Are you planning a trip to Italy but aren’t sure which city to pick between Florence vs Venice? Or maybe, you don’t know where you should spend the most time? Then you are in the right place! When it comes to Florence vs Venice, the two cities are incredibly different and are certainly not perfect for everyone.
The Short Answer
When it comes to Florence vs. Venice, the short and direct answer is Florence! From personal experience, Florence is an authentic city that offers more wonders to see, and activities to do, and is a higher quality city in several senses. However, I would be lying if I said that Venice wasn’t an incredibly unique city full of cultural heritage worth visiting at least once!
Continue reading to learn more about Florence vs. Venice, what they each offer, their pros and cons, and who the cities are most suited for.
Florence vs Venice: Which City Should You Pick?
Florence is the capital of the enchanting Tuscan region in north-central Italy. This city was the second capital of Italy, right before Rome, and is the home of the Renaissance. This radiant city has a Renaissance-Medieval vibe throughout. Founded in 59 BC by Romans as a settlement for military veterans, Florence is a city rich in history. The 14th century is when Florence started to transform into the wonder it is today. Florence is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for several factors, including the urban complex being a unique artistic realization and its predominant influence on architecture and monumental arts.
Venice is the capital of the beautiful Veneto region in northeastern Italy. The province of Venice covers over 118 small islands, and the city, founded in the 5th century, became a major maritime power in the 10th century. Venice and its Lagoon are a UNESCO World Heritage Site for several reasons – one being that it’s considered an architectural masterpiece.
Art and Cultural Heritage
When it comes to Art and Cultural Heritage, Venice and Florence both are very strong in this field.
When it comes to art and cultural heritage, Florence is the epicenter of the Renaissance. If you are an art lover, this is certainly a city you must visit. Florence keeps its cultural heritage alive through its world-class museums, its city center, and its artisans.
Venice, on the other hand, is home to glass art, lace, and the iconic Venetian masks and costumes. If these are the types of products you love, you simply have to visit Venice! When walking around Venice and its islands, like Murano, you are constantly surrounded by artisan shops with the artisans working. Venice keeps its cultural heritage alive through its Venetian Gothic architecture, its artisans, and its many cultural festivals
Architecture: Renaissance vs. Gothic
Both cities have beautiful architecture, and the two cannot be compared due to the many differences. When looking at the main architecture of each city, Florence is a Renaissance city, while Venice is a Gothic City – specifically “Venetian Gothic”.
What is the difference between Renaissance and Gothic architecture? Renaissance is an Italian style of architecture that focuses on symmetry, proportion, and classical elements. Furthermore, it features masonry and tends to have a radiant look – thanks to the focus on space and light. Renaissance style came to fruition in the 16th century, the Renaissance Century.
Gothic architecture, on the other hand, is a French style of architecture that was later adopted in Italy with an added spin of Romanesque. This style of architecture focuses on pointed arches, ribbed vaults, flying buttresses, and stained windows. Furthermore, it involves decorative elements. The Venetian Gothic style takes inspiration from Gothic architecture and other styles. The Venetian Gothic architecture seems to have a darker aura than Renaissance architecture – and is nothing short of spectacular, and entrancing.
Both of these architectural styles are beautiful and simply a wonder to admire!
Cuisine: Tuscan Cuisine vs Veneto Cuisine
Let’s jump straight to it… Venice has an unfortunate cuisine scene – especially when compared to other Italian destinations. As someone from Italy, who’s traveled to several Italian cities and towns, I can, unfortunately, state that I’ve never had a worse culinary experience in Italy. This poor culinary scene is likely due to the heavy tourism, and restaurants not caring about the quality of their food. This is not meant to discourage you from seeing Venice, but if you’re visiting Italy for the first time – please know this quality doesn’t represent us!😂
If you are looking to eat good Italian food, Florence is the best place to be. Unlike Venice, Florence continues to stay true to itself, its culture, and its cuisine. Being the capital of Tuscany, Florence’s cuisine strongly focuses on agriculture and uses fresh, seasonal, and local produce. Furthermore, Florence stays true to its past meaning that several traditional dishes were once “poor” dishes. Discover the best of Florence Food, all the must-tries, and what you need to know!
Atmosphere: Radiant vs Mysterious
In one way, one could describe Florence as a golden retriever and Venice as a black cat. Let me clarify.
Florence is a radiant city that is nothing short of enchanting. When walking around, you are surrounded by bright colors, open squares full of people enjoying their time, and so forth.
Venice, on the other hand, is dark and mysterious – making it hauntingly beautiful. While the city has some colorful aspects, the grey gothic buildings and water damage drain the colors. In addition, due to the many canals, the streets are all quite narrow with few open spaces like squares. Due to this, you get lost in the darker enchantment and beauty of Venice. In addition to this, you will often find Venetian masks scattered throughout the city – giving a haunting company.
Which City is Most Budget Friendly?
When it comes to affordability, Florence is the cheaper, more budget-friendly option. Due to the high levels of tourism and the fact that everything is transported by water, Venice is more expensive.
Which City is More Walkable?
Out of the two cities, Florence is the most walkable of the two. In Florence, everything is fairly close and the city has a nice, open layout. This allows you to easily navigate while simultaneously taking in beautiful sights.
Venice, being an island, is not a city that you can freely navigate without ever using a method of transportation. Famous for its canals, Venice has a very closed and tight layout that often feels like a maze. Due to this, not only is Venice less walkable – but if you are someone who appreciates slowing down and admiring a city in motion, you won’t be able to do so here.
