Which place is cheaper, Lucca or Santillana?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Santillana or Lucca?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Santillana 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.
Where Should I go: Santillana or Lucca?
Santillana
A quaint town outside of Santander in northern Spain, Santillana de Mar is renowned for its medieval architecture. One of Spain's prettiest villages, Santillana del Mar and its cobbled streets are lined with palaces, churches, and balconies full of flowers. There are plenty of traditional shops selling local specialties, and it is nearby the UNESCO world heritage site of the Altamira Caves for something a little different.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Spain, The Best 2-Week Tours in Spain, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Italy, and The Best Historical Tours in Italy.
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Santillana Prices
Spain PricesLucca Prices
Italy Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySantillana €127Lucca €136
The average daily cost (per person) in Santillana is €127, while the average daily cost in Lucca is €136. 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 Santillana and Lucca in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSantillana €60Lucca €61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSantillana €120Lucca €122
Compare Hotels in Santillana and Lucca
Looking for a hotel in Santillana or Lucca? 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.
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: Santillana Hotel Prices and Lucca Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Santillana €17Lucca €4.29
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lucca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Lucca:
- Private Transfer from Lido di Camaiore to Pisa (PSA) Airport: $257
- Private Transfer from Lucca to Pisa (PSA) Airport: $263
- Tasting in a Tuscan Vineyard with transfer from Lucca: $106
Is it cheaper to fly into Santillana or Lucca?
Prices for flights to both Lucca and Santillana 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
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Food Meals for one daySantillana €53Lucca €72
Typical Food Prices in Santillana
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Santillana:
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Breakfast€7.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lucca
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Lucca.
- Morning Food Tour with Snacks and Coffee: $82
- Dining Experience at a local's Home in San Miniato with Show Cooking: $101
- Dining Experience at a local's Home in Capannori with Show Cooking: $102
- Dining Experience at a local's Home in Pistoia with Show Cooking: $102
- Lucca’s Ultimate Food Tour: Full Tuscan Meal by Do Eat Better: $109
- 2Italia Lucca Food Tour: $114
- Lucca Walking Tour & Traditional Cooking Class with Wine: $115
- Lucca Walking Tour & Traditional Cooking Class with Wine: $118
- Typical Dining & Cooking Demo at Local's Home in Lucca: $131
- Cooking Class Lucca: $152
- Private Home-made Pasta Cooking Class: $152
- Traditional-Traditional Cooking Class cuisine course: $152
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Santillana €23Lucca €5.68
Tours and Activities in Santillana
Here are a few actual costs in Santillana for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Private Guided Walking Tour of Santillana del Mar: $215
- Private Walking Tour of Altamira and Neocave Museum: $239
Tours and Activities in Lucca
Here are a few actual costs in Lucca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Walking tour of Lucca and its walls: $12
- Guided Walking Tour: $18
- 2-Hour City Center Walking Tour: $18
- join a 'must see' walking tour! (English): $18
- Renaissance City Walls Walking Tour: $18
- Guided City by Night Walking Tour: $18
- Your Lucca Walking Tour English OR Italian: $18
- Discover Lucca’s Secrets on a Guided Walking Tour: $18
- Self-Guided Tour by Bike: $21
- Self-Guided Tour by Bike with MAP: $21
- Walking Tour: Mysterious Lucca through Stories and Legends: $23
- Lucca Red Light Tour: Discovering the City's Naughty History: $23
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySantillana €4.29Lucca €13
Sample the Local Flavors in Lucca
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Lucca:
- Wine Tasting Experience - Tenuta Adamo Winery: $24
- Guided Winery Tour with Wine Tasting: $29
- Wine tasting in Lucca: $48
- Honest Wines- Wine tasting at Cantina Biagiotti: $60
- Added Organic Wine Tasting in San Miniato: $78
- Tuscany Wine Tours in a family winery Podere Pellicciano: $84
- Wine tasting in Versilia with sommelier - 5 wines and local products: $90
- Chianti Half-Day Wine Tour in the Tuscan Hills Small Group from Lucca: $94
- RomanticOpera concert in the artist's house on the hills and wine tasting: $104
- Guided E-Bike and Wine Tour: $127
- Guided E-Bike Tour with Wine Tasting from Lucca: $130
- Bike Ride & WIne Tasting: $144
When comparing the travel costs between Santillana 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.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Santillana Expensive? and Is Lucca Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Santillana or Lucca?
Lucca has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Santillana. When comparing the sizes of Santillana 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.