Enormous frame frames a street in Pietrasanta, Italy. There are colorful umbrellas hanging across the street.

What to See and Do Near Forte dei Marmi

If you’re planning on spending time in Forte dei Marmi, know that it’s easy to get into the Italian beach rhythm:

  • Wake up, have a leisurely breakfast
  • Head to your beach club for a day of sun and sea
  • Go home for a shower
  • Enjoy dinner and the evening in the pedestrian center of Forte dei Marmi

And then the next day – repeat!

If you need to break the routine a bit, there’s plenty to do in Forte dei Marmi – browse the weekly market in Piazza Marconi, go cycling on Forte’s bike baths, or shop at the designer stores (or window-shop, if you’re like me).

After all that, if you’re still itching to get out of town for a bit, take a look at my list of worthwhile things to see and do that aren’t too far from Forte dei Marmi.  I’ll include how to get there, how long you may want to stay, and if it’s kid-friendly.

We (our family of 5) love spending time in Forte dei Marmi, and we also appreciate what’s nearby.  Come along as I share some of the best things to do around Forte dei Marmi.

Andiamo – Let’s go! 

Staying in Forte dei Marmi?  Be sure to check out
Forte dei Marmi Guide
Forte dei Marmi with Kids
Forte dei Marmi’s Weekly Market
Forte dei Marmi’s Beach

Map of What to See & Do Near Forte dei Marmi

What to See & Do Near Forte dei Marmi

Explore Pietrasanta

Sculpture models in an outdoor setting in Pietrasanta, Italy.
Sculpture models at the Museo dei Bozzetti

Pietrasanta is an artists’ village, and you’ll see outdoor art on display, as well as galleries tucked into buildings around town. 

I think Pietrasanta’s a gem, day or night.  In the daytime, stroll down via Mazzini until you arrive at the impressive Piazza del Duomo.  Climb up to the Rocca for views of Pietrasanta and the area, all the way to the sea.  Check out the sculptures at the Museo dei Bozzetti.  And in the evening, delight in the outdoor aperitivo and dining scenes – one of my favorites!

How to Get There:  Ride bikes along the bike path or drive your car and park on the edge of town.

How Long To Spend:  Spend all day or come after spending the day at the beach and have aperitivo and dinner.

Kid-Friendly?:  Yes.  There’s a playground and kid-friendly activities like the walk up to La Rocca, a big bench, large sculptures at the Museo dei Bozzetti, and kid-friendly restaurants.

Go to a Nearby Beach

Boy looks out at water on wooden pier in Marina di Pietrasanta, Italy. In back is beach with beach umbrellas and further back are mountains.
My son looking out at Marina di Pietrasanta

The Versilia coastline is dotted with beach clubs, but if you want to get out of Forte dei Marmi and try another area, head a little south to Marina di Pietrasanta.  It’s a little more low-key than Forte dei Marmi, but it’s still got clean beaches and beach clubs with plenty of amenities.  It’s also home to one of our favorite places to get pane arabo – Bar Milano.

How to Get There:  Drive (but parking can be a pain in the summer), take the bus, ride a bike, or even walk.

How Long To Spend:  The entire day

Kid-Friendly?:  Yes.  We like Bagno Carlo Marina (kids play area, family-friendly).

Be sure to read Marina di Pietrasanta – Spend a Day at the Beach in Tuscany

Looking for wilder beaches?  Check out The Etruscan Coast

Cycle on Lucca’s Walls

Boys cycling on walls of the city of Lucca on a wide paved path.
My boys cycling on Lucca’s walls

It sounds strange, but you can cycle on Lucca’s medieval walls.  There’s a wide, paved path on top of the walls, and on any given day you’ll find cyclists, joggers, and walkers making the most of the unique setting. 

You can rent a bike in multiple places in Lucca (don’t forget your helmet!) and stop along the way for a coffee, gelato, or aperitivo at a café along the path.

After cycling the walls, explore the city center and climb up one of our favorite Tuscan Towers – Torre Guinigi.

