The 9 best boutique hotels in Lucca Italy

Today I am heading to the town of Lucca in Tuscany. I was travelling from Pisa over to Florence and decided to spend some time here. The town itself reminded me of when I visited Siena, with that same medieval feel and lots of red brick. It has that same charm on the outside too, very similar to Siena. I wanted to be close to some of the beach towns near Florence, and this felt like a good base. Because Lucca is a bit smaller, I wanted to spend proper time here, so I set out to find some of the best boutique hotels in Lucca Italy to stay in.

I actually found some 5 star boutique hotels in Lucca, along with quite a few 4-star options, and that is what I am going through today. If you are trying to find the best hotels in Lucca for a short stay, this list should give you a great starting point.

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How we select these boutique hotels in Lucca Italy

You may know that our family lives in Italy, some in Rome, some in Modena, and some in Bologna. They have taken trips to Lucca themselves, so they had actually stayed in some of these boutique hotels in Lucca already, and that was my first point of research. From there, we visited quite a lot of the boutique hotels in Lucca ourselves. We checked out the service, the location, and a lot of the rooms too.

We liked hotels in Lucca that had real character, maybe an old palace or huge grounds, but with a modern touch. With boutique hotels in Lucca Italy, and in general, service is what I really look for. Staff who gave us a manager's welcome, or knew our names, were the little touches we looked for.

The best areas to stay in Lucca

Historic city centre

This is where you will find many of the boutique hotels in Lucca. You will be inside the ancient walls, close to places like Piazza dell'Anfiteatro and the Guinigi Tower, and able to visit the best restaurants in town. Many of the buildings here were once converted palaces or historic buildings. Walking the walls from west to east, from Porta Santa Anna to Porta Elisa, takes about 20 minutes, so it really is a small town.

Best for: couples seeking romance, history enthusiasts, and travellers who prefer walking to attractions

Near Lucca walls

Staying just outside the walls, the boutique hotels tend to be a little bigger. They might have more gardens, feature gardens, and parking availability. It is still only a 10 to 15 minute walk into town, which is not much on holiday. It is also a bit quieter, since a lot of the boutique hotels in Lucca city centre are older and may not be soundproofed. If that is a worry for you, staying near the Lucca walls is a great option.

Best for: families with children, travellers with cars, and those seeking peaceful boutique hotels in Lucca.

Countryside surroundings

If you want more privacy and luxury, many of the boutique hotels in Lucca Italy, outside the centre and walls have really big grounds and pools. This area tends to be where you will find some of the more luxury hotels in Lucca Italy, especially if privacy and space are a priority. These hotels usually have great views too, and on the map you will find most of them to the north, south, or west of town.

Best for: luxury hotels in Lucca, couples on honeymoons, and guests seeking complete relaxation

My favourite boutique hotels in Lucca Italy

Hotel Villa Casanova

This is one of the best 5 star hotels in Lucca, in fact the only 5 star property I could find. It sits outside the walls, to the west of the city. You might think a hotel this grand cannot be boutique, but it is actually an old villa that was renovated, with only 14 rooms, which is why it counts as a boutique hotel in Lucca Italy.

Each room is spacious, and many occupy a corner of the hotel. The place has been modernised but still keeps that historical feel. It has amazing views of the valley, and the hotel itself is an 18th-century manor house full of natural light. There is also a pool with valley views, perfect for laps or simply relaxing.

Favourite room at Hotel Villa Casanova

My favourite room is the supreme suite, which is wonderfully large, with wooden floors, warm yellow walls, and unique patterned carpets. It felt truly luxurious staying at this 5 star boutique hotel in Lucca. The suite itself is 590 square feet, with huge windows that let in a lot of light

Hotel Villa Casanova location

Hotel Villa Casanova is about a 15 minute drive from the Lucca walls, and you will need to find parking in town. Pisa is just 22 minutes away by car, which made it a great base for a few quiet, luxurious nights before heading into town.

