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

Should you visit Girona 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 Girona 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.

Girona

Girona is a medieval, ancient, and charming city. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. With a quaint atmosphere, it also offers a unique feeling. Other popular activities here include museums, food, and shopping.

Lucca

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

Girona and Lucca: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Girona or Lucca?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Lucca. Although Girona and Lucca are both popular with visitors, Lucca has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Lucca is more popular for its nightlife, while Girona is known for its shopping, small town charm, and quaint atmosphere. Lucca is more touristy than Girona and is known for its ancient city walls and its many historic buildings. It is also home to The Guinigi Tower. Girona is popular for its ancient ruins, colorful old town, grand cathedral, and impressive local cuisine.

How is Girona different from Lucca?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Girona. Wander the ancient city walls, explore the beautiful Girona Cathedral, and learn about the Church of Sant Feliu. There are also some interesting museums in town including the Museum of Jewish History, the Archaeology Museum, and the Film Museum. Also make sure you walk across the famed Eiffel Bridge.

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 Girona or Lucca? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Dining out at restaurants in both Girona and Lucca can be an enjoyable experience.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Girona. The small city is filled with cafes and restaurants that spill out into the street. There are also markets such as El Lleó Marketplace where you can check out fresh, local items. Many restaurants also have Catalonian style tapas, seafood such as octopus, and garlic shrimp. For breakfast, there are many pastry shops where you can enjoy a European breakfast.

Lucca has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. 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 Girona or Lucca Better for Nightlife?

Lucca is a good destination for nightlife and partying. However, Girona is not a good city for its evening party scene.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Lucca. 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.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Girona. It's a surprisingly quiet town, especially compared to other nearby party cities, but there are some nightclubs, bars, and music venues that are worth checking out.

Is Girona or Lucca Better for its Old Town?

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

With a famous historical old-town, Girona offers plenty to see. It's a beautiful medieval old town with many wandering streets that are lined with storefronts and classic European cafes.

The rich history of Lucca can be explored in its historical center. 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 Girona or Lucca?

Girona is well known for its shopping areas. Also, Lucca is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Girona. In and around the old town you'll find modern shops, local eateries, charming markets, and anything you might need to purchase. There's also no shortage of souvenir and trinket shops, but they have a bit of personality and character to them.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Lucca. 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 Girona or Lucca Better for Families?

Lucca is a good destination for its family-friendly activities. However, Girona is not a good city for its kid-friendly activities.

Lucca is a family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Girona is not always a place people visit with their families. While the old town is beautiful, with charming colorful buildings, the city itself doesn't have a wide number of activities for kids. There are ice cream shops where they can enjoy a sweet treat. There are also several museums and many restaurants have kid-friendly menus.

Is Girona or Lucca Better for Couples?

Girona and Lucca both very good destinations for a couple.

Girona is a very popular place to visit for couples. The setting is both beautiful and romantic. Couples can enjoy wandering the streets, popping in the many shops, and soaking up the atmosphere. There are also many great restaurants that make for a wonderful night out. Head up the hills towards the cathedral for the best viewpoints, or wander along the river and enjoy the colorful atmosphere.

Lucca makes for a fun place to visit for 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 Girona or Lucca Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Both Girona and Lucca are good destinations for backpackers.

Plenty of backpackers visit Girona. Prices aren't too crazy and it's not hard to find a place to stay for an affordable price, but you won't find the lively backpacker scene that is common in many nearby cities.

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

Is Girona or Lucca Better for Students?

Girona is a city with good options for students. However, Lucca is not popular with students.

Girona is popular with students. It's a smaller city with affordable accommodation and many great restaurants. It has a quintessential European atmosphere that makes it a fun place to spend some time as a student

Lucca is not popular with students.

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

Girona is a city 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 Girona, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. The town is small enough that you can likely walk anywhere you want to go, but if you need transit, there are 10 local bus routes.

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 Girona or Lucca a more walkable city?

Girona 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 Girona on foot is easy. Everything is easily accessible on foot and its best not to bring a car into town.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Lucca or Girona?

How long in Girona or Lucca?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Girona or Lucca to fill your time. In our opinion, Girona has more to see and do, so we recommend that you spend more time in Girona than Lucca. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Girona than Lucca 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 Girona.

One day in Girona or Lucca?

In Girona, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this ancient destination offers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

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 Girona or Lucca?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Girona. 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 Girona or Lucca?

Girona is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the quaint destination of Girona. 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 Girona or Lucca?

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

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the charming 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Barcelona, The Best 10-Day Tours from Madrid, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy, and The Best Historical Tours in Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Girona and Lucca, we can see that Girona 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 Girona would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Girona 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 Girona Expensive? and Is Lucca Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Girona or Lucca?

Girona has a larger population, and is about 10% larger than the population of Lucca. When comparing the sizes of Girona 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.