A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Inverness vs. Bologna for Food, Attractions, Nightlife, and Backpackers

Should you visit Inverness or Bologna?

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 Inverness and Bologna can help you decide which place is right for you.

Inverness

Inverness is a cultural, traditional, and local city. It's a very nice small town not to be missed. Other popular activities here include nightlife, food, and shopping.

Bologna

Bologna is a historical, culinary, and beautiful city. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the nightlife, food, and shopping.

Inverness and Bologna: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Inverness or Bologna?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Bologna. Although Inverness and Bologna are both popular with visitors, Bologna has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Bologna is more popular for its food, nightlife, historical sights, and impressive beauty, while Inverness is known for its museums and small town charm. Inverness is more touristy than Bologna and is known for its surrounding countryside, but also its regional heritage, local festivals and proximity to the famous Loch Ness. Bologna is popular for its Terracota buildings, large international student population, and being the birthplace of Bolognaise pasta. It is also home to Piazza Maggiore.

How is Inverness different from Bologna?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Inverness or Bologna?

Inverness is a well-known place for its sights and museums. Also, Bologna is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its museums and history.

Many visitors head to Inverness specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. As a city rich in culture and heritage, you'll find a number of sights and museums in town. Check out the Highland House of Fraser, Culloden Moor, and Clava Cairns.

Bologna is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. It has many historical and religious landmarks, active squares, and impressive museums including the Basilica of St. Petronius, St. Stephen Basilica, the Leaning Towers, and the Portico of the Madonna di San Luca.

Is the Food Better in Inverness or Bologna? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bologna is terrific for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its restaurants.

Bologna has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. Foodies will appreciate the city's well earned culinary reputation. Some people even consider Bologna to be a food capital in Italy. There are cooking classes and food tours around town, as well as many great restaurants that serve up local dishes. Visitors should try Tagliatelle with Ragu (now famously known around the world as Bolognaise), Tortellini in broth, and Mortadella (salami).

Inverness has a number of nationally recognized food spots and restaurants. The city makes a great spot to fill your belly after a few days exploring the Scottish Highlands. You'll find local restaurants that serve up regional specialties, and when the weather's nice, there are some spots with outdoor seating.

Is Inverness or Bologna Better for Nightlife?

Bologna is a well-known place for nightlife and partying. Also, Inverness is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its evening party scene.

Bologna offers plenty to do in the evening. The young population that is filled with international students means that the city has a fun and active nightlife scene. Some of the city's best neighborhoods for nightlife include Centro Storico, where the tourists hang out, the University District, which is perfect for students in their 20s, and Via dell'Indipendenza, which is popular for an upscale evening out.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Inverness. Nightlife isn't the first thing that comes to mind with this town, but there are actually lots of distilleries in the area and there's a surprising number of high quality bars and pubs that make for a fun evening.

Is Inverness or Bologna Better for its Old Town?

Bologna is a well-known place for its old town. However, Inverness does not have a historic old town.

There is a nice variety of sights in the old town of Bologna. The old town is filled with Terracota buildings, which give the city its nickname, La Rossa (The Red).

Inverness does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Inverness or Bologna?

Both Inverness and Bologna are very good shopping destinations.

Inverness is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. The town is at the cultural heart of the Scottish Highlands you'll find plenty of local shops where you can pick up local products. Make sure you check out the Inverness Victorian Market.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Bologna. The city hosts regular open-air markets where you can pick up local produce or local items. It is among the best shopping destinations in the region. For some of the city's best shopping, head to Piazza Maggiore, Mercato di Mezzo, Mercato delle Erbe, or Via Rizzoli.

Is Inverness or Bologna Better for Families?

You'll find good kid-friendly activities in either Inverness or Bologna.

Inverness is a family-friendly place to visit. The city has some parks and activities that are great for kids. Make sure you explore Inverness Castle and the Inverness Mystery Treasure Trail.

Bologna is a family-friendly city. There are kid-friendly museums such as Museo Geologico Cappellini and the interactive history museum of Museo della Storia di Bologna. There's even a museum solely dedicated to gelato - Gelato at Carpigiani Museum. If your kids need a bit of time in nature, check out Dulcamara farm or the Botanic Garden. On the weekend you many be able to catch a show at Margherita's Puppet Theatre.

Is Inverness or Bologna Better for Couples?

Both Inverness and Bologna are good destinations to visit as a couple.

Inverness makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Located in the Scottish Highlands, there ae many scenic spots and nice activities that couples can enjoy in the area.

Bologna is a good city for couples to visit. With beautiful museums, interesting architecture. and lively squares, this is a great city for a couple's holiday. It's filled with romance, but it has less tourist crowds than some of Italy's more popular cities.