How to Get There: Drive, and park outside of the walls (don’t enter – it’s a ZTL).  You can take a bus, but it involves multiple changes. 

How Long To Spend: If you just want to cycle on the walls, plan on half a day.  Otherwise, you could easily spend the entire day in Lucca.

Kid-Friendly?: Yes.  My boys love cycling the walls and visiting Lucca’s playgrounds.  The Guinigi Tower is a memorable climb for kids because of the vegetation at the top.  Comic book lovers will enjoy the comic books in shops (Lucca’s home to an annual festival – Lucca Comics & Games). 

Read more about Visiting Lucca with Kids

Climb Up the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Boy on the top floor of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. You can see a few of the bells.

Yes, it will be busy (unless you’re visiting in the winter, but you’re probably not visiting Forte dei Marmi in the winter…).  But, it’s a classic Italian monument and you know that deep down you really want to take a photo of you holding up the Leaning Tower.

If you decide to make the climb up, reserve your entrance in advance on the official website.

How to Get There:  Drive and park outside the city (this is where I park) and walk to the Leaning Tower.  You can also take a bus+train combo from Forte dei Marmi. 

How Long To Spend:  Plan on at least a couple of hours.  That will give you time to get to the tower, climb up/down, and explore the cathedral if you’d like.  You could also make it a half or full day if you want to explore Pisa or have a meal or two.

Kid-Friendly?: Yes, but know that kids must turn 8 by the end of the calendar year if they want to climb to the top of the tower. 

You may want to check out
5 Things to Do in Pisa
Pisa with Kids
Leaning Tower of Pisa with Kids
Leaning Tower of Pisa Facts

See the Giants of Peccioli

My boys say ‘ciao’ to one of the Giants

Peccioli is home to some of Tuscany’s best outdoor art – the Giants of Peccioli.  See if you can find all of them, and make sure you take a stroll around Peccioli’s village center as well – there’s more art to be found.

How to Get There: Drive and park here so you can walk over the rainbow bridge.  Then, on your way to the Giant by the amphitheater, stop at the panoramic terrace to get your first glimpse.  If you have time before heading back to Forte dei Marmi, make a quick detour to tiny but colorful Ghizzano (you could stop in for just 10 minutes to see the colorful homes and more outdoor art).

How Long To Spend: If you just want to peek at the Giant, plan on spending about an hour in Peccioli.  I recommend also walking through town and stopping for a snack or gelato.

Kid-Friendly?:  Yes, my boys love the Giants and Peccioli’s other art (like the rainbow bridge, the panoramic terrace, and the murals below the rainbow bridge). If you’ve got dinosaur fans, there’s a ‘vintage’ dino park nearby (Parco Preistorico di Peccioli).  My dino fan 6 year old loved it. 

Read about Outdoor Art in Tuscany – Where to Find It

Sip Super Tuscan Wines in Bolgheri

Wines on display and man working behind bar at Osteria Tognani in Bolgheri.
Osteria Tognani in Bolgheri

Bolgheri and its surrounding countryside is home to some of Italy’s most famous wines and producers.  If hearing names like Sassicaia or Ornellaia make you swoon, this is your place. 

You can spend time in the village of Bolgheri tasting wines from multiple vineyards or having a wine pairing with a Tuscan meal and then head out to surrounding vineyards to taste wines at their sources.

How to Get There: Drive and park in the small lot just before the village.  You can also visit the nearby wineries and park in their on-site lots. 

How Long To Spend: All day.  It’s about 1 hour and 15 minutes away from Forte dei Marmi, so it’s worth exploring the village and having at least one meal (there are great restaurants here… with wine pairings!).  If no one wants to be the designated driver, you can hire a private driver (NCC) for the day.  Check out my Tuscany Directory for my recommendations.

Kid-Friendly?:  Bolgheri’s not kid-focused, but there are a few things to keep kids busy and interested. Check out my guide, Bolgheri with Kids – Wine Not?You could also visit the Cavallino Matto Amusement Park in Donoratico.  My boys love it and I give it high marks for organization and cleanliness.  If you decide to do this ( ½ day Bolgheri, ½ day Cavallino Matto), get an early start to the day so you have plenty of time to do both.

