Should you visit Lucca or Florence?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel cost comparison between Lucca and Florence can help. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Lucca
Lucca is of interest to travelers for its impressive architecture, interesting history and unique defensive walls that were designed by Leonardo Da Vinci. Impressively, these walls were never breached. Today there is a ring park on top of the walls that is an enjoyable place to walk. The city dates back to the Etruscan and Ancient Roman times and much of the architecture remains today. The city was an independent city state until the 18th century and was the birth place of Giacomo Puccini, a world famous Italian opera composer.
Florence
Florence is the capital of Tuscany and one of the most well known cities in Italy for its art and cultural scenes. The city is rooted in history and you can see this in the architecture, statues, gardens, and art that are everywhere around town. This city truly is a living museum. You should allow yourself at least a couple of days to explore Florence and if you can afford more, it is well worth the time. In particular, if art history is your passion then you will need a week or more to satisfy your interest as the museums and architecturally impressive buildings throughout the city are endless.
Which city is cheaper, Florence or Lucca?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Lucca is €85, while the average daily cost in Florence is €120. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Lucca and Florence in more detail.
Accommodation
The average price for accommodation for two people in Lucca is €98. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
The prices for places to stay in Florence can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is €69, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around €138.
Local Transportation
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €3.43 per day to get around in Lucca.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Florence than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend €18 on transportation in Florence on average per day.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lucca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lucca:
-
Direct Transfer from your Hotel in LUCCA to your Hotel in ROME:
$1,138
-
TRANSFER TOUR Lucca to Florence with a wine-tasting tour in CHIANTI:
$647
-
Private Transfer from Lucca to Bologna (BLQ) Airport:
$613
-
Private Transfer: Ciampino Airport (CIA) to Lucca or vice versa:
$520
-
Private Transfer: Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to Lucca or vice versa:
$519
-
Private Transfer: Civitavecchia Port to Lucca or vice versa:
$502
-
Private Transfer from Lucca to Firenze (FLR) Airport:
$394
-
Wind Cave tour with private transfer:
$205
-
Private Transfer from Lucca to Pisa (PSA) Airport:
$118
Typical Local Transportation prices in Florence
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Florence:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florence
Also for Florence, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Airport Transfer to/from Florence and Sightseeing Stop:
$794
-
Andrea Bocelli LAJATICO concert MERCEDES E with Professional Driver TRANSFERS:
$846
-
Arrival Private Transfer La Spezia to Florence by Business or Luxury Vehicle:
$280
-
Departure Private Transfer Florence to La Spezia by Business or Luxury Vehicle:
$280
-
Direct Transfer from Florence Hotel To Rome Hotel:
$967
-
Direct Transfer from Florence to 5 Terre (Riomaggiore,Manarola or Corniglia):
$504
-
Direct Transfer from Florence to Bologna (city center or Airport) - Ultimate Trf:
$199
-
Direct Transfer from Florence to Fiumicino Rome Airport (or vice versa):
$464
-
Direct Transfer from Florence to Il Borro Loc. Il Borro Arezzo (or Vice versa):
$252
-
Direct Transfer from Florence to Monterosso al Mare (5 Terre):
$358
-
Direct Transfer from Florence to Rome city center (or vice versa):
$415
-
Direct Transfer from Florence to Venice (or vice versa):
$398
Is it cheaper to fly into Lucca or Florence?
Prices for flights to both Florence and Lucca change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
In Lucca travelers spend around €33 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
In Florence travelers spend around €25 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
-
Food
Meals for one day
Lucca €33
Florence €25
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lucca
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lucca.
-
Pizza Making 2Italia:
$65
-
Wine and Food Tour in the Lucca Countryside in small group:
$98
-
Dining experience at a local's home in Lucca with show cooking:
$106
-
Small-group Street food tour in Lucca:
$111
-
Cooking Class in Lucca's Historic Center:
$112
-
Private Lucca - Flavours of Lucca Morning Food Tour Including Authentic Local Treats:
$119
-
Market Tour & Lunch/Dinner at a Cesarina's Home:
$158
-
Small Group Market tour and Cooking class in Lucca:
$162
-
Private Lucca - Afternoon Bike and Food Tour with Local Guide:
$162
-
Lucca Private Home Cooking Class:
$164
-
Private pasta-making class at a local's home with with lunch or dinner in Lucca:
$180
-
Private Pizza & Tiramisu Class at a Cesarina's home with tasting in Lucca:
$180
Typical Food prices in Florence
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Florence:
-
Panini Sandwich
€6.50
-
Casual Lunch (for Two)
€17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Florence
For Florence, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Italian Fresh Pasta Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
-
Virtual Cooking Class: Bruschetta & Tiramisù:
$40
-
Vegetarian pasta cooking class and dinner in Florence:
$54
-
Cooking with Kids 3-Hour Experience:
$60
-
Pasta Cooking Experience in Florence:
$62
-
Handmade Pasta and Dessert Cooking Class with Dinner:
$62
-
Handmade Tagliatelle cooking class in Florence:
$72
-
Pizza Dinner and Opera Arias Concert:
$74
-
Food Tour in 3-Hour Walking Tour:
$76
-
4-Course Cooking Experience in Florence:
$78
-
Tuscan Cooking Course with Dinner:
$78
-
Pizza and Gelato Cooking Class at a Farmhouse in Tuscany:
$79
Entertainment
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €4.54 per person, per day in Lucca. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Sightseeing expenses in Florence, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of €24 per day, per person.
