Which place is cheaper, Bled or Bologna?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bologna or Bled?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bologna and Bled can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bologna or Bled?
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of the northern region of Italy, Emilia-Romagna, with a population of 380,000. It is a historical city known well by Italians, however, not as well known among foreigners. The locals of Bologna speak little to no English. The city is most known for having the oldest university in the West. Another reason many visit this city is because of its exquisite cuisine. Many Italians would consider it one of the most beautiful cities in the entire country because of its impeccably preserved historic centers. The best time to visit Bologna is usually between March and October, although bare in mind that July and August can get quite hot.
Bled
Bled is an incredibly scenic place, on the east side of Lake Bled. The lake is a beautiful, rich, emerald green. There's a small island in the middle of the lake where you'll find a nice white chapel. The lake is surrounded by striking green mountains, among which you'll find the Bled Castle overlooking the scene. Bled also offers access to the nearby Triglav National Park, a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies. Within the national park you'll find countless waterfalls and the lovely Lake Bohinj. You can find plenty of opportunities for mountain climbing, rafting, and hiking. There's even a cable car if you're looking for an easy way to get some good views of the mountains and landscape.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Italy, The Best Tours for Seniors to Italy, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ljubljana, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Ljubljana.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBologna €159Bled €104
The average daily cost (per person) in Bologna is €159, while the average daily cost in Bled is €104. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bologna and Bled in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBologna €87Bled €56
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBologna €174Bled €112
Compare Hotels in Bologna and Bled
Looking for a hotel in Bologna or Bled? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Bologna Hotel Prices and Bled Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bologna €21Bled €34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bologna
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bologna:
- Tour Ferrari, Lambo, Parmesan, Vinegar, Wine with Transfer: $503
- Siena: Private Round-Trip Transfer from/to Bologna Airport: $690
- Ravenna/Cruise Port to Torcello (water taxi) - Arrival Transfer: $178
- Ravenna port to Ravenna hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $92
- Ravenna or Cruise Port to Venice,Piazzale Roma Roundtrip Transfer: $240
- Ravenna or Cruise Port to Venice + water taxi - Arrival Transfer: $159
- Ravenna or Cruise Port to Murano + water taxi -RoundTrip Transfer: $300
- Ravenna or Cruise Port to Burano + water taxi - Arrival Transfer: $163
- Ravenna city or Cruise Port to Bologna Airport(BLQ) - Departure Private Transfer: $113
- Ravenna Port to Ravenna Hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $46
- Ravenna Cruise Port to Venice + water taxi- Round Trip Transfer: $290
- Ravenna Cruise Port to Rome Hotels Arrival Private Transfer: $288
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bled
Also for Bled, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Bohinj to Ljubljana Airport (LJU): $165
- Private transfer from Tolmin to Ljubljana city: $206
Is it cheaper to fly into Bologna or Bled?
Prices for flights to both Bled and Bologna change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayBologna €39Bled €28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bologna
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bologna.
- Virtual Cooking Class: Ravioli variations with classic tomato sauce: $35
- Bologna Food Tour including Tagliatelle, Mortadella, Wine: $57
- Bologna Traditional Home Cooking Class with Lunch or Dinner: $73
- Exclusive Cooking Class - Pasta Tagliatelle Ragu & Spritz: $74
- Exclusive Bologna Cooking Class - Pasta Tagliatelle Ragu & Spritz: $75
- Traditional Bolognese Cooking Class with a Meal: $80
- Traditional Recipes Cooking Class with Local Wines: $82
- Hands on Home Cooking Class: $84
- Walking Food Tour with a Local Guide: $84
- Tastes and Traditions Food Tour with Market Visit: $84
- Tastes & Traditions of Food Tour with Market Visit: $86
- Bologna traditional food tour - Do Eat Better Experience: $92
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bled
For Bled, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food Tour Bled - Explore Slovenia Through Its Tastes: $130
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bologna €38Bled €12
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bologna
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bologna are as follows:
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Food Tour (for 2)€31
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Wine Tasting Tour (for 2)€115
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Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour (for 2)€67
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National Gallery Museum Bologna (for 2)€12
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Archaeology Museum of Bologna (for 2)€12
Tours and Activities in Bologna
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bologna are as follows:
- the red medieval pearl and its delicious food (private tour): $284
- 2 Hours Bologna Guided Private Tour for Kids and Families : $179
- 2-Hour Bike Tour to Discover Bologna's Squares and Monuments: $147
- 2-Hour Walking Tour Discovering the "Musical" Side of Bologna: $71
- 2.5-hour Bologna City and University Walking Tour: $131
- 3 hours walking tour with tastings: Bologna "La Grassa": $185
- Art and taste tour: from Magnani Rocca to Parma ham: $210
- BOLOGNA FOOD WALKING TOUR (morning or evening PRIVATE tour): $207
- Best of Private & Personalised Walking Experience: $81
- Best walking tour of Bologna: $158
- Bike Tour Bologna: $142
- Bologna - Old Town Private Historic Walking Tour: $374
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bled
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Bled's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Rafting€93
Tours and Activities in Bled
For Bled, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Self-Guided E-Bike Tour to Vintgar Gorge: $42
- From Self-Guided E-Bike Tour to Vintgar Gorge: $53
- Motorcycle Tours in Slovenia: $55
- Bled Slovenia: 3–Hour Rafting Experience: $59
