Pisa and Lucca in one day is the right kind of busy. I like how this tour blends the iconic Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa with the walkable, wall-ringed charm of Lucca, then finishes with real food and wine in the Chianti countryside. I also like that it’s truly private, so you move at a pace that fits your ship arrival and you get clear guidance from your driver. One thing to consider: Pisa tower entry isn’t included, so you’ll want to plan for that separately if you want to go up.

Your day runs on a tight cruise-shore rhythm. You’ll meet your driver in La Spezia at the ULTIMATE TOURS welcome sign area, then take the short shuttle (about 1 minute) to the port meeting point and connect with your driver no later than 08:30. You should also be prepared for a full 9-hour outing, with enough time in each town to enjoy it, but not enough to treat either city like a multi-day vacation.

Key Points You’ll Really Care About

• Private door-to-port style touring: a professional English-speaking driver and a comfortable Mercedes van/car
• Pisa’s top sights, plus shop time: you’ll see the Duomo area and the Baptistery around the Leaning Tower
• Lucca by walking the walls: including major sights like Torre Guinigi, Saint Martin’s Cathedral, and Saint Michael’s Church
• Wine and lunch in Chianti: tasting plus lunch is built into the day, not an add-on
• Good return timing: you’re back at the ship no later than 5:30 pm

The Big Idea: Pisa, Lucca, and a Chianti Winery on One Cruise Day

This is one of those port days that makes sense. La Spezia gives you a front-row seat to Liguria and puts Tuscany within reach, and this plan smartly uses a private car to stitch together three different vibes in one 9-hour window.

I like that it isn’t just check-the-box sightseeing. You get time in Pisa to take in the Lean­ing Tower area and the wider Piazza dei Miracoli complex, then you shift to Lucca’s calmer rhythm, with walls you can walk and a skyline that changes with every turn. Then the day swaps stone streets for countryside air with a Chianti winery tour and tasting plus lunch.

The best part is how the private setup supports your pace. In a group tour you can spend half the day waiting; here, your driver can keep you moving with less hassle, which matters when you’re docking and your ship has a clear “back on board” time.

Getting Set Up in La Spezia: Where You Meet and How the Timing Works

The logistics are straightforward, but you should be organized. Your driver meets you in La Spezia at the ULTIMATE TOURS welcome sign area. When you disembark, you take a shuttle for about 1 minute, then meet your driver at the port terminal meeting point.

Two practical tips:

• Aim to arrive a little early. The guidance is to meet your driver no later than 08:30.
• Have your cruise ship name ready, because the tour asks for it for coordination.

You’ll be back at your ship no later than 5:30 pm, which is exactly what you want from a shore excursion: enough flexibility to enjoy the day without gambling on late returns.

Pisa’s Piazza dei Miracoli: What You See and What to Do With Your Time

Pisa is about one thing first: the unforgettable geometry of the Leaning Tower in its Piazza setting. On this tour, you’ll spend time in the Piazza dei Miracoli, where you can take in not just the tower, but the surrounding monumental complex.

What this stop usually feels like in practice:

• You’ll see the Duomo and the Baptistery in the same area that frames the tower.
• You’ll have time to look around and browse shops. This matters because Pisa can feel like a quick photo stop unless you give yourself a little browsing time.

The only real “watch-out” in Pisa

Tower tickets are not included. So if getting up into the tower matters to you, plan to arrange that separately. Also, tower entry times can be a variable, so deciding in advance helps you avoid turning Pisa into a scramble.

If you’re coming for the visual impact and the classic architecture without stressing over access, this stop hits the sweet spot.

Lucca the Walled-City Way: Walking the Walls and Climbing Torre Guinigi

After Pisa, you switch to Lucca, and it feels like someone turned down the volume. Lucca is known as one of Europe’s most beautiful walled towns, and the experience is built around that fact: the walls give you a clear structure for exploring, plus panoramic views that change as you walk.

On this tour, you’ll see key monuments such as Saint Martin’s Cathedral and Saint Michael’s Church, and you’ll have time to climb the Torre Guinigi. Torre Guinigi is one of those Lucca identifiers: it’s not just a tower, it’s a landmark you remember because it looks different from what you expect.

A few Lucca details you’ll appreciate on the ground

• The city layout is made for wandering. Even if you only do part of the loop, you feel the rhythm of the streets.
• The defensive walls create built-in viewpoints. You don’t need to hunt for panoramas; they’re part of how the town is designed.
• Lucca is also tied to composer Giacomo Puccini—so even if you’re not a classical-music person, the cultural layer is there without getting too heavy.

A real-world comfort note from the experience

In a sample of the guided day, stopping for coffee and a local sandwich came up as a natural break in the walking flow. That’s exactly what you should plan for in Lucca: treat food stops as part of your route, not an interruption.

Also, if the botanical gardens are a priority for you, this is a kind of “if there’s time” bonus area that you might enjoy, since it’s mentioned as a must for lovers of natural beauty.

