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

I haven't been to Florence, but have been to Venice and Rome. Although Rome is absolutely my favourite place, Venice is amazing, and somewhere you must see, in my opinion. Just a place to wander about, finding things a little away from the main tourist spots (although the main tourist spots are worth seeing too!) It's like nowhere else I've ever been to, and I would like to go back.

Both are beautiful - but I think wandering and getting lost in Venice is still possible to do and just lovely. Go before it gets completely ruined.

Get the water taxi from the airport.

Venice and get a gondola trip as well , we were told not to bother as v expensive but we really enjoyed our short trip well worth €€€ , loved going down the backs f all the houses.

1 million percent Venice

Unless you and your fiance are crazy interested in history of art, I'd pick Venice.

It's more fun, looks like nowhere else and just wandering around can be fun. However do your research on where to eat as it is full of tourist traps.

For Florence the buildings can look v forbidding, it's not so fun mooching without knowing a fair bit of back story and you can get fed up of seeing pictures of Mary.

I actually prefer Florence but both DH and I are history needs.

Venice

Nothing beats Piazza San Marco at night. Do go off the beaten track a bit and down the side streets.

Stayed 4 days in both. Liked Florence and some good places to visit out with. But adored Venice. Do your homework and book restaurants ahead - you can find fantastic restaurants that are reasonable and recommended online. Stay in Venice and of an evening when the tourists leave it’s a different world. We were there in Feb and it was surprisingly warm- eating ice cream by the canals. I’d go back to Venice like a shot, Florence not so much.

Both are lovely but I would 100% choose Florence.

Love them both. And Venice is only tolerable in the winter because it's less busy and stinky. As long as you wrap up warm and it doesn't flood!

Art, Florence. Sheer magic, Venice.

And my top tip, avoid any restaurant that serves Bolognese. It will be for tourists. And learn some Italian. They really appreciate it.

If you only have 3 days I'd do Venice. Both are wonderful, but you'd miss out on an awful lot of Florence if you only have a short trip planned.

venice! I was seriously underwhelmed with Florence this year

Not been to Florence but was bowled over by Venice! Just breathtaking - I was expecting a very touristy experience and, yes, there is some of that of course but all those back streets to wander around! Sometimes we where the only ones around. Glorious!

I love them both equally. Have a great time

Oh and the best thing is that it is impossible to take a bad picture in Venice. Even if you are utterly ship with a camera, everything looks gorgeous.

Really didn't like Venice - smelly, dirty and the graffiti on beautiful buildings and bridges upset me

Loved Florence and you could easily fit Pisa in too

Given choice of any Italian city though - it's Rome every single time!

They are both fantastic.Venice is magical; one can potter up and down alleyways and really feel the atmosphere.Yes,see the Duomo, Doge's Palace, Tintorettos,Peggy Guggenheim etc but lots of the magic is in walking around.Florence is also outstanding but there is a massive amount to see in terms of churches and of course the Uffizi.It has a more typical Italian city vibe and smart locals mixing with tourists.I have visited both out of season , which I highly recommend, but even so, found Florence a bit more claustrophobic with large groups of visitors blocking the medieval streets. You cannot really go wrong with either choice imo .Whichever you do, think about what your top sights are going to be and do a little research on getting a non touristy perspective on life in the cities including bars and restaurants.Lucky you.

IME it's definitely possible to get lost in Venice, google maps doesn't work well in its narrow backstreets. (i think James May found the same in his recent Italian series)

Venice is magical, yes there is graffiti but it made me think of it along the lines of your grandmother’s vintage jewellery - in need of a bit of a clean but that in no way detracts from the glory and the sparkle. It is heavenly.

Venice it is thank you!!
Now I'm trying and failing to narrow down to one hotel.
Can you tell I'm indecisive

Venice x 100. Wander the back streets, research family run trattorias, every corner has a vista. Visit the islands!

fFor me, Florence was like Disneyland. And Pisa is a one sight tourist trap.

But don’t ignore Verona and Siena. Both delights.

We went to Venice, Bologna and Florence in April this year. I was concerned that Venice might be a touristy let down but omg it was absolutely stunning and we found it quite easy to get off the beaten track and wander about. The water taxi from the airport was something I’ll never forget. And the Guggenheim. And just sitting in squares drinking aperol spritz! It’s a magical place.

Bologna is a fabulous city, loads to see, a strong sense of identity and wonderful to walk around - and obviously the food is incredible. You could combine both Venice and Bologna in a few days. We travelled by train and it was very easy.

Florence was so disappointing in comparison to them both, it felt noisy, dirty, literally heaving with tourists and like it’s had any soul ripped out of it.

I've done both in the same trip and they are very different. You need to decide what you want from your holiday and pick from there really.

Venice.
Get a water taxi into Venice from the airport.

Get the boat pass when there...so you can hop and hop off.

Watch somebody feed Phil, he shows some good restaurants.

Yy Peggy Guggenheim is a must not least of all because of its beautiful location and property.
Some excellent chichetti bar's around there also.