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

Should you visit Pamukkale or Lucca?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Pamukkale and Lucca can help you decide which place is right for you.

Pamukkale

Pamukkale is a iconic, striking, and unique town. Pamukkale offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include shopping, food, and hiking. See Pamukkale travel costs.

Lucca

Lucca is a popular, historic, and charming city. With stunning beauty, Lucca attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Lucca travel costs.

Pamukkale and Lucca: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Pamukkale or Lucca?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Lucca. Although Pamukkale and Lucca are popular destinations, Lucca has more sights and attractions for tourists. Lucca is very popular for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, historical sights, and impressive beauty, while Pamukkale attracts visitors for its hiking. Pamukkale is famous for its natural travertine terraces, thermal springs, and ancient ruins. Lucca is famous for its ancient city walls and its many historic buildings. It is also well known for The Guinigi Tower.

How is Pamukkale different from Lucca?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

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

Lucca is a great city for its historical sights. However, Pamukkale is not known for its sights and museums.

Many visitors head to Lucca specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. 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.

Pamukkale offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. The Hierapolis Archaeology Museum is located within the ancient city of Hierapolis. It's housed in a former Roman bathhouse and displays an impressive collection of artifacts, including statues, sarcophagi, and other relics from Hierapolis, Laodicea, and other nearby ancient cities.

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

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

Lucca has a number of nationally recognized food spots and 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.

Pamukkale offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. The town has a number of restaurants and cafes that serve dishes like kebabs, meze platters, and pide (Turkish flatbread). Gözleme (a savory stuffed pancake) is a popular street food in the area, but there are also many of the most popular Turkish dishes available.

Is Pamukkale or Lucca Better for Nightlife?

Lucca is very good for its evening party scene. However, Pamukkale is not known for nightlife.

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 Pamukkale specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. It's a quiet town in the evening. Some hotels host small social gatherings or cultural evenings which lets you connect with other travelers. For a more lively experience, nearby Denizli has a broader range of bars and clubs, but it requires a short trip.

Is Pamukkale or Lucca Better for its Old Town?

Lucca is an amazing city to visit for its historic old town charm. However, Pamukkale 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.

Pamukkale does not have a historic old town.

Is Pamukkale or Lucca Better for Hiking?

Pamukkale is a town with good options for its hiking experiences. However, Lucca is not a hiking destination.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Pamukkale. The most popular trail leads through the travertine terraces, where visitors can walk barefoot across the warm, calcium-rich pools. You can also explore the ancient ruins of Hierapolis, which has pathways winding through the theater, necropolis, and other historical sites. For something a little more challenging, the surrounding countryside has trails through the hills that lead to impressive viewpoints.

Lucca is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Pamukkale or Lucca?

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

Pamukkale has a variety of shopping areas worth visiting. There are a number of souvenir shops around town where you can buy local crafts or trinkets. You'll find Turkish towels and carpets, dried spices, herbs, and teas. Many shops also sell Diorama stones and miniature travertine sculptures.

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 Pamukkale or Lucca More Beautiful?

Lucca is a great city for its scenery and beauty. Also, Pamukkale is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its scenery and beauty.

With stunning beauty, Lucca attracts visitors from all around. It's a beautiful city that's surrounded by walls and filled with winding streets.

Pamukkale is a gorgeous place to visit. It is considered to be one of Turkey's most unique natural wonders. The white travertine terraces, which are filled with turquoise thermal waters, create an other-worldly landscape.

Is Pamukkale or Lucca Better for Families?

Pamukkale is well known for its family-friendly activities. Also, Lucca is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Pamukkale is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Kids and adults alike will enjoy visiting the unique Travertine Terraces. Taking a dip in Cleopatra's Pool, with its sunken Roman columns, is also a highlight, and fans of the Percy Jackson series will appreciate visiting the ancient ruins at Hierapolis.

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.

Is Pamukkale or Lucca Better for Couples?

Both Pamukkale and Lucca are superb destinations to visit as a couple.

Pamukkale is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Couples can enjoy many romantic settings, such as wandering through the impressive white travertine terraces, swimming in Cleopatra's Pool surrounded by ancient Roman columns, and exploring the ancient city of Hierapolis.

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 Pamukkale or Lucca Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Pamukkale is well known for backpackers. Also, Lucca is still popular, but not quite as popular for backpackers and budget travelers.

Pamukkale is a very popular town for backpackers and budget travelers. Food and activities are convenient and accessible around town. There are also many affordable hostels and plenty of opportunities to meet other travelers.

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

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

Pamukkale 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 Pamukkale, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Minibuses (dolmuş) are the primary mode of local transportation, connecting Pamukkale to nearby towns like Denizli, where the main bus and train stations are located. From Denizli, frequent minibuses run to Pamukkale.

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 Pamukkale or Lucca a more walkable city?

Pamukkale and Lucca are superb when it comes to walkability.

Pamukkale is a very walkable destination. The town is compact and very walkable, especially within the main tourist areas. The travertine terraces and the adjacent ancient city of Hierapolis are easy to explore on foot as well.

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

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

Should I spend more time in Lucca or Pamukkale?

How long in Pamukkale or Lucca?

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

Families should spend more time in Pamukkale than Lucca. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Pamukkale, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Lucca than Pamukkale. 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 Pamukkale than Lucca 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 Pamukkale.

One day in Pamukkale or Lucca?

In Pamukkale, many people enjoy the food and shopping that this iconic 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.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Lucca. Visiting the old town is also a must. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Lucca has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Pamukkale or Lucca?

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

You'll find museums and nightlife around the popular destination of Lucca. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Pamukkale or Lucca?

Pamukkale is a fun place to experience. Travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Pamukkale. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the charming city of Lucca. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Pamukkale or Lucca?

You'll find shopping and food around the striking destination of Pamukkale. 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 popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. One week 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey, The Best G Adventures Tours to Turkey, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy, and The Best Historical Tours in Italy.

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

Which is Bigger, Pamukkale or Lucca?

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