Shore Trip from La Spezia: Pisa,Lucca,lunch & tasting Winery

Pisa’s Leaning Tower, Lucca’s medieval walls, and a long Tuscan lunch make this a full day with real variety. You move by private Mercedes car or van, so you can cover three very different places without wrestling with trains, taxis, or a tight connection back to your ship.

I especially like the winery meal with wine and olive oil tasting, and the chance to see Lucca rather than spending the whole day in Pisa. Driver Andrea has added local color, food tips, and pleasant stops for past groups. The trade-off is time: Pisa and Lucca each deserve more than a few hours, and Pisa Tower tickets are not included.

Key points at a glance

• Three Tuscan experiences in one day: Pisa’s monumental square, Lucca’s fortified old town, and a Chianti winery.
• A proper winery lunch: Expect wine and olive oil tasting, with a meal that has included bruschetta, prosciutto and melon, pasta, frittata, and other local dishes.
• Private transport from La Spezia: A deluxe Mercedes car serves groups of one to three, with larger Mercedes, Ford, or Hyundai vehicles for bigger parties.
• Flexible sightseeing order: Pisa or Lucca may come first, depending on the day’s timing.
• Ship-friendly planning: The stated return is no later than 5:30 p.m., with pickup scheduled by 8:30 a.m.
• A practical port meeting: Take the short shuttle from the ship and look for the ULTIMATE TOURS welcome sign.

Three Tuscan stops without changing trains

This private shore trip packs a lot into nine hours. You leave La Spezia and head inland by car or van, visiting Pisa, Lucca, and a winery in the Chianti area before returning to the port.

That arrangement matters on a cruise day. Public transport between La Spezia, Pisa, Lucca, and the countryside can eat up much of your time. Here, your driver handles the roads and the group stays together. You can also ask questions along the way instead of treating the vehicle as silent transportation.

The pace will be active. This is not a lazy day in one hill town. It is a sampler of famous sights, local food, and Tuscan scenery, designed to get you back to the ship on schedule.

Meeting your driver at La Spezia port

The instructions ask you to meet your driver no later than 8:30 a.m. after disembarking. Take the port shuttle for about one minute, then look for the ULTIMATE TOURS welcome sign near the port terminal or Capitaneria di Porto meeting area.

The information uses both Terminal and Capitaneria di Porto when describing the meeting point, so provide your cruise ship name when booking and confirm the exact spot before departure. That small check can prevent a needless hunt around the port.

Your transport depends on group size. One to three people travel in a deluxe Mercedes car. Groups of four to seven use a deluxe Mercedes Viano or a deluxe Ford or Hyundai vehicle. The cars used on recent departures have been described as clean and comfortable, with charging ports available.

Pisa and the Piazza dei Miracoli

Pisa is the first major stop for many groups, though the order can change. The focus is the Piazza dei Miracoli, or Square of Miracles, where the Leaning Tower shares the monumental setting with the Duomo and Baptistery.

The tower is the obvious star, but do not spend your entire visit staring at the tilt. Take time to look across the square at the pale marble buildings and their rounded forms. The compact arrangement makes it easy to see the main sights in a short visit, which is exactly what you need on this itinerary.

You receive free time to explore and browse shops. That gives you some independence, but keep an eye on the clock. Pisa Tower admission is not included, so you will need to arrange and pay for that separately if you want to go inside or climb it. The tour is still worthwhile if you simply admire the tower from the square, especially since the Duomo and Baptistery are part of the same striking scene.

Pisa can feel more visitor-focused than Lucca, with the main square drawing most of the attention. That is not a flaw for a first visit, but it helps to set expectations. You are coming for one spectacular architectural complex, not a full-day exploration of the city.

Lucca inside its three-mile wall

Lucca offers a different mood. Its old town is enclosed by a broad defensive wall that forms a roughly three-mile circular route. You can walk or bicycle along the top, gaining a useful view over the city and its rooftops.

The wall is one of the day’s best features because it gives you a sense of Lucca as a living town, not just a collection of monuments. You can choose a short stroll rather than attempting the entire circuit. If your visit is brief, even a section of the route helps you understand the shape of the city.

Inside the walls, look for Saint Martin’s Cathedral and Saint Michael’s Church. Lucca is also associated with composer Giacomo Puccini, who was born here. The town’s appeal comes from the way churches, lanes, squares, shops, and everyday life fit within the old fortifications.

You may also hear about Torre Guinigi, the tower topped with trees, and the botanical gardens. The information for this tour does not say that entrance tickets or a climb are included, so treat those as possible independent choices rather than guaranteed parts of the guided visit.

One useful detail from a recent departure is a stop at Bar Astra Cinema for coffee and a mortadella sandwich. That sort of pause shows why Lucca can be more satisfying than a quick monument checklist. You have room for a small local break, though your exact stop depends on the driver and the day’s timing.

The winery lunch in Chianti

The winery is the meal stop and the emotional center of the day for many people. You take a short tour of the grounds, then sit down for lunch and a tasting of wine and olive oil.

The menu described from a recent visit was generous: bread with olive oil, bruschetta, prosciutto and melon, gnocchi with pesto, filled pasta, vegetable frittata, and grape focaccia. Eight wines were sampled on that occasion. The exact menu and number of wines can vary, but you should expect more than a token tasting with a single pour.

This is also where the private format pays off. You can ask about the wines, the olive oil, or the food without being lost in a large group. The winery setting provides a slower change of pace after walking through Pisa and Lucca.

