Lucca

For a trip built around walking, our preference would be spring or autumn. On a hot day, take your wall walk early and allow a longer break around midday. In rain, exchange the outdoor section with the cathedral visit and save the tower for a suitable weather window.

Before settling on dates, consult the city's events calendar: a concert or festival might be the reason for the visit itself. If ordinary city life is your priority, compare the programme and accommodation options for your dates before fixing the itinerary.

On day one, enter from Porta San Pietro and continue to the Cathedral of San Martino. Inside, look for Jacopo della Quercia's tomb of Ilaria del Carretto. After a break, walk through Piazza San Michele towards Piazza Anfiteatro. Its oval outline preserves the shape of the Roman building, but today's square is enclosed by houses rather than ancient seating tiers.

Start day two with the Guinigi Tower if you are comfortable with a climb: holm oaks grow at the top. A second tower need not follow automatically. Instead, explore on foot some of the streets you have just seen from above. After lunch, choose the Botanical Garden or continue through the lanes within the walls.

Finish with another section of the raised promenade. There is no need to complete the ring in one go; several shorter outings reveal different sides of the city. With a single day, combine the cathedral, Piazza Anfiteatro and part of the walls. Include the tower in place of another long visit, rather than adding it to an already full schedule.

The Guinigi Tower has no lift, and reaching the top involves stairs. Match that climb to everyone's abilities; a view from the city walls can be a worthwhile outing in its own right. Check the current reservation arrangements for the tower and Botanical Garden on the municipal booking website before visiting.

We recommend walking through the central streets. Consider a bicycle primarily for the wall circuit, taking account of other users and your confidence riding. If arriving by car, ask your accommodation for its access and parking instructions in advance. Traffic restrictions apply in the centre, so a nearby address on the map does not automatically mean you can drive to the door.

Lucca railway station stands outside the southern walls on Piazza Ricasoli. From there, you can walk towards Porta San Pietro and the historic centre. The official tourism service lists rail connections with Pisa, Florence and Viareggio. Check the particular departure and any changes required for your date.

If flying to Pisa, treat the airport transfer and onward train as separate stages. Allow room after landing and take your luggage to the accommodation first. On departure day, we would choose a short walk near the appropriate gate, avoiding a last-minute crossing of the whole centre before the train.

For a first stay, we would look inside the walls, making it easy to rest between a morning walk and the evening. Compare the cathedral and southern-gate area when arriving by train; the streets around Piazza Anfiteatro suit a focus on the northern part of the centre.

Before booking, ask about the floor, lift access, luggage storage and which way the windows face. Outside the walls, judge the actual route through the nearest gate. With a car, compare the combined cost of the room and parking.

Try tordelli, the local meat-filled pasta, commonly served with a meat ragù. Bakeries sell buccellato, a traditional bake with raisins. These provide two different reasons to stop: a proper lunch and a smaller break or something to take back for breakfast.

We suggest spreading local dishes across your stay. Ask the establishment about the filling and sauce, since family versions vary. Try a small portion of buccellato first to decide which texture you like before buying a larger amount for the onward journey.