While neighbouring San Gimignano often bursts at the seams under the crush of tourists, Volterra, in Tuscany, Italy, stays wonderfully calm just a few kilometres away. And yet this town perched on a high hill is a good two thousand years older, and it offers an atmosphere you simply won’t find anywhere else in Tuscany.

Let me tell you straight away what’s waiting for you: 18 tips, the combined ticket, parking without a fine, and the whole truth about Twilight. So read on 😉

I’ve also put together a detailed overview of entrance fees, tips on parking outside the ZTL zones, and accommodation recommendations. On top of that, you’ll find out the real story behind the filming of the popular Twilight saga, and I’ll help you work out when it’s worth buying a combined ticket to the sights.

TL;DR

• The greatest gem: The Etruscan gate Porta all’Arco, which local residents heroically saved from destruction by the Nazis in 1944.
• Museums and sights: Don’t miss the Museo Etrusco Guarnacci and the oldest town hall in Tuscany, the Palazzo dei Priori.
• Volterra Card: The combined ticket at €23 pays off as soon as you visit three or more sights.
• Alabaster: The town is famous for hand-carving this stone — visit traditional workshops like Alab’Arte.
• Curiosity: The local Fortezza Medicea still functions as a prison, where inmates themselves occasionally cook and serve.
• Twilight saga: The books are set in Volterra, but the film crew actually shot in nearby Montepulciano.
• Transport and parking: The whole centre is a closed ZTL zone — you have to leave your car at the car parks below the walls.

When to visit Volterra

The best time to visit is without a doubt the spring months from April to June and the autumn from September to October. Temperatures hover around twenty degrees, so you won’t melt or freeze — pretty much perfect for wandering the hills. On top of that, you’ll dodge the biggest August crowds and have those stone alleys almost to yourself.

If you’re planning to come in August, expect noticeably higher summer temperatures and, naturally, far more people heading to Tuscany on holiday. The upside of an August trip, though, is that this is when the famous historical festival Volterra AD 1398 takes place, reliably carrying the whole town back several centuries in time. In 2026 this popular festival should be held on Sunday 9 and 16 August, but different sources sometimes disagree, so always check the dates in advance on the town’s official website.

In winter, on the other hand, it’s beautifully peaceful here, the streets are almost empty, and you can easily snag very cheap accommodation even in the best hotels. There’s one fairly major catch you absolutely must factor into your itinerary, though. When it comes to the weather in Volterra, Italy, and the season, note that from 2 November to 8 March all the main museums are strictly closed on Tuesdays, and on the other weekdays they run only on a reduced schedule from ten to four. What’s more, the archaeological park with the Etruscan acropolis and Roman theatre only opens at weekends during this winter period, so you won’t be able to reach these outdoor sights midweek at all.

Where to stay in Volterra

💡 Accommodation and experiences tip: We prefer to look for accommodation on Booking.com, which usually has the best cancellation terms. For tickets, tours and activities, it’s worth comparing and booking through GetYourGuide.

When choosing a hotel in Volterra, Italy, you have to keep one absolutely crucial thing in mind: the strictly monitored ZTL zone (Zona a Traffico Limitato). Tourists aren’t allowed to drive into the historic centre by car at all, and if you break this ban and drive under the cameras, a hefty fine will find you — it’ll be mailed all the way to your home address. That’s why the smartest strategy is to look for hotels just outside the walls, or to pick places that offer their own dedicated parking and automatically report your licence plate to the local police on arrival.

I definitely recommend checking out Hotel Villa Rioddi, a beautifully restored former 15th-century post station with a large pool and a sprawling garden. From here you can walk to the centre in about twenty minutes, or drive to a car park, and travellers rave in reviews about the incredibly peaceful atmosphere. Another great option outside the busy centre is Agrihotel il Palagetto, a typical Tuscan agriturismo with an outdoor pool and breathtaking views over the countryside, which you’ll appreciate most if you’re travelling by car. If you’re after something a bit more spacious just outside town, another very good choice is Hotel Foresteria Volterra, which offers nice rooms with balconies and its own restaurant.

If you want to sleep right in the historic core and sort out parking at one of the public car parks below the walls, a great choice is Albergo Etruria. You’ll find it right on the main shopping street Via Matteotti, and it’ll win you over with a lovely rooftop terrace overlooking the whole town. A beautiful historic atmosphere is also on offer at Hotel La Locanda, which occupies the carefully renovated rooms of a former monastery, has a wonderful quiet courtyard, and serves guests an excellent breakfast. A happy middle ground is Hotel San Lino, right in the centre of town, with a small outdoor pool and secure covered parking for a fee of €15 per day.

For travellers on a smaller budget who mainly want a clean bed and don’t want to spend unnecessarily, a very interesting alternative is Cloister of Monache Hostel. This hostel also fittingly sits in a historic 15th-century monastery, it’s just ten minutes’ walk from the centre, and as a huge bonus it offers guests completely free parking right by the building.

18 things to see and do in Volterra, Italy

Right, now down to business — here are my tips on what you really shouldn’t miss in Volterra.

1. Porta all’Arco and its powerful story

This imposing Etruscan gate dates back to the 4th century BC and is one of the oldest surviving structures of its kind in all of Italy. On its massive stone arch you can spot three heavily weathered heads. They’re so eroded by the passage of time that historians still can’t agree on exactly who they represent, but most likely they’re ancient Etruscan deities meant to protect the entrance to the town of the day.

Above all, though, the gate is tied to an incredibly powerful story from the end of the Second World War that makes it far more than just an old monument. On 30 June 1944, the retreating Nazi troops announced they would completely blow up the gate to block the only access route to the approaching American tanks. But the local residents rebelled and, against the odds, negotiated a seemingly impossible deal with the Germans to save the historic treasure.

In the space of a single day and night, from 30 June to 1 July, men, women and children tore up the stone paving from the surrounding streets with their bare hands and completely walled up the gate from the inside. The demolition was called off, the gate was saved, and after liberation the stones were returned to the road — for which the town received a silver medal of valour from the Italian government. Today the alley Via Porta all’Arco, lined with alabaster workshops, leads to the gate, and you can practically feel that story in the air.

2. Museo Etrusco Guarnacci

This fascinating museum is one of the very oldest public museums in Europe, since the foundations of its incredible historic collection were laid back in the 18th century. If you’re into ancient history, you could easily spend several hours here. You’ll find a truly unique collection of hundreds of intricately carved alabaster funerary urns, which come from the wealthy Etruscan tombs scattered across the wide area around the town.

The greatest gem of the whole collection is undoubtedly Ombra della Sera, or Shadow of the Evening. It’s an elongated, unusually slender bronze statuette of a boy that has become an absolute icon of Etruscan art, drawing visitors from all over the world. It didn’t get its poetic name in antiquity, though — it was coined by the famous Italian poet Gabriele D’Annunzio, after the long shadows cast by human figures at sunset.

The second masterpiece of the exhibition is the famous Urna degli Sposi (Urn of the Spouses). This terracotta urn depicts an old married couple lying side by side on a kind of couch. Their faces are unexpectedly realistic, unembellished — just two proper old people. No idealisation, and that’s exactly why the piece is so touching.

3. Volterra Card vs. individual tickets

Before you set off around the local sights, it’s worth carefully working out in advance which ticket really pays off for you. A single entry to any of the main museums costs €10, with a reduced rate of €8. So if you’re planning to see just one particular place, buy the ticket separately. But as soon as you want to explore more sights, definitely go for the combined card, which will save you a lot of money.

The combined Volterra Card costs €23 for an adult, with a reduced rate of €18 for students under 25 and seniors over 65, and the card is valid for a full 72 hours from first use. It includes entry to seven main sites, among them the Guarnacci Etruscan museum, the Pinacoteca gallery, the alabaster museum, the oldest town hall Palazzo dei Priori, the Etruscan acropolis, the Roman theatre, and the diocesan museum.

Simple maths clearly shows that from three sights onwards the card starts to pay off financially, since you’d already spend €30 on separate tickets. For families with children there’s also a very good-value family option for up to five people, which comes to a friendly €32 and covers entry for everyone in the family.

4. Roman theatre (Teatro Romano)

Built in the 1st century BC, the theatre is one of the best-preserved Roman monuments in all of Italy, and the view of it will genuinely amaze you. The remains of the original stage, the huge marble columns, and the semicircular auditorium set into the steep slope below the medieval town look truly majestic and perfectly capture the rich history of the place.

💡 Tip for smart travellers: Plenty of tourists pay the entrance fee or buy the city card just to see the theatre up close from the lower level of the site. But if you want to save both time and money, you’ll get the best view and photos of the whole complex for free from above, on Via Lungo le Mura. This picturesque path runs along the medieval walls right above the theatre and offers the nicest possible angle on the whole structure.

The theatre itself also has a very interesting and slightly unusual modern history. For centuries it was completely buried under a thick layer of soil, and the site even served for many years as an ordinary town rubbish dump. Its excavation only happened in the 1950s, and huge credit for that goes to patients from the local psychiatric hospital, who volunteered to help with the demanding digs under the supervision of doctors.

5. Etruscan acropolis (Acropoli Etrusca)

At the very highest point of the hill above the town lies a sprawling archaeological park with the remains of the ancient Etruscan acropolis. As you stroll quietly among the excavations, you’ll come across the ancient foundations of two large temples and a fascinating underground system of deep cisterns, which the locals used to store vital rainwater in times of great drought.

