Which place is cheaper, Bologna or Gothenburg?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Gothenburg or Bologna?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Gothenburg or Bologna? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Gothenburg or Bologna?
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden with a population of about 500,000. It is located on the western coast at the edge of the Gota River. It's a very friendly and welcoming city with a great vibe. Part of its energy comes from the Gothenburg University, which, with over 60,000 students, is the largest university in the country. Historically, Gothenburg has working class roots which are still apparent today, particularly in the city's harbour area. Recently there has been a growing number of expensive restaurants and cafes, showing that the demographic continues to evolve.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in Sweden, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Sweden, The Best Budget Tours to Italy, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Italy.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayGothenburg $97Bologna $170
The average daily cost (per person) in Gothenburg is $97, while the average daily cost in Bologna is $170. 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 Gothenburg and Bologna in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personGothenburg $40Bologna $93
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomGothenburg $80Bologna $186
Compare Hotels in Gothenburg and Bologna
Looking for a hotel in Gothenburg or Bologna? 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: Gothenburg Hotel Prices and Bologna Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Gothenburg $18Bologna $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg
Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Arrival: $15
- Landvetter Airport Bus Transfer Departure: $15
- Transfer From Gothenburg Hotel To Gothenburg Museum of Art: $32
- Goteborg City to Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) - Departure Private Transfer: $55
- Private Transfer from Gothenburg city to Goteborg Cruise Port: $64
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg Landvetter Airport to Gothenburg Hotels: $95
- Gothenburg Private Transfer from Central Gothenburg to Gothenburg Airport: $95
- Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $102
- Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
- City Highlights Bike Tour with Transfer: $110
- Are Resort to Trondheim Vaernes Airport(TRD) - Departure Transfer: $114
- Private Transfer From Gothenburg To Alingsås: $119
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
Is it cheaper to fly into Gothenburg or Bologna?
Prices for flights to both Bologna and Gothenburg 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
-
Food Meals for one dayGothenburg $38Bologna $42
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
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Gothenburg $15Bologna $41
Tours and Activities in Gothenburg
For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Universeum Entry Ticket: $21
- Gothenburg 24-Hour Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket: $30
- Hop-On Hop-Off 24-Hour Sightseeing Boat: $30
- Lilla Bommen: 4-Hour Guided Boat Tour to Vinga Island: $31
- City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $31
- Land & Water Amphibious Bus Sightseeing Tour: $31
- 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour: $32
- City Sightseeing Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $32
- Paddan Sightseeing Cruise on the Savean River: $33
- Guided boat tour to Vinga in Gothenburg: $33
- Archipelago cruise with guide: $36
- Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $37
Typical Entertainment Prices in Bologna
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bologna are as follows:
-
Food Tour (for 2)$34
-
Wine Tasting Tour (for 2)$123
-
Hop-on-Hop-off Bus Tour (for 2)$72
-
National Gallery Museum Bologna (for 2)$13
-
Archaeology Museum of Bologna (for 2)$13
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
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayGothenburg $20Bologna $30
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gothenburg and Bologna, we can see that Bologna is more expensive. And not only is Gothenburg much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gothenburg would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gothenburg 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 Gothenburg.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Gothenburg Expensive? and Is Bologna Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Gothenburg or Bologna?
Gothenburg has a larger population, and is about 36% larger than the population of Bologna. When comparing the sizes of Gothenburg and Bologna, 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 Gothenburg or Bologna?
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 Gothenburg or Bologna in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Gothenburg as well as Bologna. Additionally, many travelers come to Bologna for the family-friendly experiences.
Gothenburg is cooler than Bologna in the summer. The daily temperature in Gothenburg averages around 16°C (61°F) in July, and Bologna fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bologna. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Gothenburg this time of the year. In the summer, Gothenburg often gets less sunshine than Bologna. Gothenburg gets 243 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bologna receives 316 hours of full sun.
Gothenburg usually gets more rain in July than Bologna. Gothenburg gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Bologna receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyGothenburg 16°C (61°F)Bologna 24°C (75°F)
Should I visit Gothenburg or Bologna in the Autumn?
Both Bologna and Gothenburg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Also, many visitors come to Bologna in the autumn for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Gothenburg is much colder than Bologna. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Gothenburg in October average around 9°C (47°F), and Bologna averages at about 16°C (61°F).
Gothenburg usually receives less sunshine than Bologna during autumn. Gothenburg gets 94 hours of sunny skies, while Bologna receives 177 hours of full sun in the autumn.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Bologna. In October, Gothenburg usually receives less rain than Bologna. Gothenburg gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Bologna receives 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberGothenburg 9°C (47°F)Bologna 16°C (61°F)
Should I visit Gothenburg or Bologna in the Winter?
Both Bologna and Gothenburg during the winter are popular places to visit. Also, most visitors come to Bologna for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine during these months.
Bologna can be very cold during winter. Gothenburg can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Gothenburg is generally much colder than Bologna. Daily temperatures in Gothenburg average around -2°C (29°F), and Bologna fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).
In the winter, Gothenburg often gets less sunshine than Bologna. Gothenburg gets 40 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bologna receives 105 hours of full sun.
Gothenburg usually gets less rain in January than Bologna. Gothenburg gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Bologna receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryGothenburg -2°C (29°F)Bologna 2°C (36°F)
Should I visit Gothenburg or Bologna in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Gothenburg and Bologna. Also, the spring months attract visitors to Bologna because of the natural beauty.
Gothenburg is much colder than Bologna in the spring. The daily temperature in Gothenburg averages around 5°C (41°F) in April, and Bologna fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
Gothenburg usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Bologna during spring. Gothenburg gets 182 hours of sunny skies, while Bologna receives 192 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Gothenburg usually receives less rain than Bologna. Gothenburg gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Bologna receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilGothenburg 5°C (41°F)Bologna 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Bologna and Gothenburg
| Gothenburg | Bologna | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | -2°C (29°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Feb | -2°C (29°F) | 41 mm (1.6 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 1°C (34°F) | 50 mm (2 in) | 9°C (47°F) | 76 mm (3 in) |
| Apr | 5°C (41°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 11°C (51°F) | 51 mm (2 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 59 mm (2.3 in) |
| Jun | 15°C (59°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jul | 16°C (61°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) | 24°C (75°F) | 23 mm (0.9 in) |
| Aug | 16°C (60°F) | 77 mm (3 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Sep | 12°C (54°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 19°C (67°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Oct | 9°C (47°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 123 mm (4.8 in) |
| Nov | 4°C (38°F) | 84 mm (3.3 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 124 mm (4.9 in) |
| Dec | 0°C (32°F) | 75 mm (3 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 85 mm (3.3 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.