Lucca or Pisa

I recommend Lucca as it is so special. We spent four days there within the walls, magical.
Pisa is nice enough but Lucca is my recommendation. Rent bikes and ride around the top of the city walls! We were lucky to be in Lucca during the Luminaria.

Lucca. When you see the big church and the leaning tower in Pisa, you've seen it. We were there last June again.

At least in Lucca you can rent a bicycle and ride around the top of the city wall. It has such a great reputation.

Thank you so much! We were leaning towards Lucca but didn't want to discount Pisa.

I have stayed in both and agree that Lucca is the nicer one to spend more time.

Lucca has some nice museums & churches, the Puccini concerts, and yes the gelato -LOL! The wide medieval wall is a social area to not miss! Rent bikes or walk the wall and enjoy the atmosphere! I also did a nice cooking class there with Extra Virgin.

On the other hand, if you’re there during June 16, don’t miss this event in Pisa. It was a lot of fun to attend it in 2022:

*”As the sun sets on the city on 16 June, more than 70,000 candles, lumini, are hung on the ancient palaces that line the Lungarni by the River Arno, and float on its waters. Crowds gather on the banks of the river to see the city take on an ethereal glow and also watch the climax of the evening, a huge fireworks display launched from the old citadel.

But what’s it all about? La Luminara is held in honour of St Rainerius – or San Rainieri – the patron saint of travellers and of Pisa, the city of his birth.”*

Definitely Luca!!!!

Yet another vote for Lucca, but if you feel like you have Pisa FOMO it's an easy 30 minute train ride if you want to day trip there.

Gelateria De' Coltelli Via S. Paolino, 10, Lucca just off Piazza San Michele for crazy good gelato - all organic and some out there flavors and combinations. Also lemon granita because he is Sicilian.

Also Pizzeria da Felice Via Buia, 12, Lucca for cecina aka farinata and their other treats.

Lucca's great. Have a great trip,
=Tod

Plenty more to see and do in Pisa than the tower and we did all of these things and more (see below), but I agree that Lucca is the more charming, easy, smaller town to stay in for 4 nights. Take a look at this blog with great photos by an ex-pat living in Lucca: https://www.twopartsitaly.com/

The Camposanto ---- my favorite building in the complex and what people used to come to Pisa to see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camposanto_Monumentale_di_Pisa

Museo Piaggio --- near Pisa and not just for people who love vehicles (we don't)

Rooftop terrace in Museo dell'Opera = 3.9 Caffè Panoramico (tower's incline degrees)

Battistero di San Giovanni = door & tops of inside columns with beasts & monsters

Museo Opera del Duomo

Museo delle Sinopie del Campo Santo --- drawings for the 12th & 13th cent frescoes

Museo Nazionale di San Matteo --- history of Pisa, sculptures from cathedral, 12th & 13th cent paintings including Nicola Pisano, Donatello, Simone Martini, & Fra Angelico

Le Navi Antiche di Pisa --- naval museum

Gipsoteca di Arte Antica --- nicely weird gallery of plaster casts of famous sculptures

There is also a 3 km walk on top of Pisa's city walls

Lucca. Hands down.

Thank you to all for your responses and suggestions! We'll stay in Lucca and daytrip to Pisa.

Lucca hands downno question!!!

Yep Lucca! Pisa is an easy train trip away for a day trip, but Lucca is charming, quiet, and the place to be!

For a day trip from Florence (1h by bus), do you think Lucca would be the better choice or Pisa? Seems trying to do both would be rushed and we like to take our time.

I would definitely choose Lucca.

I'd stay in Lucca, but don't discount Pisa - it's much better for art and architecture. I recommend the National Museum of San Matteo for art and - depending on the current show - the Palazzo Blu Museum. The Duomo of Pisa is overlooked by idle tourists, but it's architecturally one of the most important in Italy. Be aware that Lucca has joined the list of overtouristed Italian cities and the charming narrow streets are now often jammed with your fellow travellers.

Just curious for those voting Lucca… do you need to rent bikes before arriving to Lucca or just rent them when you get there? We are doing a day trip this March.

No reservations needed for bikes. There are several rental locations around town with at least two at the Porta Santa Maria on the north side. Google "lucca bici noleggio" to see all of them.