Comparison · Rome vs Venice · Italy
Rome vs Venice
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Choose Rome for Colosseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel and free sights; choose Venice for Grand Canal, Gondolas and beaches. Rome is generally less expensive, and the two are about 394 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 394 km
- Less expensive
- Rome
- Best time for Rome
- April–May and September–October
- Best time for Venice
- April–May and September–October
Side by side
| Rome | Venice | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Italy | Italy |
| Known for | Colosseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel and Ancient ruins | Grand Canal, Gondolas and St Mark's Basilica |
| Best time to visit | April–May and September–October | April–May and September–October |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 3 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $170–$300 | $200–$350 |
| Cost level | Moderately priced | Expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 32°C (90°F) | July, 28°C (82°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 12°C (54°F) | January, 7°C (45°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 10 | 5 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 6 |
| Beaches | — | Lido di Venezia |
| Airports | FCO, CIA | VCE, TSF |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Rome for…
Colosseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel and free sights. Rome layers nearly 3,000 years of history into a walkable centre: the Colosseum and Roman Forum, the Pantheon, Baroque piazzas such as Navona and, across the Tiber, Vatican City with St Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel. Most sights lie inside the…
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
| # | Rome | Venice |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colosseum | St Mark's Basilica |
| 2 | Roman Forum and Palatine Hill | Doge's Palace |
| 3 | Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel | St Mark's Square |
| 4 | St Peter's Basilica | St Mark's Campanile |
| 5 | Pantheon | Rialto Bridge and Market |
Food compared
| Rome | Venice |
|---|---|
| Spaghetti alla carbonara | Cicchetti |
| Cacio e pepe | Sarde in saor |
| Bucatini all'amatriciana | Baccalà mantecato |
| Supplì | Squid-ink pasta |
Which is cheaper?
Rome is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $170–$300 per person there, against $200–$350 in Venice (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Rome on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Rome and Venice are about 394 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Rome and 3 in Venice.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Rome or Venice cheaper?
Rome is usually less expensive: about $170–$300 a day mid-range against $200–$350 (estimates).
+Is Rome or Venice better for a first trip?
Pick Rome for Colosseum, Vatican and Sistine Chapel and free sights, or Venice for Grand Canal, Gondolas and beaches.
+How far is Rome from Venice?
About 394 km in a straight line.