Lucca’s Renaissance walls circle a compact old town of churches, towers and narrow streets. The station is just south of the walls. From a hotel inside Porta San Pietro it is a short walk to the train. From Piazza dell’Anfiteatro or the quieter northern gates, you cross the whole town with your bags.
Walk the tree-lined ramparts first to get the shape of the city, then drop into the lanes around Via Fillungo. Piazza dell’Anfiteatro follows the outline of a Roman amphitheatre. Torre Guinigi rises above the roofs with trees on top. The historic center is easiest on foot, and the wall circuit is popular for cycling.
Stay around San Frediano and Piazza dell’Anfiteatro and the northern sights and Via Fillungo’s shops are a short stroll away. San Michele in Foro stands in the central-western lanes, and Puccini’s birthplace is close by at Corte San Lorenzo. Pick a room on a side street if you want to sleep away from the busiest squares.
The station faces the southern wall near Porta San Pietro. San Martino cathedral and Piazza Napoleone are close on this side, which helps with luggage or an early train. Buses arrive at Piazzale Verdi on the western edge. If you drive, get parking and access instructions from the hotel before you head inside the walls.
Afternoons in July and August average close to 90 °F, and after a walk on the walls you will want air conditioning. Autumn is wetter, October and November most of all. Fly into Pisa, then take the train from Pisa Centrale or check for a bus.