Wandering among the ancient stones set into a shady pine grove offers lovely calm and a very pleasant break from the busier town streets full of tourists. Entry to this large park is fully included in the combined Volterra Card, so if you picked one up at the start of the day, definitely don’t skip this magical site with its beautiful views over the Tuscan surroundings.

If you come here outside the main tourist season, though, watch out for the adjusted opening hours so you’re not disappointed. From 2 November to 8 March the acropolis is open only at weekends between ten and four. Unfortunately, during the winter months the reduced schedule means you can’t get in at all midweek, so plan your daily itinerary accordingly.

6. Palazzo dei Priori and climbing the tower

Stand in the very centre of the main square and your eye will immediately be drawn to the mighty town hall building, topped with typical jagged battlements and a tall tower. The Palazzo dei Priori was built between 1208 and 1257 and rightly holds the very prestigious title of the oldest surviving town hall in all of Tuscany.

This building is even a few decades older than the far more famous and more visited Palazzo Vecchio in nearby Florence. Few people know that the grand Florentine town hall drew heavily on Volterra’s for architectural inspiration. On the stone façade you can take a close look at the beautiful coats of arms of the Florentine governors, very precisely made from colourful majolica and finely worked stone.

The interior of the historic town hall is normally open to the public, and I definitely recommend climbing the old steps all the way up to the viewing tower. From its narrow gallery you’ll get an absolutely breathtaking panoramic view over the whole town with its tangle of red roofs, the old Etruscan walls, and the endlessly rolling Tuscan countryside in the background.

7. Santa Maria Assunta cathedral

The local Duomo, or Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, dates from the 12th century and is sure to grab you straight away with its elegant Romanesque façade decorated with blind arcades. While the church looks fairly plain and understated from the outside, its interior hides several major artistic surprises well worth your attention.

The most striking feature of the whole interior is undoubtedly the gorgeous, richly decorated coffered ceiling that you won’t be able to take your eyes off. During your visit, pay close attention too to the rare polychrome wooden sculpture group of the Deposition, which dates from the 13th century. This work is remarkably well preserved, strikingly colourful, and full of powerful human emotion.

The cathedral underwent a fairly major Renaissance renovation in the 16th century, so today it combines the original medieval architecture with later artistic styles in a very interesting way. Entry to the church itself is usually free, so definitely pop in for a while to soak up the atmosphere. There’s only a small fee for the adjacent diocesan museum, which is also part of the city card.

8. San Giovanni baptistery

Right across the paved square, opposite the main entrance to the cathedral, stands the imposing octagonal baptistery dating from the 13th century. Its façade is interestingly decorated with alternating stripes of dark green and bright white marble — an utterly typical and very photogenic element of Tuscan Romanesque architecture, which you might recognise from nearby Siena or Florence.

The main draw when viewed from outside is the beautifully crafted marble portal, which elegantly frames the heavy entrance doors. The inside of the baptistery, by contrast, is fairly simple, plain and deliberately unadorned, but at its very centre stands a beautiful, intricately carved font created by the famous Renaissance sculptor Andrea Sansovino.

The baptistery is reached by sun-drenched stone steps, where people like to sit and watch the bustle on Piazza San Giovanni — ideally with an ice cream in hand 😁.

9. Pinacoteca and Rosso Fiorentino

If you love classical fine art, definitely make your way to the town gallery, the Pinacoteca e Museo Civico. This important institution sits in the beautiful historic rooms of the Minucci-Solaini palace, and the good news is that this museum too is fully included in the combined Volterra Card, so you won’t have to pay anything extra at the entrance.

The main reason art lovers travel here with such huge enthusiasm from every corner of the world is the masterpiece Deposition from the Cross (Deposizione dalla Croce) by the renowned painter Rosso Fiorentino, completed in 1521. Art historians unanimously regard this large-scale painting as one of the absolute, unsurpassed peaks of Italian Mannerism.

Honestly, even if you don’t follow fine art much, this painting will get you. The colours are almost aggressive, and the figures look as if they might rise off the canvas at any moment.

10. Alabaster as a living craft

The town has been famous for its exceptionally precise alabaster work since the ancient days of the Etruscans, who masterfully carved their funerary urns from this soft, slightly translucent stone. The stone is still actively mined in the hills immediately around the town, and local craftspeople work it entirely by hand in small, dusty workshops.

I definitely recommend visiting one of the traditional workshops — for example, the popular Alab’Arte right in the historic centre. The craftspeople here work with exactly the same tools and the same plaster models as centuries ago, and you can freely watch them at their painstaking work. Another very well-known workshop is Paolo Sabatini on Via Porta all’Arco, where you’ll find more modern and highly unconventional artistic designs.

⚠️ Be very careful, though, with the ordinary tourist shops on the main shopping street. They very often cheat, selling cheap imported stone from Asia or even artificial plastic imitations. You can always tell genuine Volterra pieces by their accompanying certificate of origin, and ideally you should buy them directly in verified craft workshops.

11. Ecomuseo dell’Alabastro

If the fascinating craft of working this particular stone really caught your interest and you want to learn much more about it, stop by the Alabaster Ecomuseum too. Your entry is cleverly sorted and you won’t have to pay anything extra if you picked up that combined city card at the start of the day.

The museum takes you, in a very engaging and modern way, through the entire long history of this craft, from the days of the ancient Etruscans right up to the present day. You’ll see a range of historic working tools, samples of raw unworked stone from the local quarries, and of course finished masterpieces from various historical eras.

It’s a small, easy-to-navigate museum, so the visit won’t take you more than half an hour, but it wonderfully rounds out the context for what you’ll then see in the living workshops, and you’ll understand just how insanely demanding this work really is.

12. Fortezza Medicea and its curious prison

On the highest raised point above the town, the enormous Medici Fortress rises majestically, forming an inseparable part of the town’s skyline from afar and tempting you to visit. There’s one very important catch that a lot of tourists have no idea about on arrival, though: the fortress still fully serves as a medium-security state prison.

Logically, that means you won’t just wander inside the high fortress walls as an ordinary tourist with a camera. The interiors are strictly closed to the public and accessible only on a select few days a year. Even then, on an organised tour you’ll only get into a very small peripheral part of the sprawling prison complex.

Even so, this fortress is tied to one huge curiosity that people talk about a lot. In part of the complex, a special restaurant occasionally operates where the food is cooked and guests served directly by the local inmates as part of their rehabilitation programme. It only runs occasionally, and a reservation involves a police background check, so it’s not exactly something you book in five minutes 😅. Always check the current dates well in advance.

13. Relaxing in Parco di Castello

Right below the high prison walls, off-limits to tourists, lies the beautiful public town park Parco di Castello. If you’re worn out from endlessly walking on the hard stone paving in the centre and need to rest for a while somewhere in the shade, this is the absolute best and most peaceful spot for miles around.

The park is full of old mature trees and wooden benches, and you’ll also find pleasant grassy areas where locals love to have weekend picnics and read books. For families with children there’s also a smaller, well-kept playground where your little ones can safely keep themselves busy while you enjoy some well-earned downtime.

From the edges of this high-set park, lovely distant views open up over the rolling surrounding countryside. What’s more, it’s an absolutely great spot from which you can safely and calmly photograph that mighty Medici Fortress up close from the outside, without disturbing the prison security perimeter in any way. This is also where much of the medieval festivities take place in August.

14. Le Balze and the vanishing abbey

On the north-western edge of town you’ll come across a fascinating, yet slightly eerie, natural phenomenon that shows you the enormous power of nature. Le Balze are very dramatic erosion cliffs that have relentlessly gnawed away for centuries at the plateau on which the town itself has stood for thousands of years, reshaping the whole landscape.

These deep and utterly unstoppable landslides have in the past irretrievably swallowed ancient Etruscan necropolises and several medieval Christian churches. Right on the edge of the sandstone chasm stands the old abandoned Badia Camaldolese abbey. Here time really is running out — the abbey inches closer to the abyss with every season, so if you want to see it, don’t wait for the next travel guide.

You can no longer reach the abbey itself for obvious safety reasons, but the view from a safe distance across the chasm is one of the most powerful experiences in the whole wide area. The most beautiful atmospheric photos are guaranteed at dusk, when the sinking sun turns the bare sandstone cliffs into unreal, deeply saturated shades of orange and red.

15. Volterra and the Twilight saga: what’s the real story?

If you’re an avid fan of Stephenie Meyer’s books, you know very well that this is where the author placed the secret seat of the most powerful vampire clan, the Volturi. To this day, crowds of devoted Twilight fans flock to town, hunting the streets with a map in hand for the film locations from the popular instalment New Moon. This is exactly why Volterra, Italy, is such a magnet for Twilight lovers.

⚠️ Here, though, we have to tell you the truth straight so you’re not disappointed on arrival: the film wasn’t shot in Volterra at all! For the actual filming, the crew ultimately chose the picturesque historic centre of the nearby Tuscan town of Montepulciano, which apparently suited them better logistically.

All those famous film scenes where the heroine desperately runs across a square full of people in red cloaks were actually shot in Montepulciano, by the beautiful San Biagio church and in the local alleys. Volterra still cleverly cashes in on its vampire fame, and you can buy plenty of themed souvenirs here, but you’d simply hunt in vain for the real film sets.

16. The Volterra AD 1398 festival

If you want to experience something truly spectacular and authentic on your travels, plan your trip for hot August. During the huge Volterra AD 1398 festival, the town travels right back in time to the Middle Ages, and the stone streets fill with noble ladies in period dresses, knights in full armour, skilled flag-throwers, crossbowmen, and wandering musicians.

