Venice or Rome in October?

[MegBusset]

For a three-day break. Never been to either. Want to walk around , see historic sites, galleries, drink coffee etc. possibly as a solo traveller so somewhere I’ll feel safe and not attract unwanted attention.

Bonus points for a central, quiet, safe and good value hotel in either city!

Rome.

Venice is perfect at christmas (less smelly and no queues)

Venice is much much smaller! Rome isn’t walkable everywhere but has a metro. Depends what you mean by galleries. There’s numerous museums and art galleries in Venice. Plus loads of art in churches. Plus the fabulous St Marks square and the grand canal.

All things Roman and the Vatican - it must be Rome. As a solo Venice is easier though and totally walkable. Plus the Line 1 vaporetto stops everywhere on the Grand Canal. It’s just easier than Rome. It’s the best canal ride in the world!

I went to Venice last October. Perfect weather (warm enough to sit out in T shirt in evenings and for shorts in the day).
It wasn’t busy, certainly not smelly and there was plenty to do for 3 days. We went for 5.

Rome 100%

(I lived there for a year and went on the metro once - totally walkable)

I've been to Venice in February and Rome around Easter. Both were fab but I would say Rome unless you have a decent budget. Venice was lovely but we struggled at the time to find good places to eat with our limited money. Rome we had some fantastic food for reasonable prices. Obviously there's an element of luck there but just my two cents.

Also if you're into art and historical sites there is nothing like Rome. We went for 5 days and felt we could have stayed for a month and done a new thing every day.

Fully recommend the "Blue Guide" to either city if you're interested in art / history.

@MegBusset

Venice.
perfect for a three days.
choose hotel wisely
choose hotel location wisely

Also we did walk everywhere in Rome (although sometimes a long way).

Venice feels smaller but we also walked a long way there! But the vaporetti are fun. We did a bit of an island hop one day.

@MegBusset

last time I was in Venice I stayed here
quiet dear but Venice is.
this is a lovely period hotel.

look in this area as away from the crowds and everything is walkable

https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/nh-collection-grand-hotel-palazzo-dei-dogi.en-gb.html?aid=1250365&label=behg%3ACj0KCQjw9MCnBhCYARIsAB1WQVWp8xmBl0BmennnqdiqFGy-ZEjhpsU3evwckRs_J7EFDIu_vg6BH7QaAs7kEALw_wcB&sid=0a6ac8b6be2e7d9f3cd71b1cd7a05e7b&all_sr_blocks=22070230_91826461_0_0_0;checkin=2023-09-07;checkout=2023-09-08;dest_id=-132007;dest_type=city;dist=0;group_adults=2;group_children=0;hapos=1;highlighted_blocks=22070230_91826461_0_0_0;hpos=1;matching_block_id=22070230_91826461_0_0_0;no_rooms=1;req_adults=2;req_children=0;room1=A%2CA;sb_price_type=total;sr_order=popularity;sr_pri_blocks=22070230_91826461_0_0_0__50600;srepoch=1693504417;srpvid=b3c97dce522d00b2;type=total;ucfs=1&

Rome - any time of the year. So much to see and the centre is very walkable. Venice really underwhelmed me.

Rome. No competition for me.
Easily walkable apart from the Colosseum which is a bit far out and the Knights of Malta keyhole.

We stayed near the Vatican - very safe, both Italian and Vatican police on every street corner. Easy walk into Trastevere to eat and on into the centre.

Also a squillion times cheaper than Venice.

We did Rome in October. Walked everywhere iirc. Very warm!

Cheap isn’t the only criteria hopefully. Anyone who thinks Venice underwhelming must have seen very little of the cities gems. The Grand Canal itself is a masterpiece. The Guggenheim is a wonderful retreat from the bustle and the churches are fantastic. Yes, eating out isn’t quite the same as Rome but less popular neighbourhoods have restaurants too. It is a city that’s easier to navigate but no Roman past! So that’s the decider really. I’ve been to both several times.

On my own - I would choose Venice - if you decide on that @MegBusset I can send a link for a modestly priced hotel within walking distance of St Marks Square - more of a B&B but there is , as I recall a sort of Cafe style restaurant nearby which is also not expensive.

Both!!!!

I like Rome but I LOVE Venice.
I wouldn’t wander around Rome on my own but I would happily do so in Venice.

Yes please @BasiliskStare !

Don’t have the annual leave or budget sadly! So will have to save one for another year.

Looks lovely but out of budget sadly! Looking for £200/night max really. Can you recommend anywhere that fits that bill? What are the areas to avoid?

Venice. It's uniquely lovely and so much to see and do.

We stayed in Cannaregio which isn't so touristy. We went in November when prices were lower and the weather was fantastic and definitely no smelly canals.
No guarantees on the weather, I admit.

@MegBusset - it looks like it has been done up a bit since I was there but at the time for how central it was , it was reaonably priced. ( recommended by a friend ) It may be more expensive now the the location is fabulous. What you will not get is a big hotel experience , Breakfast and there is a tiny bar but you can walk from there to pretty much anywhere in the middle of Venice https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/serenissima.en-gb.html#:~:text=Located%20in%20a%20central%20area,in%20a%20typical%20Venetian%20style.%20…

We’ve stayed in a few in Venice.
The Al Sole was quirky and in a good location and the Olimpia, both in Santa Croce.
We also stayed at Ca Gottardi, handy for the railway station if you fancy a day trip to Padua or Verona.

I’ve been to Rome twice. Both times in October and the weather was lovely, perfect sightseeing in a tshirt weather!

Rome

Hotel Ca D’Oro in Venice is lovely and very central.

@MegBusset We stayed at a beautiful palazzo on the grand canal last time we went to Venice. It’s a bit above your budget I’m afraid.

There are no “no go” areas in Venice and the hotel mentioned above was in the San Polo area. I rated it highly. To travel around, try not to be far from the water bus stops on the Grand Canal. I would work out what you want to see and don’t stay too far out. However friends stayed near the station and, if you don’t mind travelling via the GC, that’s cheaper. A bit less atmospheric though.