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

Should you visit Taormina or Lucca?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Taormina and Lucca 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.

Taormina

Taormina is a historic, beautiful, and exclusive town. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and beaches.

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.

Taormina and Lucca: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Taormina or Lucca?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Lucca. Although Taormina and Lucca are popular destinations, Lucca has more sights and attractions for tourists. Lucca is very popular for its museums and historical sights, while Taormina attracts visitors for its nightlife, resorts, beaches, and small town charm. Taormina is famous for its long history as a seaside resort town with luxury accommodation and beautiful views. Lucca is famous for its ancient city walls and its many historic buildings. It is also well known for The Guinigi Tower.

How is Taormina different from Lucca?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into 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.

Taormina is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. The main landmark in town is the Greek Theater which dates back to the 3rd century BC. Also visit Madonna della Rocca as well as Castello di Taormina, which is perched above the sea.

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

Both Taormina and Lucca offer great local cuisine and restaurants.

Taormina has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The local dishes draw on traditional Italian flavors such as pasta, tomato sauce, and vegetables, but they're also heavily influenced by the island's many historical invaders. You'll find a variety of ingredients in recipes including red chilies, tuna, swordfish, sardines, pine nuts, capers, and olives.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Lucca makes for a great culinary experience. 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 Taormina or Lucca Better for Nightlife?

Taormina is well known for its evening party scene. Also, Lucca is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife.

Taormina is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The town has a bit of an exclusive vibe and that's felt in the nightlife scene as well. There are lounges and exclusive clubs that serve fine wine and cocktails. You'll also find some late night dance clubs around town.

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 Taormina or Lucca Better for Resorts?

Taormina is well known for its resorts. However, Lucca is not a resort destination.

In Taormina, you'll find some of the region's top resorts. There are a number of high end resorts and hotels in and near town that have pools and five star facilities.

Lucca is not a resort destination.

Is Taormina or Lucca Better for Beaches?

Taormina is a town with good options for the beach. However, Lucca is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Taormina. The easiest beaches to access from town are Mazzaro Beach and Isola Bella Beach. The beaches are near hotels and there are restaurants as well as beach umbrellas and chairs that you can rent.

Lucca is not a beach destination.

Is Taormina or Lucca Better for its Old Town?

Lucca is very popular for its historic old town charm. However, Taormina does not have a historic old town.

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.

Taormina does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Taormina or Lucca?

If you're looking to go shopping, Taormina and Lucca both offer plenty of nice spots.

Taormina has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. It's a fashion-conscious town and you'll find boutiques and shops that carry high end Italian brands. There are also shops that sell local pottery and other items.

Lucca is a great destination for 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.

Is Taormina or Lucca Better for Families?

Lucca is a city with good options for its kid-friendly activities. However, Taormina is not known for its family-friendly activities.

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.

Taormina is not the most family-friendly destination. Kids may not appreciate everything that the adults enjoy about this town, but they will likely have fun taking a ride on the cable car and visiting the Greek Theater. There are also wonderful desserts that kids will enjoy.

Is Taormina or Lucca Better for Couples?

Both Taormina and Lucca are great destinations for a couple's getaway.

Taormina is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. It's a truly beautiful town with impressive views and a great atmosphere. It makes a wonderful stop off for couples or honeymooners who want to soak up the region's beauty.

Lucca is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

Is Taormina or Lucca Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Lucca is a city with good options for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Taormina is not known for backpackers.

Lucca is a good city to visit for backpackers. While there aren't many traditional hostels around town, guesthouses are usually affordable.

Taormina is not the best destination for backpackers and budget travelers due to its high prices. There aren't many hostels around town and you won't find a large backpacker crowd here. The town has the feel of an exclusive resort community with high end resorts more common than anything else.

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

Taormina is a town 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 Taormina, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There are minibuses that travel to the more far-reaching parts of the 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 Taormina or Lucca a more walkable city?

Taormina and Lucca are great when it comes to walkability.

Taormina is a very walkable destination. Walking is one of the best ways to explore the town.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Lucca or Taormina?

How long in Taormina or Lucca?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Taormina or Lucca to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Taormina than Lucca because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Taormina, and 1-2 days is enough time in Lucca.

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

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

Even though Taormina is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. This town 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.

The beautiful city of Lucca offers food and shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

A weekend in Taormina or Lucca?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Taormina. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. 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 popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this city makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Lucca, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Five days in Taormina or Lucca?

Taormina is a fun place to experience. Taormina is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Lucca is a popular choice for travelers. 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

A week in Taormina or Lucca?

Taormina is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. 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 great place to explore. 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. This city offers something for everyone.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Italy, The Best Walking Tours in Italy, The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.

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

Which is Bigger, Taormina or Lucca?

Lucca has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Taormina. When comparing the sizes of Taormina 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.