I am working in Milan for a few weeks and planned to take just a few days of vacation at the end of my stay. I can either spend one day in Venice and 2 days in Florence or 1 day in Florence and 2 days in Venice. Which would be better?

Have you ever been to either city? What do you like to do? If you really love art, go for Florence for the longer stay. The food in Florence is also really great. IMO, Venice is by far the more beautiful city, but most will probably tell you that the food is not nearly as good as it is in Florence. That being said, it really depends on what you like to do. Is it possible for you to take an extra night and do two days in each city? You also have to take into account your travel time between the two and back to Milan. Honestly, whatever you choose, I am sure you will have a good time, but I would definitely try to tack on another day or two.

Ditto elcon's comments and questions, with a few more:

When is this trip?

Talking in "days" in a place rather than "nights" makes it hard to understand exactly what's available to work with. Is that one day in either place really a full day or only what's left after you get to the city and check into the hotel?

What time is your flight home from Milan? Will you have to spend the prior night in Milan?

You say you're working in Milan "for a few weeks." Does that mean you're absolutely committed to your duties 24/7? Or might you be able to make quick overnight trips?

1 day Florence.
See Duomo and David.

2 days Venice.
wander, get lost, absorb.

I can understand that it is hard to follow my suggestion; anyway it is the following: or Florence or Venice for three days and not both, only one to enjoy it.

Ciao.

Vincenzo

Venice for three days.

Anna Roz

I would do all 3 days in Venice.

With such a short time I wouldn't want to waste the time checking in and out of two different hotels and training between cities. Milan to Venice is only 3 hours so would maximize your time more than adding Florence too.

I made my first trip to both cities last spring. I agree with Dandj. In Florence there were wonderful things to see, but we had a specific agenda to fill in a single day. The Duomo is magnificent. In Venice, I loved wandering the streets, riding the various boats, and just being there. It's a marvelous and unbelievably unique city. Both cities were wonderful and about equally crowded in April. For me Venice was more relaxing, Florence more focused. If I had to, I'd spend more time in Florence for art and museums, more in Venice for unique ambiance, urban geography and specialized architechture.

Tiger - Vincenzo would be the one whose opinion I'd go with: just seeing the Duomo and the David in Florence does no justice to either your curiosity or the city, which was so influential to the renaissance. Similarly, 2 days in Venice won't do much for you, eihter. If you only have 3 days total, on the assumption that makes 4 nights, pick one city and try to absorb it in that short period, but don't divide the already short time and waste it in travel and hotel check-ins and sorting out baggage before you can even hit the streets.

Pick one and spend all 3 days. Either in Venice or in Florence with a day trip to a couple of smaller Tuscan towns. Otherwise you'll spend too much of your very limited time in train stations and finding/checking in and out of hotels.

Florence

Although I love Florence, I would do Venice for 3 days.

Venice, unless you are really into art.

Hello Tigerllo, it is hard to advise since we don't know what your interest are but IF I were in your shoes I would go and stay in Venice for the three days. I agree stating nights versus days does give a clearer picture of how long you have. Have fun whatever you do. And as one that loves Milan all I can say is "lucky you!".

I agree with some of the others, spend all your time in just one city. I have been to both cities twice and will be going back to both in the spring.

My choice would be Florence (sorry LI) there is just something about Florence that gets me.

Tom

I, too, would spend the three days in Venice.

Oh, I'd spend all 3 days in just one of them, like so many other posters say. And it would be Venice. Unique, stunningly beautiful and endlessly fascinating.

Venice is somewhere you have to see before you pop your clogs, whereas Florence is just one amongst many cities with great art to see. And is the Duomo more memorable than St Mark's? And there's plenty more art in Venice too. As for food, well you'll have been in Milan for a while, and food is, after all (smile) just food!

Have a wonderful time whichever you go for in the end.

Hi Tom, I would no doubt end up in Florence too, lots of Italian friends live there. And I agree that the food is better in Florence. But I do so love Venice, well when I am away from the areas where there are mobs of tourist of course.