Florence vs Venice: Which Is Right for Your Trip?

Florence suits a trip built around museums, gardens and a walkable historic center. Venice suits canals, lagoon islands and a beach day on the Lido. Both draw crowds: Florence has daily queues at the Uffizi and the Accademia, and Venice charges an access fee to daily visitors entering the historic city.

At a glance

• For beaches: Venice, on the Lido (Bluemoon beach reopens April 18)
• For a quiet stay: San Nicolò area on the Lido, described as more secluded
• For museums: Florence, with over seventy museums
• For getting around on foot: Venice’s historic center is entirely pedestrian
• For queues: Uffizi and Accademia in Florence, long every day

Should you choose Florence or Venice?

Florence suits travelers who want to spend days in galleries, churches and gardens. The historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Uffizi, the Accademia with Michelangelo’s David, the Cathedral and the Bargello are the sites visitors head for first.

Venice suits travelers who want to move by water and see a city built on a lagoon. St. Mark’s Square, the Doge’s Palace, the Rialto Bridge and the Grand Canal fill a first visit. The lagoon islands of Murano, Burano and Torcello make good day trips, and the Lido adds a beach day.

The two cities share one problem: crowds. Florence’s queues start forming before the ticket offices open. Venice asks day visitors to pay an access fee, which is meant to discourage unplanned day trips. Booking ahead helps in both cities, and the Uffizi itself suggests it for busy periods.

• Choose Florence if: you want over seventy museums and a dozen monumental churches within one city; you want to see the Uffizi collection, from Giotto to Caravaggio, and the David; you like gardens, with Boboli behind Pitti Palace and the wisteria pergola at Bardini Garden in flower.
• Choose Venice if: you want a car-free historic center where bicycles are not allowed even pushed by hand; you want a beach day on the Lido between sights; you want to reach Murano, Burano or Torcello by water.

Which has better beaches, Florence or Venice?

For a beach trip, Venice is the pick, through its Lido. Florence offers gardens and parks instead, such as the Boboli Gardens, whose terrain is clay and gravel and almost completely sloping.

On the Lido, Bluemoon beach reopens April 18 in a central, easily accessible spot. The Lungomare and San Nicolò establishments reopen May 22, and the CAPLI establishment runs from May 16 to September 13. The Lungomare has a long promenade over the sea. The San Nicolò area is more secluded and suits a quiet day on wider stretches. A return waterbus ticket for the beaches costs €16.00.

Which is busier, Florence or Venice?

For a quiet stay, Venice’s Lido and its San Nicolò area fit best. Florence is reached by millions of visitors every year, and its markets draw both residents and tourists. The Mercato Nuovo, known as the Porcellino market, sits in a very central spot and is among those most frequented by tourists. The Mercato Centrale is a popular place for food and wine.

At the Uffizi, a long queue forms every day, and the Accademia has one constantly. Staff may close some rooms in cases of high attendance. In Venice, the Rialto Bridge sees continuous tourist traffic, and the access fee covers daily visitors to the historic city. The fee does not apply to the minor islands.

What is there to see in Florence and Venice?

Florence’s Piazza del Duomo holds the Cathedral, Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower, the Baptistery and the Opera del Duomo Museum. The Uffizi occupies a building designed by Giorgio Vasari and built between 1560 and 1580. The Vasari Corridor links the Uffizi to Pitti Palace across the Ponte Vecchio. The Palazzo Vecchio tower is 312 feet (95 meters) high.

Venice’s St. Mark’s Basilica sits beside a Bell Tower 323 feet (98.6 meters) high, and its elevator gives wide views. The Basilica opens at 9:30 a.m. Monday to Saturday, and on Sundays at 2 p.m. The St. Mark’s Square Museums ticket covers the Doge’s Palace, Museo Correr, the National Archaeological Museum and the Marciana Library rooms, which suits a first trip. The Scuola di San Rocco holds a cycle of paintings by Tintoretto, and Murano is known for glass.

Can you visit both Florence and Venice on one trip?

Venice runs on water, so plan its transport before you arrive. The standard 75-minute Rete Unica ticket covers the waterborne network, except routes 16 and 19, the Casinò route and Alilaguna services. Prices:

• 75-minute ticket: €9.50
• Daily pass: €25.00
• 2-day ticket: €35.00
• 3-day ticket: €45.00
• 7-day ticket: €65.00

The Rolling Venice 3-day ticket for young people costs €27.00.

When is the best time to visit Florence or Venice?

Florence turns hot in summer. July afternoons reach 90°F (32°C), and the city also has few rainy days then. May is milder, with highs of 76°F (24°C). October brings 4 inches of rain on 9 days in Florence.

Venice is cooler. May reaches 72°F (22°C) in Venice. July highs sit at 83°F (29°C). January sees under three hours of sun a day.