Is Inverness or Bologna Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bologna is a well-known place for backpackers. However, Inverness is not a good city for backpackers and budget travelers.

Bologna is a great city to visit for backpackers. It's not a popular as some of the other cities in Italy and Europe, but it still has a number of hostels and a good backpacker scene.

Inverness is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There a some hostels and student hotels, but this isn't one of the major backpacker spots in the UK.

Is Inverness or Bologna Better for Students?

Bologna is terrific for students. However, Inverness is not popular with students.

Students come from all over the world to visit Bologna. It's a top study abroad destination in Italy and is home to a few great universities including the well ranked University of Bologna. There are many great activities for students and a variety of fun places to explore.

Inverness is not popular with students.

Is Inverness or Bologna Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Bologna is very good for its public transit. However, Inverness is not a good city for times when you don't have a car.

Bologna has a few public transit options. There is an efficient and reliable bus system.

Public transit is mostly limited in Inverness. There are local buses that pass through the town.

Is Inverness or Bologna a more walkable city?

Inverness and Bologna both are very good when exploring on foot.

Inverness is a very walkable city. It's compact enough that you can explore much of the town on foot.

Bologna is a very walkable destination. Most sights are always within a 30 minute walk, and the city itself is very walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Inverness Worth Visiting? and Is Bologna Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Bologna or Inverness?

How long in Inverness or Bologna?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Inverness and Bologna. In our opinion, Bologna has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Bologna than Inverness. However, 1-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bologna than Inverness 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 Bologna.

One day in Inverness or Bologna?

In Inverness, you'll find nightlife and food. This city offers something for everyone. This would be the perfect place to spend one day, as it has just the right amount of activities.

You'll find shopping and museums around the city of Bologna. Visiting the old town is also a must. One day is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bologna has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Inverness or Bologna?

In Inverness, you'll find food and shopping. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Inverness has to offer.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the fun destination of Bologna. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. This city offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Inverness or Bologna?

Inverness is a great place to explore. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

Travelers enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the fun city of Bologna. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Most people head to the area for the food. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Inverness or Bologna?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Inverness. Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Inverness. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Bologna is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from London, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Edinburgh, The Best Budget Tours to Italy, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Italy.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Inverness or Bologna?

Bologna has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Inverness. When comparing the sizes of Inverness 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 Inverness or Bologna?

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 Inverness or Bologna in the Summer?

Both Bologna and Inverness are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The summer months attract visitors to Inverness because of the small town charm and the family-friendly experiences. Also, the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Bologna this time of year.

In the summer, Inverness is much colder than Bologna. Typically, the summer temperatures in Inverness in July average around 14°C (58°F), and Bologna averages at about 24°C (75°F).

It's quite sunny in Bologna. Inverness usually receives less sunshine than Bologna during summer. Inverness gets 147 hours of sunny skies, while Bologna receives 316 hours of full sun in the summer.

In July, Inverness usually receives more rain than Bologna. Inverness gets 55 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bologna receives 23 mm (0.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Inverness or Bologna in the Autumn?

Both Bologna and Inverness during the autumn are popular places to visit. The shopping scene and the small town atmosphere are the main draw to Inverness this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Bologna for the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Inverness is generally much colder than Bologna. Daily temperatures in Inverness average around 9°C (49°F), and Bologna fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

In the autumn, Inverness often gets less sunshine than Bologna. Inverness gets 84 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bologna receives 177 hours of full sun.

Bologna gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Inverness usually gets less rain in October than Bologna. Inverness gets 56 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Bologna receives 123 mm (4.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Inverness or Bologna in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Inverness and Bologna. Many travelers come to Inverness for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Also, many visitors come to Bologna in the winter for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Bologna can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Inverness. Inverness is much warmer than Bologna in the winter. The daily temperature in Inverness averages around 3°C (38°F) in January, and Bologna fluctuates around 2°C (36°F).

Inverness usually receives less sunshine than Bologna during winter. Inverness gets 42 hours of sunny skies, while Bologna receives 105 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Inverness usually receives less rain than Bologna. Inverness gets 53 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Bologna receives 75 mm (3 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Inverness or Bologna in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Inverness as well as Bologna. Many visitors come to Inverness in the spring for the small town charm. Also, most visitors come to Bologna for the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Inverness is much colder than Bologna. Typically, the spring temperatures in Inverness in April average around 7°C (44°F), and Bologna averages at about 13°C (55°F).

In the spring, Inverness often gets less sunshine than Bologna. Inverness gets 136 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Bologna receives 192 hours of full sun.

Inverness usually gets less rain in April than Bologna. Inverness gets 36 mm (1.4 in) of rain, while Bologna receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Typical Weather for Bologna and Inverness