View prices at Hotel Villa Casanova

Palazzo Dipinto

This is one of my favourite 4 star boutique hotels in Lucca Italy. It was originally built as a 13th-century palace in the centre of town, and was last renovated in 2017. It has a really contemporary design, and I loved the parquet floors, which are 100 percent Italian made. Looking around the brands, because I loved the interior design, they had brands like Lema Arredamenti, Artemide, and Foscarini.

Palazzo Dipinto services and amenities

In terms of some of the amenities, there is plenty of technology, including smart flat screen TVs and walk in showers, and the walls are properly soundproofed, which is not always the case in older palaces like this. We could not hear a thing while staying here. There is also private parking, which is convenient in the centre.

Favourite room at Palazzo Dipinto

My favourite room was the deluxe duplex, split over two levels, with a relaxation area downstairs and a bedroom with a huge bed upstairs. The flooring is beautiful and spotless, and if you open the blinds, many rooms have wonderful views of the city centre. Rooms on the higher levels also have exposed ceiling beams.

Location of Palazzo Dipinto

The location is right on Piazza del Palazzo dipinto, just 2 minutes from Piazza Napoleone and 6 minutes from the Guinigi Tower, so a really good spot.

View prices at Palazzo Dipinto

Hotel Ilaria

If you are after something more modern, Hotel Ilaria is my recommendation. It sits on the east side of town, near the Lucca walls, and is a 4 star hotel. This boutique hotel pays close attention to detail.

Main amenities at Hotel Ilaria

The standout amenity is a jacuzzi set on a lovely terrace, and that's available from April to October until 9pm, last time we checked. The staff are 24-7. So always good service. A nice touch is the free bikes for riding around the centre, plus regular parking and an electric vehicle charging point.

There is also a complimentary buffet from 12 pm to 7 pm, so snacks are available all day, and you can order beers or prosecco in the afternoon before heading out to dinner. Parking is charged, at around 22 euros a night, which is reasonable compared with some places charging around 50 euros, and it is valet parking, so there is nothing to worry about.

Hotel Ilaria favourite room

My favourite room has to be the superior room, with 25 square metres of space, modern and classic furnishings, and simple, calm colours. And then that was an example above, one of the bathrooms. Super modern. They do have family-size rooms if you are travelling with the family.

Location of Hotel Ilaria

In terms of location, being on the east side puts you close to the Botanical Garden and close to the city walls, so getting in and out of the main town is easy, and you can reach the centre in just a few minutes, even by bike.

View prices at Hotel Ilaria

Grand Universe Lucca, Autograph Collection

This 4-star hotel looks like a 5 star property from the outside, and sits right in the centre of town. Grand Universe Lucca has a lot of history, dating back to the 16th century, with the building itself tracing back to Roman times. The cellar was once home to an ancient glassblower's fountain, so this is a historic property with plenty of modern technology.

Grand Universe Lucca amenities

To relax, there is a lounge with a piano, where staff sometimes play, a proper Italian restaurant. They also have a champagne rooftop bar open on Fridays and Saturdays only, with lovely views of the city centre. Opening times do vary by season, so it is worth checking ahead.

Favourite room at Grand Universe Lucca

My favourite room is the junior suite, with a massive king bed and city views, red velvet, exposed ceiling beams, and wooden flooring, exactly what you would expect from one of the best boutique hotels in Lucca Italy.

Grand Universe Lucca location

The location is just outside the city centre, in the south of the city, about a 5-minute walk from the Guinigi Tower.

View prices at Grand Universe Lucca, Autograph Collection

The Tuscanian Hotel

This is a smaller property, from a 17th-century palace, with just 13 rooms, making it one of the smaller boutique hotels in Lucca Italy. It is very well located, right in the city centre, with historic architecture and modern comforts throughout.

The Tuscanian Hotel services and amenities

The staff are very friendly and can help book cooking classes, bike tours, and hot air balloon rides over the Tuscan countryside. There is also an on site restaurant called Antica Osteria Lucca, set on a lovely terrace, a great spot for a meal in the area.