- Lake Sava River Rafting Experience with Hotel Pickup: $59
- 3-Hour Family-Friendly Rafting Adventure: $59
- Lake Bled Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Tour: $63
- From Ljubljana: Lake Bled and Bled Castle Tour: $65
- Winter Triglav National Park Adventure - Half day trip from Bled: $71
- Guided Kayaking Tour in a Transparent Kayak: $74
- Guided Clear Kayak Tour in Bled: $75
- Lake Bled Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Lesson and Tour: $75
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBologna €28Bled €14
Sample the Local Flavors in Bologna
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Bologna:
- Modena area: Lambrusco Wine Tasting Experience: $38
- From Wine Tasting and Vineyard Tour with the winemaker: $53
- Monte San Pietro: Montevecchio Isolani Tour & Wine Tasting: $53
- Bologna Food & Wine tour with a local Chef: $69
- Wine Tasting Tour in One of the Oldest Inns: $70
- Bologna Wine Tasting in One of the Oldest Inns: $71
- Small-Group Half-Day Wine Tour with Tasting in Dozza Village: $102
- Taste the real Bologna Food and Wine tour: $107
- Wine Tasting Experience with a Local Guide: $118
- Exclusive Italian Wine Tasting: $131
- Food and Wine Tasting Tour in Bologna with a local guide : $138
- Italian Wine Tasting on the Panoramic Terrace in Bologna: $163
Typical Alcohol Prices in Bled
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Bled are as follows:
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Bottle of Champagne€18
Sample the Local Flavors in Bled
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Bled:
- Slovenian wine tasting at Hotel Triglav Bled's wine cellar: $43
- Wine Tasting Bled: $62
- 2-Hour Interactive Wine Tasting Experience in Bled: $63
- Wine Tasting Experience in Bled: $64
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bologna and Bled, we can see that Bologna is more expensive. And not only is Bled much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bled would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bled and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Bologna would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bologna than you might in Bled.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bologna Expensive? and Is Bled Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bologna or Bled?
Bologna has a larger population, and is about 70 times larger than the population of Bled. When comparing the sizes of Bologna and Bled, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Bologna or Bled?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Bologna or Bled in the Summer?
Both Bled and Bologna during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Bologna for the family-friendly experiences.
In the summer, Bologna is around the same temperature as Bled. Typically, the summer temperatures in Bologna in July average around 24°C (75°F), and Bled averages at about 24°C (75°F).
In Bled, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bologna. In the summer, Bologna often gets more sunshine than Bled. Bologna gets 316 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bled receives 288 hours of full sun.
Bologna usually gets less rain in July than Bled. Bologna gets 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain, while Bled receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyBologna 24°C (75°F)Bled 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Bologna or Bled in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bologna and Bled. Many visitors come to Bologna in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In October, Bologna is generally around the same temperature as Bled. Daily temperatures in Bologna average around 16°C (61°F), and Bled fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).
Bologna usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bled during autumn. Bologna gets 177 hours of sunny skies, while Bled receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Bologna gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Bologna usually receives more rain than Bled. Bologna gets 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain, while Bled receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberBologna 16°C (61°F)Bled 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Bologna or Bled in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Bologna as well as Bled. Most visitors come to Bologna for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Bologna can be very cold during winter. Bologna is much colder than Bled in the winter. The daily temperature in Bologna averages around 2°C (36°F) in January, and Bled fluctuates around 5°C (41°F).
In the winter, Bologna often gets more sunshine than Bled. Bologna gets 105 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bled receives 96 hours of full sun.
Bologna usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Bled. Bologna gets 75 mm (3 in) of rain, while Bled receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryBologna 2°C (36°F)Bled 5°C (41°F)
Should I visit Bologna or Bled in the Spring?
Both Bled and Bologna are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Bologna because of the natural beauty.
In the spring, Bologna is around the same temperature as Bled. Typically, the spring temperatures in Bologna in April average around 13°C (55°F), and Bled averages at about 13°C (56°F).
Bologna usually receives more sunshine than Bled during spring. Bologna gets 192 hours of sunny skies, while Bled receives 177 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Bologna usually receives less rain than Bled. Bologna gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Bled receives 87 mm (3.4 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilBologna 13°C (55°F)Bled 13°C (56°F)
Typical Weather for Bled and Bologna
| Bologna | Bled | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 2°C (36°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 5°C (41°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Feb | 5°C (40°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 62 mm (2.4 in) |
| Mar | 9°C (47°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| May | 17°C (63°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 21°C (70°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| Jul | 24°C (75°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Aug | 23°C (73°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Sep | 19°C (67°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 102 mm (4 in) |
| Oct | 16°C (61°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Nov | 8°C (46°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 114 mm (4.5 in) |
| Dec | 7°C (45°F) | 85 mm (3.3 in) | 6°C (44°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.