Places to stay in Lucca and Volterra

We really enjoyed La Romea B&B in Lucca. Great breakfasts, central location, and very helpful people.

If you are staying in Lucca 3 nights or more, I can highly recommend the apartment we stayed in. It is just right for 5 people, with 2 bedrooms ( a large double and a nice twin), plus a single GED in a third smaller room. I'll send you a private message with the name if you are interested.

We had a wonderful stay at the Piccolo Puccini about 3 years ago. Would not hesitate to stay there again.

Thanks for these suggestions! Did everyone enjoy their time there??

We visited Lucca on our fifth trip to Italy. We liked it so much, we stayed five days instead of the originally planned three.

You will love Lucca. It is one of my favorite Italian cities. I took a cooking class there last year on my birthday. Great shopping and the home of Puccini...if you like opera. We stayed in a converted convent...clean, spartan...very inexpensive...probably not the place you are looking for but if you want to know it, send me a private message. I also have great restaurant recommendations and a wonderful place to buy leather purses. I would stay 3 days in Lucca. It is totally surrounded by its ancient walls and you can bike, jog, walk around the entire city. It is wonderful. Haven't been to Volterra.

My reaction to Lucca was a "meh", but then I had lots of other places to compare it to by that time. I found it to be overhyped, but lots of other people love it. (For one thing, it's not a hilltop town, but rather sits in a large plain.) I much preferred the following over Lucca: Orvieto Assisi Siena Verona
Cortona YMMV, of course. There won't be any place in Italy that everyone loves equally. No one size fits all. For some people, Lucca is a "must see." I'm not one of those people.

Thanks you, everyone for all these suggestions. But, Michael has me now thinking of Sienna...perhaps a vote..
Lucca vs. Sienna. Yes, I know I can visit both but, for the sake of debate...let the games begin!

Have not been to Lucca. We really enjoyed Volterra. Lots to see and do. We also enjoyed Sienna. Not only is Sienna a fun city to visit, I also love the surrounding area. We stayed in the hills about 10 miles away from Sienna. PM me if you would like to know about these accommodations. A car is needed.

In Volterra I stayed at Albergo Etruria Hotel ([email protected]) - centrally located, not far from bus station, 10 %discount for having Rick Steves' Italy book (on a Kindle), the best bed of my trip - and a wonderful roof garden complete with wisteria and lounging cats.

We chose Lucca over Siena because we were there just days before the Palio and places in Siena were expensive. We loved the nice, moderately priced apartment in Lucca and enjoyed out time there, including running and biking on the walls. We also visited Siena for an evening, staying at an agriturismos outside of town. Even with the campo covered and set up for the Palio, the city is lovely. We wished we had more time there. So if you are collecting votes, I'd say Siena, especially for a group of adults. If you want to stay outside of town but close by, check out Il Mulino de Quercigrossa, about 5k up the road ( the Chianti highway). It is set in the vineyards, and has 7 swimming pools, including one with a waterfall and current like a river, and one with saltwater. We made good use of them for a break and some much-needed exercise.

We went to Lucca this past September for 2 nights. Stayed at B&B Evelina- very affordable- you could get a triple room and a double room. We paid 80 euro per night for the triple. As for Lucca, it was ok. We loved biking the walls... and wandering the town... but we prefered other areas of Italy. We cannot comment on Siena.

We have been to Lucca twice and stayed at the B&B "Al Tuscany" both times. Great location, great place. Last time we were there they served a full country style breakfast.

We have been to Lucca twice and stayed at the B&B "Al Tuscany" both times. Great location, great place. Last time we were there they served a full country style breakfast.

Both Lucca and Siena are GREAt Italian cities. Depends on what you are looking for? Lucca is flat, Siena is very hilly. The Duomo in Siena is great. Saint Michaels church in Lucca is great, but much smaller. I like the shopping better in Lucca. I like the Campo in Siena. Could sit there all day/night...watching people. The contradas in Siena are unique. My hotel of preference is in the dragon contrada. The chocolate panatone in Siena is the best! The pizza I liked the best was in Lucca.
I will spend three nights in both places in September....my third trip. I think any trip to Italy must include these two cities.....need to see them both, at least once in a lifetime.

Thanks, Everyone. Such great information! What did we do before the Rick Steve helpline?!? I'll report back with what we decide. Thanks again..