Comparison · Barcelona vs Rome · Spain / Italy
Barcelona vs Rome
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Choose Barcelona for Sagrada Família, Gaudí architecture and beaches; choose Rome for Colosseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel and free sights. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 860 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 860 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Barcelona
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Rome
- April–May and September–October
Side by side
| Barcelona | Rome | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Spain | Italy |
| Known for | Sagrada Família, Gaudí architecture and Gothic Quarter | Colosseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel and Ancient ruins |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October | April–May and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $180–$300 | $170–$300 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 29°C (84°F) | July, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 15°C (59°F) | January, 12°C (54°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | Barceloneta | — |
| Airports | BCN, GRO, REU | FCO, CIA |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Barcelona for…
Sagrada Família, Gaudí architecture and beaches. Barcelona combines a medieval core — the Gothic Quarter and El Born — with the grid of the 19th-century Eixample, where Antoni Gaudí and his contemporaries built the Sagrada Família, Casa Batlló and La Pedrera. The Mediterranean runs along the city's eastern…
Choose Rome for…
Colosseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel and free sights. Rome layers nearly 3,000 years of history into a walkable centre: the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the Pantheon, Baroque piazzas such as Navona and, across the Tiber, Vatican City with St Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. Most sights lie inside the…
Top sights compared
| # | Barcelona | Rome |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sagrada Família | Colosseum |
| 2 | Park Güell | Roman Forum and Palatine Hill |
| 3 | Casa Batlló | Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel |
| 4 | Casa Milà (La Pedrera) | St Peter's Basilica |
| 5 | Gothic Quarter walk | Pantheon |
Food compared
| Barcelona | Rome |
|---|---|
| Bread with tomato | Spaghetti alla carbonara |
| Patatas bravas | Cacio e pepe |
| Bomba | Bucatini all'amatriciana |
| Black rice | Supplì |
Which is cheaper?
Barcelona and Rome cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $180–$300 in Barcelona and $170–$300 in Rome (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Rome on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 860 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 9 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Barcelona or Rome cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $180–$300 in Barcelona and $170–$300 in Rome (estimates).
+Is Barcelona or Rome better for a first trip?
Pick Barcelona for Sagrada Família, Gaudí architecture and beaches, or Rome for Colosseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel and free sights.
+How far is Barcelona from Rome?
About 860 km in a straight line.