This popular historical festival is always held on two Sundays in August. According to current information, in 2026 it should be Sunday 9 and 16 August, but different sources sometimes disagree on the exact order of the weekends. Sometimes it’s the second and third Sunday, other times the third and fourth, so I highly recommend you verify the exact date in advance on the official website volterratur.it.

The main stage for this magnificent festival is traditionally concentrated in the sprawling Parco di Castello park below the Medici Fortress and on the central town square. The atmosphere here is utterly immersive, you pay at the stalls with specially minted period coins, and you can try old medieval crafts completely first-hand.

17. Where to eat and what to try in Volterra restaurants

Tuscany is simply a carnivore’s paradise, and Volterra is no exception — the menus are dominated mainly by wild boar (cinghiale) and wild hare (lepre), most often as a sauce for homemade pasta. And if you’re not after meat, the local restaurants also offer plenty of excellent meat-free options. Definitely try the thick traditional pappa al pomodoro soup, the refreshing panzanella bread salad, or a hearty vegetable ribollita (just to be safe, ask whether it’s purely vegetable-based). The homemade coarse pici pasta with a rich garlic sauce (aglione) is also excellent, and of course you can’t miss the delicious pecorino cheese or dishes flavoured with rare local truffles.

A great view and excellent food come courtesy of Osteria Fornelli, which has a beautiful terrace. If you’re after something quick and very cheap, head to the little bistro La Sosta del Priore, where you choose your excellent fresh sandwiches straight off a screen before ordering. For classic Tuscan cuisine and an extensive wine list, head to the highly rated La Vecchia Lira or the cosy vaulted Osteria La Pace with its wonderful family atmosphere. Another excellent dinner choice is La Carabaccia with its seasonal menu, or the small restaurant Porgi l’altra Pancia, which is often full, so definitely leave your number and wait a while.

18. A walk along the medieval walls

Save the best for the very end of the day, to wind down after a full day of racing around museums and busy streets. The historic centre is firmly enclosed by mighty medieval walls that stretch for a respectable two and a half kilometres, tracing the edge of the steep hill exactly. Incidentally, the original Etruscan walls, which protected a much larger area, measured an incredible seven kilometres.

A slow, relaxing walk along the ring streets beside the walls — for example, along the beautiful tree-lined avenue Viale dei Ponti — will offer you the most quintessential Tuscan scenery you know from calendars and postcards. You’ll see endless rolling hills dotted with lone stone farmhouses, iconic cypress avenues, and old vineyards stretching all the way to the distant horizon.

And it’s right here, with that view into the golden dusk, that you’ll understand why the Tuscan postcard cliché actually isn’t a cliché at all ☺️.

Where to go next from Volterra

If you have a car and want to explore the surroundings, there are plenty of options. Definitely read our big guide Tuscany: 30 Most Beautiful Places and a 7-Day Itinerary, where you’ll find loads of more inspiration for your road trip.

A visit to two neighbouring gems is almost a must. Take a look at our article Siena and San Gimignano: 8 Things to See, because the combination of Volterra and tower-studded San Gimignano can comfortably be done in a single day.

If you need to unwind a little after all that sightseeing, check out our pick of Wellness Hotels in Tuscany: 12 Thermal Spas. And if you’re tempted to discover more Italian regions, find inspiration in our overview Where to Holiday in Italy: 20 Best Places.

Frequently asked questions

Still puzzling over a few unanswered questions? I’ve put together the most important things travellers often ask before a trip to Volterra. Whether it’s about parking, tickets, or how it compares to the surrounding towns, you’ll find quick answers here.

Lucca is the largest town in Tuscany, yet most tourists on their way to the Leaning Tower in Pisa just breeze straight through without even stopping. And trust me, they are making a huge mistake. While neighbouring Pisa is often just a quick stop for one iconic photo, Lucca in Italy is a town where life is wonderful, and it breathes an amazing calm without the endless crowds of camera-wielding visitors.

When Lukáš and I were cycling through Tuscany in August 2018 as part of our electric-bike trip around Europe, Lucca won us over the moment we arrived. Its huge advantage is a completely preserved Renaissance ring of walls, which you can ride around on a bike beneath the crowns of towering plane trees. And when you already have your bikes with you, it is simply an ideal town for a stop.

So what awaits you in Lucca? I’ll tell you where to buy tickets, how to avoid the queues for the towers, and I’ll throw in a few food tips that are not worth skipping.

TL;DR

• Cycling the walls: Lucca has a 4.2 km preserved ring of walls that you ride around by bike. Renting one costs around €11 and it’s the best activity in town.
• Towers with trees and legends: Don’t miss Torre Guinigi with its seven oaks on the roof, or the taller Torre delle Ore, where there are far fewer tourists.
• A combined ticket saves money: For the San Martino cathedral (home to the famous tomb of Ilaria del Carretto), buy the €10 ticket, which also covers the bell tower and the museum.
• Piazza dell’Anfiteatro: A unique oval square built on the foundations of a Roman amphitheatre, ideal for an afternoon coffee.
• Watch out for the festivals: At the end of October the giant Lucca Comics & Games festival takes place, when the town bursts at the seams. In summer 2026, on the other hand, you can head to the lake for the Puccini Festival.
• Foodie tips: Try the sweet buccellato bread with anise and raisins, or the vegan chickpea flatbread cecina, sold here as street food.

When to visit Lucca — the weather in Lucca, Italy

The very best time to visit is the spring months from April to June, and then September and October in autumn. Temperatures during this period sit at a very pleasant 20 to 25 degrees, so wandering around the town is a joy. The main advantage is that the crowds are just right — you won’t be squeezed into narrow alleys or have to wait in long queues outside the sights. On top of that, the Tuscan countryside is beautifully fresh and green in spring.

If you can only travel during the summer holidays in July and August, be aware that Tuscany can get seriously hot. Lucca’s advantage, though, is that huge trees grow on the walls and provide plenty of merciful shade. Thanks to them, it’s far more bearable here than on the endless sun-baked squares of Florence. In summer the famous Puccini Festival also takes place by a nearby lake, which is a huge draw for lovers of classical music and well worth a little sweat.

A very particular time is the end of October, when the giant Lucca Comics & Games festival takes place. If you’re coming to town for history and romantic calm, give this date a very wide berth. During these days the centre is absolutely packed to bursting and accommodation prices soar to astronomical heights. In winter, by contrast, there’s a wonderful calm here and magical morning mists. For a winter visit you just need to check the opening hours in advance, because some private palaces and gardens tend to be closed off-season.

Where to stay in Lucca

💡 Tip for accommodation and experiences: We prefer to look for accommodation on Booking.com, which tends to have the best cancellation terms. Tickets, tours and activities are then worth comparing and buying through GetYourGuide.

The historic centre is carefully protected by the walls, and there’s a so-called ZTL (limited traffic zone), which you’re not allowed to drive into by car without a special permit. So if you’re travelling by car, it’s absolutely crucial to choose a hotel with its own parking, or to stay just outside the walls and walk into the centre. Fines from the camera system unerringly find their way to your home address abroad. We always use Booking to search for accommodation, where you can easily filter hotels with their own car park.

For lovers of luxury and beautiful design, I can recommend Albergo alla Corte degli Angeli, a gorgeous boutique hotel right in the heart of town. The rooms are beautifully decorated, some even with their own hot tub, and best of all they offer guests parking. Another great choice inside the walls is Hotel Palazzo Alexander, housed in a carefully restored historic building from the 12th century. Guests often rate it in reviews as absolutely the most luxurious accommodation for the price. You could also try the popular Hotel Ilaria, where after a full day of walking you’ll be delighted by the lovely terrace with a hot tub and the incredibly welcoming staff.

If you’re after something highly practical because you’re arriving by your own car and mostly want peace and quiet, take a look at Hotel San Marco. It sits just a short distance outside the walls, has its own pool for a summer refresh and hassle-free parking. Thanks to that, you’ll completely avoid the stress of driving into the narrow alleys of the old town. For families or travellers with a larger vehicle, the spacious Best Western Grand Hotel Guinigi is also a great fit, where even really big cars can park without any problem.

22 things to see and do in Lucca

And now for the best part. This Tuscan gem hides more than you’d expect, so I’ve picked out tips ranging from the very best-known spots to corners most tourists miss. I’ll also throw in practical advice on how to save on entrance fees or where to hide from the biggest crowds.

1. The walls of Lucca (Mura di Lucca)

This is an absolute one-off that makes the town what it is. The Renaissance fortifications were built between 1504 and 1648, and it’s incredible that they’ve survived in perfectly intact condition around their entire perimeter, exactly 4.22 kilometres long. The walls were never taken militarily, and the only attack they had to repel was, paradoxically, a huge flood of the River Serchio in 1812. Locals hastily sealed them off and successfully saved the town from the rising water.

Today this massive space with eleven bastions serves as an enormous park lined with plane trees, oaks and chestnuts. A huge advantage is that the whole area is accessible 24 hours a day and completely free. When we were riding here on our electric bikes, we were fascinated by how wide the top of the walls is. In places it reaches up to thirty metres across, so pedestrians, dog walkers and cyclists can all pass one another in complete peace.

If you want to take away the best photos, I recommend coming here early in the morning. The eastern and northern sections of the walls have the loveliest light in the morning sun, and they open up gorgeous views towards the silhouette of the Apuan Alps. By the afternoon it tends to get quite busy, because half the local residents come here to exercise after work.

2. Rent a bike and circle the town

If you come to Lucca, renting a bike is simply an absolute must, even if you only spend half a day here. The whole loop is exactly 4.2 kilometres, and at a leisurely pace you’ll ride around it in roughly thirty to forty-five minutes. With photos, coffee stops and soaking up the views, though, set aside a good couple of hours. It’s a wonderful way to relax, and thanks to the dense tree canopies you can ride even in the summer heat, because you’re constantly in the shade.

