Last updated: October 2026
Here’s a secret. You don’t need a car in Lucca. Not for the town, obviously, but not for most day trips either. Lucca sits on three railway lines, to Pisa, to Florence and to the mountains, with buses filling the gaps. Pisa is half an hour away. Florence is about an hour and a quarter. The sea is twenty minutes.
So here’s how to do it: where to go, how long it takes, what it costs, and how to read an Italian timetable without crying.
The quick answer
- Easiest trips: Pisa (25 to 37 minutes, €4.10) and Viareggio (20 to 27 minutes, €4.10).
- Florence: 1h10 to 1h45, €8.90 each way.
- Cinque Terre: change at Viareggio for La Spezia, about 1 to 2 hours, then the local Cinque Terre trains.
- Hill towns: Barga, Bagni di Lucca and the Garfagnana on the mountain line, about 30 to 70 minutes.
- Collodi: by bus, line E6 from Lucca.
- Sundays and holidays: far fewer trains and buses. Always check the timetable for the day you’re going.
Times and fares checked 29 October 2026 for a weekday in November. Check current times and prices before you go.
Lucca’s three railway lines
Lucca station is just outside the walls, by Porta San Pietro on the south side. From there:
- West and south: to Pisa San Rossore and Pisa Centrale.
- East: to Pescia, Montecatini, Pistoia, Prato and Florence. The same line goes west to Viareggio on the coast.
- North: up the Serchio valley to Bagni di Lucca, Barga, Castelnuovo di Garfagnana and on to Aulla.
Day trips at a glance
Times and single fares for regional trains from Lucca, from Trenitalia for a weekday in November 2026.
| Destination | Time | Single fare | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pisa | 25 to 37 min to Pisa Centrale, a little less to San Rossore | €4.10 | Frequent through the day |
| Viareggio | 20 to 27 min | €4.10 | Roughly hourly or better |
| Florence | 1h10 to 1h45 | €8.90 | About hourly |
| La Spezia (for the Cinque Terre) | About 1h06 to 1h50, change at Viareggio | €8.90 on regional trains | Several a day |
| Pescia | 18 to 31 min | €4.10 | About hourly |
| Montecatini Terme | 27 to 46 min | €5.30 | About hourly |
| Bagni di Lucca | 25 to 38 min | €4.10 | 14 on weekdays, 7 on Sundays |
| Barga-Gallicano | 40 to 57 min | €5.30 | Mountain line |
| Castelnuovo di Garfagnana | 54 to 68 min | €6.60 | 14 on weekdays, 7 on Sundays |
| Forte dei Marmi (station: Forte dei Marmi-Seravezza-Querceta) | 40 to 70 min, change at Viareggio | €5.30 to €7.30 | Several a day |
| Pisa Airport | About 45 min with the PisaMover | €10.60 | About every 30 minutes |
On a Sunday the service is thinner. On a November Sunday in 2026 there were 21 journeys from Lucca to Pisa Centrale, 18 to Florence, 21 to Pescia and 27 to Viareggio, including some with changes. Bagni di Lucca had seven trains all day.
How to read a timetable
This is the bit that catches people out. Italian timetables have their own language.
Trains
| You’ll see | It means |
|---|---|
| R | Regionale. The stopping train. No reservations, fixed price |
| RV | Regionale Veloce. A faster regional train, same tickets |
| IC | Intercity. Longer distance, booked seat, dearer |
| FR, FA, FB | Frecciarossa, Frecciargento, Frecciabianca. High-speed, booked seat, much dearer |
| Binario | Platform. It’s shown on the departure board, and sometimes changes at the last minute |
| Ritardo | Delay |
| Soppresso | Cancelled |
| Sciopero | Strike. Check the news the day before |
On the Trenitalia site or app, the cheapest result between Lucca and the coast is always a regional train. If the search offers you an Intercity or a Frecciabianca for part of the trip, it’ll cost more. For La Spezia, regional trains only came to €8.90, against €13.60 to €14 with an Intercity or Frecciabianca leg.
Buses
| You’ll see | It means |
|---|---|
| Feriale | Working days. In Italy that means Monday to Saturday |
| Festivo | Sundays and public holidays |
| Scolastico | Runs on school days only |
| Non scolastico | Runs when schools are closed |
| Capolinea | The end of the line, where the bus starts and finishes |
| Fermata | Bus stop |
Buses round here are run by Autolinee Toscane (at-bus.it). Look up your line by its code, like E6, and check which days it runs. A lot of country buses are timed for schoolchildren, so they’re busy at 7am and 1pm, and missing at weekends.
Tickets
- Paper train tickets must be stamped in the little machine before you board. Once stamped, they’re valid for 4 hours.
- App tickets are digital and in your name, so there’s nothing to stamp.
- Bus tickets: buy before you board where you can, from a tobacconist, a newsagent or the Autolinee Toscane app. Paper bus tickets get stamped on board.
- Regional trains have a fixed price, so there’s no saving in booking early. Buy on the day.
My train travel guide explains all this in detail.
