Venice or Rome: Which Italian Masterpiece is Right for You?

Trying to decide whether to visit Venice or Rome is no easy feat–and considering they’re two of our favorite cities to visit in the world, we would know!

While both cities are historically important and are immensely popular with tourists, the truth is that Venice and Rome are extremely different cities, and offer incredibly different experiences for visitors.

Personally, we adore them both, have lost track of how many times we’ve visited each (around 10, I think), and will continue to return to both for as long as we possibly can.

If you must choose whether to visit Rome or Venice, though, here’s what to know before you decide.

Choose Venice if…

… Venetian canals and gondolas are on your bucket list.

It doesn’t matter how many places claim to be the “Venice of Wherever”: there is only one Venice, and absolutely nowhere else on the planet replicates the experience of visiting it.

Venetian history is incredibly fascinating–I only get more interested in it the more I learn–and the city is devastatingly beautiful as well.

If you dream of drifting through small canals in a gondola or simply admiring them from one of the city’s 400 footbridges, there’s simply nowhere that can compete with Venice.

(And if you’re a history nerd like me, you’ll love the context you gain by reading City of Fortune before visiting–it makes exploring Venice even more memorable).

… wandering aimlessly through beautiful streets sounds like a delightful trip.

While Venice definitely has some major tourist highlights worth seeing and some incredible history to observe (hint: the famous Horses of St. Mark, for example? They landed on top of the cathedral after being ripped away from Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade.), visiting Venice is much more about the experience of being there than it is about checking off a list of things to do.

The atmosphere in Venice–especially in the evening after the daytrippers leave, and especially down the small, quiet streets in the less touristy sestieri–is absolute magic.

We tend to find ourselves walking aimlessly for hours at a time when there, for no other reason than to continue to drink in the beauty of the city.

… the history of the Venetian Empire interests you.

The story of Venice is improbable from the start: it has always been a city that almost defies existence, floating in the lagoon rather than nestled onshore.

It has always been a city of explorers, of dreamers, of schemers, of business-minded enterprise, and of merchants.

The Venetian Empire once stretched all the way to the shores of the Black Sea and to the far reaches of Cyprus, and the story of both how they got there and how the empire eventually receded is nothing if not captivating–and there’s no better place to learn about it than in Venice.

Choose Rome if…

… the history of Ancient Rome is a major appeal.

While the Roman Empire stretched far beyond the city, there’s no doubt that for Roman history buffs, the capital is the place to be.

From iconic sites like the Colosseum and Roman Forum to lesser-known but incredibly interesting spots like the Domus Aurea, the Baths of Caracalla, the Appian Way, and so many more, there’s no doubt that travelers interested in Ancient Rome will be spoiled for choice when visiting the Eternal City.

… your idea of the perfect Italian meal is a hearty plate of pasta.

While pasta is eaten all across Italy, it’s less traditional in Venice than you might think–while food in Venice is delicious, other dishes like risotto, and of course plenty of fish, are more typical.

In Rome, though, the pasta is arguably the best in the world. 

Rome is best-known for four pastas in particular: cacio e pepe, carbonara, spaghetti alla gricia, and amatriciana–and any trip to Rome should definitely include a sampling of all of them!

Here are the best foods to try in Rome, including some that you may never have heard of!

… if you want to visit a large, urban city.

Where Venice is, geographically speaking, small and manageable, Rome is enormous and all-consuming.

The list of interesting things to do in Rome is literally never-ending (there are over 900 churches alone in the city), and no matter what your interests are, you’ll find a way to fulfill them in the Eternal City.

A short trip is absolutely not long enough to grasp Rome (while in Venice, you can at least count on seeing it’s top highlights fairly fast)–but that makes it all the more intriguing and interesting to visit.

Visit either Rome or Venice for…

… an unforgettable trip to Italy.

Venice and Rome are both absolutely unique cities, unable to be replicated anywhere on the world’s stage.

They’re beautiful, vibrant, and engaging, and a trip to either is an absolute gift.

There is no “wrong” choice when deciding whether to visit Venice or Rome–both cities are phenomenal.

… delicious food and drink.

Italian cuisine is extremely regional, and that means that Roman food and Venetian food are quite different–but they’re also both quite wonderful!

Whether you’re enjoying cicchetti and spritzes in Venice or snacking on suppli in Rome, you’ll lots of hyper-local dishes to try… and of course, plenty of options for enjoying Italian vacation staples like gelato, too.

What about visiting both Venice and Rome?

Whether or not to settle the Rome vs Venice debate by visiting both cities depends strongly on how long you’re spending in Italy!

If, say, you’re visiting Italy for 2 weeks, yes, you should see both cities, and they’re popular bookends to a traditional first-timer’s Italy trip.

Planning a much shorter trip?

If you’re visiting Italy for 5 days or more, you can visit both Rome and Venice… though it may not leave time for many other places.