Favourite room at The Tuscanian Hotel

My favourite room is the junior suite deluxe, 40 square metres, with a double bed and a comfortable sofa bed, plus a small table and armchairs for working, giving it a very open, spacious feel.

The Tuscanian Hotel location

The hotel sits right in the middle of Lucca, and staff can register your car's licence plate for you, since Lucca operates a ZTL restricted traffic zone, with valet service for your car. Just make sure to contact them in advance so they can arrange your access.

View prices at The Tuscanian Hotel

Palazzo Alexander Hotel

This was one of my favourite boutique hotels in Lucca Italy. It reminded me of a hotel I stayed in Palermo, with a similar mix of greens, browns, and yellows, and I stayed in a similarly styled room there too. This is a 4 star hotel in a 12th-century building, so it has been around for a very long time.

Interestingly, it was once a ladies' boarding school dating back to the 1400s, and has now been renovated into an elegant Tuscan-style hotel while still keeping its original architecture, which is why it is one of my favourite boutique hotels in Lucca Italy. As you enter, there is a small desk where you might imagine parents once signed children in.

Palazzo Alexander Hotel amenities

What stood out most for me was the service, with a 24 hour reception, a lovely lounge with a library, and an express laundry service, a great amenity for a boutique hotel. They can also organise bicycle rentals and airport transfers, with Pisa airport being the closest to Lucca.

Palazzo Alexander Hotel favourite room

My favourite room is the double superior room, with a huge king-size bed, memory foam mattress, parquet flooring, and marble bathrooms with local stone, alongside modern extras like 50-inch smart TVs with Netflix and Amazon Prime access. All these little touches are why it made my list.

Palazzo Alexander Hotel location

It sits on the west side towards the walls, about an 8 minute walk to the Guinigi Tower.

View prices at Palazzo Alexander Hotel

Hotel Villa San Michele

Heading back out to the hills, this 4 star property dates from the 15th century and sits on 10,000 square metres of grounds, with trees, olive groves, and a really impressive pool, probably its biggest draw, since not many boutique hotels in Lucca Italy actually have a pool.

Hotel Villa San Michele facilities

Like the other 5 star hotel in Lucca Italy, the quietness here is a real highlight. Picture absolute silence and a cool dip in August or September while it is hot outside. There is also a restaurant and bar on site, so you do not have to head into town every night.

Hotel Villa San Michele favourite room

My favourite room is the classic room with a view and balcony, on the first floor, with a king size bed and tiled flooring to keep things cool, plus a little balcony with a table looking out over the flowers and grounds.

Hotel Villa San Michele location

It sits just south of the city, only a 5 minute drive from the centre.

View prices at Hotel Villa San Michele

Albergo Villa Marta

This was once a 19th-century hunting lodge, now turned into a boutique hotel in Lucca Italy, with 15 rooms, including 2 deluxe options. Expect plenty of authentic Tuscan touches here: terracotta, exposed beams, and brickwork throughout.

Albergo Villa Marta wellness facilities

For wellness, there are massage services and outdoor treatments, plus a good-sized swimming pool for laps and sun loungers to relax on afterwards.

Albergo Villa Marta favourite room

My favourite rooms are the deluxe rooms, one with a four poster bed, terracotta floors, exposed beam ceilings, ceiling frescoes, and beige and gold accents on the bathtub.

Albergo Villa Marta location

It is a little further out, about a 10 minute drive to the city walls, ideal if you are coming here to relax by the pool and enjoy a massage.

Check out the prices at Albergo Villa Marta

Albergo Celide

Back closer to the centre, this property looks out onto the Lucca walls, just outside town. I picked it because it has its own spa on site, a great amenity for a boutique hotel in Lucca Italy, with a sauna, Turkish baths, whirlpool tubs, and professional massage treatments available. There is a bar and restaurant on site, though the restaurant is closed on Sundays, last time I checked.

Favourite room

My favourite room is the deluxe double, spacious with wooden flooring and a modern feel, and some rooms even look out onto the walls of Lucca.

