A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Palma de Mallorca vs. Lucca for Nightlife, Old Town, Food, and Families

Should you visit Palma de Mallorca or Lucca?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Palma de Mallorca 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.

Palma de Mallorca

Palma de Mallorca is a cultural, historic, and beautiful island. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.

Lucca

Lucca is a charming, quaint, and popular city. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums.

Palma de Mallorca and Lucca: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Palma de Mallorca or Lucca?

You'll generally find more things to do in Palma de Mallorca than Lucca. Palma de Mallorca is bigger than Lucca, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Palma de Mallorca is better known for its nightlife, music, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and hiking, while Lucca is more popular for its museums and historical sights. Palma de Mallorca is more touristy than Lucca and is popular for its strikingly blue waters, sandy beaches, all-inclusive resorts, and vibrant towns. Also, Palma de Mallorca is famous for the turquoise water and white sand beaches. Lucca is well known for its ancient city walls and its many historic buildings.

The turquoise water and white sand beaches

How is Palma de Mallorca different from Lucca?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Palma de Mallorca or Lucca?

Lucca is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, Palma de Mallorca does not have museums and landmarks.

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.

Palma de Mallorca does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Palma de Mallorca or Lucca? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Palma de Mallorca and Lucca offer a number of high quality restaurants to choose from.

The food selection at local restaurants is excellent in Palma de Mallorca. Food here is centered around pork, fish, and vegetables. It is flavored with garlic and olive oil and it offers that feeling of comfort that comes with home cooking.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit 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.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Lucca Better for Nightlife?

Palma de Mallorca is an unbeatable place for its evening party scene. Also, Lucca is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

The nightlife in Palma de Mallorca is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. Head to Magaluf and Palma for the most popular places.

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.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Lucca Better for Music?

Palma de Mallorca is well known for its music scene. However, Lucca is not a live music destination.

Music is a popular form of entertainment in Palma de Mallorca. Live concerts, international DJs, and a diverse range of styles have put the island's music scene on the map.

Lucca is not a live music destination.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Lucca Better for Resorts?

Palma de Mallorca is well known for its resorts. However, Lucca is not a resort destination.

In Palma de Mallorca, you'll find some of the region's top resorts. Top resorts on the island include The St Regis Mardavall, Viva Cala Mesquida Resort and Spa, and Nixe Palace Hotel.

Lucca is not a resort destination.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Lucca Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Palma de Mallorca is a island with good options for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Lucca is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's fun to get in the water and check out the local marine life in Palma de Mallorca. Head to Cala Santanyi on the south side of the island for the best snorkeling. For scuba diving, National Park of Cabrera is one of the most popular spots.

Lucca is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Lucca Better for Beaches?

Palma de Mallorca is an unbeatable place for the beach. However, Lucca is not a beach destination.

Palma de Mallorca is considered to be a world-class beach destination. The island is lined with sandy beaches and rocky coves, which have contributed to it becoming one of Europe's most popular beach destinations.

Lucca is not a beach destination.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Lucca Better for its Old Town?

Lucca is a must-visit destination for its historic old town. Also, Palma de Mallorca is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its old town.

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.

Many people head to Palma de Mallorca to see the old town. Alcudia is the best old town on the island. It has cobblestone streets and historic walls that give it charm and history.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Lucca Better for Hiking?

Palma de Mallorca is a island with good options for its hiking experiences. However, Lucca is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Palma de Mallorca. There are many beautiful hikes along the water and through the countryside that offer beautiful views and pass by quaint towns.

Lucca is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Palma de Mallorca or Lucca?

Shoppers can find a variety of notable stores in both Palma de Mallorca and Lucca.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Palma de Mallorca. Head to Palma for some of the areas best shopping.

Lucca offers some nice shopping areas. 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 Palma de Mallorca or Lucca Better for Families?

Palma de Mallorca is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Lucca is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Palma de Mallorca is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. The beaches are large and sandy with beautiful blue waters. There's also many activities that both adults and kids can enjoy around the island including waterparks, aquariums, and amusement areas.

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.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Lucca Better for Couples?

Lucca is an excellent place to visit for romance. Also, Palma de Mallorca is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

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.

Palma de Mallorca makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. With beautiful beaches and a fun Spanish flare, Mallorca makes for a memorable honeymoon.

Is Palma de Mallorca or Lucca Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Palma de Mallorca is well known for backpackers. Also, Lucca is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Palma de Mallorca is a very popular island for backpackers and budget travelers. There is no shortage of hostels in Mallorca so it's easy to find an affordable place to stay and a young crowd to hang out with.

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

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

Palma de Mallorca is a island 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 Palma de Mallorca, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There is an efficient bus system that can get you around the island, but trips are less frequent on weekends. Pick up the Intermodal Card which can get you from town to town.

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 Palma de Mallorca or Lucca a more walkable city?

Lucca is an excellent place to visit for its walkability. Also, Palma de Mallorca is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

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

Palma de Mallorca is a somewhat walkable place. It is a larger island that is not walkable, but Palma is generally a walkable area. If you stay in the central area you should be fine to explore on foot but if you want to get out into more rural areas, you'll need access to some type of transportation.

For even more information, also check out Is Palma de Mallorca Worth Visiting? and Is Lucca Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Lucca or Palma de Mallorca?

How long in Palma de Mallorca or Lucca?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Palma de Mallorca or Lucca to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Palma de Mallorca than Lucca because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 3-5 days is a good amount of time for Palma de Mallorca, and 1-2 days is enough time in Lucca.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Palma de Mallorca 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 Palma de Mallorca.

One day in Palma de Mallorca or Lucca?

In Palma de Mallorca, many people enjoy the live music and food that this stunning destination offers. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. This island 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.

With shopping and museums around the destination of Lucca, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. One day is often enough time to do most activities. It offers something for everyone.

A weekend in Palma de Mallorca or Lucca?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Palma de Mallorca. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. A weekend is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

With museums and nightlife around the popular city of Lucca, there's plenty to do. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Visiting the old town is also a must. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here.

Five days in Palma de Mallorca or Lucca?

Palma de Mallorca is a fun place to experience. In Palma de Mallorca, many people enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping that this destination offers. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. This would be the perfect place to spend five days, as it has just the right amount of activities.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the charming destination of Lucca. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

A week in Palma de Mallorca or Lucca?

You'll find shopping and nightlife around the stunning destination of Palma de Mallorca. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Lucca is a popular choice for travelers. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours in Spain, The Best 3-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy, and The Best Historical Tours in Italy.

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

Which is Bigger, Palma de Mallorca or Lucca?

Palma de Mallorca has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Lucca. When comparing the sizes of Palma de Mallorca 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.