You’ll find rental shops around town very easily, and the best-known ones are right by the Porta San Donato and Porta Santa Maria gates. You can rely on established outfits such as Cicli Bizzarri or Poli Antonio Biciclette. Prices start at a friendly €11 (around 275 CZK) for a full day’s rental of a classic city bike.

Through platforms like GetYourGuide you can also book shorter one- or three-hour options if you happen to be in a hurry. Most rental shops offer a huge range of equipment, so it’s no problem to get a modern e-bike or a sturdy trekking bike either. That’ll come in handy especially if you’re planning to ride out beyond the gates towards the historic villas in the countryside.

3. The ideal family activity with kids

You often ask me for tips on travelling with small children, and Lucca is an absolutely brilliant destination in this respect. Riding along the wide walls is completely flat, there are no cars whatsoever, and the path is nice and open. So you don’t have to worry about your little ones running under the wheels of passing scooters, which is a common source of stress in other Italian towns.

The local rental shops routinely have safe child seats, small bike trailers and children’s bikes of every imaginable size available. It’s probably the best family activity in all of Tuscany, because the kids get to burn off energy in the fresh air while you calmly take in the historic sights from a bird’s-eye view.

Around the walls you’ll also find plenty of grassy areas where you can have an improvised picnic or let the kids run free for a while. Now and then you’ll come across small playgrounds tucked away in the shade of the trees. And if you promise the little ones a big scoop of proper Italian gelato on the nearby main street as a reward, they’ll ride the whole loop around town with you without a single complaint.

4. Torre Guinigi with oaks on the roof

This forty-five-metre brick tower is an absolutely unmistakable symbol of the town, because seven mighty holm oaks grow right at its very top. This unique hanging garden dates all the way back to the fourteenth century, and you probably won’t see anything like it anywhere else in the world. The trees, planted in deep troughs of soil, have bravely withstood wind and summer heat for hundreds of years.

Be prepared, though, that there’s no lift to the top and you’ll have to climb 233 wooden steps on your own two feet. But the view over the town’s red roofs through the green crowns of the oaks is absolutely worth the effort. Entrance in 2026 is €8 (approx. 200 CZK) for adults and €4 for children under fourteen.

This tower is by far the most-visited attraction in Lucca, so in high season expect queues — it’s best to arrive right at opening time in the morning or wait until late afternoon. Online ticket sales do exist, but travellers complain a lot about the website, so brace yourself and count on buying your ticket on the spot.

5. Torre delle Ore and the legend of Lucida

If you don’t like being squeezed into crowds, or simply want to save precious time, the Clock Tower from 1390 is often a much better choice than the more famous Guinigi. Few people know that it’s actually the tallest tower in the whole town. About two hundred steps await you at the top, and there tend to be far fewer tourists here than at the tower with the trees, something many travellers gratefully highlight in their reviews.

This place is also linked to a chilling local legend about the beautiful noblewoman Lucida Mansi. She is said to have sold her soul to the devil himself in exchange for thirty years of perfect youth and beauty. As her time drew near and the deadline was about to expire, she ran in a panic up the tower to stop the hands of the clock. Sadly she didn’t make it in time, and according to the legend the devil carried her off with him to hell.

If you want to see both historic towers and compare the views, be sure to buy the good-value combined ticket for €9 (225 CZK) right at the box office. It’s definitely worth it, because the difference compared with a single tower is just one euro. You can then invest the money you save with a clear conscience in an excellent Italian espresso on one of the nearby little squares.

6. The oval Piazza dell’Anfiteatro

This iconic square will surprise you at first glance with its perfect oval shape, which precisely traces the outline of a Roman amphitheatre from the second century. During the dark Middle Ages, local residents began building their houses directly into its mighty stone arches. So from the original gladiatorial arena, all that remains to this day is this stunning and unusually shaped open space.

Today the square is enclosed on all sides by tall, colourful houses with green shutters, and you can only get inside through four fairly narrow passageways. With more than thirty-three thousand reviews on Google, it’s easily the most-visited and most-photographed spot in all of Lucca. You’ll find dozens of small tables under parasols here, practically inviting you to sit down.

Given the enormous popularity of the spot, though, expect the restaurants right on the square to have somewhat inflated tourist prices. That’s why I’d advise you to just enjoy an afternoon coffee or a refreshing Aperol Spritz here in peace and soak up the unique atmosphere. For a big lunch or a romantic dinner, it’s worth heading a few streets further away, where you’ll get incomparably better and more authentic Italian quality for your money.

7. Duomo di San Martino and the famous crucifix

The town’s stunning cathedral will grab your attention at first sight with its asymmetrical Romanesque facade. It consists of three tiers of richly decorated arcades, where every single column is completely different. You might notice that its right side is oddly narrower, because the builders simply had to give way to the already-standing mighty bell tower. Inside you’ll find an absolute treasure in the form of an ancient wooden crucifix named the Volto Santo.

According to old church tradition, the face of Christ on this cross was carved by Nicodemus himself, and historians consider it one of the oldest surviving crucifixes in the whole of the West. In the Middle Ages it was such an important relic that crowds of pilgrims flocked to it, and even English kings came to swear solemn oaths on its name. The cathedral itself is open Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Sundays from noon.

Entry to the cathedral and the tomb alone costs €5 (125 CZK), but I warmly recommend buying the big combined ticket right away. It works out at €10 (250 CZK) and gets you not only into the cathedral but also up the adjacent viewing bell tower, into an interesting museum, and into the neighbouring church of San Giovanni with its archaeological zone. Children and students under 25 pay a reduced €8.

8. The beautiful tomb of Ilaria del Carretto

This is exactly the kind of thing people from all over the world regularly travel to Lucca for, if they love history and art. For Lukáš and me, who are fond of Renaissance sculpture, this was something we simply didn’t want to miss. This stunning tomb of a young noblewoman was created between 1406 and 1408 by the famous master Jacopo della Quercia, and it’s one of the most beautiful works of the entire Italian Renaissance.

The young woman lies here carved from marble with such delicacy that it looks as though she’s simply sleeping peacefully, and at her feet rests a little dog as a deeply touching symbol of marital fidelity. The details of her dress and the pillow beneath her head are worked to absolute perfection. You’ll find the piece in the cathedral’s sacristy, and access to it is already included in that basic five-euro ticket to the church.

Ideally, though, come here right at opening time in the morning. At that hour you’ll avoid the organised groups with guides, and inside you’ll find beautiful silence and complete calm to study the details. Reviewers on Google often mention that the morning light falling through the sacristy windows lends the white marble an almost magical, warm glow.

9. San Michele in Foro and the angel on the roof

This gorgeous, photogenic church stands right on a large square that in ancient times used to be a busy Roman forum. Its white marble facade is absolutely stunning, with four tiers of richly decorated arcades, and right at the top reigns a huge statue of the Archangel Michael with majestic metal wings that are said to move slightly in the wind.

A great curiosity is that if you stand a little to the side and look at it in profile, you’ll discover that the front facade is actually much taller than the body of the church behind it. The original plans envisaged the whole church being significantly rebuilt and raised over time to match its grand frontage. Unfortunately the town ran out of money during construction, so all that remained of the grandiose project is this dazzling but partly false “backdrop”.

Despite that, it’s one of the most-photographed places in all of Lucca. Inside the church itself the atmosphere is rather austere, but you’ll find a rare painting by Filippino Lippi and a stunning majolica relief by the famous Andrea della Robbia. Around the church there are also plenty of benches where you can rest and endlessly examine the details of the columns, no two of which are quite the same.

10. Basilica di San Frediano and the golden mosaic

Just a short walk from the northern section of the walls you’ll find another hugely important basilica, which differs from all the others in town by one very striking feature. It’s the only one in all of Lucca that has, on its facade, an enormous golden mosaic depicting the Ascension of Christ, dating from the thirteenth century. When the setting sun hits it, the whole facade blazes beautifully with colour.

Inside, right by the entrance, a massive and richly decorated Romanesque baptismal font from the 12th century awaits you. But far more attention is drawn to the glass casket in which lies the naturally mummified body of Saint Zita, the beloved patron saint of all servants. She died in the 13th century, and her intact remains still fascinate the faithful and ordinary tourists alike to this day.

Overall it’s a very impressive and surprisingly quiet place with an amazing atmosphere. Unlike the central cathedrals, not as many organised tours come here, so you can rest pleasantly in the cool dimness. And entry is free, which in Italy these days is certainly not a given 😊

11. The birthplace of Giacomo Puccini

Lucca is world-famous as a city of music, and above all thanks to one single person. It was here, on 22 December 1858, that one of the most famous and best-loved opera composers of all time, Giacomo Puccini, was born. His birthplace apartment on the second floor of an unassuming historic building right in the centre of town today serves as a beautifully restored museum (Casa Natale).

Inside you’ll see plenty of authentic family photographs, handwritten letters and rare autographs of his early compositions. But the greatest jewel of the tour is the original Steinway & Sons piano, on which Puccini provably composed his famous opera Turandot. For fans of classical music, this place has an almost sacred atmosphere.

Entry to the museum currently costs €7 (approx. 175 CZK), with students or seniors over 65 paying just €5 and children under six going in completely free. If you love his arias, I recommend keeping an eye on the programme of the local churches, especially San Giovanni. For practically the whole year, evening chamber concerts of Puccini’s most famous melodies take place there, and they’re absolutely breathtaking.

