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

Pisa’s Leaning Tower gets the headlines, but the best part of this day is the mix of famous sights and a long winery lunch in Tuscany. You see two very different Italian towns, then trade crowds and monuments for food, wine, and countryside views.

I like the private format, especially for cruise passengers who need a firm return time. I also like the way the day includes both Pisa and Lucca, not just a quick photo stop at the tower. The main drawback is the price: at $1,072.77 for up to two people, this is a costly outing unless you value a private car, a personal driver, and an included winery meal.

Key points at a glance

• Meet near La Spezia’s port: Take the short port shuttle and look for the ULTIMATE TOURS welcome sign.
• Two historic Tuscan cities: Visit Pisa’s Piazza dei Miracoli and Lucca’s walls, churches, and old streets.
• A serious food and wine stop: The winery visit includes a tour, lunch, wine tasting, and olive oil tasting.
• Flexible sightseeing order: Pisa or Lucca may come first, depending on the day’s timing.
• Comfortable private transport: Expect a deluxe Mercedes car for one to three people, with larger vehicles for bigger groups.
• Ship-friendly timing: The nine-hour day is planned to return you to La Spezia by 5:30 p.m.

Why this La Spezia shore trip works

This excursion solves a common port-day problem. La Spezia is a useful starting point for Tuscany, but Pisa, Lucca, and the Chianti area are spread out. Public transport would mean juggling trains, local connections, and winery reservations. Here, your English-speaking driver handles the driving while you focus on the stops.

The day is private, so you are not tied to a large group moving at one speed. That matters in Pisa, where you may want only a short visit to the square, and in Lucca, where you might prefer a slow walk, a coffee, or time in a shop. It also gives you a direct ride back to the ship instead of making your own way to the port.

The tour is sold for up to two people at $1,072.77. That is not a budget excursion, but the price covers a private vehicle, driver, a full nine-hour outing, lunch, a winery visit, wine tasting, and olive oil tasting. For two people, it may make sense as a special occasion or honeymoon splurge. For one person, the value is much harder to defend.

There is also a practical point in its favor: cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms are useful when your port schedule is still changing.

Meeting your driver at La Spezia

When you leave the cruise ship, take the port shuttle for about one minute. The meeting point is near the port terminal and Capitaneria di Porto. Look for the ULTIMATE TOURS welcome sign and provide the name of your cruise ship when booking.

The stated meeting time is no later than 8:30 a.m. That early start is important because you have two cities and a winery visit to fit into one day. You should not treat this like a loose, late-morning outing. Be ready when you reach the meeting point, since every extra delay cuts into time in Pisa or Lucca.

The meeting instructions refer both to the terminal and to Capitaneria di Porto, so check the final confirmation carefully. If the ship’s shuttle procedure changes, ask port staff where passengers are dropped off. The short transfer is easy, but a clear meeting point matters on a busy cruise morning.

Pisa and the Piazza dei Miracoli

Pisa’s main stop is the Piazza dei Miracoli, or Square of Miracles. This broad monumental plaza brings together the Leaning Tower, the Duomo, and the Baptistery. The famous tower is the obvious target, but the other buildings give the square its full sense of place.

You will have time to admire the monuments and browse shops. The visit is not described as a guided climb of the tower, and tower admission is not included. If you want to go up, plan to buy the ticket separately and confirm timing with your driver before the day begins.

That admission detail is easy to miss. The tower is not simply a quick add-on if your schedule is tight, and buying a ticket does not remove the need to return to the vehicle on time. If your priority is the classic tower photograph, the included sightseeing time may be enough. If climbing is essential, treat it as a separate plan.

Pisa works well as either the first or final city. Starting there can get the major sight out of the way before lunch. Visiting after the winery may give you a more relaxed final stop, though your time in the square could depend on the day’s driving and meal schedule. The operator chooses the order, so ask at the start how much time is planned for each place.

Lucca behind its medieval walls

Lucca offers a different mood from Pisa. Its defensive walls form a three-mile circular route above the city, where you can walk or bicycle with views over the rooftops. Even if you do not complete the full circuit, the walls are a fine way to understand Lucca’s shape.

Inside the walls, you can see Saint Martin’s Cathedral and Saint Michael’s Church. You can also climb Torre Guinigi, the unusual tower topped with trees, though tickets and climbing time are not listed as included. The botanical gardens are another option if you want greenery and a quieter pause.

Lucca was the birthplace of composer Giacomo Puccini, a detail that adds character to the town without requiring a long museum visit. The city is compact enough for an independent wander, but you will need to choose your priorities. A short stop can cover the central streets and one major church. A longer stop allows time on the walls, a tower climb, or a relaxed café break.

One useful example from the day’s experience is Bar Astra Cinema, where a stop for coffee and a mortadella sandwich made a simple break part of the visit. You can ask the driver for similar suggestions, but remember that every café stop uses sightseeing time.

The winery lunch in Tuscany

The winery is the day’s centerpiece for many people. Instead of treating wine as a quick tasting at the end of a sightseeing route, this excursion gives it a full place in the schedule. You tour the grounds, taste wine and olive oil, and sit down for lunch.

The food described from the meal is substantial: bread with olive oil, bruschetta, prosciutto and melon, gnocchi with pesto, filled pasta, vegetable frittata, and grape focaccia. The tasting included as many as eight wines. That is a generous meal, so do not plan another large lunch in Pisa or Lucca.

