Comparison · Milan vs Rome · Italy
Milan vs Rome
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jiuguang Wang, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Choose Milan for Duomo di Milano and The Last Supper; choose Rome for Colosseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel and a milder winter. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 477 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 477 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Milan
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Rome
- April–May and September–October
Side by side
| Milan | Rome | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Italy | Italy |
| Known for | Duomo di Milano, The Last Supper and Fashion | Colosseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel and Ancient ruins |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | April–May and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $180–$330 | $170–$300 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 30°C (86°F) | July, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 6°C (43°F) | January, 12°C (54°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 10 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | MXP, LIN, BGY | FCO, CIA |
Which one is right for you?
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…
Choose Rome for…
Colosseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel and a milder winter. 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
| # | Milan | Rome |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duomo di Milano and its rooftop terraces | Colosseum |
| 2 | The Last Supper | Roman Forum and Palatine Hill |
| 3 | Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II | Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel |
| 4 | Sforza Castle | St Peter's Basilica |
| 5 | Teatro alla Scala | Pantheon |
Food compared
| Milan | Rome |
|---|---|
| Saffron risotto | Spaghetti alla carbonara |
| Breaded veal cutlet | Cacio e pepe |
| Ossobuco | Bucatini all'amatriciana |
| Mondeghili | Supplì |
Which is cheaper?
Milan and Rome cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $180–$330 in Milan and $170–$300 in Rome (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Rome on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Milan and Rome are about 477 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Milan and 4 in Rome.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Milan or Rome cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $180–$330 in Milan and $170–$300 in Rome (estimates).
+Is Milan or Rome better for a first trip?
Pick Milan for Duomo di Milano and The Last Supper, or Rome for Colosseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel and a milder winter.
+How far is Milan from Rome?
About 477 km in a straight line.