A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Saint-Etienne vs. Lucca for Attractions, Food, Couples, and Nightlife

Should you visit Saint-Etienne or Lucca?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Saint-Etienne and Lucca. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Saint-Etienne

Saint-Etienne is a undiscovered, authentic, and historic city. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include museums, nightlife, and hiking.

Lucca

Lucca is a popular, historic, and charming city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food.

Saint-Etienne and Lucca: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Saint-Etienne or Lucca?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Lucca than Saint-Etienne. While Saint-Etienne is larger than Lucca, Lucca has more sights and attractions for tourists. Lucca is more popular for its museums, food, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Saint-Etienne is known for its hiking. Lucca is more touristy than Saint-Etienne and is popular for its ancient city walls and its many historic buildings. It is also home to The Guinigi Tower. Saint-Etienne is popular for its industrial and manufacturing past.

How is Saint-Etienne different from Lucca?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Saint-Etienne or Lucca?

Lucca is great for its historical sights. Also, Saint-Etienne is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

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.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Saint-Etienne. There are several great museums in town including the Musée d'Art et d'Industrie, Musée de la Mine, Musée des Verts, and the planetarium.

Is the Food Better in Saint-Etienne or Lucca? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Lucca is great for its local flavors and cuisine. However, Saint-Etienne is not a good destination for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Lucca has a huge number of terrific 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.

Saint-Etienne may not make the list for most foodies, but you'll find what you need while you're in town. Try the many local cheeses which are a defining part of the cuisine in the area. You'll find some local restaurants around town where you can sample local flavors.

Is Saint-Etienne or Lucca Better for Nightlife?

The vibe at night is good in both Saint-Etienne and Lucca.

If you're looking for night time activities Saint-Etienne has a few options to choose from. The nightlife is centered around sipping wine or visiting one of the clubs in town.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Lucca. 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 Saint-Etienne or Lucca Better for its Old Town?

Lucca is an amazing city to visit for its old town. However, Saint-Etienne does not have a historic old town.

Lucca offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The historic city is surrounded by city walls, which you can walk around. Within the walls there are cobblestone streets and a charming atmosphere.

Saint-Etienne does not have a historic old town.

Is Saint-Etienne or Lucca Better for Hiking?

Saint-Etienne is a city with good options for its hiking experiences. However, Lucca is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Saint-Etienne. You'll find several great hikes just outside of town. It's a great way to experience the surrounding countryside.

Lucca is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Saint-Etienne or Lucca?

Lucca is a good destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Saint-Etienne is not a good destination for its shopping areas.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting 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.

Saint-Etienne has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. Shopping malls and several boutique shopping areas make up the city's shopping scene.

Is Saint-Etienne or Lucca Better for Families?

Both Saint-Etienne and Lucca are good family-friendly destinations.

Saint-Etienne offers lots of family activities. There are several kid-friendly museums as well as plenty of natural settings just outside of town. Your kids can run around and stretch their legs nearby at Crest of the Partridge or on a rainy day, the planetarium is a fun place to visit.

Lucca is a family-friendly place to visit. 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 Saint-Etienne or Lucca Better for Couples?

Lucca is great for its romantic activities. However, Saint-Etienne is not a good destination for couples.

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.

Saint-Etienne is not always the best place to visit for a couple. There are museums, parks, gardens, and beautiful architecture that make this a wonderful place for couples.

Is Saint-Etienne or Lucca Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Lucca is a good destination for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Saint-Etienne is not a good destination for backpackers.

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

Saint-Etienne is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. It's not high on the backpacker trail, but there are hostels and plenty of activities to enjoy.

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

Saint-Etienne is a 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 Saint-Etienne, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are tram and bus options available in 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 Saint-Etienne or Lucca a more walkable city?

Lucca is great for its high level of walkability. Also, Saint-Etienne is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its ease of walking around.

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

Saint-Etienne is a somewhat walkable city. There are several walkable areas in the city.

For even more information, also check out Is Saint-Etienne Worth Visiting? and Is Lucca Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Lucca or Saint-Etienne?

How long in Saint-Etienne or Lucca?

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lucca than Saint-Etienne 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 Saint-Etienne or Lucca?

In Saint-Etienne, many people enjoy the nightlife and museums that this park-filled destination offers. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

Many travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the popular destination of Lucca. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Your budget might influence how long you stay. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

A weekend in Saint-Etienne or Lucca?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Saint-Etienne. 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.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lucca. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Five days in Saint-Etienne or Lucca?

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

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the quaint destination of Lucca. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. Five days 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.

A week in Saint-Etienne or Lucca?

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

You'll find food and shopping around the beautiful city of Lucca. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

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

When comparing the travel costs between Saint-Etienne and Lucca, we can see that Saint-Etienne 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 Saint-Etienne Expensive? and Is Lucca Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Saint-Etienne or Lucca?

Saint-Etienne has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Lucca. When comparing the sizes of Saint-Etienne 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.