Comparison · Amsterdam vs Venice · Netherlands / Italy
Amsterdam vs Venice
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer), CC BY 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Amsterdam for Canals and Rijksmuseum; choose Venice for Grand Canal, Gondolas and beaches. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 941 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 941 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Amsterdam
- April–June and September
- Best time for Venice
- April–May and September–October
Side by side
| Amsterdam | Venice | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Netherlands | Italy |
| Known for | Canals, Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum | Grand Canal, Gondolas and St Mark's Basilica |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September | April–May and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $220–$360 | $200–$350 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 22°C (72°F) | July, 28°C (82°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 6°C (43°F) | January, 7°C (45°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 7 | 5 |
| Day trips in our guide | 8 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | Lido di Venezia |
| Airports | AMS | VCE, TSF |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Amsterdam for…
Canals and Rijksmuseum. Amsterdam's 17th-century canal ring, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, curves around a compact medieval centre where almost everything is within a 30-minute walk or a short tram ride. The Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank House draw most…
Choose Venice for…
Grand Canal, Gondolas and beaches. Venice is built on more than a hundred small islands in a lagoon at the top of the Adriatic, laced with canals and linked by some 400 bridges. There are no cars: you walk through narrow calli and campi or ride the vaporetto water buses along the Grand Canal…
Top sights compared
| # | Amsterdam | Venice |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rijksmuseum | St Mark's Basilica |
| 2 | Van Gogh Museum | Doge's Palace |
| 3 | Anne Frank House | St Mark's Square |
| 4 | Canal Ring walk | St Mark's Campanile |
| 5 | Canal cruise | Rialto Bridge and Market |
Food compared
| Amsterdam | Venice |
|---|---|
| Stroopwafel | Cicchetti |
| Raw herring | Sarde in saor |
| Bitterballen | Baccalà mantecato |
| Kroket | Squid-ink pasta |
Which is cheaper?
Amsterdam and Venice cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $220–$360 in Amsterdam and $200–$350 in Venice (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Venice on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 941 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 8 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Amsterdam or Venice cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $220–$360 in Amsterdam and $200–$350 in Venice (estimates).
+Is Amsterdam or Venice better for a first trip?
Pick Amsterdam for Canals and Rijksmuseum, or Venice for Grand Canal, Gondolas and beaches.
+How far is Amsterdam from Venice?
About 941 km in a straight line.