Comparison · Bologna vs Milan · Italy
Bologna vs Milan
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Fabio Ciminelli, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Bologna for Tagliatelle al ragù, Porticoes, lower day-to-day costs and free sights; choose Milan for Duomo di Milano and The Last Supper. Bologna is generally less expensive, and the two are about 201 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 201 km
- Less expensive
- Bologna
- Best time for Bologna
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Milan
- April–June and September–October
Side by side
| Bologna | Milan | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Italy | Italy |
| Known for | Tagliatelle al ragù, Porticoes and Two Towers | Duomo di Milano, The Last Supper and Fashion |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | April–June and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $150–$260 | $180–$330 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 31°C (88°F) | July, 30°C (86°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 6°C (43°F) | January, 6°C (43°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 11 | 8 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 7 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | BLQ | MXP, LIN, BGY |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Bologna for…
Tagliatelle al ragù, Porticoes, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. Bologna, the capital of Emilia-Romagna, has a university traditionally dated to 1088, a red-brick medieval centre and more than 60 km of arcaded porticoes, listed by UNESCO in 2021, that keep you dry in rain and shaded in summer. It is one of Italy's great…
Choose Milan for…
Duomo di Milano and The Last Supper. Italy's business and fashion capital is more about substance than postcard looks, but its centre holds some of the country's great sights: the Gothic Duomo with its walkable roof, the glass-domed Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, La Scala opera house and…
Top sights compared
| # | Bologna | Milan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Piazza Maggiore and the Neptune Fountain | Duomo di Milano and its rooftop terraces |
| 2 | Basilica of San Petronio | The Last Supper |
| 3 | Two Towers (Asinelli and Garisenda) | Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II |
| 4 | Santo Stefano (Seven Churches) | Sforza Castle |
| 5 | Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca | Teatro alla Scala |
Food compared
| Bologna | Milan |
|---|---|
| Tagliatelle al ragù | Saffron risotto |
| Tortellini in brodo | Breaded veal cutlet |
| Mortadella Bologna | Ossobuco |
| Lasagne verdi alla bolognese | Mondeghili |
Which is cheaper?
Bologna is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $150–$260 per person there, against $180–$330 in Milan (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Bologna on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Bologna and Milan are about 201 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Bologna and 3 in Milan.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bologna or Milan cheaper?
Bologna is usually less expensive: about $150–$260 a day mid-range against $180–$330 (estimates).
+Is Bologna or Milan better for a first trip?
Pick Bologna for Tagliatelle al ragù, Porticoes, lower day-to-day costs and free sights, or Milan for Duomo di Milano and The Last Supper.
+How far is Bologna from Milan?
About 201 km in a straight line.