Tour the Carrara Marble Quarries

If you’ve laid eyes on any of Michelangelo’s sculptures (like David in the Accademia in Florence) or the Pantheon in Rome, seeing the marble quarries up close will give you an even greater appreciation for his work. 

Hop in a 4×4 vehicle to see the quarries and learn about how the marble is extracted and transported to its final destination.

How to Get There: Drive and park in the lot.

How Long To Spend: A basic tour takes around an hour, but you can also join longer tours that include lunch and visits to other towns in the area.

Kid-Friendly?:  Yes, but know that there aren’t car seats in the 4×4 vehicles.

Hike to See the David Mural

This is on my to-do list!  Brasilian artist Edoardo Kobra’s colorful murals usually take over city streets, so his David mural in the Carrara Marble Quarries is a unique setting for him.  His David stands 12 meters tall(!) and it painted directly on the marble.  While I’ve heard it’s not as colorful as it was when he first painted it in 2017, it still draws hikers out for the 1 hr 15 min (ish) hike from Colonnata. 

And, after your hike, stop in one of Colonnata’s restaurants or shops

How to Get There: Drive and park in the small lot.

How Long To Spend: It depends on how fast you hike.  Trail #195 heads out of Colonnata toward ‘DAVID’ and the estimated time on the sign is 1 hr and 15 min. 

Kid-Friendly?: Not for small children.  Ok for older children if they’re comfortable hiking.  I’d keep this as an adults option.

Find Your Way to the Cinque Terre

View of Manarola's harbor from trail above the village in the Cinque Terre, Italy.
On a visit to Manarola with my son

The ‘five lands’ (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza, Monterosso al Mare) are just north of Forte dei Marmi.  You can spend the day hiking between the villages, taking a dip in the sea, wandering the tiny streets of the villages, dining on a seafood meal with a view, and eating gelato! 

Heads Up:  As it’s one of Italy’s most popular destinations, you won’t be the only one there.

How to Get There: Drive to La Spezia and park (I’ve used this lot), and then take the train to one of the Cinque Terre villages.  Or, take a taxi to Marina di Massa or Viareggio, and then take the ferry to Portovenere (change ferries there) and then to one of the Cinque Terre villages.  Read more about it on the ferry company’s website.  

How Long To Spend:  All day.  Because it’s a lot of travel, you’ll want to leave early in the morning and plan on getting back in the evening.

Kid-Friendly?:  It depends on what you want to do in the Cinque Terre.  If you want to hike, it’s best to bring older kids who enjoy hiking.  If you want to hang out at the beach, head to Monterosso al Mare’s sandy beach.  Manarolo is a good pick for a charming and picturesque village with one of our favorite playgrounds in the area.

Have a Michelin-Star Meal

In just the 12 kilometers between Forte dei Marmi and Viareggio (to the south), there are 7 Michelin-starred restaurants.  First, you’ve got Forte dei Marmi’s:

  • La Magnolia
  • Bistrot
  • Lux Lucis
  • Lorenzo

You could also dine at:

  • Il Piccolo Principe (2 stars)
  • Romano
  • Lunasia

Remember to make a reservation, especially during summer months. 

How to Get There:  Walk, take a taxi, drive, or ride your bike.
How Long To Spend:
Take your time!
Kid-Friendly?: No

A Few More Ideas

  • Head to Viareggio if you’re in the area during Carnevale
  • Attend the Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago, a lively festival dedicated to the famous Italian composer
  • Check out the stalactites and stalagmites in the Corchia cave complex

You may want to check out
Driving in Italy
Tuscany Without a Car
Visiting Tuscany in the SpringSummerFallWinter

FAQs

Is it too far to visit Florence from Forte dei Marmi? 

You can definitely make a day trip from Forte dei Marmi to Florence.  It’s not super convenient by public transport, so if a private driver (NCC) fits in your budget, that’s your best bet. Or, drive and park at Villa Costanza.

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