the Disneyland-sized lines during Easter week, it completely sealed the deal. We didn’t even attempt to venture inside.

Lucca: The Perfect Tuscan Alternative

After ten days, it was time to escape the swarms of Florence’s tourist hotspots. We hopped a train and relocated to the nearby Tuscan town of Lucca.

In my opinion, Lucca is significantly more relaxed and a much more pleasant base for exploring Tuscany and its surrounding regions. We spent eight fantastic nights here, using the reliable Trenitalia train system to take some incredible day trips.

Flashpacker Tip: Skip the chaotic city centers. Lucca offers the perfect mix of historic charm and laid-back comfort without the crushing crowds.

Our absolute favorite daily ritual was walking and riding bikes through the quaint, sleepy streets and along the beautiful, wide green walls that completely encircle the city. It was a highlight of our time there.

Day-Tripping: Pisa, Viareggio & Cinque Terre

Operating out of Lucca made it incredibly easy to cross a few major Italian highlights off our list:

Pisa: A quick train ride to check out the iconic Leaning Tower.
Viareggio: A classic beach town where we caught some sun and soaked up the fresh ocean air.
Cinque Terre: A spectacular day of coastal views.

Beating the Crowds in Cinque Terre

We were so incredibly glad we had the opportunity to visit the famous villages of Cinque Terre in April. I cannot even imagine dealing with the massive summer crowds that descend upon these towns during the peak season of July and August.

Visiting in the shoulder season allowed us to actually enjoy chilling on the beaches and partaking in some vigorous hikes between the colorful local villages without walking shoulder-to-shoulder with thousands of other tourists.

The Verdict on Tuscany

We will always have amazing memories of our time in Lucca. If you are planning a trip to the region, I highly suggest basing yourself in this picturesque town rather than the busier hubs.

Because we fell in love with Lucca’s slow pace, we didn’t have a chance to visit other popular Tuscan towns on this trip—like Siena, San Gimignano, Pienza, Castiglione del Lago, or Montepulciano. However, that just leaves us a reason to come back.

Next up, we are moving on to a brand-new region of Italy: Emilia-Romagna, home to the ultimate foodie heavyweight cities of Bologna, Modena, and Parma.