Viareggio

Travel Guide
Viareggio featuring a city and a square or plaza
Swim in the Mediterranean, explore historic villas, taste authentic pasta or gelato and see where Puccini got his inspiration in this Tuscan town by the sea.

With its hot summers and mild winters, shady pine forest and colored Liberty-style houses, it’s little wonder that Viareggio is one of Tuscany’s most popular coastal resorts.

Relax on the beach or swim in the Mediterranean. For shade, walk through the halls of Villa Paolina, built for the sister of the French emperor Napoleon. The villa houses civic museums and a contemporary art gallery.

Nearby is Piazza Shelley, a historic square named after the Romantic-era poet Percy Bysshe Shelley who died in a shipwreck just off the coast of Viareggio. Admire the sculpture of the poet, made by the talented Italian, Urbano Lucchesi.

A short walk away from Piazza Shelley is La Passeggiata di Viareggio. The promenade’s name refers to the Italian tradition of leisurely walks with the family, so join the locals for a stroll. Enjoy a typical Italian espresso, pizza or pasta marinara in one of the bistros. On a hot summer’s day, eat a gelato and sit in the shade, just like Giacomo Puccini used to do when he composed his operas here.

Don’t miss the Statue of Burlamacco. The big clown promotes the Carnival of Viareggio, a local tradition since 1873. The elaborate annual spectacle of street parades and cabaret around February attracts large crowds from all over the world.

The Pineta Viareggio is the town’s pine forest and is divided into two areas. Explore the Western Forest, in the center of town, on foot or hop on a pony-drawn carriage. The Eastern Forest is 7 miles (12 kilometers) away and houses Villa Borbone, a historic mansion with art exhibits and cultural performances.

Viareggio is just 60 miles (100 kilometers) from Florence and 14 miles (22 kilometers) from Pisa, which has the nearest airport. If you have a car, you may want to take a short drive out to Torre del Lago, where Puccini was buried. Don’t miss the open-air theater shows of Festival Puccini if you are visiting in July or August.

Where to stay in Viareggio

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Ex Campo d'Aviazione

If you're looking for some top things to see and do in Ex Campo d'Aviazione and surrounding area, you can visit Viareggio Harbor and Monument to the Resistance and to Peace.

Ex Campo d'Aviazione
Hotel President
Hotel President
4 out of 5
Viale Carducci 5, Viareggio, LU
The price is ¥18,321 per night from May 12 to May 13
¥18,321
per night
May 12 - May 13
Stay at this 4-star beach hotel in Viareggio. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and room service. Popular attractions Viareggio Beach and Piazza Maria Luisa are ...
9/10 Wonderful! (450 reviews)
"I love this hotel, beautiful property, clean very comfortable in a great location& very friendly and helpful people! Love this hotel and I want to go back and stay on my next visit."

Reviewed on Mar 22, 2024

Hotel President
Palace Hotel
Palace Hotel
4 out of 5
Via Flavio Gioia, 2, Viareggio, LU
The price is ¥24,576 per night from May 12 to May 13
¥24,576
per night
May 12 - May 13
Stay at this 4-star business-friendly hotel in Viareggio. Enjoy free WiFi, 2 restaurants, and 2 bars/lounges. Popular attractions Viareggio Beach and Passeggiata ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (65 reviews)
"Lovely spot. Rooftop bar was very nice. The staff at the front desk and the bar were very good, making for a nice stay… plus the linens were great."

Reviewed on May 2, 2024

Palace Hotel
Grand Hotel Royal
Grand Hotel Royal
4 out of 5
Viale Giosuè Carducci 44, Viareggio, LU
The price is ¥25,776 per night from May 12 to May 13
¥25,776
per night
May 12 - May 13
Stay at this 4-star beach hotel in Viareggio. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and an outdoor pool. Popular attractions Viareggio Beach and Ponente Pine Forest ...
9/10 Wonderful! (436 reviews)
"Must stay here when in town!! What a wonderful property."

Reviewed on Apr 29, 2024

Grand Hotel Royal
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Greenchalets Toskana Viareggio - Campsite
Greenchalets Toskana Viareggio - Campsite
Viale dei Tigli, Viareggio, Provincia di Lucca
Book a stay at this family-friendly campground in Viareggio. Enjoy free parking, an outdoor pool, and 4 beach bars. Popular attractions Viareggio Beach and Villa ...
7.6/10 Good! (41 reviews)
Good place for families
"We enjoyed our stay. The camp site is good for families and the staff were friendly. The restaurant and bar were very good and good value for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The entertainment/evening show is only aimed at children and is mainly in Italienne, it was learning songs and dance moves to ..."

Reviewed on Jun 27, 2021

Greenchalets Toskana Viareggio - Campsite
Casa con Giardino e Parcheggio Interno Privato
Casa con Giardino e Parcheggio Interno Privato
Torre Del Lago Puccini
Stay at this vacation home in Viareggio. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and patios. Popular attractions Viareggio Beach and Villa Puccini are located nearby.
10/10 Exceptional! (9 reviews)
Sehr toller Urlaub
"Das kleine Häuschen war super ausgestattet und die Übergabe sehr unkompliziert und freundlich. Uns ging was zu Bruch, auch das wurde unkompliziert gelöst. Auch für unseren Hund war es die perfekte Location und er konnte sich frei bewegen. In 10 Minuten ist man am Strand und genügend Restaurants und ..."

Reviewed on Sep 24, 2023

Casa con Giardino e Parcheggio Interno Privato
Italia Family Camping Village Viareggio
Italia Family Camping Village Viareggio
3 out of 5
Viale Dei Tigli 52, Viareggio, Lucca
Stay at this 3-star family-friendly campground in Viareggio. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and an outdoor pool. Popular attractions Viareggio Beach and Parco ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (3 reviews)
Relax
"Molto confortevole, bungalow comodo, personale eccellente. Unica cosa da migliorare la Rete Wi-Fi"

Reviewed on Aug 27, 2021

Italia Family Camping Village Viareggio
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Things to do

Reviews of Viareggio

4.9
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
13
" "5 - Excellent 92.85714285714286%
4 - Good
0
" "4 - Good 0%
3 - Okay
1
" "3 - Okay 7.142857142857143%
2 - Disappointing
0
" "2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
0
" "1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Oct 22, 2019

Strongly recommend this hotel

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Sep 30, 2019

Is a beautiful city.

5/5 - Excellent

LL
Jul 18, 2019

Fun! Lovely time on the beach. We rented chairs and umbrellas. Great restaurants for lunch , dinner, ice cream walks and biking (we rented bikes from our hotel) and shopping along the promenade.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Jul 12, 2019

The beach town had such a fun vibe. We loved how lively it was. Great place to stay

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Apr 26, 2019

Viareggio is a very pleasant beach town with clean beaches, a long and wide walkable promenade away from traffic, many restaurants, shops, gelato shops, etc. It’s not overcome by tourists which makes it calm and relaxing.

5/5 - Excellent

Christy
Sep 17, 2018

There is a beautiful large park, that I think translates to 'little countryside.' Loads of people in Viareggio rode their bikes, both in this park and along the streets and boardwalk.

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