There are numerous places and activities to enjoy in and around Bagni di Lucca. Whether you’re keen to try the local cuisine, taste the region’s delicious wines, stroll through medieval hilltop villages, swim, raft or kayak on the river, head to the beach, or explore the ancient city of Lucca with its towers and shops, the area definitely has something for everyone!

For those with little ones, there are child-friendly river-based and outdoor activities, a local park with a playground, family-oriented bike tours of Lucca, and a lovely municipal swimming pool in the summer months. There is also the famous Pinocchio park in the nearby village of Collodi.

For seaside lovers, the wide sandy beaches of Viareggio and Lido di Camaiore can be reached in under and hour, whilst more dramatic swimming spots with clear turquoise waters can be found just another 20 minutes away.

Eating and drinking

The nearest café/ bar is the ever-popular Bar Italia, a family run business that serves fresh pastries, savoury bites, coffees, beers, wine, spirits and – as of 2025 – features a brand new (delicious) gelateria. The bar is located two minutes walk from the apartment, opposite the Ponte a Serraglio bridge.

Heading into the part of Bagni di Lucca known as La Villa, you will find several other good places to eat and drink. Bar Roma, located right on the town square, serves coffees, pastries, sandwiches and alcoholic drinks, and is a fun place sit and watch the world pass by, while the Restorante Pizzeria La Lira next door does excellent and very reasonably priced pizzas, both traditional ones and some they label “strana” (strange!). You’ll have to visit to sample the menu.

There is also another very good restaurant pizzeria called Pippo’s, on the other side of the bridge in Villa which takes you back over the river Lima. Aside from yummy pizzas, they also do epic burgers!

The best restaurant in town, though, is undoubtedly the Circolo dei Forestieri, which faces a lovely piazza with an attractive fountain. The restaurant does high-quality tradition Tuscan cuisine, and while not cheap, is not overly pricy either. Booking is advised, though you can be lucky as a walk-in. Tel. +39 058 380 5558.

Back in Ponte a Serraglio, if you want to treat yourself to a more refined cocktail experience, head over the bridge to the elegant La Ninfa Hotel, a five minute walk from the apartment, which has an American cocktail bar concocting delicious aperitifs that can be enjoyed in the evenings on their pleasant riverside veranda. The restaurant also does great food.

Downstream from Ponte a Serraglio, in the area of Bagni di Lucca called Fornoli, you can find further bars and restaurants, including the popular Bar La Ruota di Ricardo Franchi, which does simple but tasty food and reasonably priced drinks, and a fun craft beer bar with a selection of delicious ales, including for takeaway, called La Cantabruna Enoteca. Before reaching Fornoli, following a windy road up the hill, you come to the Hotel and Ristorante Agriturismo La Torre, which sources produce from the local area to create wonderful meals.

In addition to the local options, its worth venturing out to some of the local hilltop villages where many more trattorias and restaurants can be found offering simple but delicious regional dishes, such as La Molin della Volpe near the village of Celle, or the simple but delicious trattoria Antica Locanda di Sesto, and the somewhat fancier, historic Ristorante Erasmo, both in the nearby town of Ponte a Moriano. The city of Lucca also has a number of fine dining options that are worth sampling!

Hiking and cycling

Bagni di Lucca and its surrounds is a hugely popular destination for walkers, road bikers and mountain bikers. You can go for several lovely hikes directly from the apartment, or set off from one of the local hilltop villages. Walking routes can vary from a gentle stroll by the river or in the park in La Villa, to more strenuous hikes that will take you up into the Appenine mountains.

For cyclists, the popular Puccini cycle path connects the Lima and Serchio valleys to Lucca, passing by medieval towers and through the city walls. You can also find more challenging routes, like the climb to Monte Marcello, or explore the windy mountain roads up to beautiful villages such as Barga and Montefegatesi. E-bikes are available to hire in Bagni di Lucca, while bicycles and e-bikes can also be hired in Lucca.

Rafting, kayaking and canyoning

With a mixture of fast running white water and tranquil, slower stretches, the river Lima is a paradise for those who enjoy kayaking and rafting. Companies in and around Bagni di Lucca such as Garfagnana Rafting, Lucca Rafting and RockOnda Rafting can take you on guided rafting, packrafting and kayaking trips, providing all the necessary equipment and ensuring you have a safe and fun time.