Pisa
The obvious one, and the easiest. Get off at Pisa San Rossore, the closest station to the Leaning Tower. It’s a short walk. Then walk back through the middle of town to Pisa Centrale for the train home. That’s the trick: you see the real Pisa on the way. My Pisa beyond the Leaning Tower post has the route.
- Train: 25 to 37 minutes to Pisa Centrale, €4.10 each way.
- How often: frequent on weekdays, 21 journeys on a Sunday. Check the last train back.
- Book the Tower if you want to climb it. Timed tickets sell out.
Viareggio
The seaside, twenty minutes away. Viareggio has a long prom lined with Liberty-style buildings, a big sandy beach and a busy harbour. It’s famous for its Carnival floats, and lovely out of season, when the locals have it back to themselves.
- Train: 20 to 27 minutes direct, €4.10.
- How often: about hourly, with extra trains at busy times, until late evening.
- Tip: combine it with Torre del Lago and Puccini’s villa, a short hop down the coast line towards Pisa.
Florence
Yes, you can do Florence in a day from Lucca. Trains arrive at Santa Maria Novella, right in the centre, and you can walk everywhere. Book the Uffizi and the Accademia ahead. My Florence day trip has a plan for the day.
- Train: 1h10 to 1h45 direct, €8.90 each way.
- How often: about hourly through the day.
- Check the last train home before you set off, especially on a Sunday.
- Stop on the way. Pistoia, Prato and Montecatini are all on the same line.
The Cinque Terre
The five colourful villages are just over the border in Liguria, and yes, you can do them in a day. There’s no direct train. Change at Viareggio (sometimes Pisa) for La Spezia Centrale, then pick up the little local trains that stop at every village. My Cinque Terre day trip has everything.
- Lucca to La Spezia: about 1h06 to 1h50, €8.90 each way on regional trains.
- Then the Cinque Terre Treno MS Card: unlimited local trains between Levanto and La Spezia, plus the paid coastal paths and park buses.
- Go early. It’s a long day, and the villages are best before the crowds.
- Check for line closures. Works close the line between Corniglia and La Spezia for 48 hours on 14 to 15 November and 19 to 20 December 2026, then 9 to 10 January and 6 to 7 February 2027.
Cinque Terre Treno MS Card prices from 2 November to 31 December 2026, from the national park:
| 1 day | 2 days | 3 days | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | €17.30 | €29 | €34 |
| Child (4 to 11) | €11 | €16.70 | €22.30 |
| Over 70 | €13.70 | €21.30 | €28.50 |
| Family | €43.70 | €67.10 | €89.10 |
From 14 March to 1 November the prices are higher and vary by how busy the day is, from €22 to €35 for an adult day card. Buy online at card.parconazionale5terre.it or at the park info points in the stations.
Pescia and Collodi
This is my patch, so forgive me for going on. Pescia is a working market town, not a postcard, and that’s why I like it. The long Piazza Mazzini, the river, and behind it the valley of the Svizzera Pesciatina with its ten hilltop villages.
- Train: 18 to 31 minutes from Lucca, €4.10, about hourly.
- The station is out of the centre, about 1 to 1.5 km from Piazza Mazzini. A flat 20-minute walk, or a local bus.
- Saturday is market day in Pescia, in the morning.
- Into the hills: the SvP bus goes up the valley, but it’s a few runs a day, timed for school. Or walk up the valley to Pietrabuona and its paper museum. In 2026 the museum opens Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, 10am to 6pm.
My Pescia valley without a car guide has the whole car-free plan, and my walking trails post has the paths.
Collodi
Collodi is where Carlo Lorenzini, who wrote Pinocchio, took his pen name. There’s the Pinocchio Park, the grand Baroque Garzoni garden and a little village stacked up the hill. There’s no train, but it’s an easy bus ride.
- Bus: Autolinee Toscane line E6 runs from Lucca to Collodi and on to Pescia. It’s fairly frequent on weekdays and much thinner on Sundays and holidays.
- Pinocchio Park in winter: from 2 November it’s open 10:00 to 17:00 (last entry 16:00). In November 2026 it’s open weekends only, on 7 to 8, 14 to 15, 21 to 22 and 28 to 29 November, plus 24 November for the 200th anniversary of Carlo Collodi’s birth. In December it opens 5 to 8 December, then from 19 December to 6 January (closed Christmas Day).
Montecatini Terme
The grand old spa town, all parks, pavilions and elegant hotels. The Tettuccio is the classic spa building, and a little red funicular climbs to the hilltop village of Montecatini Alto. The funicular is seasonal: in 2026 it ran until 1 November.
- Train: 27 to 46 minutes to Montecatini Terme-Monsummano, €5.30.
- Thursday is market day.
- Combine it with Pescia, one stop back towards Lucca.
More in my hot springs guide.
Up the Serchio valley: Bagni di Lucca, Barga and the Garfagnana
The mountain line is the prettiest ride of the lot, following the river into the hills. Trains are less frequent, so plan your day round the timetable.
Bagni di Lucca
The old spa town where the Victorian English came to take the waters. Its station is at Fornoli, a few kilometres from the old spa quarters, so you’ll want a local bus, a taxi or a good walk. Check the bus times before you go.