12. The Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago (2026)

If you’re heading to sun-drenched Tuscany in the middle of summer, it would be a huge shame to miss the musical event of the year. About 25 kilometres from Lucca lies the picturesque Lake Massaciuccoli, where Puccini spent a large part of his life and where he’s also buried. And it’s right there, in the huge open-air Gran Teatro all’Aperto under the open sky, that a world-famous opera festival takes place.

In 2026 it’s the 72nd edition, running on set dates from 11 July to 5 September. Imagine sitting by the calm surface of the water, breathing the balmy summer air, with the most beautiful Italian arias sung by top performers ringing out around you. Travellers describe it as an experience you’ll never forget for the rest of your life, even if you’re not a die-hard opera fanatic.

Tickets can be bought online through the official website puccinifestival.it or through the TicketOne network. Prices range roughly from a reasonable €19.50 for standing to a luxurious €195 for the best VIP seats near the stage. Tickets vanish fairly quickly, so if you want a specific performance like Madame Butterfly or Tosca, secure them at least a few months in advance.

13. Warning: Lucca Comics & Games 2026

This is an absolutely essential practical piece of information that can either make your dream come true or, on the contrary, completely ruin a romantic holiday. Every year Lucca hosts one of the biggest festivals of comics, games and pop culture in all of Europe, which in 2026 falls on the dates from Wednesday 28 October to Sunday 1 November. On top of that, the event takes place right in the streets of the historic centre.

Perhaps hundreds of thousands of people descend on the town, over 700 exhibitors set up shop, and the streets are full of enthusiasts in elaborate cosplay costumes from morning till night. If you’re coming to Lucca for calm sightseeing and romance, definitely don’t come during this period. The town is practically impassable, accommodation costs multiples of the usual prices, and the cafés are bursting at the seams.

If, on the other hand, you love the festival and want to experience the incredible atmosphere, you’ll need to secure your accommodation and tickets (which cost around €20 to €22) as much as three quarters of a year in advance. Good-value early bird ticket sales usually take place in summer. Many visitors then opt for a compromise and prefer to sleep in nearby Pisa or Viareggio, commuting to the festival on packed trains.

14. The Baroque Palazzo Pfanner

As you stroll along the northern part of the walls, you’ll surely be captivated by the stunning view down into a beautiful, symmetrical garden. It belongs to the grand Baroque Palazzo Pfanner and is full of ornate stone statues, carefully trimmed shrubs, fragrant citrus trees in terracotta pots and little pools with fountains. It works as a perfect oasis of quiet in the middle of town.

The garden and the adjacent palace rooms are open seasonally, usually from 15 March to 31 December, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The rough entrance fee ranges between €8 and €10 (approx. 200 to 250 CZK). It’s a popular spot for weddings and fashion shoots, because the combination of greenery and Baroque architecture is simply irresistible to photograph.

The opening hours often change slightly over the course of the year, though, and occasionally the area is closed precisely because of private events. That’s why I strongly recommend checking the current status on their official website before you set off to the gate, so you’re not disappointed by closed doors. You’ll see a large part of it from the walls, but strolling right among the fountains is a better experience after all.

15. Orto Botanico by the walls

Another gorgeous green oasis, this time tucked away in the south-eastern corner of town right by the walls, is the municipal botanical garden founded at the start of the 19th century. It’s a perfect place for a moment of absolute calm and shade, if you’ve simply had enough of the sun-baked cobbled streets and the constant weaving between other tourists in the centre.

For a symbolic entrance fee (roughly €4 to €6), inside you’ll find a carefully tended collection of rare plants, a small pond full of water lilies and historic greenhouses that are worth seeing.

With children you can sit for a while on a bench, look at the interesting labels and just soak up the peaceful atmosphere of a sleepy Italian afternoon. It’s not a huge area to fill half a day, but as an hour-long break before another round of sightseeing, or before an evening visit to a restaurant, this garden works absolutely fantastically.

16. Museo Nazionale di Palazzo Mansi

If you want to see with your own eyes how the very highest aristocracy lived in Lucca, definitely head to this Baroque palace. From the outside it may not look particularly striking and you could easily walk past it in the alley, but inside fantastically preserved original frescoes, period furniture and enormous Flemish tapestries await you, dazzling to the eye.

What travellers in Google reviews single out most of all is the incredibly opulent newlyweds’ bedroom with its carved alcove. It’s so richly decorated with gold and precious fabrics that it looks as though the lord and lady left only yesterday morning. Despite its museum function, the palace has retained the atmosphere of a real residence.

The tour isn’t extremely long, and there also tend not to be many visitors here. That makes it a great choice for a rainy morning or, conversely, for escaping the worst of the midday sun, when you can cool off nicely in the palace’s chilly halls. The entrance fee is very reasonable and, honestly, this is something you needn’t feel at all bad about paying for.

17. Villa Reale di Marlia and the green theatre

This place has a slightly dark history, with Elisa Bonaparte Baciocchi behind it — Napoleon’s sister, who for a time ruled Lucca fairly uncompromisingly. This huge and beautiful complex doesn’t lie right in town, but about 8 kilometres to the north. If you have a car, though, or rent a sturdy trekking bike for the day, definitely head here.

Around the grand villa stretches a fantastic English park covering a barely believable 16 hectares. The area recently underwent a major and costly restoration, so after a long time it’s finally showing itself in full glory with ponds, waterfalls and flower beds. You can conveniently buy tickets online through sellers such as Musement.

The most interesting and unique thing in the whole sprawling garden is the oldest green theatre in Europe. Its auditorium, wings and even the stage itself are artfully clipped and shaped directly from huge bushes and hedges. Standing in the middle of this natural amphitheatre, where nobility once entertained themselves, is a truly unusual feeling.

18. Shopping on Via Fillungo

Via Fillungo is the main and liveliest artery of the whole historic centre, winding elegantly from north to south. You won’t find any impersonal, ugly shopping centres here, but plenty of beautiful local boutiques, family-run leather-goods shops and luxury jewellers set into the ground floors of medieval houses.

The wonderful thing about it is that, out of respect for tradition, the shops often keep their original wooden or brass signboards and shop windows from the early twentieth century. And that’s true even when they sell modern designer clothing or cosmetics inside. It gives the street incredible flair and elegance, the kind that perhaps only Italians know how to create.

It’s the ideal street for a slow evening stroll, when the sun is setting and the town starts waking up to its evening life. Grab a scoop of proper artisan gelato, stop by the windows of old antiquarian bookshops and just watch the elegantly dressed local residents greeting their neighbours.

19. What to taste from Lucca’s cuisine

The local Tuscan gastronomy is fantastic and has a surprising number of wonderful vegetarian gems that you’ll fall in love with. We swear by cecina, a wafer-thin flatbread — slightly crisp at the edges and soft inside — made from chickpea flour, olive oil and water. It’s baked in a hot oven and works as the perfect vegan street food, straight into your hand as you walk around town.

For breakfast, be sure to try buccellato, the absolutely iconic traditional sweet bread with anise and lots of raisins. It’s sold in every bakery, and it tastes best when, like the locals, you dip it straight into a hot morning cappuccino.

For lunch I warmly recommend zuppa di farro (a thick, hearty spelt soup with beans), just always ask the staff to be safe whether they cooked it without bits of pancetta. Garmugia is also excellent — a light spring vegetable soup full of fresh artichokes, peas and asparagus. For a sweet finish, try necci, thin flatbreads made from chestnut flour and traditionally filled with soft fresh ricotta.

20. Traditional meaty tordelli lucchesi

If you eat meat yourself, then you should know that the best-known local speciality for all “carnivores” is the celebrated tordelli lucchesi. These are fairly large, semicircular filled pasta parcels that vaguely resemble classic ravioli, but they have a completely distinctive composition and flavour that local cooks are very proud of.

Into the rich meat filling (usually a mix of beef and pork), according to old secret recipes, a pinch of cinnamon and freshly grated nutmeg is added. This spicing gives the whole dish a very unusual, slightly sweet and interesting flavour profile.

The generously filled pasta is then served on a deep plate, doused in a proper, slow-cooked meat ragù and sprinkled with parmesan. Be prepared that it’s a fairly heavy and very filling dish, so afterwards you’ll probably cancel your afternoon climb up the tower and go and sit in the shade in the park instead.

21. Where to eat well in Lucca

Finding a good restaurant here is honestly a pleasure, because the quality of the ingredients and the cooking is generally very high and there are very few outright tourist traps. Sottosotto, which sits right at the entrance to the oval Anfiteatro square, has an absolutely excellent rating. Despite its premium, touristy location it keeps reasonable mid-range prices, friendly service and excellent food quality.

For meat-free dining I wholeheartedly recommend the restaurant In Pasta, Cibo e Convivio on Corso Garibaldi. It’s fully vegetarian, they make absolutely phenomenal fresh pasta, and guests praise their very friendly prices highly in reviews.

Another of my favourite tips for a quick and light lunch is the vegan spot Soup in Town on the San Giusto square. Stop by after touring the churches — they make fantastic colourful Buddha bowls and hearty legume soups that get you back on your feet in a flash. If you’re after something more authentic, try the old-fashioned Trattoria da Giulio near Porta San Donato, where they still have white tablecloths and low prices.

22. Day trips from Lucca: the Devil’s Bridge and Garfagnana

Lucca is a downright brilliant base for exploring the beautiful, if slightly overlooked, mountain valley of Garfagnana lying to the north. Just about 20 kilometres from town stands Ponte della Maddalena, far better known by its frightening name, the Devil’s Bridge. It’s a medieval stone structure over the wild River Serchio, with such an unnaturally high and thin main arch that it looks as though it defies gravity.