For the adventurous, those same companies also arrange excursions that allow you to enjoy the natural beauty of the area in different ways, including trekking, canyoning, and “riverplay”, which involves splooshing through the river and trying out things like jumps, natural rock slides, small rapids, swimming, and playing at the bottom of a waterfall.

The people running these excursions are used to dealing with all ages and skill levels, from school children, to experienced adults, to older individuals wanting to try a new experience… so why not give it a go!

Beaches

Tuscany boasts a long and diverse coastline, from the cliffs and sheltered bays of Argentario in the south, to the wide sandy beaches from Marina di Pisa stretching north to the border with Liguria. From Bagni di Lucca, the closest beach at Viareggio is only 55 minutes away, whilst the stunning rocky coastline south of Livorno, and the charming coastal town of Lerici, with its picture-postcard castle and pretty marina, can be reached within 1 hour 20 minutes.

Shopping

There is a Conad supermarket located ten minutes walk (2 minutes drive), towards the area known as La Villa. There is also a small Carrefour in La Villa, as well as a Coop supermarket and a large Carrefour within a few minutes drive (25-35 minutes walk).

Bagni di Lucca has several pharmacies, boutiques, banks, an excellent ‘enoteca’ (wine shop) and other shops. A much wider range of shops, boutiques and local street markets can be found in nearby Lucca. There is also a regular street market selling fruit and vegetables, clothes, flowers and prepared food that takes place in Bagni di Lucca every Saturday and Wednesday.

Wineries and Vineyard Tours

The area around Lucca is dotted with local vineyards and wineries, a number of which offer tours and tastings for visitors. The area is famous for producing Sangiovese and Virmentino, while Colorino, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties are also grown.

Popular vineyards in the area include:

• Fattoria del Tesso
• Tenuta Adamo
• Fattoria al dotto Lucca
• Azienda agricola Valle del Sole

Most of the vineyards that do tasting offer food to acommpany the wines, usually a charcuterie and cheese board. Some also offer more substantial meals, if you wish to stay for dinner.

Hilltop villages

The area of Bagni di Lucca is peppered with pretty little hilltop settlements and ancient “bargas” – old fortified medieval villages – each with their own fascinating histories. These include Borgo a Mozzano, Bonabio, Guzzano, San Gemingano, Montefegatesi, Montecarlo, and Barga (featured in the BBC’s Italian Road Trip, with Clive Myrie).

All of these locations can be reached within 20-25 minutes by car (or less), and some can be accessed by the local bus service. All have at least one bar/ café, often with breathtaking views, while Barga and Borgo a Mozzano have a number of bars and restaurants.

The area’s hilltop villages also make a great base from which to embark on a hike.

Swimming pool and wild swimming

During the summer months (june-Aug), Bagni di Lucca has opens a beautiful municipal swimming pool that can be used from 10:00 until 19:00 every day. The pool is well maintained and has a little snack bar doing drinks and hot and cold food, and has spectacular views of the surrounding hills and medieval Chiesa di San Pietro a Corsena.

If staying outside the summer months, and/or for those of you who prefer “wild swimming”‘, the river Lima has a number of calm spots upstream from the town which are delightful to swim in. Although the water can be cold in the spring, it is clean, clear and refreshing, especially in warm, dry weather.

Tennis

As you approach La Villa coming from the apartment, on the right-hand side of the road, you’ll find the Tennis & Padel Club, Bagni di Lucca. The current world number 4 women’s tennis player, Jasmine Paolini, is from Bagni di Lucca, and learnt her craft at the club. She’s a bit of a local hero! Courts can be booked through the Platomic.com, or by phone: +39 370 130 6716.

Thermal Spa

The spa facilities at Termé Bagno Bernabo are located within a five minute walk of the apartment.

To view opening hours, facilities, services and prices, visit their website: https://termebagnobernabo.it/.

Email: info@termebagnobernabo.it. Tel: +39 331 171 9014

Winter sports

In the colder winter months (December – March), the nearby Appenine mountains, which climb to nearly 2,000 metres above sea level, can receive significant snowfall. The mountain town of Abetone has capitalised on this by becoming a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders, attracting winter sport enthusiasts from far and wide. The town itself is also pretty and worth exploring. Abetone can be reached within a 50 minute drive of Bagni di Lucca.