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Lucca and Monterosso in one day?

Finalizing my plans for my Tuscany trip next week. In all honesty I have not planned much due to so much going on in my life right now, but I have done some research and booked a few events. We will have a car.

In looking at the weather it looks like it will be hot, so we are thinking of doing some time at the beach. I was thinking of driving to Lucca in the morning and visiting like from 8-12, then driving to La Spezia, parking and taking the train into Monterosso and doing a beach afternoon and dinner. I looked at just doing a full day in Monterosso taking the train, but we could arrive at 9AM which means an early morning (ughh) and then being tied to a train schedule rather than just letting the day unfold, which is what we prefer. If we do take the train and do a full day, I think I would rather just stay the night. We have been to Cinque Terre before and stayed in Monterosso and my Husband wants to go back to a restaurant we visited and have dinner.

Just looking for some ideas and input. Not sure yet what we are going to do.

Posted by
16133 posts

Where are you driving from?
I would probably choose to visit the Cinque Terre first, then Lucca.
Lucca can be enjoyed also later in the night, so if the afternoon is not enough, you can stroll around until late night.
The Cinque Terre is a daylight destination. I'd go there, then in the afternoon make my way to Lucca, not too late if I intended to walk or bike along the walls. Walking in the city streets of Lucca at night is magical (full of people too). Then I don't know where you have to drive back to for the night.

Posted by
1625 posts

Roberto, thank you so much for the suggestion, that makes sense to do Monterosso first. We are driving from Montecatini.