The Best Things to Do in Lucca with Kids

Old fortress walls you can bike around, loads of playgrounds, towers to climb and excellent gelato are just a few of the many reasons we love to take a day trip to Lucca in Tuscany, or even make it our home base while exploring the region’s many historic towns. The abundance of great food makes it easy to satisfy the whole family, while numerous outdoor spaces give kids plenty of room to run and indoor spaces allow for continued fun even when the weather gets wet and cold.

The first time I went to Lucca, I had an infant and a toddler and got a parking ticket. My boys were a bit older the second time, and I got a parking ticket. Can you see a trend here? My inability to read parking signs aside, we couldn’t stop returning to this place that too often gets overlooked for the more classic hilltop towns of Tuscany we all know from photos and movies. 

Close to Pisa and the Cinque Terre, as well as an easy drive from Florence, Lucca should be on everyone’s list. The mountain backdrop makes this tower-filled town fun for kids of all ages, with plenty of things to do with tweens and teens as well as babies and toddlers.

If you haven’t been, or if you haven’t been back in a while, it’s time to get acquainted with Lucca and her family-friendly activities.

Things to Do in Lucca with Kids

Relax in Piazza dell’Anfiteatro

Piazza dell’Anfiteatro is the perfect spot to break for lunch on a sunny day thanks to its huge open space for kids to run around without fear of cars. It’s the best place for parents to relax with a glass of wine while children take part in the international language of “play” with locals and even other kids visiting from across the globe. Enjoy the people-watching while you sip your beverage of choice and remember that you are on Italian time; it’s OK to take things slow.

Bike Along the City Walls

Biking is the perfect way to explore Lucca with school-age, tween and teenage kids. Cars aren’t allowed on the road atop the 15th- and 16th-century walls, so parents won’t have to worry about traffic and can give children free rein. If you have babies and toddlers, the road is paved and easy to navigate with a stroller or mini-scooter as well.

You can pick up rental bikes in the city center, which does have limited traffic but enough cars that the interior streets are best explored on foot before or after your bike ride. Bikes are available in all sizes and reasonably priced at rental companies throughout town. 

Playgrounds in Lucca

One thing Lucca doesn’t lack is playgrounds. Here are three that are easy to find and perfect when you need to sit and your kids need to burn off a little energy:

• Porta San Donato playground
• Alessandro Bertolucci playground
• Giardino degli Osservanti playground

Climb the Towers of Lucca

Lucca has several towers you can climb to get a bird’s-eye view of the city. Torre Guinigi (230 steps) and Torre delle Ore (207 steps) are two of the most popular. There is a nominal fee to enter the towers, but the views are worth it. Just make sure any little ones traveling with you have the energy to walk up and back down again or you will be carrying them the whole way. 

Stroll the Botanical Garden of Lucca (Orto Botanico di Lucca)

Designated a Museum of Regional Importance in 2022, the Orto Botanico di Lucca is a serene space to wander when you need a nature break. There are several greenhouses and gardens, many of which highlight species native to the region.

Giving a nod to women in history, Duchess Maria Louisa of Bourbon oversaw the development of Lucca’s botanical gardens starting in 1819. She provided the plot of land for a botany school, which continued to grow into the garden you can explore today.

Marvel at the Chiesa di San Michele in Foro

The Chiesa di San Michele in Foro (Church of San Michele in Foro) is one of the most recognizable buildings in Lucca. No matter how many times I’ve been, I always have to stop to say hello to this architectural beauty.

The church facade was built in the 13th over an ancient Roman forum, with additions and restoration done in the 19th century. The facade is what has me coming back, as well as the car-free piazza that it stands in, but the interior is just as magnificent with its art, sculptures and stained glass windows. If you need to give the kids a little scavenger hunt, ask them to look for the angels on top of the church (archangel San Michele is the big one up there) and to pay close attention to the columns (there are faces on them).

Indulge in Gelato

When we are in Italy, my family and I can never say no to a gelato a day. In fact, sometimes we sneak it in for breakfast if the shop is open. Indulge your tastebuds in the classic flavors at Gelateria Veneta near Porta San Pietro, or if you love fruit flavors, check out Momo Gelati. If you don’t find your flavor at one of these two hot spots, don’t worry: There are plenty more for you to check out as you create your self-guided tour of Italian gelato.

Sip Through Family-Friendly Wineries

Tuscany is one of the divine wine regions of Italy, so you will be spoiled for choice when it comes to wine tasting in Lucca. Most local vineyards are family-friendly, as even Italians with kids love to visit the vineyards. Remind your children not to run through the vines, and ask the owners if there is a safe space for your child to play while you do a tasting. Many wineries have play spaces already set up, but if there isn’t a clearly defined children’s space, be polite and ask.

Play in the Parco di Pinocchio

It’s easy to take a day trip out to Collodi, birthplace of The Adventures of Pinocchio author Carlo Collodi (né Lorenzini — he loved his town so much he changed his last name). Families will love exploring Parco di Pinocchio, a space filled with art, architecture and gardens. Keep in mind that this it not an amusement park; visitors follow a specific walking path, which highlights the Pinocchio story via sculptures and art installations. 

Don’t miss Terrible Dogfish by Augusto Piccoli, a gigantic version of the whale that swallows Geppetto and Pinocchio. Kids can go inside and climb up to the top for views of the park. 

Celebrate the Season at Lucca’s Christmas Market

If you’re in Lucca at holiday time, join the festivities at the Christmas market in Piazza Napoleone, held every year from mid-November through early January. It’s easy to load up on toys, jewelry, handmade crafts by local artisans, and antiques and vintage objects you won’t find back home.

Foodie families will want to indulge in Il Desco, a special food market that happens the first two weekends of December behind the Basilica of San Frediano. Each year the Real Collegio of Lucca shows off the traditional culinary products of the town and the region, making it easy to bring a taste of Lucca back home.

Relevant Links:

Browse all accommodations and destinations in Italy on Ciao Bambino

52 things to know before traveling to Italy with kids

1 to 2 weeks in Italy: The best itinerary for families

10 tips for traveling to Italy with kids

Essential tips for a Tuscany farm stay with kids

What to do in Florence with kids

Amie O’Shaughnessy contributed to this article.

Editor’s note: This post was accurate when published. We advise checking independently for the latest information and updates. Ciao Bambino does not accept responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in, or for any actions taken based on, the information presented.