Comparison · Madrid vs Rome · Spain / Italy
Madrid vs Rome
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Choose Madrid for Prado Museum and Tapas; choose Rome for Colosseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel and free sights. Madrid is generally less expensive, and the two are about 1,364 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 1,364 km
- Less expensive
- Madrid
- Best time for Madrid
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Rome
- April–May and September–October
Side by side
| Madrid | Rome | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Spain | Italy |
| Known for | Prado Museum, Tapas and Royal Palace | Colosseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel and Ancient ruins |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | April–May and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $150–$260 | $170–$300 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 32°C (90°F) | July, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 10°C (50°F) | January, 12°C (54°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | MAD | FCO, CIA |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Madrid for…
Prado Museum and Tapas. Spain's capital sits on a high plateau in the centre of the country, and its great draw is the Paseo del Arte: the Prado, the Reina Sofía and the Thyssen-Bornemisza museums within a 15-minute walk of each other, beside the Retiro park. The old centre around…
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
| # | Madrid | Rome |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prado Museum | Colosseum |
| 2 | Reina Sofía Museum | Roman Forum and Palatine Hill |
| 3 | Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum | Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel |
| 4 | Royal Palace of Madrid | St Peter's Basilica |
| 5 | Retiro Park | Pantheon |
Food compared
| Madrid | Rome |
|---|---|
| Churros con chocolate | Spaghetti alla carbonara |
| Calamari sandwich | Cacio e pepe |
| Cocido madrileño | Bucatini all'amatriciana |
| Huevos rotos | Supplì |
Which is cheaper?
Madrid is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $150–$260 per person there, against $170–$300 in Rome (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Madrid on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 1,364 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 9 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Madrid or Rome cheaper?
Madrid is usually less expensive: about $150–$260 a day mid-range against $170–$300 (estimates).
+Is Madrid or Rome better for a first trip?
Pick Madrid for Prado Museum and Tapas, or Rome for Colosseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel and free sights.
+How far is Madrid from Rome?
About 1,364 km in a straight line.