Transportation
When it comes to transportation, both cities have great and easy-to-navigate public transportation. However, one city doesn’t need it while another does. As mentioned above, Florence is a fully walkable city – meaning you can easily spend several days there and never need transportation.
Venice, on the other hand, always needs some type of transportation. Here you will find the usual public transportation, such as trams, and also water taxis. If you stay directly on the island, you won’t need trams – but if you stay on land, you would need to commute to enter the island. The commutes in Venice are overall very easy, the only downside is the prices and how much they can add up.
Which City is Best Positioned for Day Trips?
One of the best things about Florence is its centrality and proximity to must-visit Italian cities. This makes Florence both an amazing day trip and a perfect stay from where to take day trips. For example, if you are staying in Rome and don’t have much time for other destinations, you can take a day trip to Florence. If you are staying in Florence, you could take a day trip to Pisa, Siena, or even Cinque Terre.
Venice is in the northeastern corner of Italy and is very far from popular destinations such as Rome and Florence. Due to this, there is little to no ability for it to be a day trip destination. However, should you want to base yourself in Venice, there are many amazing hidden gems worth taking a day trip for. Some amazing cities to visit near Venice are Verona, Padova, and Bologna.
Which City is most Authentic vs Touristy?
Florence and Venice are two popular choices for tourists in Italy, which heightens the risks of encountering tourist traps, pickpockets, and immense crowds. Florence has around 10 to 16 million tourists each year, while Venice has over 30 MILLION! With such a drastic difference in tourism levels, it comes as no surprise that Venice is a touristy city with little authentic feeling.
Florence vs Venice Best Things to Do in
When it comes to things to do, Florence offers many more activities and sites to see. From the Florence Duomo Complex to world-renowned art museums, Ponte Vecchio, and its hidden gems – you cannot run out of things to do! And if you do, somehow, run out of things to do in Florence, the city will always keep you entranced and wanting to see more.
Here are some of the best Things to Do in Florence:
- Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Florence Duomo Complex)
- Uffizi Gallery
- Basilica di Santa Maria Novella
- Ponte Vecchio
- Piazza della Signoria
Here are some of the best things to do in Venice:
- Gondola Ride on the Grand Canal
- Piazza San Marco | St. Mark’s Square & St. Mark’s Basilica
- Doge’s Palace
- Bridge of Sighs
- Rialto Bridge
Who Should Pick Florence?
Florence is nothing short of a dreamy and enchanting city that is rich in culture, beautiful architecture, mesmerizing gardens, great food, and more. This city has a radiant aura and is home to endless history and things to do. The person visiting Florence is someone who appreciates art, architecture, and history. Furthermore, this person is looking for an authentic Italian destination and experience, and/or is looking for a base from where to take day trips.
If this is your first time visiting Italy, I cannot recommend Florence enough!
Read More about Florence and what awaits you:
- One Day in Florence Itinerary
- Two Days in Florence
- 22 Best Things to Do in Florence
- 26 Hidden Gems & Unusual Things to Do in Florence
- Is Florence Worth Visiting? Here’s All You Need to Know
Who Should Pick Venice?
Venice is an incredibly unique city, with no other Italian city that can compare to it. In a way, this city has a beautiful dark aura to it that likely comes from the Gothic architecture and art. The person visiting Venice should be someone who has already visited Italy or someone who prioritizes a unique experience over an authentic one.
I do not recommend Venice to Italy for first-time visitors because it does not reflect the “traditional” Italy, and is not an “authentic” Italian destination. This is perfect for someone who has already seen Italy, and is ready for the “next level”.
FAQ Florence vs Venice
How to get to Florence from Venice, and vice versa?
The best way to get to Florence from Venice, or vice versa, is with a high-speed train – particularly the Freccia Rossa train. Book your train tickets from the Florence train station, Santa Maria Novella, to Venice’s train station, Mestre.
How far is Venice from Florence?
By car, the commute from Florence to Venice is about three hours. There are several train options, and the high-speed Venice to Florence train commute can be as fast as 2 hours and 14 minutes.
Is Venice worth a day trip from Florence?
If you take the high-speed train and have a commute of around 2 hours, a day trip is doable. Is it worth it? It depends! Venice is a city that needs to be visited for a minimum of 2 days – especially if you have the intention of visiting Murano and Burano islands.
If you are more interested in seeing the city itself and aren’t worried about seeing all the main attractions, it is worth the visit! Otherwise, it’s best to keep Venice a longer stay.
How many days for Florence?
The amount you of days you spend in Florence depends on your interests and what you hope to gain out of your Florence travels. For example, if you love Renaissance architecture, art, and history, you should stay a minimum of two days in Florence. If you are not interested in any of those, but
Is Florence worth visiting?
Yes! Here are all the reasons why Florence is worth visiting, and things to know about the city!
Is Venice worth visiting?
Yes! Venice is easily one of the most unique cities one could see – especially when visiting Italy. It’s darker beauty is entrancing and there is lots of cultural heritage to be admired. Venice is home to endless artisans who create stunning glass art in the Murano islands, the iconic Venetian masks, and the lace.
The only thing I would say is, if it’s your first time visiting Italy – I would recommend prioritizing other Italian destinations first. For example, if you’re looking for a traditional/authentic experience and to eat delicious Italian food – I don’t recommend Venice.
Does Venice Smell?
This is a question that I think EVERYONE has asked or been worried about!😅 Overall, Venice does NOT smell bad.
The only few times there were odors would be the occasional tight streets where people got somehow ✨confused✨ and saw the streets as urinals… Furthermore, during the summer there may be some areas with an odor due to the lagoon’s algae or the sewage, but nothing constant or bothersome.
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