Should I go to Lucca or Siena?

Lucca is quieter, smaller easier to get around and has a more small town feel. It does have some great medieval art, as Ruskin noted. Siena is also more central and a good base for visiting the sights of central Tuscany, like Chianti or San Gim. You pays your money and you takes your choice.



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Sienna was not worth it to us but it may to be you. Just be prepared for lots and lots of tourists. In Venice, it is also very crowded but that was expected. In Florence and Rome, I suggest the other side of the rivers to find more peace and quiet.

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Siena: it's the medieval heart of Tuscany! It is romantic, walkable, and full of beautiful Medieval buildings to explore.

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While it's still nowhere near the popular destination that Florence and Pisa are, Lucca is no longer a hidden gem. It's definitely on the radar of travelers these days. It's an especially popular day trip destination and summer days can feel crowded as you walk around the Old Town.

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Both Lucca and Siena were a little more intimate and relaxed than Florence, especially at night, although Florence was fantastic. Either way try to visit all of these places as each is worth the effort.

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Train links make Lucca a good base for trips to other parts of Tuscany. Journey time to Florence is 1hr 20min direct, with trains roughly hourly (€8.10/£7.15). Prato and Pistoia enroute both have fine historic centres worth exploring.

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Siena weekly market One of the most important events is without doubt the Mercato delle Merci (Wares Market), one of the largest traditional markets in Tuscany. It takes place every Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and boasts numerous stalls stretching from the Fortezza Medicea to Viale XXV Aprile.

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Lucca is brilliantly located as a base, with local trains darting Florence and Pisa every hour. Generally, I recommend staying in the historical center or the surrounding countryside. Although Lucca stretches past its medieval walls, the modern city does not hold the same charm as the old.

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