Location

It is close to the train station, about a 10 minute walk, useful if you are travelling around Italy by train, and around a 10 minute walk from the Guinigi Tower.

View prices at Albergo Celide

ZTL in Lucca

Do not stop reading, as I also need to talk to you about the ZTL in Lucca. Basically, they have put a restriction on cars coming into this historic town as they want to preserve it.

ZTL in Lucca time

Now I searched and searched for this. It was very hard to find this information, but luckily I speak Italian and managed to find the answers on the official website deep in the archives.The ZTL in Lucca is in operation every single day 24-7. This means you cannot drive in.

ZTL in Lucca map

The ZTL in Lucca map is basically the whole town inside the walls, so you cannot drive in. However they do have paid parking lots at each of the entrances, so bare them in mind when booking your hotel.

If you look at my Lucca ZTL map below, I have tried to make it easy to understand, with green being where you can drive there anytime and the red where you cannot drive into. I have also put the different entrances with blue home symbols so you can see where to drive in on the Lucca ZTL map.

Now here is all the parking within the Lucca ZTL Map broken down by entrances:

Porta Santa Anna parking (west hand side)

1st one Address: V. Pallone, 55100 Lucca LU, Italy

This was 2 euros an hour last time and was a bit busy.

2nd on address V. della Cittadella, 55100 Lucca LU, Italy

This was 1 euro 50 or 20 euros for 24 hours plus it has cameras

Porta Santa Maria parking (North hand side)

If one of the boutique hotels in Lucca is around here park at this address:

Piazza Santa Maria, 13, 55100 Lucca LU, Italy

This one is paid parking between 8am and 8pm and you can use the Easypark app that makes things easier.

Porta Elisa parking (East hand side)

Here there are quite a few parking spots before you enter the Lucca ZTL map zones.

Best option 1 address: Via dei Bacchettoni, 55100 Lucca LU, Italy

I saw this is the best as its actually a parking garage and not on the street. Cost is 2 euros an hour after the first 1.50 euro hour.

Option 2 address: Via Elisa, 55100 Lucca LU, Italy

This one is paid from 8am-8pm 1.50 euros the first hour and then 2 euros an hour.

Option 3 address: Via dei Filatori, 14, 55100 Lucca LU, Italy.

Another 8am - 8pm paid parking spot.

Porta San Pietro parking (south)

There aren't many here, I found this one which is on the street but very limited spots.

Address: Corso Garibaldi, 74, 55100 Lucca LU, Italy

The easiest place to park in the Lucca ZTL zone is actually at the hotels if they allow you. You need to call the hotel beforehand and see if they do this, and they will register your number plate. You must do this beforehand, as many of the ZTL areas have cameras that take pictures of your car. However, some hotels only allow you to drop off your luggage and may valet your car to a parking spot outside the ZTL for a fee. If they don't provide parking at the hotel or nearby, check out my parking spots outside the Lucca ZTL map above.

That wraps up my guide to the best boutique hotels in Lucca Italy. If you have stayed somewhere else, or found another 5 star hotel in Lucca, leave a comment below; I would love to share it with my readers.

Boutique hotels in Lucca Italy FAQ's

What hotels are in Lucca old town?

Palazzo Dipinto, Grand Universe Lucca, and The Tuscanian Hotel are all right in the centre.

Where are the boutique hotels in Lucca Italy with a pool?

These were harder to find, since boutique hotels tend to be smaller. Hotel Villa Casanova has lovely pool views, Hotel Villa San Michele is not as grand but still a peaceful spot to relax, and Albergo Villa Marta is also a really nice place to unwind.

Are there cheap hotels in Lucca Italy?

Albergo Celide was quite affordable, though it does get booked out, so book in advance. Hotel Ilaria, a 4 star hotel, was also a good price.

Are there 5 star hotels in Lucca Italy?

I searched thoroughly and spoke to my family too, but could only find one 5 star hotel in Lucca Italy, Hotel Villa Casanova, just west of the city, an amazing property with a pool.