A Travel Price Comparison for Italy Lucca vs. Livorno for Attractions, Food, Couples, and Nightlife

Should you visit Lucca or Livorno?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Lucca and Livorno can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Lucca

Lucca is a popular, historic, and charming city. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Livorno

Livorno is a friendly, down-to-earth, and waterfront port city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. Other popular activities here include shopping, nightlife, and food.

Lucca and Livorno: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Lucca or Livorno?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Livorno than Lucca. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Livorno is very popular for its beaches and big city activities, while Lucca attracts visitors for its museums, food, historical sights, and impressive beauty. Lucca is more touristy than Livorno and is popular for its ancient city walls and its many historic buildings. Livorno is famous for its large port and its great seafood. It is also well known for The Waterfront Promenade.

How is Lucca different from Livorno?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Lucca is great for its historical sights. However, Livorno is not a good destination for its sights and museums.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Lucca can be an interesting and educational experience. 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.

Livorno offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. The waterfront promenade and New Venice are nice to explore. There's an aquarium in town as well as a fun central market.

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

Lucca is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Livorno is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

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.

Livorno offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. As a port city, this is the place to try seafood. Many dishes include calamari, shrimp, or freshly caught fish. The city is less touristy than most in Italy, so even the food has an authentic and down-to-earth vibe.

Is Lucca or Livorno Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Lucca and Livorno.

Lucca has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. 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.

If you're looking for night time activities Livorno has a few options to choose from. Most visitors arrive by cruise ship, and depart in the evening, but the city is large and for those that stay the night, there are a number of bars and clubs around town.

Is Lucca or Livorno Better for Beaches?

Livorno is a port city with a few options for the beach. However, Lucca is not a beach destination.

The beach in Livorno is worth checking out. The beaches are pebbly or rocky, so you won't really find a long stretch of sandy beach where you can relax. They can also stay very crowded.

Lucca is not a beach destination.

Is Lucca or Livorno Better for its Old Town?

Lucca is renowned for its historic old town charm. However, Livorno does not have a historic old town.

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.

Livorno does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Lucca or Livorno?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Livorno and Lucca.

Many visitors go to Lucca to go shopping. 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.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Livorno. The main shopping street in town is Via Grande. It's generally filled with major chain stores and familiar brands.

Is Lucca or Livorno Better for Families?

Both Lucca and Livorno are nice to visit with kids.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Lucca. 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.

Livorno offers lots of family activities. The city has a nice aquarium as well as outdoor recreational activities like cycling and boating. There's a beach and parks where kids can stretch their legs and run around as well.

Is Lucca or Livorno Better for Couples?

Lucca is great for couples. Also, Livorno is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for romance.

Lucca is a great city 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.

Livorno is a nice destination for couples. There are some nice museums as well as parks and boat rides that couples can enjoy. There's also an aquarium and a beach.

Is Lucca or Livorno Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Lucca is a nice place to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Livorno is not a good destination for backpackers.

It's common for backpackers to visit Lucca. While there aren't many traditional hostels around town, guesthouses are usually affordable.

Livorno is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. Most backpackers skip this city, so you won't find many hostels around town. It's a relatively affordable place to stay with some fun entertainment options if you do pass through.

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

Livorno is a port 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 Livorno, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are buses around town including lines that run from the central train station to the port.

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 Lucca or Livorno a more walkable city?

Lucca is great for its ease of walking around. Also, Livorno is not as popular, but is still a nice port city for its walkability.

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

Livorno is somewhat walkable. Parts of the city are walkable, but if you're arriving by cruise ship, you'll want to take a shuttle bus from the port.

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

Should I spend more time in Livorno or Lucca?

How long in Lucca or Livorno?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lucca than Livorno 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 Lucca or Livorno?

In Lucca, you'll find nightlife and food. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

In Livorno, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this down-to-earth destination offers. This port city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

A weekend in Lucca or Livorno?

In Lucca, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Lucca has to offer.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Livorno. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. 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.

Five days in Lucca or Livorno?

Lucca is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Livorno is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Livorno. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Lucca or Livorno?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lucca. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Lucca. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

You'll find nightlife and food around the waterfront destination of Livorno. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy, The Best Historical Tours in Italy, The Best 10-Day Tours in Italy, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Italy.

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

Which is Bigger, Lucca or Livorno?

Livorno has a larger population, and is about 91% larger than the population of Lucca. When comparing the sizes of Lucca and Livorno, 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.