Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Versilia and Lucca

Before you go

What happens when you get there

Beaches

Tuscan regional rules allow dogs on a lead in public outdoor areas, beaches included, unless a local rule says otherwise. Each town sets its own summer ordinance and the organised beaches decide concession by concession, so bans are local, not coast-wide. The Marina di Torre del Lago free beach is a long stretch where you can take the dog for the day, with areas to swim. Several bagni in Forte dei Marmi, Lido di Camaiore, Marina di Pietrasanta and Viareggio take dogs, so ask your hotel which ones.

Summer beach hours

Times and dates for dogs on the organised beaches aren't set out here, as they change with each town's summer ordinance. Check with the lido or your hotel before you go. The nearest dedicated dog beach is at Marina di Carrara, north of Forte dei Marmi and off this page's patch.

Dogs at breakfast and dinner

Most hotels here keep dogs out of the restaurant, but some make room. Mondial allows dogs at your table in the restaurant on the lead, Il Negresco seats you on the terrace, and Acapulco allows dogs at breakfast away from the buffet. Albergo Celide is a no at breakfast only, and Augustus a no in its restaurants and bar.

Weight limits

Principe Forte dei Marmi caps at 5 kg, Grand Universe Lucca at one dog up to 7 kg, and Albergo Celide at 15 kg. Hotel Olimpia, VI Suites and Villa San Michele take small dogs only, and JR Resort Logos small and medium. Hotel Acapulco has no limit, and Mondial takes large dogs at EUR 20 a day.

Pisa and the Leaning Tower

The Tower, Cathedral, Baptistery, Camposanto and museums don't admit animals of any size or in any carrier, except certified guide dogs. The square itself is public, so you can walk the dog round the outside and take the photo. There's no published rule for the lawns.

Getting there

Pisa airport (PSA) serves the whole area, about 30 minutes to Lucca and 30 to 40 minutes to Forte dei Marmi. Ryanair flies there from Dublin, Cork, London Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh. Check which airlines take dogs in the cabin before you book, and drive through France with a bigger dog.

Trains

Lucca, Viareggio, Pietrasanta, Forte dei Marmi-Seravezza and Pisa are all on the regional rail line, which makes car-free day trips easy. Check Trenitalia's current dog fares and carrier or muzzle rules before you travel.

Vets and seasonal closures

Hotel Acapulco offers guests a 24-hour vet service. Otherwise, ask your hotel for the nearest vet on arrival. Many Forte dei Marmi hotels close from autumn to spring, so check dates for an off-season trip.

Best walks

In Lucca, the walk on top of the walls is the one, about 4 kilometres round the old town under the trees, with cafés on the ramparts. On the coast, the Parco della Versiliana pinewood at Marina di Pietrasanta is the big shady walk, and Viareggio has the Pineta di Ponente pine park and the seafront Passeggiata. Forte dei Marmi and Lido di Camaiore both have a pier and a long promenade. Behind Torre del Lago is the Macchia Lucchese, and the Marina di Torre del Lago free beach is where the dog can spend the day on the sand and swim. Inland, the olive hills of the Colline Lucchesi round Matraia and the path up to the Rocca di Sala above Pietrasanta give views down to the sea.

When to go

May, June and September are the best months with a dog. It's warm enough for the beach, and the promenades are quieter. July and August are hot and busy, and that's when beach access for dogs is tightest, so plan beach time around a club that takes dogs and walk in the pinewoods at midday. Lucca works all year, as the walk on the walls is tree-lined and the town is flat. Many Forte dei Marmi hotels close from autumn to spring, so an off-season coast trip needs checking before you book.