Tours and Activities in Lucca
Here are a few actual costs in Lucca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
2 wineries Small Group tour: Chianti and Supertuscan from Lucca:
$136
-
2-Hours Relax Walking Tour Through Lucca:
$149
-
Chianti Wine and Vinci half day Small Group Tour from Lucca:
$136
-
Chianti and Supertuscan tour 3 Wineries with ligh lunch 8 people max more personal:
$216
-
Cinque Terre Private Tour from Lucca:
$1,095
-
Cinque Terre Small Group tour from Lucca:
$220
-
Cinque Terre Tour Small Group Tour from Lucca:
$185
-
Enjoyable music tour of the historical city of Lucca:
$21
-
Flavors of Lucca Small Group Tour with Food Tasting and Wine:
$81
-
Florence and Chianti experience Tour from Lucca Including Wine:
$160
-
Food Market Tour And Workshop With a Cesarina in Lucca:
$193
-
Food Walking Tour 2Italia:
$107
Typical Entertainment prices in Florence
For Florence, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
-
Admission to Uffizi
€11
-
Phone Booking Fee for Uffizi
€4.00
-
Firenze Card (for Two)
€100
-
Audioguides at Uffizi (for Two)
€20
-
Giotto's Tower Entrance Fee
€6.00
-
Boboli Gardens Entrance Fee
€7.00
Tours and Activities in Florence
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Florence.
-
- Leonardo Interactive Museum® Entrance Ticket:
$8.71
-
Leonardo Da Vinci Museum Entrance Ticket:
$8.71
-
Florence Highlights Virtual Guided Tour (Times in EST):
$11
-
Reserved Entry Ticket to the Boboli Gardens:
$14
-
Florence Duomo Reserved Time Entrance Tickets:
$14
-
Florence Animal Art Treasure Hunt Family Tour:
$17
-
Skip the Line: Medici Chapels Ticket:
$19
-
Skip the Line: Florence Accademia Gallery and Michelangelo's David Ticket:
$24
-
Virtual Tour - Wine in Tuscany - History, art and curiosities... How to appreciate it:
$25
-
Accademia Gallery Fast-Track Ticket:
$26
-
Skip the Line: Palazzo Vecchio Museum Ticket with Tower & Battlement Access:
$26
-
Medici-Themed Bike Tour:
$26
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Lucca may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €10 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Florence, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is €15.
Sample the Local Flavors in Lucca
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lucca:
-
Half-Day Wine Tour in the Tuscan Hills Small Group from Lucca:
$95
-
Private Wine Tasting Experience in Lucca with Traditional Tuscan Lunch:
$131
-
Private and exclusive wine tour in the beautiful hills of Lucca. Wine tasting.:
$187
-
Lucca wine tour:
$255
Typical Alcohol prices in Florence
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florence from other travelers:
-
Glass of Chianti
€4.20
-
Bottle of Wine
€7.50
Sample the Local Flavors in Florence
Also in Florence, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
60-Minute Wine Tasting Tour:
$45
-
Chianti: Authentic Wine Tasting Experience from Florence:
$52
-
Sunset Sightseeing Tour and Wine Tasting:
$62
-
Florence Sunset Wine Tour:
$64
-
Pienza and Montepulciano Full-Day Wine Tour:
$79
-
From Tuscany Wine Tasting Full-Day Trip:
$87
-
From Small Group Wine Tasting Tour to Tuscany:
$90
-
Florence in 3 Wines: Exclusive Wine Tasting with an Expert & Food Pairing:
$136
-
From Tuscany by E-Bike with Lunch and Wine Tasting:
$147
-
Private Ramble Through The Rolling Hills Of Chianti (6 h) + Lunch & Wine tasting:
$174
-
Just a Taste but What a Taste - Half Day Wine Tour in Tuscany (Private Tour):
$180
-
Florence Wine Tasting and Tuscan Lunch in a Vintage Fiat 500:
$187
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lucca and Florence, we can see that Florence 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 Florence would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Florence than you might in Lucca.
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