The countryside views are part of the experience. Panoramic stops are included, and the winery has been described as having a beautiful setting. Still, do not assume every stop will be long or that you can choose every viewpoint. The day has to balance driving, sightseeing, lunch, and the ship return.

If you do not drink wine, the food and setting still give the stop value, but this tour clearly gives wine tasting a central role. Anyone with dietary needs should ask in advance, since no specific alternatives are listed.

Why the private car matters on a shore day

A private vehicle changes the day from a chain of transport problems into one connected outing. You do not need to find a station in Pisa, manage a Lucca connection, or locate a taxi in the countryside. Your English or Italian-speaking driver remains your main point of contact.

The driver is more than a chauffeur during the road sections. Andrea, who has handled recent departures, has provided information about places outside the car window and practical suggestions at each stop. That is useful in Tuscany, where much of the pleasure comes from knowing what you are passing and why a town matters.

The downside is that a private tour is not cheap. The listed price is $1,072.77 for a group of up to two, so the cost is high for a solo traveler or couple. For four to seven people sharing the vehicle, the per-person price becomes easier to justify. You are paying for private transport, a full day, a professional driver, and the winery lunch and tasting, not simply admission to Pisa.

The price does not include Pisa Tower tickets or gratuities. Add those costs before comparing this with a larger group excursion.

Timing, comfort, and the return to your ship

The advertised duration is nine hours. Pickup is by 8:30 a.m., and the stated plan is to return to the ship no later than 5:30 p.m. That buffer is important on a cruise stop, though you should still tell the operator your ship name and make sure the schedule matches your port call.

The order of Pisa and Lucca may change. That is a sensible way to handle traffic, winery availability, and the day’s timing. It also means you should not build your own rigid plan around Pisa first or Lucca first.

Expect a long day in the vehicle, with walking at both cities. The private car or van offers a place to rest between stops, and charging ports have been available in the vehicles used on recent trips. The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible, but the exact access arrangements for walls, towers, historic churches, and winery areas should be confirmed before booking.

The full itinerary is best for people who want a broad taste of Tuscany in one port call. It is less suited to anyone who prefers a slow museum day or several hours in one town.

How the day feels in practice

A typical rhythm is an early port meeting, a drive inland, a visit to one of the two cities, the winery lunch, the second city, and the return drive. The precise order can shift, but the structure stays balanced between major sights and food.

Pisa gives you the instantly recognizable landmark. Lucca supplies the more relaxed town experience. The winery adds a meal and a rural setting that neither city can provide. Together, they make a stronger day than visiting two similar historic centers.

The main risk is rushing. Pisa’s square, Lucca’s walls, and Chianti’s winery could each fill a day on their own. You will need to accept short visits and choose priorities. In Pisa, focus on the square and tower. In Lucca, walk part of the wall and see one or two major buildings. At the winery, enjoy the meal rather than watching the clock every minute.

Who should book this La Spezia shore excursion?

I would recommend it for couples, families, and small groups who want three distinct Tuscan experiences without arranging transport themselves. It is especially appealing for a honeymoon or special occasion, when a private vehicle and a long winery lunch feel more personal than a large coach tour.

Food and wine fans will get the most from it. The meal has included several courses and a broad tasting, while the olive oil adds another local flavor to the stop. You should also choose it if returning to the ship on time matters more to you than having complete freedom at every stop.

I would hesitate if your main goal is climbing the Leaning Tower. The ticket is not included, and the schedule may not allow a long visit. I would also think twice if you want a low-cost tour, since the group price is built around private transport and becomes better value when divided among several people.

Practical booking advice

Give the company your cruise ship name and confirm the port meeting point. Arrive ready by 8:30 a.m., allowing time to disembark and take the short shuttle.

Wear comfortable shoes for Lucca’s streets and wall walk. Bring room for a full meal, and remember that Pisa Tower admission and gratuities are extra.

The tour allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. English and Italian are available, and the group remains private rather than being combined with strangers.

Should you book this tour?

Book it if you want the efficient, comfortable way to combine Pisa, Lucca, and a Tuscan winery during one La Spezia port call. The strongest reasons are the private transport, the generous winery lunch, the flexible order of stops, and the care taken with the ship return.

Skip it if you want a slow day in one place, need a budget option for two people, or consider the Leaning Tower climb essential. For everyone else, this is a well-balanced introduction to Tuscany, with enough famous sights to feel satisfying and enough food and countryside to keep the day from becoming a monument marathon.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts nine hours.

What time do I meet the driver?

You should meet the driver no later than 8:30 a.m. at the La Spezia meeting point.

Where do I meet the driver in La Spezia?

After disembarking, take the port shuttle for about one minute and look for the ULTIMATE TOURS welcome sign near the terminal or Capitaneria di Porto area. Provide your cruise ship name and confirm the exact meeting point.

When will I return to the ship?

The planned return is no later than 5:30 p.m.

Is the tour private?

Yes. The activity is for a private group.

What vehicle is provided?

One to three people travel in a deluxe Mercedes car. Four to seven people travel in a deluxe Mercedes Viano or a deluxe Ford or Hyundai vehicle.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch at the winery is included, along with a wine tour, wine tasting, and olive oil tasting.

Are Pisa Tower tickets included?

No. Pisa Tower tickets are not included in the tour price.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. Confirm the arrangements for each specific stop before booking.