It was an important crossing on the famous pilgrim route Via Francigena, and according to local legend it had to be built by the devil himself. In exchange he demanded the soul of the first to cross it, but the clever locals outwitted him back then by sending an ordinary dog across the finished bridge.

By the regular VaiBus bus you can also easily get from Lucca to the charming Renaissance town of Barga, a journey that takes a little over an hour. You’ll walk through Barga in half an hour, but its remote atmosphere and views into the valley will make you want to stay the whole afternoon. You can also stop in Bagni di Lucca, fifty minutes away, which in the 19th century was a famous, glittering thermal spa and the summer residence of the Napoleonic court. Today it feels beautifully sleepy and a little forgotten.

Where to go next from Lucca and how to get around

Getting here is incredibly easy and quick. If you fly into Pisa airport with a low-cost carrier such as Ryanair or easyJet, just hop on the automatic PisaMover shuttle to the main Pisa Centrale station. From there, direct regional trains run to Lucca, covering the whole journey in 22 to 27 minutes, with a ticket costing only around €4 (100 CZK). It’s by far the cheapest and fastest way to travel. From Florence you’ll get here by train in roughly an hour and a half. A big advantage is that Lucca’s station lies right next to the walls, so you’re in the historic centre on foot within a few minutes.

If you’re planning to explore Italy more widely at your own pace, Lucca combines beautifully with other places. You’ll find inspiration for putting together a varied route in our 7-day Tuscany itinerary. For history and art you can head to the famous Florence or to medieval pearls such as Siena and San Gimignano.

If your feet are aching after all that walking around town, take a look at our tips for superb wellness hotels in Tuscany. And of course you mustn’t miss the nearby iconic Pisa — for practical advice, check out our guide on how to buy tickets for the Leaning Tower. And if you’re still unsure where exactly to head with the family, have a read of our article on where to go on holiday in Italy or our extensive guide to Italian cuisine.

Frequently asked questions

Still hesitating, or is some little detail bugging you? I’ve put together answers to the very most common questions you send me about Lucca, so you can enjoy your Italian trip without a single hitch. 😉

For most of us, the island of Elba in Italy lives in our memory from history class as that little island where Napoleon ended up. In reality, though, it’s a full-blown holiday destination that puts even far more famous resorts to shame — and yet it still feels wonderfully uncrowded and off the mass-tourism radar.

Here you’ll find an incredible combination of Caribbean-clear beaches and tall mountains that rise to over a thousand metres. And the best part is that you can comfortably drive around the whole island in a single day, which makes it an absolutely ideal spot for an active holiday full of discovery.

If you’re looking for a corner of Italy where time seems to stand still yet everything breathes calm, Elba will win you over in no time. I’ve put together a detailed guide so you know exactly how to get here, where to find the prettiest coves and what to watch out for.

TL;DR

• Getting there by ferry: Ferries run from the port of Piombino to Portoferraio, the crossing takes 40 to 60 minutes and foot-passenger tickets start at around €15.
• The wind rule: On Elba you pick your beach according to which way the wind is blowing (a southerly scirocco means dashing to the northern beaches, and vice versa).
• The Monte Capanne cable car: Open yellow cages for two standing passengers take you up the highest mountain (definitely not for anyone with a fear of heights).
• Napoleon’s residences: A phone reservation at least a day ahead is absolutely essential for both villas, otherwise you almost certainly won’t get in.
• The most beautiful beaches: Sansone and Capo Bianco offer white cliffs and perfect conditions for snorkelling.
• Getting around the island: A car is the best option, but be ready for very narrow, winding little roads and limited parking at the most popular beaches.

When to visit Elba

The best time to visit the island is clearly late May, June and the first half of September. In these months the sea is already (or still) beautifully warm for swimming, but the island isn’t bursting at the seams under the onslaught of Italian mainland tourists. A key advantage of this period is that it’s far easier to park at the popular beaches, which saves you a lot of stress and early alarms. Accommodation prices also stay within reason and you can get a table at restaurants without booking days in advance. On top of that, in June and September the ferries run at full capacity and you can choose from roughly 151 crossings a week.

If you head over in August, brace yourself for the absolute peak of the season. For Italians, August is the month of nationwide holidays and Elba is a huge favourite. During this time accommodation prices hit their maximum, there are queues for the ferries and the beaches are truly packed. In August you need to sort out ferry tickets and hotels even six months ahead, otherwise you risk being left with only the most expensive or worst-rated options. The August heat also isn’t exactly ideal for hiking.

Spring and autumn months such as April, May and October are absolutely ideal for hiking, cycling and exploring the sights. The sun warms pleasantly and the cable car to the highest mountain usually runs by then (though with shorter opening hours until five in the afternoon), but the sea is really only for the hardiest swimmers. In winter the island essentially settles into hibernation. Most hotels, restaurants and attractions close and the Monte Capanne cable car doesn’t run because of its regular maintenance. The ferries do operate year-round, but in the winter months they run on a very limited schedule of roughly 38 crossings a week, just to ensure basic supplies for the local residents.

Where to stay on Elba

💡 Tip for accommodation and experiences: We prefer to look for accommodation on Booking.com, which usually has the best cancellation terms. For tickets, tours and activities it’s worth comparing and booking through GetYourGuide.

Where you sleep will hugely shape the kind of Elba you experience, and the choice here isn’t at all straightforward. The areas of Biodola and Procchio on the northern coast are known for their more upmarket hotels and gorgeous sandy beaches with a gentle slope into the sea. The area around the capital, Portoferraio, meanwhile, is great as a strategic base for day trips, since most ferries arrive here and you’re just a short walk from the historic sights. Portoferraio is also the easiest starting point for reaching the famous white-pebble beaches.

If you love evening life and romantic strolls through historic lanes, you’ll surely be charmed by Capoliveri or Porto Azzurro in the southeast. Capoliveri sits high on a hill and comes alive after sunset with markets and restaurant terraces. For families with children, Marina di Campo is often recommended thanks to its great facilities, plenty of restaurants and a long sandy beach. I’d recommend you book your accommodation well in advance, because the best places sell out at lightning speed before summer.

• Hotel Hermitage: A five-star gem right on the beach in the Biodola area. Three pools, three bars and four restaurants — and reviewers agree the service here really isn’t just on paper. On top of that, you get gorgeous sea views straight from your room.
• Hotel Montecristo: A very popular hotel in the Campo nell’Elba area with a lovely pool and generous breakfasts included. Travellers particularly praise the exceptionally welcoming staff and the perfect location just a short walk from the beach.
• Hotel del Golfo: A fantastic choice in the Procchio area. The hotel boasts two restaurants, a lovely pool and, above all, its own private beach — a huge advantage in the peak summer season.
• Hotel Villa Ottone: A romantic 19th-century villa in the Ottone locality near Portoferraio. It has its own private beach and a great wellness centre. One reviewer even mentioned getting a 20% discount on ferry tickets by booking directly through the hotel.
• Tenuta delle Ripalte: A gorgeous, sprawling resort near Capoliveri with three restaurants, its own diving centre and a network of private cycling paths. An active holiday with luxury facilities — this combination simply works here.

Island of Elba, Italy: 20 tips on what to see and do

Elba is the third largest Italian island and, honestly, the more we researched it, the more things kept creeping onto our list. Here are the ones you definitely don’t want to skip.

1. The ferry from Piombino to Portoferraio

The easiest and most common route to the island runs via the port of Piombino on the Tuscan coast. Ferries here are run by three big companies: Moby Lines, Toremar and Blu Navy. Most crossings head for the main island port of Portoferraio, but some also go to smaller ports such as Rio Marina or Cavo. In peak summer season there are over 40 crossings a day, which adds up to an incredible 151 sailings a week.

The crossing itself takes only 40 minutes to an hour, so before you’ve even had a chance to settle in on deck and sip your Italian espresso, you’ll already be docking. The fastest crossings are usually with Toremar at around forty minutes. A one-way foot-passenger ticket comes to roughly €19 and, if you’re travelling with a car, expect to pay from around €19 per vehicle plus passenger tickets.

The total price varies a lot depending on the specific season, the sailing time and the chosen operator. Tickets typically range from €15 to €32 per person, so I’d recommend comparing offers in advance. The ferries do run year-round, but in the winter months service is reduced to roughly 38 crossings a week.

💡 Tip: If you’re travelling with your own car in the summer months, definitely book your ferry tickets online in advance. You’ll save yourself long, stressful hours of waiting at the port for the first free spot, which can easily take up to half a day. Some hotels also offer discount codes for the ferry when you book your stay directly.

2. A car is a must (and how driving around the island works)

Elba isn’t huge and in theory you can drive around the whole thing in a day, but relying on public transport here isn’t exactly the best idea. A car is clearly the most comfortable option if you want to discover hidden beaches, visit mountain villages and not be tied to timetables. There is a bus network, but in summer it tends to be pretty slow and it simply won’t take you to the most beautiful remote coves.

The island’s roads are very narrow, constantly winding and often lined with steep drops falling straight to the sea. On top of that, local drivers are fairly spirited and don’t hit the brakes too much, so expect your average speed to be very low. If you don’t fancy driving, plenty of travellers opt to rent a scooter, which is a fantastic solution for weaving through traffic. But Elba is very hilly, so rent a scooter with a stronger engine to save yourself the struggle on the climbs.

