Your stay — B & B Le Ginestre
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The Property — B & B Le Ginestre
A modest three-star bed and breakfast inside Lucca's historic walled city, Le Ginestre feels more like staying in a friend's well-kept flat than a formal hotel. The lobby is a small, tiled space with a ceramic-ware display and a noticeboard of local bus times; the atmosphere is quiet, practical, and welcoming. It suits independent travellers who want a central, no-frills base for exploring Lucca on foot. A USP: it sits just off Piazza Napoleone, so you can walk to the city’s main sights in minutes.
Chronicles of Lucca
Lucca was founded by the Etruscans and became a Roman colony in 180 BC; its grid street pattern still largely follows the Roman plan. In the Middle Ages it was an independent republic and a major silk-trading centre, which built the city's wealth. The distinctive Renaissance-era city walls—wide, tree-lined ramparts now turned into a public park—were never breached, so the historic centre is exceptionally intact. Today Lucca is known for its well-preserved architecture, the annual Lucca Summer Festival (June–July), and a quieter, more livable atmosphere than nearby Florence.
Best Time to Visit
Full Lucca guide →Best months
May and September: mild temperatures (20–25°C), low humidity, fewer tourists than July/August, and the city walls are pleasant for cycling.
Peak / festival surge
July (especially mid-month) during the Lucca Summer Festival: concerts in Piazza Napoleone draw big crowds. Hotel rates jump 30–50% from June baseline; book months ahead. August is also busy due to Italian holidays.
Budget shoulder season
Late April and early October: cheaper rooms, cooler weather (often still sunny), and the town feels relaxed. April also brings spring blooms along the walls.
Weather & packing
Lucca in late June can be hot (peaks over 30°C) but afternoon thundershowers are common. Pack a lightweight rain jacket or umbrella alongside sun protection and breathable layers.
Live City Briefing — Lucca
- The Lucca Summer Festival runs from late June through July 2026; check the schedule for possible street closures around Piazza Napoleone on your dates.
- Lucca’s city walls are currently undergoing phased tree maintenance and some sections near Porta Elisa may be fenced off until July—affects walking/running routes but access to ramparts remains.
- A new e-bike hire station opened at Porta San Pietro in May 2026, making it easier to cycle the walls and into the surrounding countryside.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to B & B Le Ginestre, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the first floor (piano nobile) or second floor facing the inner courtyard. These rooms avoid street noise and are quieter, with higher ceilings and more natural light. The first floor also means fewer stairs for the historic building with no lift.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor (street-facing) due to the single entrance step and potential noise from the street. Top-floor rooms (third or fourth floor) involve steep stairs with no lift and may have lower ceilings.
Best views
Ask for a room facing the inner courtyard or the garden (if available) for a green outlook. Street-side rooms look onto Via di Poggio, a narrow residential lane — not scenic but authentic Lucca. The top floor may offer roof views over the historic centre.
Quietest floors
First and second floors are the quietest — set above street level and away from the entrance. The inner courtyard side is particularly calm.
🔊 Noise notes
Via di Poggio is a quiet residential street, but early-morning deliveries and pedestrian traffic can be audible. No bar or restaurant noise. The stairwell may amplify footsteps from upper floors.
Insider tips
1. Book Parcheggio Carducci online in advance to guarantee space and avoid queues. It’s a 5-minute walk from the hotel. 2. Request ground-floor room only if you have heavy luggage — otherwise opt for first floor for better noise insulation and no major climb.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — B & B Le Ginestre
Free Wi-Fi throughout; speed is adequate for browsing/email (approx 15 Mbps). No login page—password is given at check-in.
No lift. The building is a historic townhouse with stairs to all floors.
No digital newsstand or physical newspapers provided; there is a library of Italian travel magazines in the common area.
Standard check-in is 14:00–20:00; early bag-drop available from 10:00. Late check-out until 12:00 costs €25 if requested in advance; after 12:00 a full extra night applies.
Free storage in the locked luggage room; available both before check-in and after check-out.
No step-free access; property entrance has one step and upper floors are stairs-only. Not suitable for wheelchair users.
