A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Lyon vs. Urbino for Attractions, Food, Old Town, and Nightlife

Should you visit Lyon or Urbino?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Lyon or Urbino, 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

Lyon is a historic, beautiful, and cultural city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. As it offers a special and quaint atmosphere, visitors come from all over to experience this destination. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food.

Urbino

Urbino is a undiscovered, authentic, and laid back town. 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.

Lyon and Urbino: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Lyon or Urbino?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Lyon. Although Lyon and Urbino are both popular with visitors, Lyon has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Lyon is more touristy than Urbino and 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. Urbino is popular for its Renaissance walls, historic center, and authentic atmosphere.

How is Lyon different from Urbino?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Lyon or Urbino?

Lyon is an amazing city to visit for its historical sights. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its sights and museums.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Lyon has many famous sights for visitors. 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.

Urbino is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. At the heart of the city are its historical sights. The cathedral is worth a visit, as is The Ducal Palace, but for most visitors, simply soaking up the town's atmosphere is the best experience.

Is the Food Better in Lyon or Urbino? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Lyon is an amazing city to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

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.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Urbino makes for a great culinary experience. The city's history has influenced its cuisine. Traditional foods include cornbread, truffles, and meat sausage. While these options aren't as common today, you can still find them if you seek them out.

Is Lyon or Urbino Better for Nightlife?

Lyon is great for its evening party scene. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for nightlife.

Many people head to Lyon for the nightlife scene. 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.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Urbino. Because of the large student population, there are usually some fun activities going on at night. You'll find some good bars around town that are fun to hang out at.

Is Lyon or Urbino Better for its Old Town?

Lyon is an amazing city to visit for its historic old town charm. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its historic old town.

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.

Many visitors go to Urbino to see the historical old town. The historic center feels a bit undiscovered by Italian standards. There are stone houses and the town is built on a steep hill, giving it a beautiful setting.

Is the Shopping Better in Lyon or Urbino?

Lyon is great for its shopping areas. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas 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.

Urbino is a great destination for shopping. You'll find galleries, book shops, and jewelry stores around town that are fun to pop into.

Is Lyon or Urbino Better for Families?

Lyon is great for its kid-friendly activities. However, Urbino is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Lyon. 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.

Urbino is not the most family-friendly destination. The city is filled with history and architecture, which may be lost on the kids. There are the classic Italian restaurants which is a favorite among kids and adults alike.

Is Lyon or Urbino Better for Couples?

Lyon and Urbino 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.

Urbino makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. This walled city is fun to explore and can make for a great romantic stop. The city is walled and has many historical buildings which couples will enjoy learning about together.

Is Lyon or Urbino Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Lyon is great for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Urbino is not a good destination for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Lyon. The city has several hostels and a number of activities that are fun for budget travelers and backpackers.

Urbino is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not well known by backpackers and there are a very limited number of hostels in the area.

Is Lyon or Urbino Better for Students?

Lyon is an amazing city to visit for its student-friendly activities. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for 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.

Many students visit Urbino. The student population is a large part of this small city. University students are usually happy and enjoy many activities and outings into the surrounding area.

Is Lyon or Urbino Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Lyon is an amazing city to visit for times when you don't have a car. However, Urbino is not a good destination for its public transit.

Public transit in Lyon is top-notch. The city has a metro, trams, and buses, that make it easy to get around.

Public transit is generally limited in Urbino. The town is accessible by bus but not by train.

Is Lyon or Urbino a more walkable city?

Lyon is great for its ease of walking around. Also, Urbino is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its walkability.

Lyon is a very walkable destination. 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.

Urbino is somewhat walkable. Many parts of the city are easy to explore on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Lyon Worth Visiting? and Is Urbino Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Urbino or Lyon?

How long in Lyon or Urbino?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Lyon or Urbino to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Lyon than Urbino 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 Urbino.

Families should spend more time in Lyon than Urbino. 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 Urbino. 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 Urbino 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.

One day in Lyon or Urbino?

Lyon is a bustling city that offers something for everyone. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Urbino. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

A weekend in Lyon or Urbino?

Lyon 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.

Urbino is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. 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.

Five days in Lyon or Urbino?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lyon. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the laid back destination of Urbino. This town offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Lyon or Urbino?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the beautiful big city of Lyon. 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.

The undiscovered town of Urbino offers nightlife and food. 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 2-Week Tours in Italy, and The Best Bicycle Tours in Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Lyon and Urbino, we can see that Lyon is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

Which is Bigger, Lyon or Urbino?

Lyon has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Urbino. When comparing the sizes of Lyon and Urbino, 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.

When is the best time to visit Lyon or Urbino?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Lyon or Urbino in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Lyon as well as Urbino. The city activities and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Lyon this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Urbino for the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Lyon is around the same temperature as Urbino. Typically, the summer temperatures in Lyon in July average around 22°C (71°F), and Urbino averages at about 23°C (73°F).

Lyon usually gets less rain in July than Urbino. Lyon gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Lyon or Urbino in the Autumn?

Both Urbino and Lyon are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Lyon for the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, many visitors come to Urbino in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Lyon is generally around the same temperature as Urbino. Daily temperatures in Lyon average around 14°C (56°F), and Urbino fluctuates around 15°C (59°F).

In October, Lyon usually receives around the same amount of rain as Urbino. Lyon gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Lyon or Urbino in the Winter?

Both Urbino and Lyon during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Lyon in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Furthermore, most visitors come to Urbino for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.

Urbino can be very cold during winter. Lyon can get quite cold in the winter. Lyon is a little warmer than Urbino in the winter. The daily temperature in Lyon averages around 4°C (39°F) in January, and Urbino fluctuates around 3°C (37°F).

Lyon usually gets more rain in January than Urbino. Lyon gets 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Lyon or Urbino in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Lyon and Urbino. Most visitors come to Lyon for the activities around the city and the natural beauty during these months. Furthermore, the spring months attract visitors to Urbino because of the natural beauty.

In the spring, Lyon is around the same temperature as Urbino. Typically, the spring temperatures in Lyon in April average around 11°C (53°F), and Urbino averages at about 12°C (54°F).

In April, Lyon usually receives more rain than Urbino. Lyon gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Urbino receives 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Urbino and Lyon