At the prettiest beaches like Sansone or Capo Bianco there’s usually a huge parking problem in summer. The official car parks are small and fill up fast. It pays to get up early and head to the water really early in the morning, otherwise you’ll circle for hours without luck and end up parking somewhere a kilometre away on the verge.

3. How to choose your beach by the wind

This is an absolutely crucial rule that will genuinely save your holiday. Elba is a relatively small island, so you’ll always find a cove with calm water and crystal-clear sea — you just need to know exactly where to go depending on the current wind. This bit of knowledge is what separates the delighted travellers from those complaining about waves and murky water.

When the southerly wind known as the scirocco starts blowing, the sea on the south of the island turns rough and full of waves. That’s the moment to pack up and head for the northern beaches such as Biodola, Sansone, Sant’Andrea or Spartaia. These are beautifully tucked away in the lee, so the water there will be as calm as a mirror and perfectly transparent. It’s during the scirocco that the northern cliffs are at their most photogenic.

Conversely, as soon as the weather turns and a cooler northerly kicks in, drive over to the southern and western coves. Beaches like Fetovaia, Cavoli or Innamorata will be perfectly sheltered by the surrounding hills. Just check a wind-forecast app over breakfast each morning and you’re guaranteed to swim in the best conditions on the whole island.

4. Monte Capanne and the cable car in yellow cages

At 1,019 metres above sea level, Monte Capanne is the highest point of Elba and of the entire vast Tuscan Archipelago. You can reach the top on foot along hiking trails, but most visitors choose the iconic cable car (cabinovia), which starts in the mountain town of Marciana at an altitude of about 375 metres. And this is where the main surprise comes in — one that guidebooks often don’t mention.

Don’t expect any comfortable enclosed cabins with seats and glass windows. What takes you up to 950 metres are open yellow metal cages that fit exactly two people standing. There’s no glass and no solid walls, just plain metal bars. The ride takes roughly 15 to 20 minutes and offers an absolutely unreal 360-degree view over the wooded hills and the sea, but it’s definitely not for anyone with a fear of heights.

On a clear day you can see all the way to neighbouring French Corsica from the summit. A return ticket for an adult costs roughly around €20 and a one-way ride comes to about €13 (2025 prices). The cable car usually operates from April to October, closing completely in the winter months for regular maintenance. It’s best to check the exact prices and opening hours before your trip on the official website.

5. Villa dei Mulini and the mandatory reservation

The famous French commander Napoleon Bonaparte spent roughly 300 days in exile on Elba (more precisely from 3 May 1814 to 26 February 1815), and he wasn’t a conventional prisoner here but the island’s formal sovereign. During this relatively short time he managed to set up not one but two lavish residences. His main, urban one was Palazzina dei Mulini, which rises right above the harbour in the capital, Portoferraio. His sister Paolina Borghese even visited him here during his stay.

The villa’s gardens offer a gorgeous view over the open sea, and inside you can admire period furniture, beautiful halls and, above all, Napoleon’s personal library, which he had shipped over. By today’s standards the entrance fee is more than symbolic — adults pay just €3, while children under 18 and seniors over 65 enter the grounds completely free.

⚠️ Careful, this is an extremely important piece of information for your visit: a phone reservation the day before on +39 0565 915846 is absolutely essential — without it you’ll only get in with a lot of luck, and we’re really not exaggerating. The tour itself takes roughly 50 minutes, and opening hours vary depending on the day of the week (on Mondays and Thursdays it’s open only in the afternoon from 2:00 pm, other days in the morning).

6. The summer residence Villa di San Martino

Napoleon’s second refuge on the island was Villa di San Martino, which served as his private summer residence. It lies hidden in the green wooded hills just a few kilometres above bustling Portoferraio, and its calm was meant to remind him of the country life he was used to in France. It was his personal oasis, where he spent the hot summer days far from his city duties.

Part of this gorgeous complex is also the striking Galleria Demidoff, added in the 19th century by the Russian prince Anatoly Demidov, a huge admirer of Napoleon. This majestic building in pure neoclassical style is full of historical artefacts and sculptural works, so it’s definitely worth a detailed look and nicely complements the villa’s more modest original rooms.

The exact same strict rules apply to this summer residence as to the urban villa. The entrance fee is again just €3 and a phone reservation the day before is strictly required, otherwise you risk driving up into the hills completely in vain. Opening hours again vary slightly by day of the week (on Wednesdays and Fridays it’s open in the afternoon from 2:00 pm to 6:30 pm, while on Tuesdays, Thursdays and weekends it operates in the morning until 1:30 pm).

7. The Caribbean-like Fetovaia beach

Fetovaia beach regularly tops the rankings as one of the most beautiful coves in all of Italy, and completely deservedly so. You’ll find it on the island’s southwest coast and at first sight it will captivate you with its fine light sand and incredibly turquoise water that deepens only very gradually. The colours of the sea here really recall the Caribbean rather than the classic Mediterranean.

This cove is perfectly sheltered by a long rocky headland densely covered in lush green Mediterranean macchia. Thanks to this natural shield, the sea is completely calm even on days when a stronger wind is blowing on the north of the island. That’s exactly why you should head here whenever your app reports a cool northerly. It’s an absolutely ideal spot for swimmers of all levels, for snorkelling and for families with small children who want to play on the shore.

In peak summer season, though, it gets really tight here, so you’ll have to fight for a spot on the free sand very early in the morning. There is a working sunbed and umbrella rental, and there’s also complete basic infrastructure with toilets, showers and a nice snack bar right by the water.

8. Cavoli beach for fun-lovers

If you’re after a slightly livelier atmosphere on holiday and don’t mind the company of other people, head to Cavoli beach. It sits on the southern coast and, thanks to its strategic location, is well sheltered from the cold northern wind. The water temperature here is said to be exceptionally pleasant from the early spring months right through to late autumn, which makes it a big hit even outside the peak summer season.

This spot on Elba mainly attracts a younger crowd and lovers of beach clubs. You’ll find beautifully fine light sand, bars with a view right by the water and, in the summer months, frequent afternoon beach parties with live music. If you’re looking for total peace with a book in hand, Cavoli probably won’t be your first choice, but for lovers of summer fun it’s a perfect spot.

Although it’s noticeably busier here than in other coves, the sea stays crystal clear and inviting for a swim. On the right side of the cove there’s also the fascinating Grotta Azzurra cave, which you can swim to fairly easily, or rent a pedal boat on the shore and explore it from the deck.

9. Sansone beach and perfect snorkelling

For thousands of enthusiastic travellers (judging by its fantastic 4.7-star rating on Google from over seven thousand reviews), Sansone beach is the absolute jewel of the entire northern coast. It’s a breathtaking cove covered in tiny, brilliant white pebbles that gleam in the sun from afar. You’ll find it a short drive from Portoferraio and it ranks among the island’s most photographed spots.

The beach is strikingly lined on all sides by tall white cliffs that contrast sharply with the deep blue water. It’s precisely thanks to the pebble bottom — with no stirred-up sand — that the sea here is so transparent that you’ll see every pebble even at a depth of several metres. These are absolutely perfect conditions for snorkelling, since whole shoals of colourful fish dart about and the underwater life is very rich.

A photogenic rock rises from the water near the shore, a favourite target for daring jumpers and kayakers. Access to the beach is along a slightly steep, dusty path from the main car park, so definitely bring sturdier shoes — flip-flops aren’t exactly safe here and it gets very slippery. Remember that this beach is the top choice whenever the scirocco is blowing from the south.

10. Capo Bianco with its white cliffs

Just a short distance from the capital, Portoferraio, you’ll find Capo Bianco beach, which by island standards is an impressive 290 metres long. Its name (which translates as White Cape) describes exactly what awaits you on arrival. The beach is made up of an interesting mix of brilliant white pebbles and light sand that’s lovely to walk on, even barefoot.

Just like at neighbouring Sansone, imposing white rock formations rise here too, plunging straight into the deep blue and turquoise sea. On a sunny day the combination of these colours is so intense that you’ll feel as if you’re on some exotic tropical holiday. Once again it’s a fantastic spot for anyone who loves diving and observing underwater life, because the white seabed reflects the light beautifully.

💡 Tip: Since this beach faces the northern side of the coast, it’s absolutely ideal to come here when the southerly scirocco is blowing. On such a day the sea will be perfectly calm without a single ripple and underwater visibility will be at its maximum. If you arrive early in the morning, you’ll also avoid the afternoon crowds.

11. The pair of Padulella and Le Ghiaie

The northern coast near Portoferraio hides two more beautiful beaches you shouldn’t miss while exploring the area. Padulella is a smaller pebble beach with perfectly smooth stones, closed in on all sides by tall white rocks. Thanks to them it’s fantastically sheltered from the unpleasant northerly and offers wonderful peace and quiet even on slightly windier days.

Right next to it lies the much larger and better-known Le Ghiaie, a full 400 metres long. It’s a very popular town beach with white pebbles, beside which you’ll find plenty of excellent restaurants, comfortable sunbed rentals and complete tourist facilities. On Google it holds a great 4.5-star rating from almost ten thousand reviews, which speaks to its huge popularity.

Interestingly, the sea in the immediate vicinity of Le Ghiaie beach is a protected biological zone full of fish, so fishing here is strictly forbidden. Locals apparently love telling tourists that the dark spots on the brilliant white pebbles are drops of sweat from the legendary Argonauts, who stopped here with Jason during their long search for the Golden Fleece.

12. Historic Portoferraio and its fortresses

Portoferraio is definitely not just a transit port where you step off the ferry and immediately drive on — it’s also a beautiful historic town with an exceptionally rich past. Its clear landmarks are the huge, mighty fortresses built here in the 16th century by the famous Tuscan Grand Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici to defend against the relentless pirate raids from the sea.

