Which place is cheaper, Lucca or Lyon?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lyon or Lucca, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Lyon is a historic, beautiful, and cultural city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.
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.
Travelers will usually find more to do in Lyon than Lucca, as it is bigger with more sights, attractions, and activities for visitors. Lyon is popular for its world-renowned cuisine, charming old town, and vibrant new town. It is also home to The Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière. Lucca is popular for its ancient city walls and its many historic buildings.
Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Lucca and Lyon. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.
Lyon is an unbeatable place for its museums and landmarks. Also, Lucca is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.
You'll find many recognizable landmarks that put Lyon on the map. There are many world class museums and historic landmarks in the city including Musée des Beaux Arts, Musée de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine, and Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière.
Visitors can fill many days exploring the museums and attractions around Lucca. 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.
Lyon 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 Lyon have been singled out for their culinary prowess. Known as "the Gastronomic Capital of the World" this city stands above the rest when it comes to Michelin star restaurants (there are 17!), fresh ingredients, and unique local flavors. Favorite local dishes include pâté en croûte, rosette de Lyon, and saucisson brioché.
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.
Lyon is well known for its evening party scene. Also, Lucca is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.
Lyon is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The city has enough diverse neighborhoods that you'll find a scene that is great for everyone. There are dance clubs, cocktail bars, and wine bars that meet every personality and style.
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.
Lyon and Lucca both have first-rate historical old towns that attract visitors.
Lyon offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. This impressive old town climbs from the river into Fourvière Hill. It's a Renaissance era district with beautiful buildings and plenty of character. You can spend days wandering the quaint streets and popping in the world class restaurants.
Lucca has a world-famous historical area. The historic city is surrounded by city walls, which you can walk around. Within the walls there are cobblestone streets and a charming atmosphere.
Lyon 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 Lyon. The city has many trendy markets, pedestrian shopping areas, and character-filled boutiques. From the charming shops in old town to the chic shopping streets, there are plenty of places to splurge around town.
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.
Lyon is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Lucca is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.
Lyon is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The city has many kid-friendly museums including Musée des Confluences and the Cinema and Miniature Museum. There are also playgrounds, patisseries, and river cruises that you can enjoy as a family. Puppet shows are also fun, but do note that they're usually in French. While the restaurants are amazing for adults, it can be tricky to find a kid-friendly option with early opening hours that are convenient for little ones.
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.
Lyon and Lucca are both high quality to visit as a couple.
Lyon is a very popular place to visit for couples. Couples can enjoy wandering the beautiful Old Town, taking a river cruise, and dining on some of the best food in France.
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.
Lyon is well known for backpackers. Also, Lucca is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.
Lyon is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. The city has several hostels and a number of activities that are fun for budget travelers and backpackers.
Plenty of backpackers visit Lucca. While there aren't many traditional hostels around town, guesthouses are usually affordable.
Lyon is an unbeatable place for students. However, Lucca is not popular with students.
Lyon is a very popular city for students. It is a very livable city with many fun cultural activities for students. There are many different entertainment options during the day, and during the evening there are plenty of places to hang out.
Lucca is not popular with students.
Lyon is an unbeatable place for its public transit. However, Lucca is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.
Visitors in Lyon can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. The city has a metro, trams, and buses, that make it easy to get around.
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.
Lyon and Lucca both are high quality when exploring on foot.
Lyon is a very walkable city. The old town is particularly walkable, but the hills can make things a bit challenging. There are also a number of pedestrian streets around town.
Lucca is a very walkable destination. Much of the city can be explored on foot.
For even more information, also check out Is Lyon Worth Visiting? and Is Lucca Worth Visiting?.
You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Lyon or Lucca to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Lyon than Lucca because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Lyon, and 1-2 days is enough time in Lucca.
Families should spend more time in Lyon than Lucca. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Lyon, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.
Couples should spend more time in Lyon than Lucca. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Lyon that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.
Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lyon 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 Lyon.
Each neighborhood in Lyon has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. This city 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.
Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Lucca. Visiting the old town is also a must. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.
It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lyon. 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 fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.
Lyon is a fun place to experience. Each neighborhood in Lyon has its own distinct appeal, so there are pleny of areas to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.
You'll find museums and nightlife around the charming destination of Lucca. This city offers something for everyone. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.
You'll find food and shopping around the cultural big city of Lyon. 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.
The charming city of Lucca offers nightlife and food. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from Paris, The Best 2-Week Tours from Paris, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy, and The Best Historical Tours in Italy.
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Lyon is €125, while the average daily cost in Lucca is €106. 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 destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Lyon and Lucca in more detail.
Looking for a hotel in Lyon or Lucca? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Lyon:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lyon:
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lucca:
Prices for flights to both Lucca and Lyon 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.
Some typical examples of dining costs in Lyon are as follows:
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lyon.
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lucca.
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Lyon are as follows:
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Lyon are as follows:
Here are a few actual costs in Lucca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Lyon from other travelers:
Also in Lyon, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lucca:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lyon and Lucca, we can see that Lyon 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 Lyon would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lyon 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 Lyon Expensive? and Is Lucca Expensive?.
Lyon has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Lucca. When comparing the sizes of Lyon 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.