We are planning a day trip to Lucca and might want to visit a nearby villa. We're thinking of one or two of Villa Grabau, Villa Oliva-Buonvisi, Villa Bernardini, Villa Reale di Camigliano, Villa Torrigiani di Camigliano and Villa Massei.
How much would a taxi cost from Lucca? Presumably there would be an initial cost and a per km cost. For the return journey would we be charged for the drive from Lucca?
We won't have a car.
How much would a taxi cost from Lucca?
Eur 3.60 starting fare + Eur 1.90 per km. if going outside the city + Eur 1.50 if radio dispatched. Minimum fare is Eur 7.50 (or Eur 20 if at night).
For the return journey would we be charged for the drive from Lucca?
Yes. The meter will start from the moment they depart Lucca to come and pick you up. That is true also when you call the taxi from your starting point in Lucca. The moment the car is dispatched to you, the meter starts from wherever the taxi departs from, not from the moment it picks you up. However the City of Lucca has established that that fare before the taxi arrives to you cannot be over Eur 7.50 if you are picked up within the city limits.
If you call the taxi from outside the city limits to come and pick you up the meter will start from the moment they depart from Lucca. In that case the meter may have passed the Eur. 7.50 initial meter limit. In that case the following applies:
1. If you go from out of town back to Lucca, the meter is set back to Eur 7.50 (even if it has reached 15 or 20 eur).
2. If you proceed to another location not within the city of Lucca, then the meter is not set back to Eur. 7.50 and the initial fare will be added to your total.
The lucchesi are famously the stingiest people in Tuscany, therefore don't ask for a discount because you'll get none.
I've been to Lucca several times, the taxi fare has never started below 7.50€ on the meter. Per Roberto's last comment, I did get a free breakfast on my last morning at my hotel.
