Venice or Florence

[feckingknackered]

I wasn't sure where to post this.
I'm planning a surprise trip for my fiancé for his birthday. I'm thinking of either Florence or Venice in early April. Only for three days.
Can anyone offer a preference or have visited either can let me know if you enjoyed it and offer advice?
Thank you

Love them both! Both absolutely beautiful. I’d say maybe Florence is more “archetypal Italy” and Venice is just completely and totally unique. I’d find it very hard to choose between them.

Venice can be very cold and damp at that time ( and I think it is over run with other tourists all year now).

Florence is lovely , but stay right in the middle, so you don’t have to walk too far for dinner, it can be pretty chilly at night there, too.

Florence by a country mile.
Venice has become an overpriced theme park.

Venice Venice Venice. Florence is just a giant dirty traffic infested tourist trap. There I’ve said it.

Venice was shocking! Didn’t expect it to be so special. Poster above says it was like a theme park like that’s a negative. Interestingly I said to DH when we weee there this summer ‘wow this place is as close to a theme park for adults you could get’. It’s magical and surprising.

Florence is lovely. But not in a league with Venice.

Wow some really divided opinions! Thank you for all replies

I would go to Florence and stay centrally as PP suggested, 2 days looking around there and 1 day in Lucca

Dd went to Venice before Easter and had a good time, not too busy nor particularly cold but dry. Having said that Florence is probably more compact. We also did Rome in March a few years ago and it was mid 20s and sunny. Just after Easter and not too busy.

I'd vote for Venice for a 3-day trip. It's immersive and beautiful and brilliant. Don't let the naysayers put you off - it is absolutely worth visiting at least once in your life.

Florence is nice to do alongside Tuscany if you have a bit longer for a trip.

I loved Venice as it is so unique. Can be busy but no cars. I preferred Rome over Florence but Venice still my favourite however it's a few years since I visited any of them.

Been to both. Florence was a long time ago, and I don’t really remember anything particular special about it, though I can see the appeal if you are really in to art or history. Venice is touristy but you can actually avoid a lot of those bits. Dd and I went back a few years ago and stayed in a residential area away from the hotels and tourist restaurants. It was really lovely. I liked it being car free and a valparetto (water bus) pass was all we needed to get around. Go see the big attractions but definitely stay and eat outside the tourist areas. I’m pretty snobby when it comes to travel but we had a great time and I’d definitely go back.

florence any day of the week

For me, Venice. But make sure you wander around the back streets!
For both, you need to have a love of Renaissance art - galleries & churches are the best things about both places.

Bologna 😂

Venice without hesitation…absolutely unique and glorious.

I’d love to go to Venice but have yet to go. Went to Florence for the first time in December a couple of years ago (pre-you-know-what) and LOVED IT. Much more than I thought I would. But it was very, very busy, even at that time of year.

It’s beautiful, though. If you love history, architecture, atmosphere, food…..and yes, try and stay somewhere central. We were very close to the Biblioteca Nazionale, which was quite a handy location.

Venice!! We went for honeymoon and it was the best week of my life. We just wandered the backstreets and got lost and stumbled on traditional restaurants and bars. It was magical.

I've been to both over the last 5 years. My favourite was Venice - would love to just pop over there every so often for a long weekend! But it depends what you like. I found Florence disappointing to just wander round (had been to Rome the year before and that's an open air museum so it had a lot to live up to) but the museum's were amazing (despite me not being a huge art fan). Venice was just stunningly unique. Loved hopping on and off the boats and just wandering around.

Been to both several times, but years ago now.

Both very busy. Venice is unlike anywhere else in the world, but I've heard it is becoming more ruined and theme parky by the year - a parody of itself almost. But everyone should go at least once. Always stay close to the centre whichever you choose.

For a romantic destination I don't think you can beat the Quartier Latin in Paris. Seville is also lovely.

OP, make sure you watch the first episode of the new series of Stanley Tucci's food tour of Italy - he was in Venice last week!

Yes the exteriors of the buildings in Florence are a bit drab at first blush. But the churches... and the view of the Duomo from Bellosguardo is amazing.

We went to Venice one February half term (dd was on a ski trip) - weather was fine for sightseeing then, just needed brollies a couple of time so I'd imagine it'd be ok in April. We went to Florence in October, that was also good because not too crowded and nice temperature for lots of walking around so again I'd guess April would be good.

Really it's a question of which you want to do first! But also what you're into. I guess Venice has more obvious wow tourist stuff whereas I think with Florence we benefited from spending time beforehand learning a bit about the history and art (including a series of Great Courses lectures - I want to listen to the Venice and Rome ones and go back to them again some time).

With both it can be a bit 'uh huh, another Madonna and Child' or 'oh, another Annunciation'.

Venice. It's like a film set. Its joyous. Florence is a bit dull imo. If you're into history and art it's fine, but it's all a bit weighty with its own importance.
Personally I'd go to Rome. It's my favourite place in the world.

I've been to both and they are both lovely, but Venice is totally awesome. The airport is close to the sea (a couple of hundred metres walk) and I got the shuttle boat but for a special birthday I would suggest booking a speedboat to meet you and take you to your hotel. He'll feel like James Bond!
We came through the back waterways, and then turning onto the Grand Canal made me cry because it was so beautiful.

Yes, central Rome is terrific too. As is Athens.