A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Tuscany vs. La Rioja for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Tuscany or La Rioja?

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 Tuscany and La Rioja. 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.

Where Should I go: Tuscany or La Rioja?

Tuscany

The art, the food, the land, the architecture! You can't go wrong with Tuscany. From the winding alleyways of Florence to the rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside, this dynamic and beautiful region of Italy has something to offer for everyone. After exploring the world class art and architecture in Florence, visitors should also experience Siena, Pisa, Montecatini, and more. The region is located on Italy's west coast bordering the Tyrrhenian sea. It is one of the most famed and popular parts of the country and it won't disappoint.

La Rioja

La Rioja is an area in northern Spain located in the Iberia peninsula. It is not as commonly known as some of the bigger cities, but it is a great place to visit. The area has more than 500 wineries, and though the area may not be well known as a tourist location, the name is often recognizable for its quality wine. La Rioja is full of natural beauty and Spanish culture. Because it is not as touristy as some of the larger areas of Spain, you are more likely to get a more genuine idea of real Spanish life and culture by visiting this region. The La Rioja area is nestled between cities like Burgos, Bilbao, San Sebastian, Pamplona and Zaragoza, so you are never far from the more popular northern cities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Italy, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Italy, The Best 10-Day Tours from Barcelona, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Madrid.


Which place is cheaper, La Rioja or Tuscany?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Tuscany is €0.00, while the average daily cost in La Rioja is €0.00. 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 Tuscany and La Rioja in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Tuscany -
    La Rioja -
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Tuscany 0.00
    La Rioja 0.00
Compare Hotels in Tuscany and La Rioja

Looking for a hotel in Tuscany or La Rioja? 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.

Hotels in Tuscany


Hotels in La Rioja


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.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Tuscany Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Tuscany -
    La Rioja -

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tuscany

Also for Tuscany, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from Pisa to Siena with stop in San Gimignano for lunch: $273
  • Transfer from Florence to Arezzo with a stop at The Mall Outlet: $153
  • Transfer Siena-Pisa with stop in San Gimignano & Lunch: $245
  • Transfer Siena-Florence with visit to Chianti and wine tasting: $218
  • Transfer Florence - Bologna with stop at the Barberino Outlet: $142
  • Tasting in a Tuscan Vineyard with transfer from Lucca: $86
  • Tasting in a Tuscan Vineyard from Pisa with Transfer: $97
  • Private transfer from Siena to Florence: $202
  • Private transfer: $256
  • Private arrival OR departure transfer in Florence (hotel OR airport pick-up): $85
  • Private Transfer: Pisa city to Pisa Airport PSA in Luxury Van: $85
  • Private Transfer: Pisa Airport PSA to Pisa city in Luxury Van: $85

Is it cheaper to fly into Tuscany or La Rioja?

Prices for flights to both La Rioja and Tuscany 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.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Tuscany -
    La Rioja -

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tuscany

For Tuscany, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Cake and Biscuit Cooking Class for Kids: $32
  • Virtual Live Cooking Class What Do You Have in Your Pantry: $35
  • Virtual Cooking Class: Bruschetta & Tiramisù: $35
  • Italian Fresh Pasta Private Virtual Cooking Class: $40
  • Florence Food Tour: Home-Made Pasta, Truffle, Cantucci, Olive Oil, Gelato: $41
  • Florence: Street Food Tour and Sightseeing with Local Expert Guide in 2.5 hours : $41
  • Traditional Tuscan Cuisine Cooking Class, Castiglion Fiorentino near Cortona: $49
  • Buffet dinner at the farm: $49
  • Handmade Italian Pasta Cooking Course in Florence: $63
  • Fiesole: 3-Hour Traditional Homemade Pasta Cooking Class: $64
  • Food Tour in Florence Italy: $64
  • 3- Cooking Making Spaghetti & Lasagna: $65

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Tuscany -
    La Rioja -

Tours and Activities in Tuscany

For Tuscany, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2 Hours Free Arezzo tour - Smartphone free: $26
  • Best of Florence walking tour & Accademia Gallery- monolingual small group tour: $92
  • E-Bike Val d'Orcia Experience: $169
  • Florence FoodTour with Local Guide: $191
  • Florence-Private bike tour: $98
  • From Florence: Sunset Panoramic e-Bike or Classic Bike tour : $38
  • Semi-Private Uffizi Gallery Guided Tour: $71
  • Siena tour: Piazza del Campo & Duomo exploration: $125
  • Skip-the-Line Best of Pisa and Leaning Tower Guided Tour for Kids and Families: $273
  • Tour Private of Florence in electric car : $41
  • Tuscan ExtraVirgin Olive Oil Tour: $141
  • VIP Uffizi Gallery Tour: $75

Tours and Activities in La Rioja

For La Rioja, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Private Tour to 3 Wineries with Tastings: $805
  • Private Vineyards Tour in San Vicente de la Sonsierra: $93

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Tuscany -
    La Rioja -

Sample the Local Flavors in Tuscany

Also in Tuscany, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Wine tasting in the historical Cantalici winery: $12
  • Lucca: Wine Tasting Experience - Tenuta Adamo Winery: $16
  • Wine Tasting by CarusVini in San Casciano in val di Pesa: $16
  • Tenuta Mareli - Wine Tasting in Tuscany: $21
  • Great wine tasting at Tenuta Moriano: $25
  • Tuscan Brewery Guided Tour with beer and food tasting: $27
  • Wine Tasting at the Winery in the Panoramic Terrance: $27
  • Biodynamic Wine Tasting with Producer in Vinci: $28
  • From Florence to Chianti Rufina: Wine Tasting Experience: $32
  • San Gimignano: Chianti wine tasting : $33
  • Classic Wine Tasting in Montalcino: $33
  • Discover Artimino wine tasting, a few steps from Florence: $33

Sample the Local Flavors in La Rioja

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in La Rioja:

  • Private Wine Tasting in San Vicente de la Sonsierra: $60
  • Rioja: Private Wine Tasting Tour: $422


When comparing the travel costs between Tuscany and La Rioja, we can see that Tuscany 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 Tuscany Expensive? and Is La Rioja Expensive?.


Which has a larger population, Tuscany or La Rioja?

Tuscany has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of La Rioja. When comparing the sizes of Tuscany and La Rioja, 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.

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