- Train: 25 to 38 minutes, €4.10.
- How often: 14 trains on a weekday, 7 on a Sunday.
Barga
Italy’s “most Scottish town”, on its hill with the Apuan Alps behind. Barga-Gallicano station is down at Mologno, about 4 km below the old town, so take bus E49 or a taxi up. My Barga day trip has the details.
- Train: 40 to 57 minutes, €5.30.
Castelnuovo di Garfagnana
The capital of the Garfagnana, with its Rocca in the middle of town. A good base for mountain walks. See my Garfagnana villages guide.
- Train: 54 to 68 minutes, €6.60.
- How often: 14 on weekdays, 7 on Sundays.
Stop off on the way at Borgo a Mozzano for the medieval Ponte della Maddalena, the Devil’s Bridge.
Forte dei Marmi
The smartest resort on the Versilia coast, with the marble mountains right behind. The catch is that the station, Forte dei Marmi-Seravezza-Querceta, is inland, about 3 to 4 km from the centre. That’s about 40 minutes on foot. Autolinee Toscane line E35 links the station at Querceta with Forte dei Marmi.
- Train: 40 to 70 minutes with a change at Viareggio, €5.30 to €7.30.
- Wednesday is market day, in the morning, in Piazza Marconi. Famous for clothes and cashmere.
- More on the coast in my Versilia guide.
What a day out costs
Return train fares from Lucca, regional trains, per adult:
| Trip | Return train fare | Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Pisa | €8.20 | Tower ticket if you climb |
| Viareggio | €8.20 | |
| Pescia | €8.20 | |
| Montecatini Terme | €10.60 | |
| Bagni di Lucca | €8.20 | Local bus or taxi from Fornoli |
| Barga | €10.60 | Bus E49 or taxi up from the station |
| Castelnuovo di Garfagnana | €13.20 | |
| Florence | €17.80 | Museum tickets |
| Cinque Terre | €17.80 to La Spezia and back | Cinque Terre Treno MS Card, from €17.30 in low season |
| Forte dei Marmi | €10.60 to €14.60 | Bus E35 from the station |
My tips
- Check the timetable for the exact day. Saturdays count as working days, Sundays and holidays don’t.
- Look for strikes. Search for “sciopero” with the date. Trains and buses both strike, and some services are guaranteed at set hours.
- Stay near the station if you’re planning lots of train trips. In Lucca that means the south side of town, near Porta San Pietro.
- Pisa Centrale to San Rossore is a lovely walk through the old town. Arrive at one, leave from the other.
- Take the mountain line just for the ride. It follows the Serchio into the hills.
- Have a plan B for the last train home. Know the taxi number and the time of the last train before you set off.
For the bigger picture, read my Tuscany without a car guide and getting around Tuscany. Hunting for villages to visit? Try the village finder, or browse the magazine.
Times, prices and rules change. Everything here was checked on 29 October 2026, but please check current times and prices before you go.
FAQ
Can you do day trips from Lucca without a car?
Yes, easily. Pisa, Viareggio, Florence, Pescia, Montecatini, Bagni di Lucca, Barga and the Garfagnana are all on the railway, and Collodi is on the E6 bus.
How long is the train from Lucca to Pisa?
About 25 to 37 minutes to Pisa Centrale, or 20 to 28 minutes to Pisa San Rossore, which is closest to the Tower. A single is €4.10.
How long is the train from Lucca to Florence?
About 1h10 to 1h45 to Santa Maria Novella, €8.90 each way.
Is there a direct train from Lucca to the Cinque Terre?
No. Change at Viareggio (sometimes Pisa) for La Spezia, then take the local trains with the Cinque Terre Treno MS Card.
How do I get from Lucca to Collodi?
By bus. Autolinee Toscane line E6 runs from Lucca to Collodi and Pescia. Check the timetable, especially on Sundays.
Do I need to book regional trains?
No. Regional trains have no reservations and a fixed price. Just buy a ticket and remember to stamp it if it’s paper.
Are there fewer trains on Sundays?
Yes, noticeably. On the mountain line, Bagni di Lucca drops from 14 trains on weekdays to 7 on Sundays.
You might also enjoy:
- The best day trips from Lucca
- A Cinque Terre day trip from Lucca
- A Florence day trip from Lucca, Pescia or Pistoia
- Cycling from Lucca: the bike path to Pisa and beyond
Susan
Photo credits: A train arriving at Barga-Gallicano station (photo: UkPaolo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons); The Tower lit up at dusk (photo: Thomas Fuhrmann Jakobsthal, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons); Brunelleschi’s dome at dusk, from Piazzale Michelangelo (photo: Petar Milošević, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons); One of Viareggio’s Liberty villas (photo: sailko, CC BY 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons); Manarola on a winter’s day, December 2017 (photo: Anyul Rivas, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons); Piazza Mazzini in Pescia, looking towards the Madonna di Piazza (photo: Sailko, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons); The Tettuccio spa, Montecatini Terme (photo: HauchnebelkabinetT, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons); The Duomo di San Cristoforo at the top of Barga (photo: Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons).