Scenic Stops on the Drive: Why the Car Ride Can Be Part of the Day

You’ll have panoramic stops during the journey. Even though the itinerary is city-focused, these breaks make the day feel less like a sprint.

Here’s the value of that: when you’re bouncing between Pisa, Lucca, and the Chianti countryside, you need little resets. Those pulls offs are often where you get your bearings, get photos you wouldn’t be able to take from the road, and settle into the day instead of just counting minutes until lunch.

Chianti Winery Tour and Tasting: The Lunch You’ll Actually Remember

This is where the day turns from sightseeing to satisfaction.

You’ll visit a beautiful winery for a tour and tasting, and lunch is included. The exact menu can vary, but you should expect a proper winery meal built around local flavors rather than a generic sandwich-box situation.

In one example of the day, lunch included bread with olive oil, bruschetta, prosciutto and melon, gnocchi with pesto, a filled pasta, veggie frittata, and grape focaccia. Wine sampling can be generous here too; one tasting described included 8 wines.

What the winery stop gives you (beyond “free tastings”)

• You get context for what you’re drinking, not just pouring-and-leaving.
• You slow down. Your pacing shifts from “find the tower” to “watch the vineyards and eat.”
• The setting matters. The day feels more like a memory when lunch happens outdoors or with countryside views.

A small practical point

You’ll likely spend time walking around the winery grounds. Wear comfortable shoes. If you’re the type who likes photos, this is the easiest place to slow your phone down and actually enjoy the view.

Price and Value: Is This Worth $1,072.77 for a Private Group?

This price is for a group up to 2, so the right way to judge value is: what you’re paying for is not just transportation, it’s private touring time plus the included wine experience.

Here’s what’s bundled into the day:

• Full-day private tour covering Pisa + Lucca + Tuscany winery
• Wine tour and tasting
• Lunch at the winery
• A professional English-speaking driver
• A comfortable vehicle (Mercedes car for 1–3 people; Mercedes Viano for 4–7 people)

If you compare this to cobbling together separate taxis, self-guided driving, and then paying for a winery meal and tasting on top, the pricing starts to make sense—especially with cruise timing. A private driver reduces the stress of timing and lets you focus on the experience.

When it might not be the best fit:

• If you only want one town and don’t care about wine, you might feel this is overkill.
• If Pisa tower entry is a must, remember tickets are not included, so total cost may rise slightly.

How Hard Is the Day? Pacing, Comfort, and What to Wear

This isn’t a leisurely “wander all afternoon” type of tour. It’s an efficient, structured day designed to fit cruise logistics: meet early, see key sights, enjoy the winery stop, and return by late afternoon.

That said, comfort seems well handled. The vehicle is described as clean and comfortable, and one experience noted charging ports, which is a nice touch on a full-day outing.

For clothing, think practical:

• Comfortable walking shoes for Lucca’s streets and wall areas
• A layer for the winery (countryside temps can feel different than the port)
• Sunglasses and sunscreen if you’re doing tower and wall viewpoints during daylight

Who Should Book This Shore Excursion (and Who Should Skip It)

This tour is a great match if you want:

• One-day highlights across Tuscany without the stress of planning and driving
• A private setup with an English-speaking driver who can help you connect the dots in each town
• Winery time with lunch included, not just a quick stop for a taste

You might skip it if:

• You want total freedom to linger in one place (this plan is balanced, not endless)
• You’re traveling with a strict interest in only Pisa or only Lucca
• You strongly prefer self-guided tours where you control every minute yourself

If you like structure but still want authentic moments (food, views, local sights), this is a solid pick.

Should You Book It? My Practical Take

Book it if you’re looking for a cruise shore day that feels like Tuscany, not just a fast photo checklist. The combination of Pisa’s iconic monument area, Lucca’s walkable walled-city sights, and an included Chianti winery lunch makes this tour efficient in a good way.

The main decision point is simple: if you care about going up the Leaning Tower, you’ll want to handle tickets separately since they aren’t included. If that isn’t a dealbreaker for you, you’re set up for a memorable day with real food, real wine, and enough time in each place to feel you actually arrived.

FAQ

FAQ

What’s included in the winery stop?

The tour includes a winery visit with a wine tour and wine tasting, plus lunch. Lunch options can include items like bread with olive oil, bruschetta, prosciutto and melon, gnocchi with pesto, a filled pasta, veggie frittata, and grape focaccia, along with wine sampling.

Are Pisa tower tickets included?

No. Pisa tower tickets are not included.

How long is the shore excursion?

The duration is listed as 9 hours.

Is this a private tour?

Yes, it’s a private group experience.

Where do I meet my driver in La Spezia?

Meet your driver at the La Spezia meeting point by the ULTIMATE TOURS welcome sign. After you disembark, take the shuttle for about 1 minute, then meet the driver at the port terminal area.

What time will I be back at the ship?

The tour notes that you will be back at your ship no later than 5:30 pm.

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