A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Geneva vs. Rome for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Backpackers

Should you visit Geneva or Rome?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Geneva and Rome. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Geneva

Geneva is a professional, classy, and diverse city. As it's a big city, visitors will find plenty to do, too. Geneva offers plenty of beauty for visitors. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Geneva travel costs.

Rome

Rome is a archeological, bustling, and fun-filled city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. The famous beauty of Rome is one of the main draws. It's also known for live music, food, and shopping. See Rome travel costs.

Geneva and Rome: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Geneva or Rome?

You'll generally find more things to do in Rome than Geneva. Rome is bigger than Geneva, and it also has more attractions and activities for travelers. Rome is better known for its museums and attractions, food, nightlife, music, big city activities, and impressive beauty, while Geneva is more popular for its historical sights. Rome is more touristy than Geneva and is known for its iconic archaeological sites such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, as well as its gelato, Italian cuisine, and strong religious roots. Also, Rome is famous for The Colosseum. Geneva is well known for its role as a global hub for the United Nations, the Red Cross, and the World Health Organization.

The Colosseum

How is Geneva different from Rome?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Rome and Geneva. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Geneva or Rome?

Rome is an unbeatable place for its museums and landmarks. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its historical sights.

Visitors will find world class museums and historical sights in Rome that are not to be missed. The historical sights around the city are among the most impressive in the world. Almost anywhere you look you'll find a notable landmark but some of the most famous include the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, the Vatican, and the Roman Forum.

Geneva offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. Famous sights and landmarks include the spectacular Water Jet, St Pierre Cathedral, and the Palais des Nations. There are also impressive art and history museums in the city.

Is the Food Better in Geneva or Rome? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Rome is an unbeatable place for its restaurant scene. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Eat your way through Rome, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. Homemade pasta, fresh sauces, and fine wine all make the food scene among the best. Also make sure you try the gelato.

Geneva has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The city has an amazing mix of traditional Swiss restaurants as well as diverse ethnic options. Traditional dishes include fondue and raclette, both of which involve the decadent Swiss cheese.

Is Geneva or Rome Better for Nightlife?

Rome is an unbeatable place for nightlife. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife and partying.

The nightlife in Rome is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. You'll find a huge concentration of bars and clubs in the Testaccio area. There are late night clubs with salsa dancing, merengue, and live DJ's spinning every type of music.

If you're looking for night time activities Geneva has a few options to choose from. During the day the city is all business, but at night the professionals, interns, students, and NGO workers all come together to enjoy a drink at a bar or dance at one of the city's diverse clubs.

Is Geneva or Rome Better for Music?

Rome is an unbeatable place for live music. However, Geneva is not a live music destination.

Rome is a world class music destination. Popular music venues include Live Alcazar, Atlantico Live, and Beba do Samba.

Geneva is not a live music destination.

Is Geneva or Rome Better for its Old Town?

Geneva is a city with good options for its historic old town charm. However, Rome does not have a historic old town.

Geneva offers a nice historic old town area. The Old Town offers a number of charming streets where you can wander as well as historical buildings including St. Pierre Cathedral.

Rome does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Geneva or Rome?

Shopping is a popular activity in both Rome and Geneva.

Geneva is a famous shopping destination with plenty of stores. Famous for its posh shops and luxury brands, this city is a popular shopping destination. From chic boutiques to deluxe toy stores, you'll find something for everyone. In particular, the city is known for its Swiss watches, Swiss Army knives, chocolate, and wine.

Known for shopping, Rome draws large crowds to its stores. For the biggest brand names, head to Via del Corso, which is near the Spanish Steps. Popular items to buy include Italian ceramics, shoes, leather goods, and jewelry.

Is Geneva or Rome More Beautiful?

Rome is an unbeatable place for its scenery and beauty. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its scenery and beauty.

The famous beauty of Rome is one of the main draws. With its many beautiful landmarks and impressive architecture, this city has a lot of attractive places to visit. Don't miss Villa Borghese Park, Trastevere, Palazzo Madama, the Appian Way, and Piazza Navona.

Geneva is a beautiful place to visit, too. Located on the edge of Lake Geneva and surrounded by the Alps, the city is both bustling and beautiful.

Is Geneva or Rome Better for Families?

Rome is a great destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Rome is a very family-friendly place to visit. What kid wouldn't be thrilled to be surrounded by pizza and spaghetti restaurants? In addition to kid-friendly food options, there are also a number of great activities that the whole family can enjoy including exploring the Colosseum, taking a gladiator class, and eating gelato.

Geneva offers lots of family activities. This diverse city has a number of chocolate shops, toy stores, and parks where kids can play. They'll be impressed by the Water Jet and there are few places where you can swim in the lake when the weather is warm.

Is Geneva or Rome Better for Couples?

Rome is a great destination for romance. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its romantic activities.

Couples visit Rome frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. With many beautiful buildings, world class restaurants, and world renowned sights, this city makes a great romantic destination.

