Lucca Food Tour: Tuscan Meal with Local Guide

Taste what Lucchesi eat, not what tourists are sold

Lucca's Ultimate Food Tour is a three-hour walking tour through the walled city where you taste four traditional Lucca dishes (Buccellato, Tordelli, Cecina, and local cold cuts) paired with wine and guided by a local food expert. The guide speaks English and Italian, shares the history behind each dish, and keeps groups small so every guest gets full attention. At least one alcoholic drink is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Lucca's culinary delights

• Start at Lucca’s main square
• Taste Buccellato sweet bread
• Walk through Piazza Anfiteatro
• Eat Tordelli traditional pasta
• Pass by Torre Guinigi tower
• Enjoy local cold cuts with wine
• Sample Cecina chickpea street food
• End with local chocolate dessert

The experience

The tour starts in one of Lucca's main squares, bordered by XVI-century palaces, and moves through the city's charming streets toward your first stop. You'll taste Buccellato, a sweet bread flavored with fruit and anise, while the guide explains what makes this particular specialty belong to Lucca and not the towns around it. From there you walk to Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, the most iconic square in the city (built on the footprint of a Roman amphitheater) before stopping to eat Tordelli, the local pasta filled with meat and herbs in a savory sauce that defines the region's cooking.

As you continue through the walled streets, you pass the Torre Guinigi, a medieval tower with a garden at its summit, and stop in a lively square to taste fresh local cold cuts paired with red wine. On Via Buia you sample Cecina, a Tuscan street food made from chickpea flour, served warm. The guide points out why each stop matters, not because it's famous, but because locals actually eat there. By the end, on Via San Paolino, you finish with local chocolate and a traditional dessert. The whole thing adds up to a full meal across four tastings, not a series of bites.

Your guide is a local food expert who speaks both English and Italian during the tour and brings insider knowledge to every stop: the stories behind dishes, which producers matter, how the food connects to Lucca's history. Groups stay small, which means the guide can answer questions and adjust the pace instead of herding a crowd. Water is included. At least one drink is included as well.

What’s included

• English-speaking local guide who shares the history and stories behind each dish.
• water throughout the tour.
• at least one alcoholic drink (for guests 18+).
• four food tastings that add up to a full meal: Buccellato, Tordelli, local cold cuts with wine, Cecina, and dessert.

Options for this experience

3 options

DealGuide in English or Italian · Only on 10 Nov · 11:45Surprise

Full Tuscan Meal Food Tour in Lucca by Do Eat BetterGuide in English or Italian · 11:45

Lucca Food Tour with Drink CardGuide in English or Italian · 11:45Special Drink Card (18+ only): Your tour includes at least 3 alcoholic drinks. Wine, beer or spirits will be offered.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 11:45

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Do Eat Better Experience

Is this one for you?The small-group format and local guide mean you're eating where Lucchesi actually eat and learning why each dish matters, rather than following a crowd through tourist spots. Book this if you want to understand the food, not just taste it.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 10 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What exactly is Buccellato, and why is it a Lucca thing?

Buccellato is a sweet bread flavored with fruit and anise that's traditional to Lucca. The guide explains what makes this specialty belong to the city and shares its place in local food culture during the first tasting stop.

How much food do I actually eat on this tour?

The tour is structured as a full meal across at least four stops: Buccellato, Tordelli pasta, local cold cuts with wine, Cecina, and a dessert. By the end you've eaten the equivalent of a complete meal, not just samples.

What is Piazza dell'Anfiteatro, and do we spend time there?

Piazza dell'Anfiteatro is the most iconic square in Lucca, built on the site of a Roman amphitheater and shaped by its history. You walk through it and stroll around before heading to the next food stop, so you see the square itself, not just pass by it.

Are drinks included, or do I need to pay extra?

At least one alcoholic drink is included in the tour price (available only for guests 18 and older). Water is also included throughout the three hours.

Can I do this tour if I have food allergies?

Guests with severe or life-threatening food allergies are unfortunately unable to participate in this experience for safety reasons. If you have mild allergies, contact the operator before booking to discuss your specific needs.