A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Gothenburg vs. Florence for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Gothenburg or Florence?

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

Should I visit Gothenburg or Florence? 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 Florence?

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.

Florence

Florence is the capital of Tuscany and one of the most well known cities in Italy for its art and cultural scenes. The city is rooted in history and you can see this in the architecture, statues, gardens, and art that are everywhere around town. This city truly is a living museum. You should allow yourself at least a couple of days to explore Florence and if you can afford more, it is well worth the time. In particular, if art history is your passion then you will need a week or more to satisfy your interest as the museums and architecturally impressive buildings throughout the city are endless.

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 Luxury Tours to Italy, and The Best Budget Tours to Italy.


Which place is cheaper, Florence or Gothenburg?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Gothenburg is $97, while the average daily cost in Florence is $165. 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 Florence in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Gothenburg $40
    Florence $93
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Gothenburg $80
    Florence $186
Compare Hotels in Gothenburg and Florence

Looking for a hotel in Gothenburg or Florence? 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.

Hotels in Gothenburg


Hotels in Florence


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 Florence Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Gothenburg $18
    Florence $23

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Gothenburg

Also for Gothenburg, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer From Gothenburg To Stockholm: $505
  • Ostersund Private Transfer from Ostersund (OSD) airport to central Ostersund: $174
  • Ostersund Private Transfer from Central Ostersund to Ostersund Airport: $174
  • Departure Private Transfers from Gothenburg City to Gothenburg Airport GOT: $153
  • Umea Private Transfer from Umea (UME) Airport to City centre: $145
  • Umea Private Transfer from Umea city centre to Umea airport: $145
  • Departure Private Transfers from Gothenburg City to Gothenburg Airport GOT: $120
  • Private Transfer From Gothenburg To Alingsås: $119
  • Are Resort to Trondheim Vaernes Airport(TRD) - Departure Transfer: $114
  • City Highlights Bike Tour with Transfer: $110
  • Goteborg Landvetter Airport (GOT) to Goteborg City - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $109
  • Private Transfer Gothenburg Airport GOT to Gothenburg by Sedan: $102

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Florence

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Florence:


  • Taxi Ride Within City
    $8.57
  • Taxi from Airport
    $27
  • In City Parking (Full Day)
    $32
  • Bus Pass (Full Day)
    $5.36
  • Bus From Airport
    $5.36

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Florence

Also for Florence, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from Florence to Arezzo with a stop at The Mall Outlet: $153
  • Transfer Florence - Bologna with stop at the Barberino Outlet: $142
  • Transfer Between Florence and Rome with Sightseeing Stop: $1,176
  • Private transfer: $256
  • Private arrival OR departure transfer in Florence (hotel OR airport pick-up): $85
  • Private arrival OR departure transfer in Florence: $114
  • Private Transfer: Florence to Florence Firenze-Peretola Airport (FLR): $153
  • Private Transfer: Florence City Center to Peretola Airport (FLR): $63
  • Private Transfer from Ulignano to Pisa (PSA) Airport: $251
  • Private Transfer from Scandicci to Firenze (FLR) Airport: $110
  • Private Transfer from San Casciano in Val di Pesa to Firenze (FLR) Airport: $292
  • Private Transfer from SMN Train Station to Florence: $51

Is it cheaper to fly into Gothenburg or Florence?

Prices for flights to both Florence 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 day
    Gothenburg $38
    Florence $38

Typical Food Prices in Florence

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Florence:


  • Panini Sandwich
    $6.96
  • Casual Lunch (for Two)
    $18

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Florence

For Florence, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Florence Street Food Tour: Market & City Center: $23
  • Hard Rock Cafe Florence with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
  • Virtual Live Cooking Class What Do You Have in Your Pantry: $35
  • Virtual Cooking Class: Bruschetta & Tiramisù: $35
  • Italian Fresh Pasta Private Virtual Cooking Class: $40
  • Street Food Tour with Local Expert Guide: $41
  • Street Food Tour and Sightseeing with Local Expert Guide in 2.5 hours : $41
  • Florence Food Tour: Home-Made Pasta, Truffle, Cantucci, Olive Oil, Gelato: $41
  • Food Tour in Santo Spirito: $47
  • Walking Food Tour at Sunset with Tastings: $47
  • Pasta and Tiramisu Cooking Class with Wine: $61
  • Pasta Cooking Experience in Florence: $62

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Gothenburg $15
    Florence $32

Tours and Activities in Gothenburg

For Gothenburg, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 2-Days Private Tour in Gothenburg: $300
  • 24h Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour: $32
  • After Dark in A Guided Nightlife Tour: $263
  • Archipelago Tour with guide Gothenburg: $40
  • Bike Tour Gothenburg, Guided Bicycle Tours: $113
  • City Sightseeing Gothenburg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $32
  • Discover Gothenburg - Private Walking Tour: $224
  • Egypt Oasis Adventure Package: $918
  • Entry Ticket To Gothenburg Museum of art with pickup: $37
  • Entry Ticket To Universeum in Gothenburg with pickup: $64
  • Fatbike Experience in Sorsele: $113
  • Full Day Private Shore Tour in Gothenburg from Gothenburg Port: $283

Typical Entertainment Prices in Florence

For Florence, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Admission to Uffizi
    $12
  • Phone Booking Fee for Uffizi
    $4.29
  • Firenze Card (for Two)
    $107
  • Audioguides at Uffizi (for Two)
    $21
  • Giotto's Tower Entrance Fee
    $6.43
  • Boboli Gardens Entrance Fee
    $7.50

Tours and Activities in Florence

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Florence.