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park is Parcheggio Carducci (Piazzale Verdi) at €1.50/hour or €12/24h; EV charging not available. Street parking nearby is usually resident-only.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: €1.50 per person per night
Deposit & card hold: A 30% advance deposit is charged at booking; at check-in a €100 incidental hold is placed on your card.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Chiesa della Madonna del Buon Consiglio (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
- Church: Pieve di San Pantaleone (1.6 km · ~20 min walk)
- Church: Chiesa Santi Jacopo e Andrea (1.6 km · ~20 min walk)
- Church: Cimitero (1.6 km · ~21 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Piazza Taddei — 1.8 km · ~22 min walk
Teatro Vittoria Manzoni — 1.9 km · ~23 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Monte dei Paschi di Siena — 1.4 km · ~18 min walk
farmacia Fontana — 1.5 km · ~19 min walk
Massarosa-Bozzano — 3.1 km · ~38 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Avoid exchange bureaux in airports or near tourist sites; use ATM machines from a major bank for the best rates.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted; contactless is common; smaller shops and market stalls may prefer cash.
Not expected but rounding up the bill or leaving small change (5-10%) is appreciated in restaurants; taxis and hotel staff don't expect tips.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Espresso at a bar counter: around €1.20.
Pizza al taglio (by the slice) or a sandwich from a forno: €4–6.
Pasta or pizza in a trattoria: a main course around €12–15.
Look for bakeries and panini shops near Via Fillungo or around Piazza dell'Anfiteatro for affordable takeaway.
Coop, Conad, and Lidl are common budget supermarkets in the Lucca area.
Via Fillungo has mid-range Italian chain stores; markets on Saturdays near the walls sell more affordable items.
Walking is free and the best way to get around the historic centre; buses within town cost about €1.30 single. From Pisa airport, take the PisaMover train to Pisa Centrale then a regional train to Lucca (around €8 total).
Eat away from the main piazzas for better value. Buy water and snacks at supermarkets rather than tourist kiosks. Visit the free sections of the city walls for great views without paying for towers.
Good to know — Lucca
Type C/F/L · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
Lucca112 is the single European emergency number for police, ambulance, or fire. 118 is the local ambulance number, 115 is the fire brigade. For non-urgent police matters in Lucca, call 0583 4491.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Lucca, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at B & B Le Ginestre
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Monte dei Paschi di Siena — 1.4 km · ~18 min walk — pharmacy · farmacia Fontana — 1.5 km · ~19 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Hotel Le Giraffe, Lucca → Lucca Porta Elisa (city centre)
💡 Bus stop is 50m from the hotel, corner of Via Romana & Via delle Ville. Buy tickets at the tabacchi on Via Fillungo (€1.50 each, 90-min validity). You can walk to the walls in 10 minutes—only bother with the bus for grocery trips to the Coop on Via Pisana.
Lucca Railway Station (Piazzale Ricasoli) → Hotel Carlos, Via Fillungo
💡 Use line L (blue bus) from the station—get off at 'Via Fillungo 2' stop. But honestly, the whole historic centre is flat and walkable; skip the bus if you have light luggage. Buy tickets at any tabacchi (look for a T sign) before boarding—no cash on board.
Lucca Station (Piazzale Ricasoli) → Hotel La Principessa (Via della Chiesa)
💡 Take bus line L1 or L2 from the station to stop 'Via della Chiesa'. Walk 3 mins to hotel. But honestly, Lucca is flat and walkable; from the station to the hotel is just 1.2 km, so skip the bus unless you're hauling heavy luggage.
Pisa Airport (PSA) → Lucca Bus Station (Piazzale Verdi)
💡 Buy your ticket at the airport ticket office or via the Vaibus app to skip queues. Bus stops just outside arrivals; it's slower than the train but drops you right by the old town walls.
Pisa Airport Bus Station (outside arrivals) → Lucca Bus Station (Piazzale Verdi)
💡 This is the cheapest direct airport option, but frequency is low. Check the timetable at vaibus.com in advance—miss one and you wait two hours. The drop-off at Piazzale Verdi puts you a 5-minute walk from Hotel Carlos through the porta walls.
Pisa Centrale Station → Lucca Station
💡 Buy tickets from the automatic machines at Pisa Centrale (cash or card). Validate your ticket in the yellow box before boarding—fines are €50 on the spot. From Lucca station, it's a 10-minute walk to Hotel Carlos: exit left, cross Piazzale Verdi, and head into Via Fillungo.
Pisa Airport (take PisaMover shuttle to Pisa Centrale station) → Lucca Railway Station (Stazione di Lucca)
💡 PisaMover costs €2.70 and runs every 5 minutes. From Lucca station it's a 15-min walk straight ahead down Via Cavour to the hostel. Cheapest option if you're not in a rush.
Pisa Airport (PSA) → Hotel La Principessa, Lucca
💡 Pre-book with a local firm like Taxi Lucca or Pisa Taxi to avoid surge prices. The hotel can arrange this for you too.
