Venice vs Florence
The short answer
Florence is the cheaper trip, by roughly 18% a day — $85–155 against $100–190 mid-range per person. Both are at their best in Apr–May, Sep–Oct, so one trip can take in both.
Side by side
Mid-range, per person, in US dollars. Both guides were costed the same way — see how we work these out.
| 🇮🇹 Venice | 🇮🇹 Florence | |
|---|---|---|
| Daily budgetmid-range, per person | $100–190 | $85–155cheaper |
| Cheap meallocal staple | €6–14 ($6.50–15) | €6–12 ($6.50–13) |
| Mid-range hotelper night | €110–220 ($118–237) | €90–180 ($97–194)cheaper |
| Transit ridesingle trip | €9.50 ($10.20) vaporetto | €1.70 ($1.85)cheaper |
| Avg. monthly salarylocal, for context | ≈ $2,000 | ≈ $1,950 |
When to go
Filled months are the ones each guide recommends; hollow ones it warns off.
What you'd actually do
A few of each guide's picks, one per category before seconds — the full lists are on the guides themselves.
🇮🇹 Venice
A city built on water, with no cars, no roads — just canals, gondolas, and centuries of Byzantine and Gothic architecture packed onto a lagoon.
- Cantina Do Mori$Nightlife
- Osteria alle Testiere$$$Restaurants
- Teatro La Fenice$$$Opera & culture
- Harry's Bar$$$Nightlife
- All'Arco$Restaurants
🇮🇹 Florence
The cradle of the Renaissance — Michelangelo's David, Brunelleschi's dome, and more world-class art per square mile than almost anywhere on earth.
- La Terrazza Lounge Bar$$$Nightlife
- All'Antico Vinaio$Restaurants
- Teatro della Pergola$$Theater & shows
- Le Volpi e l'Uva$$Nightlife
- Trattoria Mario$$Restaurants
Practicalities
| Venice | Florence | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Italian, with the local Venetian dialect still spoken by older residents. English is common in tourist areas. | Italian, with the Florentine dialect historically the basis of standard Italian. English is common near the main sights. |
The same in both:
- Currency
- Euro (€). US$1 ≈ €0.93
- Time zone
- CET (UTC+1), CEST (UTC+2) in summer
- Power
- Type C/F/L plugs, 230V
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Emergency
- 112 general emergency (EU-wide)