Lucca Food Tours

Tuscan gastronomy is as varied as it is delicious and Lucca is a perfect place to taste it, including some typical local dishes. Pastas, meats, cured meats and cheeses, accompanied by a good local wine, are the protagonists of authentic recipes and elaborations that you will not be able to resist.

You can try these delicacies on your own, but one of the best things to do in Lucca is to join a guided tour of its gastronomy. You will discover typical osterias, establishments where you can taste its street food and wine cellars where you can participate in tastings. There's more, I'll tell you about it below.

On this tour you can fully immerse yourself in the best of Lucca. On the one hand, in its charming historic center. On the other, in its rich gastronomy. An expert guide will accompany you on the walk and you will discover all the secrets of the city: those you can see and those you can taste.

It is one of the best tours in Lucca because you can taste some of the typical delicacies of Tuscany. To get the tour off to a strong start, some start with a breakfast where you will taste a classic espresso or cappucchino, accompanied by some pastry or cake. If you have the chance, try the buccellato, a sweet bread typical of Lucca.

Next you will discover the beauty of the Duomo of Lucca, the church of San Michele in Foro or the Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, the true heart of the city and the perfect place for an aperitif or lunch. What is not to be missed? For example,** Tuscan cured meats and cheeses, especially the pecorino of Gargagnana**, which is made near Lucca.

Interesting details

• Price: this gastronomic tour costs around 70 euros per person.
• Duration: the tour usually lasts about two and a half hours.
• Advantages of this option: on the tour you will see the main sights of Lucca and you will have the opportunity to taste the most typical of its gastronomy.
• Disadvantages of this option: in most of the tours there is no time to visit the monuments of Lucca.

If there is a typical landscape in Tuscany it is that of endless vineyards covering hills as far as the eye can see. You can join one of the excursions from Lucca to visit the Chianti wine-growing area. But you don't have to go far to visit a winery and taste delicious wines.

On these tours you will have the opportunity to walk among the vineyards near Lucca and learn about the winemaking process in a local winery. An artisanal process that has been carried out in this area for centuries. An expert winemaker will explain all the secrets.

Then, of course, you can participate in a tasting to discover the aromas and nuances of these wines that are internationally recognized for their quality. Wines that you will be able to accompany with a small appetizer with cold meats and cheeses of the area and that are also delicious.

Details of interest

• Price: the tour has an approximate price of 92 euros per person.
• Duration: this experience lasts about five hours.
• Advantages of this option: you will not have to go far from Lucca to know all the history and winemaking tradition of Tuscany.
• Disadvantages of this option: they are usually full day tours, if you have little time to see the whole city it would not be recommended for you.

You can't visit Lucca and leave without experiencing one of the most deeply rooted Italian traditions: the aperitivo. If you want to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the city and feel like a local, this experience is perfect for you.

You can see Lucca in one day and then enjoy that aperitivo. The time is one of the peculiarities of this custom. The aperitivo is taken in the afternoon, when the sun is already starting to set. It is at that time when the streets and bars are full of life and lively gatherings.

Not only in the city, you also have the possibility of taking that aperitif in a winery on the outskirts, while watching the sun sets on the horizon. It's a perfect plan if you prefer to get away from the hustle and bustle of the historic center.

What will you try? Above all, the traditional crostini, which are appetizers served on a slice of toasted bread. You will also be able to taste the traditional salami of the area or the pecorino cheese, typical of Tuscany. Of course, all accompanied by a good wine produced in the cellars of Lucca.

Interesting details

• Price: this experience costs about 57 euros per person.
• Duration: about two hours.
• Advantages of this option: it is one of the most fun activities to learn about deep-rooted traditions in the city.
• Disadvantages of this option: you will not taste the most typical dishes of Lucca, it is only an approach to the gastronomy of the area.

Pasta is almost an art in Italy. If you like cooking, you will surely enjoy learning how to make it the traditional way, as mammas have been doing for centuries. You will learn all the secrets of the typical cuisine so that the result is that pasta that everyone loves.

In this experience you will learn how to prepare at least three authentic recipes of different types of pasta in the Lucca style. And the best thing is that you can do it in the home of a local, so the experience will be much more authentic.

The reward will not only be to take these recipes with you so you can then prepare them and surprise your guests. You will also eat the dishes you have prepared in the same house, accompanying the family, so you will learn a lot not only about cooking, but also about traditions and some other curiosities.

Interesting details

• Price: the class and tasting costs around 150 euros per person.
• Duration: this experience lasts about three hours.
• Advantages of this option: in addition to tasting some of the typical dishes of Tuscan cuisine you will learn how to prepare them.
• Disadvantages of this option: the whole experience takes place in an enclosed area and does not include a tour of Lucca.

One of the best ways to immerse yourself in the local gastronomy is to visit the markets. Accompanied by a local you will learn about the most typical products of Lucca's cuisine: vegetables, cold cuts, cheeses, meat and, of course, pasta.

You will also enjoy the always lively atmosphere of the markets and discover the locals' way of shopping. After shopping, this activity includes a cooking class at the home of the host of the experience. You will learn how to prepare some of the most delicious dishes of Lucca's gastronomy.

What can you learn to prepare? It will depend on your tastes, but among the possibilities are Lucca's tordelli, a crescent-shaped pasta filled with meat, vegetables or cold cuts; or matuffi lucchesi, a dish that alternates layers of polenta and ragu of various meats.

You can't miss the sweets. In addition to the traditional tiramisu, you can learn how to prepare bucellato, a traditional sweet bread, as well as desserts whose main ingredient is chestnuts, highly appreciated in Lucca.

