Comparison · Istanbul vs Rome · Turkey / Italy
Istanbul 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 Istanbul for Hagia Sophia, Bosphorus ferries, lower day-to-day costs and beaches; choose Rome for Colosseum and Vatican and Sistine Chapel. Istanbul is generally less expensive, and the two are about 1,375 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,375 km
- Less expensive
- Istanbul
- Best time for Istanbul
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Rome
- April–May and September–October
Side by side
| Istanbul | Rome | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Turkey | Italy |
| Known for | Hagia Sophia, Bosphorus ferries and Grand Bazaar | Colosseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel and Ancient ruins |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | April–May and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $120–$230 | $170–$300 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 29°C (84°F) | July, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 9°C (48°F) | January, 12°C (54°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 9 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | Kilyos | — |
| Airports | IST, SAW | FCO, CIA |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Istanbul for…
Hagia Sophia, Bosphorus ferries, lower day-to-day costs and beaches. Istanbul spreads across both banks of the Bosphorus, the strait that divides Europe from Asia. The historic peninsula of Sultanahmet holds Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapı Palace and the Grand Bazaar within a 15-minute walk of each other, while Galata…
Choose Rome for…
Colosseum and Vatican and Sistine Chapel. 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
| # | Istanbul | Rome |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hagia Sophia | Colosseum |
| 2 | Topkapı Palace | Roman Forum and Palatine Hill |
| 3 | Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque) | Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel |
| 4 | Basilica Cistern | St Peter's Basilica |
| 5 | Grand Bazaar | Pantheon |
Food compared
| Istanbul | Rome |
|---|---|
| Simit | Spaghetti alla carbonara |
| Turkish breakfast | Cacio e pepe |
| Fish sandwich | Bucatini all'amatriciana |
| Meze and rakı | Supplì |
Which is cheaper?
Istanbul is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $120–$230 per person there, against $170–$300 in Rome (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Istanbul on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,375 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 10 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Istanbul or Rome cheaper?
Istanbul is usually less expensive: about $120–$230 a day mid-range against $170–$300 (estimates).
+Is Istanbul or Rome better for a first trip?
Pick Istanbul for Hagia Sophia, Bosphorus ferries, lower day-to-day costs and beaches, or Rome for Colosseum and Vatican and Sistine Chapel.
+How far is Istanbul from Rome?
About 1,375 km in a straight line.