Comparison · Milan vs Venice · Italy
Milan vs Venice
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, The Last Supper and free sights; choose Venice for Grand Canal, Gondolas and beaches. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 244 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 244 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Milan
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Venice
- April–May and September–October
Side by side
| Milan | Venice | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Italy | Italy |
| Known for | Duomo di Milano, The Last Supper and Fashion | Grand Canal, Gondolas and St Mark's Basilica |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | April–May and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $180–$330 | $200–$350 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 30°C (86°F) | July, 28°C (82°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 6°C (43°F) | January, 7°C (45°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 5 |
| Day trips in our guide | 7 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | Lido di Venezia |
| Airports | MXP, LIN, BGY | VCE, TSF |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Milan for…
Duomo di Milano, The Last Supper and free sights. 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 Venice for…
Grand Canal, Gondolas and beaches. Venice is built on more than a hundred small islands in a lagoon at the top of the Adriatic, laced with canals and linked by some 400 bridges. There are no cars: you walk through narrow calli and campi or ride the vaporetto water buses along the Grand Canal…
Top sights compared
| # | Milan | Venice |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duomo di Milano and its rooftop terraces | St Mark's Basilica |
| 2 | The Last Supper | Doge's Palace |
| 3 | Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II | St Mark's Square |
| 4 | Sforza Castle | St Mark's Campanile |
| 5 | Teatro alla Scala | Rialto Bridge and Market |
Food compared
| Milan | Venice |
|---|---|
| Saffron risotto | Cicchetti |
| Breaded veal cutlet | Sarde in saor |
| Ossobuco | Baccalà mantecato |
| Mondeghili | Squid-ink pasta |
Which is cheaper?
Milan and Venice cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $180–$330 in Milan and $200–$350 in Venice (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Milan on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Milan and Venice are about 244 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 3 days in Milan and 3 in Venice.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Milan or Venice cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $180–$330 in Milan and $200–$350 in Venice (estimates).
+Is Milan or Venice better for a first trip?
Pick Milan for Duomo di Milano, The Last Supper and free sights, or Venice for Grand Canal, Gondolas and beaches.
+How far is Milan from Venice?
About 244 km in a straight line.