Florence vs Rome: An Honest Comparison in 2025

Last Updated: January 30th, 2025

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Filled with history, culture, art, and great food, Italy is a must-visit destination for any kind of traveler! The two most popular cities have to be Florence and Rome, but which is the best place for you to visit on your next trip to Italy? Don’t worry, I’m here to help you make the right decision. So, let’s dive in and find out which is better: Florence vs Rome!

For example, if you’re a Renaissance-era culture vulture, you’re going to feel right at home in Florence. As Florence is an academic heartland, filled with universities, cathedrals, museums, and art galleries, it’s a perfect destination for those of you looking to see world-class pieces of art or be surrounded by amazing architecture!

On the other hand, Rome is the ultimate place for ancient history lovers. From the Forum to the Colosseum, you can stand in the footsteps of ancient Romans! If you’re looking for bustling stores, ancient history, and plenty of nightlife options, Rome is going to be a surefire hit for your next city break.

A Quick Overview & Comparison: Florence vs Rome

Florence-City-with-Duomo

Florence

  • Less crowded
  • Walkable city
  • Student vibes
  • Plenty of world-class museums and art galleries

Rome

  • Ancient wonders
  • Plenty of nightlife
  • Tons of tourist attractions
  • Airport connections

If you’re looking for a cultural escape, Florence is a great spot for Renaissance-era pieces, while Rome is better for ancient attractions. While both cities are amazing for museums and galleries, it all depends on which era you’re more interested in. If you want a blend of both, you can visit Rome and check out St Peter’s in the Vatican which has a huge display of Renaissance-era art in it as well!

Want to get your fill of nightlife? You’re going to want to visit Rome over Florence. With plenty of clubs, bars, and pub crawls, there are a whole host of options to discover. On the other hand, while Florence is full of students, it’s more of a bar vibe than a clubbing city. If you’re in Florence and want to go clubbing or enjoy a night out, you need to go over the river to the Santa Croce district.

Ponte-Vecchio-on-the-River-Arno

If you want to walk around a city, head to Florence. It’s smaller than Rome and a lot more pedestrian-friendly. There are plenty of buses to get around Rome, but you have to plan a little more to get around or invest in really good walking shoes!

By and large, it’s a lot easier to get into Rome than Florence. There’s a huge international airport in Rome, whereas you have to fly into Pisa or get the train from Rome or Milan to get to Florence as the city’s airport is pretty tiny. So, if you want a quick city break, it might be easier to go to Rome so you don’t spend precious vacation time getting from an airport in another city!

Florence vs Rome: A Quick Guide to Choosing

Cathedral-and-Italian-Pizza

Unsure about which Italian major city is right for you? Here’s a quick guide at a glance!

Florence Mini Guide

  • Location Size – 102.4 km²
  • Population – 382,258
  • Rainy Season – October to December
  • High Season – mid-May through July and September
  • Top Sights – The Uffizi, Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Piazzale Michelangelo
  • Major Airports – Amerigo Vespucci Airport (FLR)

This small but beautiful Renaissance-era city is perfect for a city break in the early Summer or early Fall months.  With so many great cultural and artistic sights around the city, you can get your fill of history all within relatively easy walking distance.

With the Tuscany countryside all around, the food and drink scene in Florence is amazing, especially if you’re a big fan of Italian wine. So, if you’re looking for a foodie getaway with a ton of local produce, Florence is going to be an awesome option for your next trip.

Florence is also normally quieter and cheaper than Rome. As it’s not the bustling capital of Rome, the crowds are normally a bit thinner. Obviously, it’s still a popular destination so you’re not exactly going to have the Boboli Gardens to yourself, but it’s not quite going to be as crowded and oppressive as the Colosseum!

Famous-Saint-Peter's-Square-in-Rome

Rome Mini Guide

  • Location Size – 1,285 km²
  • Population – 2.873 million
  • Rainy Season – September to May
  • High Season – April to June
  • Top Sights – Colosseum, The Forum, Trevi Fountain
  • Major Airports – Airport Roma Fiumicino (FCO)

What can we say about Rome that hasn’t already been said? The iconic Italian capital has been the backdrop for movies, books, and TV shows for decades. If you’re an Ancient History buff, honestly, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find a better city break destination!

Want to be surrounded by great nightlife and shops? Rome is full of high-end boutiques, luxury stores, and tons of bars and clubs. It’s a perfect place for a weekend away if you’re looking to treat yourself or dance the night away in an Italian club or bar. The nightlife scene here is way better than in Florence!

