Okay, so if you had a choice between:
1. Florence for 3 nights, or
2. Venice for 3 nights, or
3. Both cities but for 2 nights only,
what would you choose?
We are going just after Christmas and I have never been to Europe before.
I'd appreciate your thoughts.
Cheers!

Hi drjem-- I would not pick one or other since you said both for 2 nights. Do that. Florence has many museums and Venice has the canals, unlike anything other city I have ever seen. I first saw it at 14, and now with two kids in tow, ages 15 and 12 for first time in Italy, I am so excited to go back this August! I also have been to Florence but my vote goes to Venice. On our Aug. trip we plan 3 nights in Venice and only one in Florence. However, if you are the museum buff or art person, Florence is the place to be. I enjoy that but I absolutley love the water, canals and Venetian islands.

It would help to know the rest of your itinerary and what you are interested in. Venice is more out of the way and sometimes makes planning difficult.

That said, we were there last January and Florence was considerably colder than Venice. We loved Venice and, if I had to choose, I would go there for the 3 nights.

Maybe you'll get lucky like we did and it will snow while you're in Venice. It was incredible. All those shop windows filled with Murano lights reflected on the snow flakes, turning them every color of the rainbow. It was like frozen confetti! Just gorgeous.

My view is prejudiced because I absolutely love Venice & was not impressed with Florence - except for the Uffuzi (sp?). However, some people on this board do not like Venice & absolutely love Florence - go figure! So, I suggest that you decide what you want to see & do (from this board & a good tour book) in each city & then decide.

We (DH, DS, & I) have been to Venice 3 times & are going back in November. Trip 2 & 3 we spent 1 week each time in Venice & still did not see & do everything we wanted. We also love the train ride from Venice to Rome (& vice versa), which stops in Florence. So we didn't consider Venice out of the way. I think the train trip was about 4 hours. We like the first class seats.

If I can find my Venice trip report, I'll post it, just in case you are interested in our viewpoint.

Have a great time.

My wife and I just returned from a 10 day trip to Italy; we spend three nights in Venice and two nights in Florence. Both are elegant but in much different ways. However, we found Venice a bit disappointing in that it is a "tourist trap." Many allyways are filled with stores selling trinkets, tee-shirts and other assorted crap. Restaurants are way over priced - particualarly in the area near St. Marks Square. Having said that, Venice is an elegant city to visit - certainly its history and culture alone make it worthwhile, but for my money, Florence has more to offer a tourist. To stand five feet from Michaelango's David, to tour the Uffizi Gallery is incomparable.

sfgator:
What a shame. Your Venice was sooo different than mine. Maybe the trinket stores had closed in January. The other shop owners were absolutely thrilled to see Americans. I can't say restaurants were more expensive there. And the hotel deals were fabulous.

On the other hand, one can't sit on St. Marks Square in January, either. So it balances out.

As you can see, drjem, there are varying views & all are correct for each person. Let us know what you decide to do & after you trip, what you liked & didn't like.

Here is my Venice trip report link. Hope it gives you some ideas. It is under a different screen name (Julie_Hurst) because that was before the Fodors software fizzled & wiped out that name. I only know how to get it by copy & paste, so you may need to do the same to view it.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...amp;dirtyBit=1

Hmmm, like you say, mixed opinions. The rest of the itinerary is to fly into Rome, have 4 nights there, then either the two nights each, or three nights in one place, then we're going to go to Interlaken in Switzerland for 4 nights, and then onto Paris for 5 or 6 nights. If we had two nights in each, I'd take the extra day off Paris. I'm leaning to 2 nights each, 'cos while I do like history and art, I'd also like to see Venice and it's canals.
Thanks for your help everyone!
J

I didn't realize you meant to extend the 3 nights to 4 if you do both cities. Then, yes, do both.

It sounds wonderful!

My 2 cents: if 2 nights each, I'd also do both. Obviously, you could easily spend more time in both. We've been to both several times and they're both unique and well worth a visit.

Florence is very compact and most of what you'd probably be interested in is very walkable from a central hotel. The art and history is incomparable IMO.

Venice is like no other place. Yes, a bit touristy in places, but the architecture, history and ambiance is almost mystical.

Do both for two nights each.

Make sure that you when in Venice you venture away from St. Marks and the Rialto a little. Once you step out of the tourist line you only have to go about 30 yards and suddenly you are the only person around.
We went during the height of tourist season last year and got to spend several hours in total peace and quiet just by heading 5 minutes away from the Rialto...it was amazing.

While you are in Florence I HIGHLY recommend that you eat at Il Latini and also La Giostra...those were two of the best meals I had in Italy.
Also try and grab lunch at the lunch counter at Mercado Centrale. Full of locals and very fun.

Have Fun!!

Oh gosh, what a question! These are my two most favorite cities so it's hard to say. On one hand, experiencing both if even for a short time would be exciting. On the other hand, spending 2 nights in Venice could suffice but 2 nights in Florence would be frustrating for me. Whatever you decide - it will be an experience you will treasure.