Interesting details

• Price: the cost of the experience is about €190 per person.
• Duration: about four and a half hours.
• Advantages of this option: it is a completely immersive experience that allows you to learn not only the recipes, but also the origin and quality of the ingredients.
• Disadvantages of this option: you will need half a day, so if you are going to be in Lucca for a short time it may condition and reduce the rest of the visit.

If you like everything related to oenology, in Lucca you can learn a lot about the elaboration of Tuscan wines. Accompanied by an expert, you will learn to differentiate the nuances of the different wines of the area: whites, reds, rosés and prosecco, a sparkling wine with which a very typical cocktail is made: the spritz.

You can taste these wines in a short tour of the city with a stop at a typical bar in the historic center. The ideal is a guided tour, since only an expert can take you to the best establishments, advise you on the most appreciated local wines and show you why they are special.

Interesting details

• Price: the experience costs about 15 euros per person.
• Duration: about an hour and a half.
• Advantages of this option: it is an essential experience for wine lovers.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is a basic and quick tour, only some of the wines of the area are known.

If you want to know in depth the gastronomy of Lucca, you should not only taste its typical dishes, but also its street food. You will be surprised by its variety and quality. Throughout the historic center there are a number of places where you can taste it and feel like a local.

If you opt for a guided tour, you will also learn a lot of curiosities. An expert guide will explain which are the most traditional snacks and how they are made. And he will also tell you some details of the places you will pass by.

You can eat authentic paninis and focaccias. I also recommend you try the typical Lucca sausages, such as biroldo, which is a kind of blood sausage. And if you have a sweet tooth, don't miss the necci, a kind of chestnut flour pancakes filled with virolo or ricotta.

Interesting details

• Price: this tour starts at about 90 euros per person.
• Duration: about three hours.
• Advantages of this option: on the tour you will taste various dishes, both sweet and savory, that represent well the flavors of Lucca's cuisine.
• Disadvantages of this option: the experience can be tiring.

Very close to Lucca, in San Miniato, the largest white truffle in the world was found almost seventy years ago. It weighed no less than 2,520 kilos. You can test your luck and go in search of this delicacy as you go through the woods of the area.

You will do so accompanied by an expert and specially trained dogs to find these truffles that give a special flavor to the dishes. Dishes that, by the way, you will also be able to taste, since this is also a gastronomic experience. In fact, a gourmet lunch is usually offered accompanied by a good local wine.

Interesting details

• Price: this experience costs around 170 euros per person.
• Duration: about three hours approximately.
• Advantages of this option: it is an experience that allows you not only to enjoy exquisite flavors, but also to walk through natural corners of great beauty.
• Disadvantages of this option: it depends on the weather, although if the weather prevents you from doing it, you can change the date or request a refund.

One of the most famous products of Tuscany, besides wine, is oil. This liquid gold is the protagonist of many of the traditional recipes of the region's cuisine. In the vicinity of Lucca there are also olive groves and oil mills where oil is produced in a traditional way.

One way to immerse yourself in this tradition is to visit one of these farms. But without leaving the historic center of Lucca you have the possibility of getting to know it in another way: through a tasting. You will learn to distinguish all the nuances and appreciate the differences between some oils and others.

In some cases, these experiences are also combined with the tasting of some of the wines of the area. In this way, you will learn all the secrets of these two products, wine and oil, essential on any table in Lucca.

Interesting details

• Price: about 100 euros per person.
• Duration: about two hours
• Advantages of this option: you will learn to differentiate the aromas and flavors of the oil from a professional.
• Disadvantages of this option: you will not taste elaborated dishes of Tuscan cuisine.

Italian gelatos are different. On a walk through Lucca you can eat them in one of the traditional ice cream parlors. You will appreciate that special flavor and, above all, that texture that makes them unique, but do you know how to get those characteristics that make them irresistible?

One of the sweetest experiences you can live in Lucca is to learn how these gelatos are made in an artisanal way. And you will do it from the hand of a master gelato maker who will teach you the keys to distinguish the authentic Italian gelato from copies and those others that are industrial.

Interesting details

• Price: about 60 euros per person.
• Duration: about 45 minutes.
• Advantages of this option: it is a short experience, perfect if you are not going to be in Lucca for a long time.
• **Disadvantages of this option: you will only learn the secrets of a dessert, not of other sweets or typical dishes.

The first tip is not to give up on enjoying the flavors of Lucca. If you are not going to stay long in the city, you always have the opportunity to make short tours where you can try some typical dishes, such as appetizers or street food.

If your stay is longer than one day, choose a longer tour. Some will allow you to get to know the city while discovering its gastronomy. Others will take you to enjoy the fantastic Tuscan landscapes that also surround Lucca and are spectacular.

Especially in high season, it is important to book well in advance. This way, you will be assured of a place on your chosen tour and you will be able to plan your stay in the city much better so as not to miss any of its charms.

Whether you are going on a gastronomic tour through the streets of Lucca or visiting a vineyard, don't forget to wear comfortable shoes. In the case of the historic center, some of its streets are cobblestone and sometimes it is difficult to walk on them.

You can organize your own food tour of Lucca, but it is very easy to overlook some of the best places to taste its typical foods and wines. Keep in mind that the most touristic is not always the most authentic.

On a guided tour you will always be taken to the places where you can taste the authentic cuisine of Lucca and its best wines. And, all this, seasoned with the explanations and comments of expert guides that will help you to better appreciate all the flavors and aromas. And, by the way, you will also get to know the city better.

And, in addition to all this, there are some gastronomic experiences that you cannot book privately, which are only possible within a guided tour.