Geneva makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Wandering Old Town, sampling Swiss chocolate, and enjoying one of the many ethnic restaurants around town all make for great date activities. Fondue in a traditional restaurant is also a not to be missed experience.

Is Geneva or Rome Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Rome is an unbeatable place for backpackers. However, Geneva is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

Rome is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. Backpackers will find no shortage of hostels where they can stay, particularly near the main train station where accommodation is particularly cheap (but not always the best quality).

Geneva is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The city is often overlooked by backpackers as it is pretty expensive. Many hotels cater to the business traveler crowd, but there are a few hostels to choose from.

Is Geneva or Rome Better for Students?

Rome is an unbeatable place for students. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its student-friendly activities.

Rome is a very popular place to visit for students. The city is a popular study abroad destination and you'll find plenty of international students here.

Geneva is a very popular city for students and younger travelers. The University of Geneva attracts many international students and the city is quite diverse. It feels like a mixing bowl of cultures, so students will feel very welcomed and comfortable here.

Is Geneva or Rome Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Geneva and Rome.

Visitors in Geneva can get around quickly with the extensive public transit system. The very comprehensive system includes trams, buses, and boats.

Rome has a world-class public transit network to take passengers everywhere in the city. There's a metro system, trams, and a comprehensive bus system that goes around the city.

Is Geneva or Rome a more walkable city?

Rome is an unbeatable place for its walkability. Also, Geneva is still popular, but not quite as popular for its high level of walkability.

Getting around Rome on foot is easy. You'll find many of the most popular sights in a compact area that's easily explored on foot. Do watch out for traffic, which can be a bit chaotic at times.

Geneva is a very walkable city. Most areas where visitors spend their time can be easily explored on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Geneva Worth Visiting? and Is Rome Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Rome or Geneva?

How long in Geneva or Rome?

Both Geneva and Rome have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Rome than in Geneva. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Geneva, and 3-7 days is enough time in Rome.

Families should spend more time in Rome than Geneva. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Rome, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Rome than Geneva. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Rome that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Rome than Geneva if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Rome.

One day in Geneva or Rome?

Geneva is a big city destination where you can fill many days. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Many travelers enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the big city destination of Rome. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Geneva or Rome?

Geneva is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the shopping. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Rome is a great place to explore. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Five days in Geneva or Rome?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the diverse big city of Geneva. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Rome. For many, it makes a great getaway for five days. With all of its activities, you can easily fill five days here. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A week in Geneva or Rome?

The professional city of Geneva offers nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Many travelers enjoy the nightlife and live music when visiting the ancient big city of Rome. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from. If you have one week, this is a great place to go. This would be the perfect place to spend one week, as it has just the right amount of activities.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Switzerland, The Best Adventure Tours to Switzerland, The Best Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Geneva and Rome, we can see that Geneva is more expensive. And not only is Rome much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Rome would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Rome 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 Geneva would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Geneva than you might in Rome.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Geneva Expensive? and Is Rome Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Geneva or Rome?

Rome has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Geneva. When comparing the sizes of Geneva and Rome, 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 Geneva or Rome?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Geneva or Rome in the Summer?

Both Rome and Geneva are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Most visitors come to Geneva for the city activities and the family-friendly experiences during these months. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Rome because of the city activities, the music scene, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Geneva is generally cooler than Rome. Daily temperatures in Geneva average around 22°C (71°F), and Rome fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

It's quite sunny in Rome. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Geneva. Geneva usually receives less sunshine than Rome during summer. Geneva gets 285 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 338 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Geneva usually receives more rain than Rome. Geneva gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Rome receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Geneva or Rome in the Autumn?

Both Rome and Geneva during the autumn are popular places to visit. The autumn months attract visitors to Geneva because of the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, the music scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Rome this time of year.

Geneva is cooler than Rome in the autumn. The daily temperature in Geneva averages around 14°C (56°F) in October, and Rome fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

In the autumn, Geneva often gets less sunshine than Rome. Geneva gets 127 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 198 hours of full sun.

Geneva usually gets less rain in October than Rome. Geneva gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Rome receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Geneva or Rome in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Geneva and Rome. The museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Geneva this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Rome for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Geneva in the winter. In the winter, Geneva is much colder than Rome. Typically, the winter temperatures in Geneva in January average around 4°C (39°F), and Rome averages at about 8°C (47°F).

Geneva usually receives less sunshine than Rome during winter. Geneva gets 62 hours of sunny skies, while Rome receives 127 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Geneva usually receives less rain than Rome. Geneva gets 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Rome receives 81 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Geneva or Rome in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Geneva as well as Rome. Many travelers come to Geneva for the activities around the city and the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Rome in the spring for the activities around the city and the natural beauty.

In April, Geneva is generally cooler than Rome. Daily temperatures in Geneva average around 11°C (53°F), and Rome fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Rome. In the spring, Geneva often gets less sunshine than Rome. Geneva gets 174 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Rome receives 204 hours of full sun.

Geneva usually gets more rain in April than Rome. Geneva gets 65 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Rome receives 50 mm (2 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Rome and Geneva