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

Should you visit Chartres or Lucca?

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

Should I visit Chartres or Lucca? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Chartres

Chartres is a spectacular, historic, and grand town. Don't miss this spot, as it's a charming small town with plenty of activities. Other popular activities here include food and museums. See Chartres travel costs.

Lucca

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

Chartres and Lucca: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Chartres or Lucca?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Lucca. Although Chartres and Lucca are both popular with visitors, Lucca has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Lucca is more popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Chartres is known for its small town charm. Lucca is more touristy than Chartres and is popular for its ancient city walls and its many historic buildings. It is also home to The Guinigi Tower. Chartres is popular for its beautiful cathedral and long running history.

How is Chartres different from Lucca?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

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

Lucca offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. 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 Chartres. Most visitors make the trip to see the spectacular Gothic cathedral, Cathédrale Notre-Dame. It was completed in 1220 and is famous for its beautiful stained glass windows.

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

Lucca is great for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town 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.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Chartres area. There are a number of restaurants around town so it's easy to grab lunch during a day trip.

Is Chartres or Lucca Better for Nightlife?

Lucca is a popular place for nightlife and partying. However, Chartres is not a good destination for its evening party scene.

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.

Most people don't head to Chartres specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. There are a few bars where you can grab a drink while you're in town.

Is Chartres or Lucca Better for its Old Town?

Lucca is a must-visit destination for its old town. However, Chartres does not have a historic 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.

Chartres does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Chartres or Lucca?

Lucca is a popular place for its shopping opportunities. However, Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

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.

Chartres is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Chartres or Lucca More Beautiful?

Lucca is great for its scenery and beauty. However, Chartres is not a destination known for its beauty.

The beauty of Lucca is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. It's a beautiful city that's surrounded by walls and filled with winding streets.

Chartres is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Chartres or Lucca Better for Families?

Lucca is a popular place for its kid-friendly activities. However, Chartres is not a good destination 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.

Chartres is not the most family-friendly destination. The main attraction in town is the cathedral, but the surrounding area is also filled with history. This may not keep your kids entertained for long, so you can also check out the Stained Glass Museum, La Tanière (a zoo), or one of the parks around town.

Is Chartres or Lucca Better for Couples?

Lucca is great for its romantic activities. Also, Chartres is not as popular, but is still a nice town 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.

Chartres is a good town for couples to visit. With its cathedral and rich history, many couples enjoy exploring the town. It is filled with history and interesting sights.

Is Chartres or Lucca Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

For backpackers, both Chartres and Lucca are good places to visit.

Plenty of budget travelers visit Chartres. It's easy enough to visit as a day trip from Paris, so backpackers and other tourists typically allow themselves a few hours to explore.

Lucca is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. While there aren't many traditional hostels around town, guesthouses are usually affordable.

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

Chartres is well known for its public transit. However, Lucca is not particularly known for times when you don't have a car.

Many visitors use the public transit system in Chartres. There are trains that leave Paris Montparnasse 1 Et 2 every half hour and travel to Chartres. The trip takes about 1 hour 15 minutes.

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 Chartres or Lucca a more walkable city?

Chartres and Lucca are excellent when it comes to walkability.

Chartres is a very walkable town. It's easy to see the sights around town on foot.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Lucca or Chartres?

How long in Chartres or Lucca?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Chartres 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 Chartres. However, 1-2 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Lucca than Chartres. 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 Chartres. 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 Chartres 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 Chartres or Lucca?

In Chartres, many people enjoy the food and museums that this historic destination offers. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Because of this, one day is usually enough time for a trip here.

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 Chartres or Lucca?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Chartres. 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.

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 Chartres or Lucca?

Chartres is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the destination of Chartres. 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 Chartres or Lucca?

You'll find museums and food around the historic destination of Chartres. 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 Vineyard & Wine Tours in France, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in France, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy, and The Best Historical Tours in Italy.

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

Which is Bigger, Chartres or Lucca?

Lucca has a larger population, and is about 87% larger than the population of Chartres. When comparing the sizes of Chartres 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.