Of course, you can also visit two countries in one trip when you visit Rome, with Vatican City being in the heart of the city. Head to St. Peters Square, say hi to the Pope, and see a huge amount of world-class art while you’re there. If you love visiting religious buildings and architecture, you’re going to love being in Rome!

The 4 Key Differences Between Florence and Rome

Which Is Better For Culture?

Pitti-Palace-and-Boboli-Gardens-Florence

Florence

Whether you want to wander around The Uffizi Gallery and see some of the Renaissance masterpieces in person, you want to see Michelangelo’s David, or you want to be surrounded by gorgeous nature at the Boboli Gardens, Florence is a haven for culture lovers.

Florence is known all around the world for its amazing museums, galleries, and of course, the iconic  Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with its stunning domed Basilica. Honestly, it’s one of the main reasons why people visit Florence year after year.

Rome

If ancient culture is your kind of thing then you’re going to be in your element. The whole city of Rome is a treasure trove of ancient wonders and delights, and it’s hard to walk down a street without seeing something historic or intriguing.

For slightly more modern culture and artwork, head to St Peter’s in the Vatican. It’s got one of the largest selection of Renaissance art in the world. Make sure you carve out at least a half day if not a full day to appreciate the full collection!

Which Is Better For Nightlife?

The-Pantheon-at-Night-in-Rome

Florence

If you’re looking for nightlife in Florence, head out to the trendy, student-friendly Santa Croce neighborhood. It’s full of clubs, bars, and restaurants which are perfect for younger visitors who are looking to let loose after an aperitivo or five. It might not be Ibiza levels of crazy, but it’s a pretty great nightlife scene for a city that’s known for culture and history!

Rome

The Eternal City is eternally buzzing with a hive of activity and tons of great nightlife. It’s actually pretty difficult to wander around the main sights like the Colosseum without someone giving your a flier for a bar crawl or club deal.  From some of the best clubs in Italy to world-class bars and restaurants, night owls are going to love being in the Eternal City!

Which Is Easier to Get To?

Michelangelo's-David-Statue-in-Piazza-Della

Florence

Unfortunately, Florence isn’t the easiest city in Europe to get to. While there is an airport in Florence, it’s tiny and there aren’t that many routes in or out, especially transatlantic routes. Instead, you’ll probably have to fly into Pisa, Rome, or Milan and get a train directly into central Florence.

It’s not an insurmountable obstacle, but it’s definitely something to consider if you’re looking for a quick city break or an easy breezy trip away.

Rome

With two different airports and the main one, Fiumincino, has pretty comprehensive routes all around the world. You can get direct routes from North America, Africa, Asia, and all around Europe so it’s super easy to get to Rome.

It’s only around 25 minutes from the city center and there are so many public transport routes and shuttles to help you get into central Rome in no time. It’s definitely a lot easier to get from the international airport to the city than it is to get into Florence from one of the other nearby city airports.

Which Is Cheaper?

City-Center-of-Florence-Italy

Florence

On average, a trip to Florence is going to cost around $163 per day, so it tends to be a fair amount cheaper than staying in Rome. This shouldn’t come as a surprise as Florence is the second city and they’re pretty much always cheaper than the capital.

You can normally find a decent deal on accommodation, especially in the low season, and there are plenty of reasonably priced restaurants, cafes, and bars to be found. Of course, the closer you are to the major sights, the more expensive it’s going to get.

Rome

By comparison, it’s pretty difficult to find good deals in Rome. Although the average per day cost of a visit to Rome is around $170, just $7 more than the average in Florence, the quality of the budget accommodation and food scene in Rome is way lower.

While it’s easy to get decent budget accommodation in Florence, it tends to get kind of dodgy if you try and get budget accommodation in Rome. The average price for a hostel room is around $110 which is kind of crazy for a hostel room, so make sure you save a little extra cash if you’re visiting Rome over Florence.

5 Questions to Help You Decide to Travel to Florence or Rome

Sunset-View-of-Ponte-Vecchio-with-River

Still can’t decide between the iconic cities of Rome and Florence? Well, let’s make life a little bit easier with these five questions to help you decide between traveling to Florence or Rome!

When is Your Italian Trip?

While Florence and Rome are pretty close together in geography, there are definitely better times to visit one city over the other. Personally, I’d avoid Rome in the summer months. It’s busy, it’s humid, and it’s expensive. Honestly, it’s probably one of the worst times to go, but it’s cooler in Florence, especially if you’re going in either June or July.