Do make time to explore the well-preserved complexes of Forte Falcone and Forte Stella. From their massive ramparts you get absolutely stunning views over the whole wide bay and the historic centre full of typical colourful houses. Down by the harbour itself you’ll find the iconic octagonal tower Torre della Linguella, which protected the safe entrance to the docks for centuries.

A stroll along the narrow paved lanes from the harbour up towards Napoleon’s villa takes only a moment, but it hits you with that true Italian atmosphere. They’re full of cosy cafés, little souvenir shops and the scent of fresh coffee and fresh pastries. It’s an ideal spot for a relaxed afternoon after a day spent on the beach.

13. Capoliveri and the best views

If you turn into a night owl on holiday and love the buzz of summer evenings, Capoliveri will surely be your favourite stop on all of Elba. This utterly charming little town sits high on a hill in the southeast of the island and reviewers regularly give it the highest ratings (a lovely 4.7 stars) for both atmosphere and service. On top of that, the area around the town is the starting point for mountain-bike trails famous far and wide.

Thanks to its unique elevated position it offers absolutely breathtaking views over the open sea and the surrounding deep coves. During the day you can wander at leisure through narrow stone lanes full of flowers in bloom, sit in cafés and admire the historic architecture. But the real magic? That comes after dark, when Capoliveri transforms into the liveliest place on the whole island. The main square fills with restaurant terraces, little artisan ceramics shops open up and people simply stroll the lanes with a scoop of excellent ice cream in hand, soaking up the warm evenings. Definitely plan at least one dinner trip here.

14. The harbour charm of Porto Azzurro

On the island’s eastern coast lies Porto Azzurro, a picturesque harbour town with a gorgeous wide promenade running along the sea. You can happily sit on the benches here for hours, watching the luxury yachts at anchor, listening to the lapping of the waves and drinking in the relaxed holiday atmosphere that radiates from this place in every direction.

High above the town rises the enormous historic fortress Forte San Giacomo, built in the 17th century by the Spanish to protect the bay from the enemy. Today the complex serves as a state prison, so unfortunately you can’t look inside, but even the view of its massive walls from outside perfectly underlines the historic character of the whole town and makes a fantastic backdrop for photos.

In the lanes of Porto Azzurro you’ll find dozens of great spots and restaurants. It’s an ideal place for an early-evening stroll rounded off with a good dinner. If you’re after a tip for a fantastic meat-free meal, I warmly recommend the venue MagnEtico Bistrò, which has an incredible 4.9 rating on Google and focuses on creative vegetarian and vegan cuisine made from local ingredients.

15. Mountain Marciana and seaside Marciana Marina

Right at the foot of the highest mountain, Monte Capanne, lies ancient Marciana, a charming mountain village tucked away in deep chestnut forests. It’s from here that the aforementioned yellow cable car sets off for the summit. There’s a lovely calm here, air noticeably cooler than down by the sea thanks to the altitude, and narrow stone lanes that all but invite aimless wandering. Not far away is the pilgrimage site of the Santuario della Madonna del Monte, where, according to legend, Napoleon himself liked to go and meditate.

When you head down the winding little road towards the sea, you’ll reach the town of Marciana Marina, which, as a fun fact, is the smallest municipality in all of Tuscany. It’s an enormously cute and very tidy seaside resort with a small harbour full of boats and a coastal promenade.

The town’s historic icon is the Torre Saracena, a massive old defensive tower from the 12th century that once protected the local inhabitants from bloody pirate raids. Today it’s a great, photogenic spot for a romantic sunset photo, when the tower turns warm orange hues.

16. The mining park in Rio Marina

The eastern part of Elba has a completely different character, both geologically and visually, from the rest of the green island. Its history is closely tied to the massive mining of iron ore, which took place here continuously all the way back to the days of the ancient Etruscans. It was precisely the huge mineral wealth and iron deposits that made Elba an exceptionally strategic and prosperous point in the whole Mediterranean in the past. Napoleon himself went to inspect these mines just three days after arriving on the island.

In the town of Rio Marina you can today visit the hugely interesting Parco Minerario (mining park), which is a great experience not only for families with children but also for adults who want a break from the beaches. Here you can descend into historic mine tunnels with a guide or take a ride on a scenic mine train through the sprawling open-pit mines full of rusty and ochre colours.

Part of the popular tour is also hunting for your own sparkling mineral samples (mainly pyrite and hematite) using borrowed geological hammers. It’s an absolutely great alternative for days when it’s cloudy, a strong wind is blowing, or you simply don’t feel like spending the whole day lying on the beach.

17. The Tuscan Archipelago National Park

Elba isn’t just a lonely island in the middle of the sea — it forms the very heart of the enormous Tuscan Archipelago National Park. With a total area of over 600 square kilometres, it’s the largest marine park in all of Europe — and this is exactly what explains why the sea around Elba is so incredibly clean.

Besides Elba, this unique park includes six other smaller islands: Capraia, Giglio, Giannutri, Gorgona, Montecristo and Pianosa. Thanks to strict rules, nature here is very carefully protected, which is the main reason the sea around Elba is so incredibly crystal clear and full of fascinating underwater life, untouched by heavy industry.

If you like full-day boat trips, you can set off from Elba’s ports on organised sightseeing cruises to the surrounding islands. The mysterious island of Montecristo, made famous by Alexandre Dumas’ novel, has a strictly limited number of visitors per year, so only the very luckiest few get a permit there, and well in advance at that. The other islands, however, are much easier to reach.

18. Hiking and viewpoints at Capo d’Enfola

Thanks to its very mountainous terrain, Elba is an absolute paradise for anyone who doesn’t like to spend the whole holiday on a hotel sunbed. The island is densely woven with a network of perfectly marked hiking trails that lead you from the sea all the way up to the mountain ridges. As I’ve mentioned, the area around Capoliveri is also famous far and wide for its great MTB trails.

A lovely, easy and extremely photogenic walk can be had on the Capo d’Enfola peninsula near Portoferraio, which has a superb 4.7 rating on Google. The route leads you onto a striking green hill connected to the mainland only by a very narrow sandy isthmus, and along the way you’ll come across lots of beautiful viewpoints.

During this easy-going walk you’ll come across abandoned military bunkers from World War II in the forest and can peek into an old tunnel. Your reward for a bit of sweat will be fantastic panoramic views over the whole northern coast and dramatic cliffs plunging steeply into the blue sea. The trip is doable even for families with children — just don’t forget to bring plenty of water.

19. Snorkelling and diving in the clean sea

It’s precisely thanks to its strict status as a protected national park that the underwater world in the immediate vicinity of Elba is incredibly well preserved and varied. If you don’t pack your own mask and snorkel, you’ll regret it terribly, because the water here is as clear as a swimming pool in many places and shoals of fish swim right by the shore, often already at knee-depth.

The best conditions for snorkelling are offered above all by the white pebble beaches in the north, especially the popular Sansone, Capo Bianco or the area around the aforementioned Enfola peninsula. Just a short distance from the shore you’ll see tiny colourful fish and interesting rock formations hidden below the surface. Thanks to the light seabed, underwater visibility here is absolutely phenomenal.

For more experienced and certified divers there are several professional diving centres on the island, for example at the Tenuta delle Ripalte resort. Among the most popular spots for deeper dives are steep cliffs full of the famous red corals, and now and then you might even come across small, fascinating underwater wrecks from the past on the seabed.

20. Where to eat (not just for vegetarians)

An island = fish and seafood, which probably surprises no one. Local cuisine has always revolved around the gifts of the sea, but even for those who aren’t too keen on fish, Elba has plenty to offer. Among the famous local specialities are the fish soup cacciucco and the dish stoccafisso alla riese (dried cod done the local way). But if you don’t eat meat and are looking for plant-based food, don’t worry — Elba has some fantastic vegetarian treasures in store for you too, and they’re definitely worth a try.

You absolutely must try schiaccia briaca (which translates as “drunken cake”). It’s a wonderful traditional Elban dessert with no eggs or milk, made with walnuts, raisins and pine nuts (and the key ingredient: it’s generously soaked in local red wine). To go with it in the evening on the terrace, have a glass of the dessert wine Aleatico Passito dell’Elba DOCG, the island’s most famous wine made from dried grapes, which Napoleon himself reportedly loved and drank.

Another great island choice is gurguglione, a delicious traditional vegetable stew made from fresh aubergine, peppers, courgettes and onion. For a flawless meat-free meal, definitely head to the already-mentioned MagnEtico Bistrò in Porto Azzurro, or to the lovely Ristoro Rurale Orti di Mare in the Lacona locality, where they make great coffee and ice cream from honest ingredients and have a superb 4.5-star rating on Google.

Where to go next from Elba

If you’re spending a holiday in Italy and have more time, it would be a shame to limit yourself to just one island. The mainland offers countless places you can combine with a visit to Elba.

The ferry will take you back to Piombino, from where the other Italian gems are just a short hop away. Get inspired by our other articles:

• Tuscany: 30 most beautiful places and a 7-day itinerary
• Pisa: 37 tips on what to see and do
• Florence: 30 tips on what to see in the cradle of the Renaissance
• Siena and San Gimignano: 8 tips on what to see
• Wellness hotels in Tuscany: 12 thermal spas
• Where to go on holiday in Italy: 20 best places
• Italian cuisine: what to taste region by region

Frequently asked questions

Here are the answers to the most common practical questions you ask before your trip, so you have everything important in one place without lengthy searching.