This is also where the tour feels most personal. The winery setting offers a slower break after walking through city streets and squares. You can ask questions about the wines and the property through the driver or winery staff, though the supplied information does not promise a dedicated wine educator or a particular grape selection.

The olive oil tasting is a nice extra. It gives you a taste of Tuscan food beyond wine, and it makes the meal more useful for anyone interested in local products. The visit includes lunch and tasting, but special dietary arrangements are not specified. If you have food allergies or restrictions, tell the operator before departure rather than waiting until lunch.

The winery is described as being in Chianti, while the overall trip is presented as a Tuscan countryside visit. The exact winery is not named, so you should not book this expecting a particular estate, cellar, or view. The appeal is the combination of a country setting, a guided visit, a large tasting, and a cooked meal.

Panoramic stops and the ride between towns

Much of the day’s pleasure comes between the major stops. The driver takes you through the Tuscan countryside and makes panoramic stops. These breaks can help the day feel less like a series of parking lots and monument entrances.

The vehicle depends on group size. One to three people travel in a deluxe Mercedes car. Four to seven use a deluxe Mercedes Viano or a deluxe Ford or Hyundai. The small vehicle is especially useful for couples, since it keeps the outing private and avoids the feel of a coach tour.

Comfort matters here because the day lasts nine hours. One vehicle used on the outing had charging ports and was described as clean and comfortable. That is a small but worthwhile feature when you are taking photographs, checking port updates, or navigating a full day away from the ship.

Your driver is more than a person behind the wheel. Andrea is specifically named as one driver, and the experience with him included explanations along the route and practical tips at each stop. He also pointed out places beyond the car window on the return drive. Driver quality can shape a private tour, so asking for Andrea by name may be worthwhile if scheduling allows, but do not assume he is guaranteed.

Timing, pace, and the return to the ship

The advertised duration is nine hours, with a planned return no later than 5:30 p.m. That is the most important safety feature for cruise passengers. A private vehicle gives you better control than public transport, but it cannot eliminate road delays or the distance between La Spezia and Tuscany.

You should think of the day as a selection of highlights rather than a full visit to every monument. Pisa, Lucca, lunch, wine, panoramic stops, and the return drive fill the schedule quickly. You probably will not have time to climb every tower, walk the full Lucca wall, visit the botanical gardens, and shop at length.

The order can change. Pisa or Lucca may come first, based on traffic, winery timing, and the driver’s plan. That flexibility is useful, but it means you should not build your own fixed timetable around breakfast, tower tickets, or a restaurant reservation.

A good strategy is to decide your priorities before leaving the port. For example, you might choose the Leaning Tower square, a walk on Lucca’s walls, and the winery meal. If the tower climb or Torre Guinigi matters most, tell the driver early so the available time can be managed.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would recommend this excursion to couples, small families, and cruise passengers who want a private day without handling transport themselves. It is especially well suited to a honeymoon or birthday, since the winery setting and long meal give the day a celebratory feel.

It also suits people who want variety. You get Pisa’s grand monuments, Lucca’s more intimate streets and walls, and a rural food-and-wine stop. That range is more satisfying than spending the full day at one crowded landmark.

The tour is less suitable if your main goal is a slow, detailed visit to Pisa or Lucca. You will have to divide your time. It is also a poor fit for someone seeking the lowest possible cost, since the private price is high and tower tickets and gratuities are extra.

The activity is wheelchair accessible, but the practical ease of every stop may depend on the exact route, cobblestones, walls, towers, and monument entrances. If accessibility is important, discuss the preferred sightseeing plan before booking.

Is the $1,072.77 price fair?

For two people, the cost buys privacy, direct transportation, a professional English-speaking driver, a full day, and a winery meal with tasting. It is still a premium purchase, but the price is easier to justify if you would otherwise book separate transfers, a winery visit, and restaurant meals.

For four to seven people, the per-person cost can look better because the vehicle cost is shared. The stated headline price is for up to two people, so ask how the total changes for a larger private group before booking.

Remember the extras. Pisa tower admission is not included, and gratuities are also left out. The included lunch and wine tasting reduce the day’s additional spending, but you should keep room in the budget for those two items and any café or shopping stops.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want Pisa, Lucca, and a proper Tuscan winery lunch in one protected port day. The strongest reasons are the private vehicle, Andrea’s helpful route commentary when he is your driver, the generous winery meal, and the planned return by 5:30 p.m.

Skip it if you want a cheap excursion, a slow museum-focused visit, or guaranteed time to climb both Pisa’s Leaning Tower and Lucca’s Torre Guinigi. Before paying, confirm the meeting instructions, explain any food or mobility needs, and decide which city deserves more of your time. For a couple seeking a special day beyond the cruise port, this is a polished and worthwhile splurge.

FAQ

How long does the shore excursion last?

The excursion lasts nine hours. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability when booking.

Where do I meet the driver in La Spezia?

Take the port shuttle for about one minute after disembarking and look for the ULTIMATE TOURS welcome sign near the port terminal and Capitaneria di Porto. The stated meeting time is no later than 8:30 a.m.

What vehicle is used for one or two people?

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.

Is the tour private?

Yes. The activity is arranged as a private group tour.

Is lunch included?

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

Are Pisa’s Leaning Tower tickets included?

No. Tickets for the Leaning Tower are not included in the tour price.

Is a driver or guide included?

A professional English-speaking driver is included. Italian is also available, and the listed tour languages are English and Italian.

When will I return to the cruise ship?

The tour is scheduled to return you to the ship no later than 5:30 p.m.

Can I cancel the booking?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later.