Among my top recommendations for families traveling in Italy with kids and visiting Tuscany is biking the Lucca walls, whether you are in Lucca only for the day, or for a longer stay (which is worthwhile!).
Lucca’s famous tree-lined city walls offer a 4.9 kilometer loop on a safe, wide bike path in the center of the wall for families of children of all ages to enjoy. Standing at 12 meters high and 25 meters wide, the walls offer a beautiful vantage point for looking at Lucca from across the rooftops and beyond the walls to the majestic hills surrounding the plains of Lucca. Along the shady walls you will find a cafe and gelato carts, water fountains, and even a playground. In hotter months, you will most likely feel a breeze.
It is important to note for safety that the edge of the wall on the side of Lucca center is not fenced in any way, so kids must be reminded to bike only on the bike path and not stray toward the edge. In Lucca, instead of the famous evening passeggiata stroll typical of Italian towns, the locals in Lucca go for an evening bike ride, socializing along the way. Evening is the most enjoyable time to for a ride, as the locals do.
Bike Rental Options in Lucca
If you are renting for a few hours, there is a bike rental shop conveniently located at the entrance gate of Porta Santa Maria at Cicli Bizzari, Piazza Santa Maria 32, tel. 0583 496682, open daily from 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. From here you can easily access the walls up the ramp in the piazza. Metered parking is available within the walls, and you will find some our favorite family-friendly dining options for Lucca nearby. Most of their bikes have baskets and locks, and helmets are available for rent.
If you are staying for a while at a hotel or holiday rental in Lucca, we like to rent from Tuscany Ride a Bike, at Via Elisa 26, tel. 0583 471779, with seasonal hours, which has a very nicely maintained fleet of bikes for kids and adults with baskets, helmets, and locks included for reasonable weekly rates ranging from 26-32 euro/week. Their location on Via Elisa is likewise convenient if you are entering the city by car through Porta Elisa, with metered parking available nearby. Importantly, all of their bikes have bells, which are a necessity as you cruise among all of the other Lucchese and tourists alike enjoying a spin around these famous, majestic city walls.
We hope you enjoy one of our favorite Lucca kids activities! You might also be interested in the family activities and Lucca Tuscany summer camp offered by Arte al Sole.
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