Should you visit Volterra or Lucca?
Should I visit Volterra or Lucca? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Volterra
Located in Tuscany, Volterra has an interesting history and impressive sights for travelers who want to see more of the Tuscan region than the popular city of Florence. The town was originally a Neolithic settlement and is believed to have been continuously inhabited since the end of the 8th century BC. It was a bishop's residence during the 5th century and then an episcopal power during the 12th century. It was later conquered by the Florentines but opposition to their rule led to much rebellion.
Lucca
Lucca is of interest to travelers for its impressive architecture, interesting history and unique defensive walls that were designed by Leonardo Da Vinci. Impressively, these walls were never breached. Today there is a ring park on top of the walls that is an enjoyable place to walk. The city dates back to the Etruscan and Ancient Roman times and much of the architecture remains today. The city was an independent city state until the 18th century and was the birth place of Giacomo Puccini, a world famous Italian opera composer.
Which city is cheaper, Lucca or Volterra?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Volterra is €81, while the average daily cost in Lucca is €85. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Volterra and Lucca in more detail.
Accommodation
If you're traveling alone, you may be able to find a budget hotel or hostel for around €48. But for two people in a standard two-person hotel room in Volterra the cost is €96 on average.
The average price for accommodation for two people in Lucca is €98. This is for two people sharing a typical double occupancy hotel room.
Food
Food in Volterra costs travelers about €29 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
In Lucca travelers spend around €33 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Volterra €29
Lucca €33
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lucca
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lucca.
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Pizza Making 2Italia:
$65
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Wine and Food Tour in the Lucca Countryside in small group:
$98
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Dining experience at a local's home in Lucca with show cooking:
$106
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Small-group Street food tour in Lucca:
$111
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Cooking Class in Lucca's Historic Center:
$112
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Private Lucca - Flavours of Lucca Morning Food Tour Including Authentic Local Treats:
$119
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Small Group Market tour and Cooking class in Lucca:
$162
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Private Lucca - Afternoon Bike and Food Tour with Local Guide:
$162
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Private pasta-making class at a local's home with with lunch or dinner in Lucca:
$180
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Private Pizza & Tiramisu Class at a Cesarina's home with tasting in Lucca:
$180
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Private cooking class at a Cesarina's home with tasting in Lucca:
$180
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Local market visit and private cooking class at a Cesarina's home in Lucca:
$267
Local Transportation
The cost of a taxi ride in Volterra is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent €3.43 per person, per day, on local transportation in Volterra.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around €3.43 per day to get around in Lucca.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Volterra
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Volterra:
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Private Transfer from Volterra to Pisa (PSA) Airport:
$261
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Private Transfer: Ciampino Airport (CIA) to Volterra or vice vesa:
$426
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Private Transfer: Civitavecchia Port to Volterra or vice versa:
$424
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Private Transfer: Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to Volterra or vice versa:
$444
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lucca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lucca:
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Direct Transfer from your Hotel in LUCCA to your Hotel in ROME:
$1,138
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Private Transfer from Lucca to Bologna (BLQ) Airport:
$613
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Private Transfer from Lucca to Firenze (FLR) Airport:
$394
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Private Transfer from Lucca to Pisa (PSA) Airport:
$118
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Private Transfer: Ciampino Airport (CIA) to Lucca or vice versa:
$520
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Private Transfer: Civitavecchia Port to Lucca or vice versa:
$502
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Private Transfer: Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to Lucca or vice versa:
$519
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TRANSFER TOUR Lucca to Florence with a wine-tasting tour in CHIANTI:
$647
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Wind Cave tour with private transfer:
$205
Is it cheaper to fly into Volterra or Lucca?
Prices for flights to both Lucca and Volterra 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.
Entertainment
Entertainment and activities in Volterra typically cost an average of €9.14 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around €4.54 per person, per day in Lucca. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Volterra
Here are a few actual costs in Volterra for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Volterra and San Gimignano Private Shore Excursion for Cruisers:
$878
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Hidden Tuscany Tour : Villages, Wine, Food, Hills and Coast:
$970
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Pisa, Volterra and Bolgheri Private Tour from Livorno:
$1,095
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San Gimignano & Wine Private Tour from Livorno:
$1,293
Tours and Activities in Lucca
Here are a few actual costs in Lucca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Walking Tour and Exploration of Lucca:
$13
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Your Lucca Walking Tour:
$16
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Self-Guided Tour by Bike:
$19
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Enjoyable music tour of the historical city of Lucca:
$21
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Puccini Experience Entrance Ticket - due to COVID19,concerts are suspended:
$31
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From Florence Grand Panoramic Tour by Minivan:
$46
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Tour of Lucca with friendly Guide:
$64
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Flavors of Lucca Small Group Tour with Food Tasting and Wine:
$81
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Private Tour: Historic Lucca by bike:
$83
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Lonely Planet Experiences: Lucca Aperitivo Tour with Food & Wine:
$88
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From Siena: Full-day Pisa and Lucca Tour:
$89
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La Dolce Vita of the renaissance - Half-Day Walking Tour:
$94
Alcohol
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Volterra may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €13 per day on alcoholic beverages.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Lucca may vary from person to person, on average a person spends €10 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Sample the Local Flavors in Volterra
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Volterra:
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Tuscany countryside from Livorno: Private Volterra, San Gimignano & Wine Tasting:
$408
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Bolgheri & Volterra Private Wine Tour from Livorno:
$1,219
Sample the Local Flavors in Lucca
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lucca:
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Half-Day Wine Tour in the Tuscan Hills Small Group from Lucca:
$95
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Private Wine Tasting Experience in Lucca with Traditional Tuscan Lunch:
$131
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Private and exclusive wine tour in the beautiful hills of Lucca. Wine tasting.:
$187
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Lucca wine tour:
$255
When comparing the travel costs between Volterra and Lucca, we can see that Lucca 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.
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