Pisa Airport (PSA) → Hotel Le Giraffe, Lucca
💡 Book with Taxi Lucca (0039 0583 491212) or NCC Fiorentini. They track flights and cost less than hailing at the airport. The hotel's small courtyard drop-off saves walking with bags.
Pisa Airport Bus Stop (outside arrivals) → Lucca Piazzale Verdi (near Ostello San Frediano)
💡 Buy ticket from the tabacchi inside the airport or the app – driver won't sell it. Get off at Verdi, then it's a 5-min walk to the hostel via Via Fillungo.
Pisa Airport (PSA) → Hotel Le Giraffe, Lucca
💡 Take the Pisa Mover shuttle from the airport to Pisa Centrale station (€2.70, 5 min), then Vaibus line L4 from the bus bay there to Piazzale Verdi in Lucca (€2.80, 50 min). Walk 100m to the hotel. Avoid the local trains—they’re slower and more expensive.
Pisa International Airport (Galileo Galilei, PSA) → Ostello San Frediano, Lucca
💡 Fixed rate of €50 to Lucca city centre – confirm with driver before setting off. No extra charge for luggage.
About Lucca
Wikipedia ↗
Lucca ( LOO-kə, Italian: [ˈlukka] ) is a city and comune in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the Serchio River, in a fertile plain. The city has a population of about 89,000, while its province has a population of 383,957. Lucca is known as an Italian "Città d'arte" (City of Art) from its almost intact R...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at B & B Le Ginestre?
Request a room on the first floor (piano nobile) or second floor facing the inner courtyard. These rooms avoid street noise and are quieter, with higher ceilings and more natural light. The first floor also means fewer stairs for the historic building with no lift.
Which rooms should I avoid at B & B Le Ginestre?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor (street-facing) due to the single entrance step and potential noise from the street. Top-floor rooms (third or fourth floor) involve steep stairs with no lift and may have lower ceilings.
Is B & B Le Ginestre noisy?
Via di Poggio is a quiet residential street, but early-morning deliveries and pedestrian traffic can be audible. No bar or restaurant noise. The stairwell may amplify footsteps from upper floors.
Which rooms have the best views at B & B Le Ginestre?
Ask for a room facing the inner courtyard or the garden (if available) for a green outlook. Street-side rooms look onto Via di Poggio, a narrow residential lane — not scenic but authentic Lucca. The top floor may offer roof views over the historic centre.
What are insider tips for staying at B & B Le Ginestre?
1. Book Parcheggio Carducci online in advance to guarantee space and avoid queues. It’s a 5-minute walk from the hotel. 2. Request ground-floor room only if you have heavy luggage — otherwise opt for first floor for better noise insulation and no major climb.
What time is check-in at B & B Le Ginestre?
Check-in at B & B Le Ginestre is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does B & B Le Ginestre have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout; speed is adequate for browsing/email (approx 15 Mbps). No login page—password is given at check-in.
Is there a city or tourist tax at B & B Le Ginestre?
€1.50 per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near B & B Le Ginestre?
Pizza al taglio (by the slice) or a sandwich from a forno: €4–6.
What is the cheapest way to get around from B & B Le Ginestre?
Walking is free and the best way to get around the historic centre; buses within town cost about €1.30 single. From Pisa airport, take the PisaMover train to Pisa Centrale then a regional train to Lucca (around €8 total).
When is the best time to visit Lucca?
May and September: mild temperatures (20–25°C), low humidity, fewer tourists than July/August, and the city walls are pleasant for cycling.
Top Attractions in Lucca
💡 Check for free organ recitals Saturday afternoons. The Pisan-style exterior is best seen in morning light.
💡 Avoid the overpriced cafés in the square. Instead, grab a panino from Alimentari Puccini one street away and eat it on the steps near the southern edge.
💡 The church is free, but the small museum (€2) gives access to the rooftop terrace for a close look at the facade's marble intarsia. Visit early to avoid tour groups.
💡 Walk to the centre and look up—the irregular roofline follows the original amphitheatre seating. Free to enter, but no seating inside; grab a coffee at Caffè di Simo for a view.
💡 The free section covers the main church. Pay €3 for the treasury and sacristy to see the gorgeous wooden choir stalls and 14th-century frescoes.
💡 Visit late afternoon when the sun slants through the west window, lighting up the mosaic. Free entry, but check for occasional concerts (€5–€10) in the crypt.
💡 Head to the back of the nave to see the restored fresco of the Last Judgement—it's often missed by tourists but is one of the best in Tuscany.
💡 Free entry on the first Sunday of the month. Otherwise, it's €4, but if you're on a budget, the free public park on the walls (Parco delle Mura) is just as green and costs nothing.