With 5 full days on the ground in Italy (not including travel days), you can comfortably visit Venice and Rome for 2 days each, with a travel day between them.

Some people might choose to dedicate one day to Venice and 3 days in Rome in that scenario–but since you’re reading this post because you’re having trouble choosing between the two cities, that probably doesn’t apply to you! 

Rome and Venice are a minimum of 3.5 hours apart on the fastest high-speed train route (and as those ticket prices increase the closer your trip gets, we highly recommend booking your train tickets in advance).

As they’re more than 5 hours apart by car and flying is much more of a hassle than taking the train, we consider the high-speed train the best way to travel between the two cities efficiently.

Shop train tickets for your trip between Rome and Venice today!

Can you take a day trip from Rome to Venice (or vice versa)?

Yes, but… we wouldn’t recommend it to most travelers.

A 3.5-hour train ride each way is much longer than we would suggest traveling for a day trip, especially given that both cities have dozens of fantastic day trip options accessible in 2 hours of transit time or less each way.

And, ultimately, you won’t have time to see much in either city if you’re spending 7 hours in transit.

In our opinion, Venice in particular tends to shine less brightly when travelers only see it during the peak, midday hours.

Because it’s a small city, many people try to visit on a day trip… with the result being that they sometimes see an overcrowded and overwhelming side of the city, leave without enjoying it, and conclude that Venice is overrated.

Any Venice travel experience is greatly improved by spending at least one night there and getting to experience its magic without crowds of daytrippers.

Add in the fact that Rome is much further away from Venice by train as compared to, say, Milan or Florence (two other popular cities for taking day trips to Venice), and the problem compounds.

When it comes to Rome, taking a day trip all the way from Venice essentially means that, since it’s such a large city, you’ll only have time to see 1-2 very small pieces of it before hopping back on the train again.

If you’re determined to pull off a day trip in either direction, here’s what we recommend.

Quick Tips for Taking a Day Trip to Venice

Arrive as early as you can, stay as late as you can, and prioritize getting away from the crowds ASAP after a brief time spent checking out Piazza San Marco. We love Dorsoduro and highly recommend it as a place to wander.

You might also consider seeking out some of Venice’s hidden gems if the crowds get overwhelming–the Doge’s Palace is gorgeous, sure, but there are definitely less crowded options in Venice.

And, if you want to take a gondola ride, ditch the crowds first (here are our best tips for taking a gondola ride in Venice).

Quick Tips for Taking a Day Trip to Rome

Go in knowing that you’ll see very little of the city… so know what you’re traveling for.

Do you want to tour the Colosseum and having a traditional Roman lunch? Doable. Do you want to visit Vatican City and wander Trastevere? Workable. Do you want to see the main sights in Rome’s historic center like the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and Pantheon, and maybe squeeze in a view of the Colosseum from the outside? Completely fine.

Do you want to do all of that? If so, you’ll want more than a day trip.

Also, note that while Venice’s main train station (Venezia Santa Lucia) is right on the Grand Canal, Rome’s two main train stations (Roma Termini and especially Roma Tiburtina) are a bit more removed from the main attractions.

Be sure you know which Roman train station you’re arriving and leaving from–trains to/from Venice operate from both.

Venice vs Rome: The Final Decision

Still can’t decide whether to visit Rome or Venice?

Since the cities are so different, here’s what we recommend: close your eyes and try to pull to mind the one experience you’re most looking forward to from your trip to Italy. It can be anything–a food or a tourist attraction or an atmosphere.

If you pull to mind something specific to Venice, such as canals, gondolas, and Venetian grandeur, head to Venice.

If your mind pulls you toward Ancient Roman history, an enormous and bustling city, or large piles of pasta, head to Rome.

If your mind can’t focus and is most interested in the contented feeling achieved when sipping an evening aperitivo on a lively street, or the beauty of historic architecture (style unspecified)… flip a coin or choose based on the cheapest flight!

Ultimately, whether you decide to visit Venice or Rome, you’re bound to have a unique and exciting Italian getaway.

Read More About Visiting Rome and Venice

Know where you’re headed… or still can’t decide and want to keep reading?

We’d love to help!

Here on Our Escape Clause, I’ve written almost 2 dozen blog posts about each city, and 100+ blog posts and counting about traveling in Italy.

Here are a few you might also like!

Further Reading About Rome

• 2 Days in Rome: An Epic + Easy Rome Itinerary
• 30+ Important Rome Travel Tips You Need to Know
• Is a Colosseum Night Tour Worth the Splurge? (+ Tips!)

Further Reading About Venice

• How to Actually Enjoy Summer in Venice (13 Important Tips!)
• What to Do in Venice at Night: 9 Fun Ideas
• How to Spend One Perfect Day in Venice (Itinerary + Travel Tips)