If you’re planning on travel in the winter months, think about heading to Rome over Florence. Although it’ll still be fairly cold, it’s going to be way warmer than it is in Florence. Whichever you choose, there are plenty of indoor attractions that are perfect for avoiding those pesky seasonal rain showers!

Which Flights are Easier and Cheaper?

Hands down, flying into Rome is much easier and cheaper. Honestly, it’s probably the only time that Rome is cheaper than Florence. Flights into Rome are a lot more popular and there are way more routes flying in and out every single day, so the tickets tend to be cheaper.

Florence is a super small airport so flights are rarer and more expensive. While there are plenty of routes into neighboring Pisa on low-cost airlines, it still means that you need to take a train, bus, or transfer from Pisa to Florence. If you’re coming from further afield, you’re still probably going to fly into Rome and get the fast train between the two cities. It is a pretty picturesque route but it does eat up precious exploring time!

What are you interested in?

Although the main draw of both Rome and Florence tends to be history and culture, there are plenty of other draws to both cities. If you want to check out super fancy shops and indulge in world-class nightlife, then a trip to Rome is going to be the better option for you.

On the flip side, if you’re a foodie or want to enjoy day trips into the beautiful Tuscan countryside, which is filled with amazing vineyards, you’re going to want to spend time in Florence. There are plenty of great day trips outside of the city if you want a mix of cosmopolitan city vibes and rural foodie adventures. Medieval towns like Siena, Volterra, and more are perfect for a quick getaway.

What’s your budget?

Let’s be honest, European capital cities are rarely cheap and Rome is no exception. If you’re looking for a budget city break to Italy, you’re going to want to avoid visiting Rome and check out Florence instead. Although the bottom line might not be massively different, you’re going to get way more for your money in Florence versus being in Rome.

With expensive excursions, costly accommodations, high-priced food, and more, spending time in Rome soon adds up, so make sure you save up accordingly before you book your trip!

How do you want to get around the city?

If you’re a fan of wandering around a city at your own pace, then Florence is going to be for you. It’s a much smaller city, so it’s way more pedestrian-friendly. With cobbled streets, beautiful bridges, and attractions around every corner, if you’re a fan of a walking tour, then you’re going to love Florence.

Not a fan of walking but don’t mind jumping on buses to get around a city? Rome is going to be up your street. It’s a sprawling city with distinctive zones, so while you can hit up a couple of attractions in one go while you’re wandering around, you’re going to need to jump on a bus to get between neighborhoods. You can also jump on an organized tour with private transportation to get around, but you might spend a lot of time surrounded by hordes of tourists and get stuck in the iconic Roman traffic.

Florence vs Rome: Which Is The Better Choice?

Trevi-Fountain-in-Rome-Italy

If you’re thinking about having a quick Italian city break getaway, you can’t go too far wrong with a trip to either Florence or Rome. That being said, I’ve always had a soft spot for Florence over Rome. It’s less busy, cheaper, and you can actually explore the city on foot. These things make it easier to actually get a feel for the city, which you can sometimes miss by whistling by the sights on a bus or tour shuttle.

However, everyone should visit Rome at least once! With the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, The Forum, and many more iconic, historic sights, it’s a city that’s unlike anywhere else in the world. That being said if you’re going to visit Rome, save up and don’t try and do it on a budget. The budget options in Rome are pretty terrible and I’ve stayed in hostels all around the world! Save up a little bit more and to Rome properly or jump on a package deal with accommodation, tours, and flights included – you might score some extra upgrades that you wouldn’t ordinarily get!

So, if you’re on a budget, head to Florence, but if you want a city break where the airport is relatively close and accessible, and you want a place that’s full of ancient wonders, Rome is going to be the ideal spot for your next Italian vacation!

About The Author

Rebecca Crowe is a freelance content writer who specializes in writing about travel, food, drink, and adventure. She specializes in budget and adventure travel content and can usually be found climbing some rocks, eating some tacos, or waiting around at the nearest airport. Her best budget travel achievement was spending a weekend in Paris with Roland Garros tickets for under £150, although she's always on the lookout for even better adventure and travel deals! If you want to keep up with her next adventure, check out her website at Wandering and Wine.

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Picture of Rebecca Crowe

Rebecca Crowe

Rebecca Crowe is a freelance content writer who specializes in writing about travel, food, drink, and adventure. She specializes in budget and adventure travel content and can usually be found climbing some rocks, eating some tacos, or waiting around at the nearest airport.

Her best budget travel achievement was spending a weekend in Paris with Roland Garros tickets for under £150, although she's always on the lookout for even better adventure and travel deals!

If you want to keep up with her next adventure, check out her website at Wandering and Wine.

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