  • Best of Florence walking tour & Accademia Gallery- monolingual small group tour: $92
  • Florence FoodTour with Local Guide: $191
  • Florence-Private bike tour: $98
  • From Sunset Panoramic e-Bike or Classic Bike tour : $38
  • Semi-Private Uffizi Gallery Guided Tour: $71
  • Tour Private of Florence in electric car : $41
  • VIP Uffizi Gallery Tour: $75
  • "Good Morning Chianti Classico" - Tour in 2 wineries with lunch: $196
  • 1-Hour Experience with Brunello. Visit to the Vineyard and Cellar: $35
  • 1-Hour Golf Cart Private Tour through the Center of Florence: $49
  • 2 Hour Private Guided Tour: Uffizi Galleries for Families: $38
  • 2-Hour Guided Tour to Uffizi Gallery and its Symbols: $55

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Gothenburg $20
    Florence $20

Typical Alcohol Prices in Florence

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Florence from other travelers:


  • Glass of Chianti
    $4.50
  • Bottle of Wine
    $8.04

Sample the Local Flavors in Florence

Also in Florence, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Wine Tasting by CarusVini in San Casciano in val di Pesa: $16
  • Great wine tasting at Tenuta Moriano: $25
  • Biodynamic Wine Tasting with Producer in Vinci: $28
  • 3 Types Tuscany Wine Tasting with Local Appetizers: $29
  • From Florence to Chianti Rufina: Wine Tasting Experience: $32
  • Classic Wine Tasting in Montalcino: $33
  • Discover Artimino wine tasting, a few steps from Florence: $33
  • Three Types of Tuscany Wine Tasting with Local Appetizers: $37
  • Wine Tasting and Paring Class Guided Tour in Florence: $42
  • Chianti Wine Tour: Tuscan Reds : $43
  • Wine Tasting and Pairing Class Guided Tour in Florence: $43
  • Wine Tasting and Pairing Class Guided Tour in Florence: $43


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Gothenburg and Florence, we can see that Florence 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 Florence would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Florence 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 Florence Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Gothenburg or Florence?

Gothenburg has a larger population, and is about 36% larger than the population of Florence. When comparing the sizes of Gothenburg and Florence, 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 Florence?

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 Gothenburg or Florence in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Gothenburg and Florence. Furthermore, many visitors come to Florence in the summer for the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Gothenburg is generally much colder than Florence. Daily temperatures in Gothenburg average around 16°C (61°F), and Florence fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Florence this time of the year. In Gothenburg, it's very sunny this time of the year. Gothenburg usually receives less sunshine than Florence during summer. Gothenburg gets 243 hours of sunny skies, while Florence receives 316 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Gothenburg usually receives more rain than Florence. Gothenburg gets 68 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Florence receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Gothenburg 16°C (61°F) 
    Florence 25°C (77°F)

Should I visit Gothenburg or Florence in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Gothenburg as well as Florence. Additionally, most visitors come to Florence for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

Gothenburg is much colder than Florence in the autumn. The daily temperature in Gothenburg averages around 9°C (47°F) in October, and Florence fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In the autumn, Gothenburg often gets less sunshine than Florence. Gothenburg gets 94 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Florence receives 177 hours of full sun.

Gothenburg usually gets less rain in October than Florence. Gothenburg gets 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain, while Florence receives 96 mm (3.8 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Gothenburg 9°C (47°F) 
    Florence 16°C (61°F)

Should I visit Gothenburg or Florence in the Winter?

Both Florence and Gothenburg are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Florence because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Gothenburg can be very cold during winter. In the winter, Gothenburg is much colder than Florence. Typically, the winter temperatures in Gothenburg in January average around -2°C (29°F), and Florence averages at about 7°C (45°F).

Gothenburg usually receives less sunshine than Florence during winter. Gothenburg gets 40 hours of sunny skies, while Florence receives 105 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Gothenburg usually receives around the same amount of rain as Florence. Gothenburg gets 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Florence receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Gothenburg -2°C (29°F) 
    Florence 7°C (45°F)

Should I visit Gothenburg or Florence in the Spring?

Both Florence and Gothenburg during the spring are popular places to visit. Also, the natural beauty are the main draw to Florence this time of year.

In April, Gothenburg is generally much colder than Florence. Daily temperatures in Gothenburg average around 5°C (41°F), and Florence fluctuates around 14°C (57°F).

In the spring, Gothenburg often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Florence. Gothenburg gets 182 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Florence receives 192 hours of full sun.

Gothenburg usually gets less rain in April than Florence. Gothenburg gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Florence receives 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Gothenburg 5°C (41°F) 
    Florence 14°C (57°F)

Typical Weather for Florence and Gothenburg

Gothenburg Florence
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan -2°C (29°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 7°C (45°F) 63 mm (2.5 in)
Feb -2°C (29°F) 41 mm (1.6 in) 8°C (46°F) 49 mm (1.9 in)
Mar 1°C (34°F) 50 mm (2 in) 10°C (50°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Apr 5°C (41°F) 42 mm (1.7 in) 14°C (57°F) 78 mm (3.1 in)
May 11°C (51°F) 51 mm (2 in) 18°C (64°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)
Jun 15°C (59°F) 61 mm (2.4 in) 22°C (72°F) 50 mm (2 in)
Jul 16°C (61°F) 68 mm (2.7 in) 25°C (77°F) 31 mm (1.2 in)
Aug 16°C (60°F) 77 mm (3 in) 24°C (75°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Sep 12°C (54°F) 81 mm (3.2 in) 21°C (70°F) 76 mm (3 in)
Oct 9°C (47°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 16°C (61°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Nov 4°C (38°F) 84 mm (3.3 in) 11°C (52°F) 102 mm (4 in)
Dec 0°C (32°F) 75 mm (3 in) 8°C (46°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)