A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Beaune vs. Lucca for Food, Old Town, Couples, and Attractions

Should you visit Beaune or Lucca?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Beaune and Lucca. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Beaune

Beaune is a historic, culinary, and quaint town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Lucca

Lucca is a quaint, popular, and historic city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Beaune and Lucca: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Beaune or Lucca?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Beaune. Although Beaune and Lucca are both popular with visitors, Beaune has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Beaune is more popular for its food and small town charm, while Lucca is known for its impressive beauty. Beaune is popular for its surrounding vineyards and world-renowned wines. It is also home to The Surrounding Vineyards. Lucca is popular for its ancient city walls and its many historic buildings.

How is Beaune different from Lucca?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Lucca and Beaune. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Beaune or Lucca?

Plenty of people visit the very good sights and museums in both Beaune and Lucca.

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Beaune. Top sights and museums around town include Hôtel-Dieu (a former hospital), Château de Savigny, and Château de la Rochepot.

Lucca offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. There are many interesting historic sights and buildings around this charming town. You can climb to the top of the Guinigi Tower or visit the Roman Amphitheater. Many visitors enjoy walking or biking around the city walls as well. Also make sure you visit the cathedral.

Is the Food Better in Beaune or Lucca? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Beaune is an unbeatable place for its restaurant scene. Also, Lucca is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Many restaurants in Beaune have been singled out for their culinary prowess. The restaurant scene is made up of small, narrow, local bistros that serve local dishes with regional ingredients. Many of the menus are focused on wine with the dishes designed specifically to compliment the wines. This is a tourist town, and you'll find many visitors come specifically to enjoy the French cuisine.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Lucca. There are many great Tuscan restaurants inside the city walls. Perhaps the most popular local dish is tordelli Lucchesi. Its a meat filled pasta that has a beef ragu sauce. There are also other Tuscan recipes that include steak, boar, or rabbit.

Is Beaune or Lucca Better for Nightlife?

It's hard to distinguish whether Beaune or Lucca has a better nightlife scene.

Beaune has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. You'll find bars and pubs as well as many places to sip French wine and enjoy the evening.

If you're looking for night time activities Lucca has a few options to choose from. The nightlife scene is most lively during the spring and summer months when tourists crowd into the city. For the highest concentration of bars, clubs, and lounges, head to Piazza Amfiteatro, Piazza San Michele and Via Fillungo.

Is Beaune or Lucca Better for its Old Town?

Visitors enjoy the fantastic old town areas in both Beaune and Lucca.

Beaune has a unique history which comes to life in its historic area. The old town is walled and compact. It is centered around the medieval hospital complex and it is filled with cobblestone streets and shops.

The old town of Lucca is one of the most recognized in the world. The historic city is surrounded by city walls, which you can walk around. Within the walls there are cobblestone streets and a charming atmosphere.

Is the Shopping Better in Beaune or Lucca?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Lucca and Beaune.

Beaune offers some nice shopping areas. Boutiques, wine shops, and independent vendors are fun to explore in town.

Lucca has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. The city is filled with a mix of tourist shops and more authentic local vendors. If you look hard, you can still find some interesting local items that make for a more unique and personal shopping experience.

Is Beaune or Lucca Better for Families?

Both Beaune and Lucca are good family-friendly destinations.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Beaune. The town has museums like Hospices de Beaune, Hotel-Dieu (a formal hospital), as well as vineyards that you can hike through. Many people enjoy taking a hot air balloon ride while they're in the region.

Lucca offers lots of family activities. You can pass through town in a day or two, or stay longer and use it as a base for exploring Tuscany. There are playgrounds for the kids as well as some fun activities like cycling the city walls and climbing towers.

Is Beaune or Lucca Better for Couples?

Beaune is an unbeatable place for couples. Also, Lucca is still popular, but not quite as popular for romance.

Beaune is a great town for couples, as it has plenty to offer. Couples will enjoy exploring vineyards, sipping French wine, and wandering through the charming old town. There are breathtaking hot air balloon rides and wonderful French restaurants that make for a romantic trip.

Lucca is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. It's a beautiful city with good restaurants and access to nice countryside. Couples who want to explore Tuscany can use this town as a base to take in much of the region.

Is Beaune or Lucca Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Lucca is a good destination for backpackers. However, Beaune is a town with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Lucca. While there aren't many traditional hostels around town, guesthouses are usually affordable.

Beaune is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's a charming town, but it's not on many backpacker's itineraries. There are also a limited number of hostels to choose from.

Is Beaune or Lucca Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Beaune is a town with good options for its public transit. However, Lucca is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

You'll find some public transit in Beaune, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. While you can walk around the historic center, it's possible to take a bus if you're traveling further.

Public transit is quite limited in Lucca. There's no public transit within the city so if you can't walk somewhere, you'll want to take a taxi. In general, walking is the best option though.

Is Beaune or Lucca a more walkable city?

Beaune is an unbeatable place for its ease of walking around. Also, Lucca is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Getting around Beaune on foot is easy. It's a walkable town that's perfect for taking a stroll.

Lucca is very walkable. Much of the city can be explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Beaune Worth Visiting? and Is Lucca Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Lucca or Beaune?

How long in Beaune or Lucca?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Beaune or Lucca to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Beaune than Lucca because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Beaune, and 1-2 days is enough time in Lucca.

Families should spend more time in Beaune than Lucca. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Beaune, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Beaune than Lucca. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Beaune that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lucca than Beaune if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Lucca.

One day in Beaune or Lucca?

In Beaune, many people enjoy the shopping and museums that this culinary destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Lots of people come for the food. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Lucca. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Beaune or Lucca?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Beaune. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Lucca is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Beaune or Lucca?

Beaune is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the destination of Beaune. Lots of people come for the food. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lucca. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Beaune or Lucca?

You'll find food and shopping around the culinary destination of Beaune. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the food. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the popular destination of Lucca. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy, and The Best Historical Tours in Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Beaune and Lucca, we can see that Beaune is more expensive. And not only is Lucca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lucca would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lucca and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Beaune would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Beaune than you might in Lucca.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Beaune Expensive? and Is Lucca Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Beaune or Lucca?

Lucca has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Beaune. When comparing the sizes of Beaune and Lucca, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.