Lucca Bikes and Bites Food Adventure

Bikes in Lucca are a must. Locals love them as they’re the best and easiest way to move around the city’s narrow streets. There is a wonderfully laid back attitude to cyclists here, so your journey is sure to be a relaxing and memorable one.

After meeting at the Lucca train station, your local guide will start you on an action-packed ride around the city, stopping to explore hidden corners and to learn more about one of Italy’s most prosperous regions.

Passing by little squares with magnificent ancient church facades such as San Frediano, and noble palaces dating back to the Renaissance. Lofty medieval towers still feature prominently here; one of the most famous landmarks in Lucca is the beautiful Guinigi Tower with its ancient holm oak trees sprouting curiously over the top. You'll pass by this one and many more, with plenty of photo friendly stops along the way.

Then it’s time for your first foodie adventure and wasting no time jumping straight into the good stuff. Artisan gelato to be precise. With a multitude of flavors to choose from, including many seasonal fruit varieties, you will find out why this classic Italian frozen dessert has become so ingrained into the national consciousness.

Back to the bikes for another gentle amble through the streets towards a series of charming delicatessens, stocked with the finest ingredients from the surrounding Tuscan countryside. Here you’ll meet local gourmands and taste some of the best pecorino cheese from the Garfagnana Mountains, along with mondiola salami and crunchy bruschetta. Buonissimi!

One of Lucca’s most famous dishes is farro soup, made with the largely unheard of and highly underrated farro grain, which is grown locally amid the rolling, fertile hillscapes. Visit a local deli that sells the ingredients to make this classic dish, where culinary insiders will let you in on the secrets to making a top-notch version.

Next on this culinary journey are two of Italy’s greatest culinary exports: extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Taste delicious local varieties alongside some traditional local snacks and try to work out which is your favorite. Don’t forget to take a bottle or two home with you!

The last stop will be one of the fabulous bars embedded within the city walls. Here you’ll enjoy a glass of local Sangiovese wine or a typical Italian cocktail with snacks of course, always with snacks! Ask your in-the-know local guide about the best dinner options for the evening ahead before we merrily cycle back to the train station to complete your foodie circuit of Lucca.