Comparison · Bologna vs Verona · Italy
Bologna vs Verona
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 and free sights; choose Verona for Arena di Verona and Opera festival. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 108 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 108 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Bologna
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Verona
- May–June and September
Side by side
| Bologna | Verona | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Italy | Italy |
| Known for | Tagliatelle al ragù, Porticoes and Two Towers | Arena di Verona, Opera festival and Romeo and Juliet |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | May–June and September |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $150–$260 | $150–$270 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| 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 | 5 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 7 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | BLQ | VRN, VCE, BGY |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Bologna for…
Tagliatelle al ragù, Porticoes 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 Verona for…
Arena di Verona and Opera festival. Verona sits in a loop of the Adige river between Venice and Lake Garda, and its compact, UNESCO-listed centre layers a 1st-century Roman arena, medieval squares built by the della Scala lords and Renaissance palazzi. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet made it…
Top sights compared
| # | Bologna | Verona |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Piazza Maggiore and the Neptune Fountain | Arena di Verona |
| 2 | Basilica of San Petronio | Opera at the Arena |
| 3 | Two Towers (Asinelli and Garisenda) | Piazza delle Erbe |
| 4 | Santo Stefano (Seven Churches) | Torre dei Lamberti |
| 5 | Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca | Piazza dei Signori and the Scaliger Tombs |
Food compared
| Bologna | Verona |
|---|---|
| Tagliatelle al ragù | Risotto all'Amarone |
| Tortellini in brodo | Risotto al tastasal |
| Mortadella Bologna | Bigoli |
| Lasagne verdi alla bolognese | Pastissada de caval |
Which is cheaper?
Bologna and Verona cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $150–$260 in Bologna and $150–$270 in Verona (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Bologna on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Bologna and Verona are about 108 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Bologna and 3 in Verona.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bologna or Verona cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $150–$260 in Bologna and $150–$270 in Verona (estimates).
+Is Bologna or Verona better for a first trip?
Pick Bologna for Tagliatelle al ragù, Porticoes and free sights, or Verona for Arena di Verona and Opera festival.
+How far is Bologna from Verona?
About 108 km in a straight line.